Blue Mountains 1 - Nature feeling

From Cessnock we drove on lonely Putti Road through two National Parks, Wollemi and Yengo NP, a three-hour drive, over 200 km in southern direction, getting closer to the Sydney metro area again. First, we were meeting perhaps five cars on 100 km, then a bit more traffic. Wished they would have been more stops on the drive, but no trailheads, only one bikers' rest area and no viewpoints. It became a bit monotonous and driving is not so much fun here as in the U.S., always curves, roadwork, crests, steep decents and narrow lanes.

Our first stop was at the Blue Mountains Visitor Center in Glenbrook (photo). What followed then, exceeded our expectations and was a compensation for the rather boring drive: the Blue Mountains National Park. There is no entrance fee to the park, but a parking fee at certain points.

Wentworth Falls Lookout - unfortunately, almost all trails, but a short one were closed for construction work. Also, we noticed that signage and map accuracy weren't really perfect. So, we drove on after having enjoyed the view below:

Much better, our next stop at Leura Cascades. We hiked on one of the trails down to the pools and up to a viewpoint called "Bridal Veil Falls Lookout". Lush vegetation, many different ferns, especially high palm ferns, Eucalyptus and other rainforest vegetation. Rather shady and pleasant! A a great hike of an hour or so despite of 25 deg. C up here in about 1,200 m height. 

Didn't do our research on flora and fauna yet. Eucalyptus is predominant, and ferns of all kinds. Also, wedidn't see many animals - with the exception of a possum (from our balcony in Sydney), cockatoos, parakeets, and,,, kangaroos and wombats as roadkill,,, on the drive.

Eucalyptus, shredding (above)

Last stop in the park was at one of the highlights, the "Three Sisters" - on the two photos above - a three-peak mountain formation. Most crowded point, many busses and a visitor center which, unfortunately, shut down at 4 pm! (BTW: that's something typically Australian: stores closing at 5 pm - even in Sydney at 6 pm! - and wineries or visitors' centers even earlier).

 

Drove into Katoomba afterwards, the heart of the Blue Mountains, and, our headquarters for this night. First developed as a tourist destination towards the end of the 19th century with a series of hotels it is a much more attractive town than Cessnock the night before! 

Nice main street (left) with historic buildings, which have lost some of their former splendor, many restaurants and (closed) outdoor equipment stores, vintage/antique stores and,,, good for us: a local brewery in an old warehouse, packed with locals. They not only had super IPAs (thanks to an American brewmaster, because usually, Australian beers tend to be very light-bodied pale ales or XPAs with 3-4%) and delicious, (other than the beer) not-expensive pub grub (we had the Poutine, 6 Euro and a BBQ Chicken Burger, 13 Euro). On their terrace we enjoyed the rest of the evening before we walked back to our motel (nothing fancy again, but convenient). 

 

 

Driving was still some sort of challenge, always on high alert to avoid mistakes like ending up on the right side after turning right or switching the blinker the wrong way (right is down, left is up). And, all this stupid round-abouts ,,, Noticed it's easier to follow other cars then to be completely on your own, and, to plan turns long in advance, not spontanuously. Brain is too slow for that!