Relaxing in the Blue Mountains

This past weekend we travelled to the Blue Mountains. We left on Friday night, and came back on Sunday. This was only the second time I had ever been to the Mountains, the first was for Civic Video Conference, and didn't have the chance to do any sight-seeing that time. This was the girls first trip to the mountains, and one of many for David (although he was a lot younger the last time he was here).

Julie and Leslie met us there (they went earlier on Friday). We stayed at the Doherty Leura Gardens resort. Friday night after we got there - we went and had a look at the Three Sisters lit up at night. Saturday we spent the entire day at the Katoomba - we bought a family pass with unlimited rides on the Train, Skyrail and Cableway. The train was a bit like a steep roller-coaster ride (but shorter), very scenic. We enjoyed a huge bush walk (and yes, we did have to carry the kids!). We walked 2.5km through the mountains, and then crazy us, carried the girls up the Giant Staircase from the bottom of the three sisters to the top. Boy were we exhausted afterwards. Spectacular views though, as you are going up.

Sunday we did another shorter walk to see the Leura Cascades, we didn't have enough energy to walk the extra hour to see the Gordon Waterfall, the prospect of carrying the girls up another mountain was enough for us to turn around and walk back. Then we did a spot of shopping at Leura, where they have boutiquey shops, and then travelled home. A lovely but very tiring weekend.

You can see the three sisters in the distance in this next shot - we walked from where we took this picture, around the valley to the three sisters. Are we crazy or what?

Here are the intrepid walkers, posing in front of one of the many little waterfalls we came across on our walk.

Yes, that is Julie standing at the top there with Jasmin on her back! She carried Jassie all the way up to the top on her back (I could not have done it!!!) The boys took it in turn to carry the swirming Eliza up the stairs, whilst I was the pack-horse.

Eliza and Dave at the bottom of the three sisters, before we tackled the "Giant Stairway".

Jasmin posing at the top of the three sisters, overlooking the valley.

Picture of the side of one of the three sisters, at the top. Picture is taken from the walkway.

Views of the Valley and a closeup of the three sisters from Echo Point.

A beautiful waterfall, which you can see on the Cableway ride from Echo Point across to Scenic World.

Will do a separate post for Leura Pics.