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Katoomba

So last week, over breakfast with Penny, Graham and Lyn they decided that we should all take a trip into the mountains to a place call Katoomba to see the three sisters. Its only about a hours drive from Bathurst.

Sorry to sound like a bit of a history lesson but it makes it much easier to understand:

Historically the Blue Mountains were once thought of as the barrier to freedom, as although many early settlers attempted to cross them, they were for many years impassable, which was reinforced by the belief that China was on the other side. But later Europeans crossed the mountains and soon after a road was built to the other side. Although there are various Aboriginal markings few Aborigines were found in the Blue Mountains, thought to have been wiped out by disease. The mountains themselves reach a height of 1100m, and have been given their name due to the blue haze that hovered above the mountains produced by the oil from the plentiful Eucalyptus trees.

The importance of Katoomba lies with a rock formation that is called the three sisters. Aboriginal legend has it that they were three beautiful young women who had fallen in love with three men from an Aboriginal tribe from the foothills. Tribal lore prohibited the union, and a battle ensued. A witchdoctor turned the women to stone so they wouldn’t be harmed, but he was killed and no one could undo the spell.

Walking around and seeing the sisters were very impressive. What I think was far more astounding was the Jasmine Valley which runs behind it, it was just incredible, and seemed to go on as far as the eye could see! But to me what was surprising is the fact that the valley was actually a rain forest, I suppose I associate it more with warmer weather, but that’s more my ignorance I suppose. Standing by one of many look out post, there was a path down to the three sisters, which really didn’t appeal to Lyn and Penny, so they wondered off to one of the many local art galleries while the boys walked down to the sisters. Man it was incredible! The first part of the path down to the sisters was a relatively easy walk, (anything down is easy) with nice wide paths and gentle decline. Once at the sisters, we took some photos from an observation point which was really nice. But then we noticed that there was more path going down the side of the mountain, so we thought what the hell! Now that I’m back sitting in Bathurst with my feet up on the sofa typing this I can look back and smile but it was incredibly challenging.

I think that the Australian attitude is one of well it may be steep but sod it we’ll nail in some nearly vertical steps into the mountain, hand then over a sheer drop and you’ll be able to wall down it. Plus a few steps bore into the mountain and bobs your uncle. This photo was taken about half way down with Graham and Sam checking out some of the views! Not too long after this was taken we decided to head back, and being the grown ups we are (that Graham is, he suggested a race) well after nearly 3 respiratory failures and what felt like a half marathon we made it back up to the top (we won’t say who the winner was, but it wasn’t an Australian!)

Walking around a world heritage site you would expect some sort of added tourist attraction and Katoomba is no different! There is a Skyway, Cableway, Walkabout and Railway. Which thanks to a large family and a big looking 13year old (yours truly), we bought a family ticket plus one adult for all four.

First we headed over the Skyway which is basically a large cable cart across a big chasm, for those into statistics it was a 720m journey 270m above ravines which had thick rainforest below with a really pretty waterfall. It took only about 10mins but it was well worth it as you get an awesome 360 degree view of the three sisters, Katoomba falls, mount solitary and the seemly endless Jamison valley. On the other side we had a short walk around, which was well worth the effort, as although you get amazing views by the first look out point, the further you go round you can see more of the valley and then more of the three sisters.

We then headed off down into the valley to go on a ‘walk-about’ (pun intended). When purchasing the ticket the nice lady suggested we headed down the cable cart, and then back up the railway, and this is exactly what we did. Entering the cable cart if felt like we needed a set of skies, as it was a big old gondola and reminded me very much of one you enter when heading up to the piest. The ‘Sceniscende’ is the steepest aerial cable car in Australia, which we took down on a 545m ride into the valley. After an initial mild decline, it just seemed to fall away, and I know people who aren’t good with heights (like mum!) this, and in fact of the rides would not been for them. But was good fun! At the bottom we had a relatively short walk around, through the rainforest which was awesome, and very nicely done. We managed to see all where the land was mined for coal between 1878 and 1900, finally being close in 1945. Randomly they had an iron donkey, so what the hell, what do you think, could I make a cowboy one day?

But any who I mentioned that coal was mined and that is clear evident when looking around the valley and there are many things that remain as a result. One of them is how we returned from the valley. It was via scenic railway which is it's the steepest railway in the world and originally part of the Katoomba mining tramways. At one point it reaches a maximum gradient of 52 degrees! In total we assended 178m along a 415m track at a speed of 4m/s. And Lyn has just said she felt every single meter of that! Getting into the car you got an inkling as to how steep it is because the seats are nearly horizontal. It started off quite slowly but then as you start to go up and it just gets steeper and steeper. When we hit the steepest part I was bracing with my knees and at a point were I was think wow this is insane! What I should of mention is that there were no seat belts, a cage roof which went around the right hand side and roof, and a thin plastic chain, that’s it! It was insane, I could not believe and when at the 52degrees part of the track I think everyone was holding onto something!!!

But never the less we survived that and made it back up! An amazing day and a really big thank-you goes out to Lyn, Penny, Graham, and Sam.

Well I hope that you are all well, not sure if I’m going to watch the final, still a bit bitter about our exit and it’s on at five in the morning. I’m at work for nine, only for four hours but then I have a long old drive out to Lake.

Right pirates of the Caribbean is on, and we watched Pirates two on Thursday which was very enjoyable, don’t think I can wait until the third one is out next year! Definitely think that it was much better than superman returns although that was also very enjoyable.

posted by Jon @ Sunday, July 09, 2006