Many visitors also flock the region in winter (from July to August) for the Yule fest Festival.
The Blue Mountains region, just an hour or so away from Sydney, is famous for its spectacular rock formations, ravines and cliffs and its overwhelming wilderness. A large majority of the region is included in the Greater Blue Mountains Area which is a renowned World Heritage site, with all its seven national parks and conservation reserve.
The region was labelled as the Blue Mountains due to the noticeable blue hue that lies over the tree-filled valleys, caused in turn by the vaporizing of eucalyptus oil. The gateway to the stunning mountains starts at Lapstone, which is 2 km from the River Nepean. The Nepean River is at the foothills of the mountains and is great for water sports such as water skiing, canoeing, rafting and rowing.
Driving up through the Blue Mountains leads to the several towns in the region. Tourists usually head towards the towns of Katoomba and Leura, while a few head towards Wentworth Falls. Some also go kangaroo spotting at the Glenbrook National Park. The Three Sisters, located between Katoomba and Leura, is the best known landmark of Blue Mountains. Its rock formations stand almost a thousand meters and are about 250 to 300 million years old. The Three Sister now has a multi-million dollar worth visitor facility to provide only the perfect view from different level viewing areas. Cliff path walks (such as Prince Henry Walk), restaurants and shops, an information centre, and car parks are included in this development.
Katoomba, its biggest town are filled with waterfalls to highlight its mountains; the smaller towns of Wentworth and Leura offer quaint bistros, accommodations and craft shops where one ca browse through the boutiques, delis, and dainty restaurants. The Jenolan Cave is equally famous for its limestone caves.
The scenery around Blue Mountains is very unique mainly because the region contains over a million hectares of sandstone gorges, escarpments and plateaus that are filled with eucalypt forests. One can go for spectacular walks or drives around the mountains through the well known Leura Cascades, Valley of the Waters and the Three Sisters walks. For those who love heights, cliff top lookout platforms around Echo Point offers the best and most dramatic views of the region, as well as the Scenic Railway, regarded as the steepest in the world.
The region also offers a wide range of recreational and nature filled activities to include 4WD adventures, rock sports, hiking, cycling and mountain biking, mountain walks and tours, trekking, mountain climbing, spas, bushwalks, horse riding, among many others. Cultural offerings in the area can be seen at the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum at Faulconbridge in Springwood. One can also simply enjoy a simple, relaxing day with fresh air, pleasant weather and scenic views.
The Blue Mountains is in fact a very popular weekend get-away destination for Sydneysiders and visitors from nearby urban areas love to take a holiday break here. As such, there are a good number of Bule Mountain accommodation options that range from the quaint and cozy bed and breakfast to luxurious resorts. There are also hotels and motels to fit every type of budget.
