The Blue Mountains

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The drive out of the Hunter Valley is once again a stunner as you continue on your road trip into the south east of NSW. Follow Putty Road down to Windsor and you pretty much have the highway all to yourself. It is restful, scenic and you are so relaxed, looking forward to your next stop in the Blue Mountains .

[ADVERT]Then reality hits you that you are not so far from Sydney. There are road works going on and it stretches for a good long way. It tests your patience and you wonder why they have to widen the whole highway at one time. Yet persevere and you will be well rewarded.

Once you reach Black Heath take the turn off to Perry's Lookdown and head to the campsite where you will spend a couple of days exploring this wondrous area.

When you arrive at the campsite, it is neglected. The toilet lacks toilet paper. No one has been here in a while to maintain. The water system doesn't work and you are thankful you have your own water for drinking and washing up. Once again, there are no showers.


The campground fees will be collected by the ranger and because of its vicinity to the highway a lot of transient people come and go.

This campground is not going to win any awards for best kept but then you discover the reason that makes it all worthwhile, the Blue Mountains.

They look older than time itself. They rise above the trees and have been sculpted by an ice age that would have pushed through, tearing chunks, flattening the fronts as if God himself took a chisel and painstakingly perfected them.


The campground is perched along the ridge, allowing you to watch changing weather conditions and time that gives you warning of the setting sun, allowing you to rush over to the lookout and get some photos.

The colours of red and gold, combined with the green of the trees that sit atop the mountain like a cap add to the drama. They appear to burst into flame as the sunset touches each nook and cranny, a stunning display that is truly magical making you realize you would come here again.


And if that isn't enough, all along the ridge are a series of hikes that take you to the bottom.


Pick the one you want to climb down, make sure you are fit, wear the right gear, take water and are free from knee injuries. If you are looking for something a little less Bear Grylls you might choose Evan's Lookout and Grand Canyon trail, a short drive away.


Evans Lookout is hard but has no ladders to climb, just a lot of stairs. You will be thrilled you did this hike. It changes from dry and arid to moderate all the way to full rainforest as you get nearer what you think is the bottom. You traverse the scree slide by holding tightly on to the cable. There is a waterfall somewhere, you can hear it but it goes unseen as you decide you have had enough downward action and proceed back to the top.


This has been so incredible you decide to stick around the area for a while as there is so much to see. The next stop is the Jenolan Caves.

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