After a great week cruising Tasmania and a day in Sydney, it was time to head out on my own to explore some of the natural wonders on Australia. I jumped on the Blue Mountains rail out of Sydney and settled in for a 2 hour trek out to Katoomba, my home base for the next few day to explore the Blue Mountains. I found an amazing hotel called The Carrington. The Carrington sits on a hill in the center of town and is an iconic sight along the main street. It is loaded with historic charm and beauty. The Carrington opened in the late 1800s and still holds the elegant charm of the era with stained glasses windows all around the property. I opted for a first floor balcony room. The balcony wraps around the entire front of the first floor of the hotel with beautiful views of the Blue Mountains and valley in the distance.
Upon arrival, i went to grab a quick bite to eat and spent some time enjoying the balcony and views. I wanted to be up for an early start the next morning to explore.
I awoke to a cool, misty morning, which is my favorite. I hopped on one of the area hop on, hop off bus tours to get a good view of the area. As ‘touristy’ as this is, I highly suggest it for any traveler who has a limited time at a destination. It gives you a great overview and history of an area and lets you get a good picture of where you would like to go back to and spend more time at.
My exploration started at a place known as ‘Scenic World’. Scenic World has some great attractions with unparalleled views of the iconic Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, and the Jamison Valley. It is home to the Worlds Steepest Railway which is worth the stop on its own! You can choose your incline for the ride, depending how much you want to recline your seat, to as much as a 64 degree ride! It gives great views while getting a bit of an adrenaline rush in the process!
The Scenic Skyway gives great views of Katoomba Falls as you soar over Jamison Valley with a glass floor. It is stunning to view from a bird eyed advantage, but for someone with a fear of heights, it did make my legs a bit weak! All worth it for views like this!
You can ride the Scenic Cable Car to the bottom of the Jamison Valley and take in a peaceful walk through the rainforest. Walking through the pathways of the rainforest was a magical experience. With the misty morning, the native wildlife was very vocal. As you walk through the trees you can get glimpses of the rock face of the canyon all around you. The rich colors change with the weather as the famous Blue Mountains mist gave way to rays of sunlight throughout the morning.
The views and attractions of Scenic World makes it worth the stop in. I do highly suggest going in the early mornings as the crowds become very thick as the day goes on from those coming out from Sydney for the day to explore.
As I left Scenic World, I made my way over to Echo Point for a better look at the famous Three Sisters. The lookout point gives of of the best views of the Sisters as well as a panoramic view of the Jamison Valley, Mt. Solitary, and the Ruined Castle, just to name a few.
I had planned to spend the late afternoon exploring Wentworth Falls but unfortunately, there was a rockslide in the area right before I headed that direction and the area was closed off to all traffic. With the busy schedule I had been keeping throughout the trip thus far, I decided to head back to the Carrington to relax for the late afternoon and repack/reorganize my bags for the next legs of the journey. I truly fell in love with the charm that the Carrington offered and could have spent a lot more time hiking and enjoying the Blue Mountains.
Up next, I make my way back into Sydney to jump on a flight to Melbourne for my exploration of Phillips Island and the Great Ocean Road.
Thanks for following my adventures!
“When you are traveling with someone else, you share each discovery, but when you are alone, you have to carry each experience with you like a secret. Something you have to write on your heart, because there’s no other way to preserve it.” -Shauna Niequist