The Blue Mountains, Australia - Like nothing we have ever seen before! | Vlog |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2022
- We have never visited a place like this before. The vast expanse was mesmerising and left us lost for words. Visiting the Blue Mountains was an experience we will never forget!
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I always enjoy the perspective of people from other countries when they see for the first time, the amazing natural wonders that we have here in Australia. Those of us who have grown up here tend to take them for granted in much the same way as you would take for granted, historical medieval castles and ruins.
I don’t, you’re feeding theirs & your ego, they babble on & you puff your chest out, they just make money from the shit, just stop it, the whole process is unhealthy
@@gloryglory5688 says you and your ego. Wtf. What sad little man you are
@@gloryglory5688 We came because we wanted to. If only we did make enough money to pay for this trip. Wind your neck in buddy ;)
@@gloryglory5688 if they were so disingenuous , they would not of spent thousands of dollars to come here .
@@tc8327 why? TH-cam & you are paying for it all
That scenic railway train has changed a lot since I was there as a kid (many decades ago). It was all open back then - no cage or roof. If it was raining you'd get wet but you didn't care because it was so much fun, and of course, the views are spectacular.
Exactly... six decades ago for me!
@@graemebdh2172 And 4 decades for me.Did you climb the stairway back up.?
@@bengunn3698 I was a just 13 yo Scout at the Sydney Jamboree when we visited the Blue Mountains. It was very cloudy as I recall. No, we came back up on the train.
Was still open top and sides 25+ years ago. Quite the thrill as a young fella
Likewise. Much more fun.
It took the Blue Mountains to make Rob speechless!! 😆
Haha its not an easy thing to achieve!
Fairly sure the complete lack of effort by the Swans in the big dance did that as well
One thing I love about the Blue Mountains is the smell. The air is so crisp with the scent of eucalyptus.
I love the road back to civilisation & the smell of salt water, not westy BO
I used to live in Katoomba, 15 minutes walk from Echo Point & also close to Leura Cascades. My daughter & I were regular bushwalkers & she went to the local primary school. We had an open fireplace & we loved it when it snowed in winter. It was a wonderful place to live, I have a lot of happy memories, but my favourite memory was walking up to Echo Point at dusk one night with visiting family. We watched as a huge yellow full moon rose & crossed the sky behind the Three Sisters. A local Aboriginal man, I guess from the Dharug and Gundungurra people, was sitting there playing the didgeridoo. It was magical as the eerie sounds echoed out over the valley.
You've provided some of the best footage of The Blue Mountains area that I've ever seen. Thank you.
Ohhhh shut it!!!!! Fckn cringeworthy son
Thats great to hear!
@@CharlieandRob I'm Aussie, and I've seen the tourist brochure pics, but never anything from a tourist's perspective. It was great to see.
Trivia. So this is why the Blue Mountains are blue: Eucalyptus oil droplets emitted from the forests combine with dust particles and water vapour, scattering short wavelength rays of light which are predominantly blue in colou
The hard-fact side of my brain is clenching his fist and shouting,"YES!" The intuitive-imaginative side is running out of the house shouting, "NOOOOO!" Funny thing that. 🤔
when viewed from a distance
@@goonerross4834 also in The Blue Mountains is the steepest railway in the world.
@@GreenGibbon Why would the intuitive-imaginative side be screaming?
With that info, just imagine the mountains slowly growing more and more blue as summer arrives and the scent of fresh eucalyptus in the air grows stronger. Of a blueish haze blurring the edges of the skyline and making the browns and tans of the clifffaces shine almost glimmer orange in the evening light...
The clearer air in the cooler months allowing the cliffaces to be scene as they naturally are on drier days but on days when the rain, fog and mists set in, you look off the lookout over a sea of blue-tinted white as the waterfalls nearby crash down and out of sight...
Maybe it's just me but knowing the blue is from the oil in the trees has always just made me think of the way things could be even more stunning and picture-esc depending on the weather and the way things shift in time
@@FaisLittleWhiteRaven Yes!!! "oil = fire therefore enough oil to color a horizon = all the bushfire" is EXACTLY what I meant, FaisLittleWhiteRaven. I'm so relieved you picked that up! 🙃
That "little train" has obviously changed enormously since I was a kid. It wasn't enclosed way back then and you could actually reach your hand out and touch the trees as you were going down.
You must of gone on the Mountain Devil then. I remember doing it back in the early-mid 1980s and the roof was a cage, sides open and yep could reach out and touch the walls and the plants.
I was going to say the same thing, I remember that train as being open as well, I think all the tracks were just dirt and not so much wire fencing.
Yes same. The sides were open more like a cage.
It has really tamed down, loved the old train. Too many Health and Safety experts.
Has definately changed since the 80's when we were there. As said above the train was open nothing like what appears to be there now. Don't think the cable way was there. The skyway is nothing like the old days. When we went on it, it was standing only and the floor was wooden planks with gaps in them and swayed quite a lot. I do remember doing the 5 hour hike going all the way down the bottom ridge and all the way back up to the top ridge about 5km's from where we started. There were steel ladders (enclosed) which went straight down the side of the mountains in some sections. Scared the crap out of me when decending. Never again.
My childhood. Born in the Blue Mtns. It was an amazing experience to be a child in a national park. Back then in the 80s it wasnt full of tourists and it was choc full of animals and crazy weather. We also had survival training with aboriginal elders. Milk was delivered by horse and cart. It snowed twice a year before global warming. I survived many bushfires, tremors and storms, as well as some deadly animals.
It still snows twice a year in blackheath
It just shows you’re a dirty westy, no better than Penrith
It still snows there. There is literally no such thing as man made global warming. Only on tv and in modelling! Not in the real world:) a bit like Santa clause where the official narrative is that he's real but adults understand it's just a trick
@@robdowling7468 apparently it stopped snowing!
@@robdowling7468 What are you saying Rob? Don't tell me they have lied to us? Not Al Gore? Malcolm Turnball? The ABC? I'm shocked!!!!!
They've really updated the cable train since I was last on it (30 years ago lol). It used to resemble more of a wired cage 😂
It was more of an adventure, and all "home made".
I wish they'd bring it back, but the WHS types killed the fun train.
@@BrettWilliamson I wouldn't be surprised if their insurance company had a few requirements.
Massive thanks and props to Garth for taking you two around and taking good care of you.
I’m privileged to be able to visit the Blue Mountains quite regularly. The view of Mount Solitary certainly never gets old though.
The Great Dividing Range. One of the oldest mountain chains in the world apparently. I have heard that if they were as young as the Himalayas they would be as high. Time has taken its toll.
apparently, everything shrinks with old age hahaha
@@bluedog1052 Except skin 😱😥
@@bluedog1052 sure does lol
I live a little west of the Blue Mountains, a tad higher too, and I take it for granted. I'm glad to hear people from overseas discovering the magic of the area for the first time. It's shame so many Australian head off overseas and not discover what's in their own backyard first. Slightly west of Katoomba there, and north of me, is a town called Lithgow. Not far from Lithgow at Capertee is the world's second largest canyon, after the Grand Canyon. It's 1km wider at the widest point, a more shallow.
So glad you got to experience something of Australia other than the cities and towns 😊 Wait until your next couple of trips back here. So much to see in this amazing, vast country, from the tropics in the top end, red sands of the outback to the pristine and literally untouched wilderness and mountains in Tasmania. You were talking about the 100 year old tree at Sydney Botanical Gardens, in Tas there are 1000 year old Huon pines growing in the wilderness. We do live in an incredibly diverse country. So glad you love it like we do 😊❤
Tassie would really leave them stunned. It is wild beautiful and heart stopping
Yes, I was hoping they would see more of the real Australia. A city is a city is a city - they're mostly the same - full of people and roads and buildings. The Blue Mountains is only the start. Go to Tassie, go up north past Cairns and see Aboriginal Australia. Go to Uluru. Go to Broome. Go to NT where you'll see a lot more of all this stuff. Go Kakadu. If you're blown away by the Blue Mountains, you'll be a lot MORE blown away by these other things. Blue Mountains is just the big city people's little corner of 'real Australia'. The rest of Australia is much, MUCH better!
As for the 100 year old tree, the big Moreton Bay Figs were planted in the early 1860s. And there are a few trees that were planted in the early 1800s. I remember there were some trees still growing there that were already of a substantial size when the First Fleet arrived. Maybe they have died of old age, or had to be removed because they had become dangerous. Maybe that is the point of that sign on the tree. There are no trees left from the original forest growing there, only descendants.
I was a bit concerned when they cancelled their Great Ocean Road trip in favour of flying to yet another city they'd miss out on Australia's natural beauty and wilderness experiences.... which are really what set Australia apart from many other countries........ I'm glad they managed to fit in some of our amazing landscapes as part of their Australia experience.
An amazing story is the crossing of the Blue Mountains, it is fascinating. So many explorers failed, some even went close to death in their endeavours to conquer the range, with the government offering lots of money/land grants to the first person/s to do so. Finally in 1813, Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth succeeded and paved the way for the opening up of the fertile lands of the west and the establishment of the first inland settlement of Bathurst
Family lore is that my convict 4 x great grandfather got a free pardon for keeping Cox and his road builders in supplies with his horse and cart as they built the road across the mountains.
So much more to the story. John Wilson in all likelihood got further much earlier but he was an exconvict, lived with natives and the Authorities weren't ready for the mountains not to be considered impenetrable. George Caley got to mount Banks, traversing a section of the ridge that now carries the Bells Line of road, which is an easier pass, unfortunitely he was hoping to get to Hat Hill and didn't expect the Carmarthen canyons or the Gross Valley to bar his way. Had he stayed on the right we would have had a relatively easy walk along an aboriginal track way. Then Barrallier who actually go further than Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson (Who never made it across the dividing range) by following the Coxes river (The easiest way across the mountains) However Barrallier was French and possibly found gold near present day Oberon, and again the Authorities weren't ready for that.
not the first settlement, the first white settlement. I'm sure there's been first nations peoples there for thousands of years.
@@MsDidi38 Thank you for making that point.
@@MsDidi38 never progressing past the hunter/gatherer stage, though...
I went to the Blue Mountains when I was 13, as part of a round-Australia 30 day tour with my father. Been back a few times in the intervening 40 odd years, so it's all just "normal".
That's why it's interesting to see it through fresh eyes; to appreciate that we truly are the lucky country.
The Blue Mountains and the Sydney sandstone is ancient. This sand actually came down river from an eroding mountain chain in Antarctica when it was still joined to Australia. Ultimate recycling just like Ayers Rock(uluru) and Devils Marbles(kata jutu) formed from an eroded mountain chain .
A bit of trivia for you Rob and Charlie, the Blue Mountains is where the idea of Christmas in July started. It snows up there in winter so one of the restaurants decided to put on the kind of Northern Hemisphere roast Christmas dinner that it is too hot to have here at Christmas and they decorated with Christmas trees and tinsel to add to the atmosphere. It snowballed from there (pun intended) and more and more people started celebrating Christmas in July. It’s so popular now that the shops sell Christmas decorations mid year to cater for it.
Yes i remember we went to the Paragon for Yule
our family do yulefest every year we can now. as my husbands parents have now passed and his siblings have grand children of their own, its the one time of year we can celebrate with just his siblings. we love it and we started it initially in the Blue Mountains and we have seen snow on more than one occasion, and coming from European ancestors its nice to be able to eat hot stuff, see snow and drink egg nog, because in December all you want to do is drink icy beer, maybe have a bbq or just a cold lunch and sleep lol xxx
Finally! I've been looking forward to this one! I'm so so glad you came to Sydney on your trip - not just for the Swans game, not just for our Harbour, landmarks and gardens, but for the Blue Mountains! They are so picturesque and just over an hour away. It feels like another world!
to add to your speechlessness in those views in a valley are the WOLLEMI PINE which were discovered in the last 30 years and who are prehistoric trees
I live in Penrith which is the bottom of the Blue Mountains. You picked a good day to go up there. Sunny days really make it so much better to see its glory.
I’m in Penrith too and I’ll second that for sure 👍🏻
You could spend a life time exploring all the different walking trail's & canyons of the Blue Mountains!! just another reason why Sydney is undefeated!! You should checkout the Jenolan caves next time you're around the Sydney area.
I grow up and schooled in Sydney, before moving to London 30+yrs ago. I always try to visit the Blue Mountains each time I visit Sydney. It's my go to place to feel Australia again.
The UK landscape is very sedate compared to Australia. I imagine the early explorers must have had that stunned mullet expression when they gazed out on the never ending wildness of Australia.
"The UK landscape is very sedate compared to Australia.". No it isn't. Have you ever been to the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia, the
Lake District, the Yorkshire Moors, Dartmoor, Exmoor? None of those have ever been described as "sedate". I have seen all of those on trips back to the UK and plenty of Australia in sixty years living here. So, from experience I can say that you are grossly incorrect in your assertion.
@@John-re2qw Yes, but it's a bit more compact, and has mostly been travelled, and that, heavily. The "ordered woods and gardens" of Dorothea Mackellar applies to a lot of Great Britain, and definitely DOES contrast with the general surroundings in Oz.
@@John-re2qw As Rob points out, the early British on first encountering 'the sheer vastness' of Australia must have been in shock. Whether you're moving through the mountains, a forest, rolling grasslands, deserts or the coastline, it goes on 'forever'.
One of my ancestors made one of those early unsuccessful attempts to cross the Blue Mountains in the late 1790s. I think his companions and he may have got to somewhere near Mt Wilson. He wrote a letter back to Britain about it. I think he was pretty impressed, but it was hard going.
However , after coming home from the UK, England has a green scenery in a colour of green, so magnificent.
Been following your Oz adventures with keen interest. Wow for such a short holiday you certainly packed a hell of a lot in. As you said culturally we obviously have a lot in common with the UK but yes it is like a different planet. Imagine the early convicts, pioneers & settlers trying to carve out an existence in what would have been the equivalent of Mars. And about as much chance of getting back home if it all went pear shaped
We definately did a lot in the short space of time we had!
I remember the 3 sisters - my parents took us there as kids and I was probably 8 or so then. Now 62 and have lived my life in Adelaide. Although I have been back to Sydney on a few occasions, never went back there, but yes it is awe inspiring. Of course the reason it is called blue mountains is because of the eucalyptus trees putting out a blue haze at certain times of the day so they mountains don't look green, but blue. Glad you enjoyed yourselves there.
There’s so many beautiful little towns on the way up too such as Leura- they have local artisans markets etc. It’s always cold in the Blue Mountains! Just to think you almost didn’t come to Sydney yet so far it seems some of your best experiences have been here! I’m so glad the Swans made it to the Prelims so you came to Sydney!! I live 45 mins from Katoomba.
I've camped in the blue mountains and it is both beautiful with all the stars in the sky but scary as hell (pitch black) at the same time. Cos its so quiet you can hear the movement of animals and again its a crazy experience, it gives you another level of respect for all the indigenous and early explorer people who did it
The second time I visited the Blue Mountains it was completely fogged out. But, to stand at one of the lookouts and see a sea of fog was so eerie and amazing.
It's like standing at the edge of the world isn't it?
As a Science teacher, I have taken students every year for many, many years to the Blue Mountains to study the geology and the biodiversity. A working trip. I didn't ever really get to appreciate the grandeur and the beauty, having to be ever vigilant with the safety and wellbeing of my (gorgeous) students. Thank you allowing me to see through fresh eyes, to share this amazing experience with you both.
I am glad we could offer you a slightly different prospective!
Thank you for your service!
@@missv8109 Aww thank you.
It's clear Australia's had an impact on you, hopefully for the better, sometimes I feel most Aussies don't really comprehend how lucky they are, there is so much beauty in this country and you've just scratched the surface.
Beautiful production, great music and the scenery was spectacular. Thanks guys. (And Charlie never stopped smiling:)
Thank you so much!
My hubby was born in the Blue Mountains, and his parents still live at Lawson, a few train stops below Katoomba. I never tire of visiting this beautiful, natural, majestic region of Australia. Every time we visit there’s something we hadn’t seen before. One time we visited in October when it was sunny and 27 degrees, 2 days later it snowed in Katoomba and higher up the mountain. Another awesome place nearby is the Jenolan Caves.
We used to go there when I was a kid in the 1960’s, it was dirt walking tracks and when that train started it was open and rattled down that slope it was terrifying and fun 😊
If you thought that was a speechless experience, Charlie and Rob, on your next visit you MUST go to King's Canyon in the Northern Territory! Also, the Skyrail from Cairns to Kuranda in North Queensland. I did both!
Then there's the Flinders Ranges, Sth Australia in the Spring when the wildflowers bloom.
If you want Wildfliwers there is no comparison to Wrstern Australia, ir the scenery of the Pilbara and Kimberly.
The Blue Mountains are stunning, though remembering the last time I went there makes me feel old, as I was a teenager, and it was over 30 years ago…. probably before either of you two were born.
Standing right next to the Three Sisters is an incredible memory that I will never forget.
That takes me back. As a kid we used to go bushwalking and camping through those valleys. I used to pretty much take the area for granted.
If you get a chance to spend a night in the outback make sure you check out the night sky. You can see millions of stars with the naked eye. There is nothing like it.
There is quite a few off the beaten track interesting views of the Blue mountains and you could spend quite a while checking out all different locations if you had the time, but another good view that is on the tourist route is near Blackheath where an early family ancestor of mine, a surveyor William Govett, discovered “ Govett’s leap” or called Bridal Veil Falls the largest single drop water fall at 180 metres in the Blue Mountains back in 1831
We lived at The Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls area for 4 years in the early 1980's such a magical place to experience, and the scenic railway has been beautifully upgraded, now a fantastic tourist destination....so glad you guys enjoyed seeing this beautiful part of Australia....we now live on the Central Coast, 1 hour north of Sydney, our beaches are amazing... hope you get to enjoy them on your next visit. xxxxx
Many years ago, my sisters and I had a bad winter, having measles, mumps and chickenpox over a few months. To give a bit of recuperation and a break for my mother, my parents took a cottage at Lawson where we spent 3 weeks or so at the end of the winter. Lawson is 4 stations towards Sydney, and 300 or so metres lower After that, we went back for many years for the August school holidays. Over that time I got to know the Mountains well, particularly the upper mountains from Katoomba to Mt Victoria. Still get blown away by the views at Echo Point and other lookouts, and now we're retired we take frequent day trips by both rail and car to the Mountains.
Have loved Charlies perspective on this trip. imagine the early settlers trying to get ox carts over those mountains
Imagine the first nations people already had explored all those regions on foot!!
Yes Rob, the train was built for transporting coal (and workers, and occasional bush walkers). There was also the Bleichert Aerial Ropeway that went across the valley to below the ruined castle formation to carry oil shale from the mine there.
Last time I went there was nearly three decades ago, and everything was built before they invented Occupational Health and Safety. So, if you got a little nervous with anything how it is right now, you probably wouldn't have been able to handle the previous version.
Also, it's the Blue Mountains, plural, not Blue Mountain singular. It's a section of a mountain range called The Great Dividing Range and the Blue Mountains part of it runs along a nearly 100km length of Western Sydney. It's given a separate name because it's the section of the range that the first white settlers could see, and it wasn't until they started exploring more that they found out it was a part of a much larger mountain range. It was a big deal for the white settlers to find a way through them that vehicles could handle to access the interior of the country, otherwise they would be stuck in the narrow strip of land from the base of the range to the coast. The Great Dividing Range runs down from Cape York, the northernmost point of the country, all the way down to Victoria. That's 3,500km or 2,200 miles.
I loved your reactions, can you imagine how our ancestors felt when they saw it for the first time. My earliest arrived in 1839 and travelled overland to settle near Adelaide, it must have been amazing views then, completely unspoiled.
I lived there in the beginning of the 70s as a 4-5 year old and left in ‘73 as Mum wanted to be closer to her parents in Sydney. (Like we were 1000 miles away or something 😅)
Now 54 I visit when I can. The place just has that reach. Once it has you, it’s forever.. 🥰🥰
Hi Charlie and Rob, your video truly shows how beautiful, grand and vast our country is. Walking around I am sure you felt our ancients whether they be the trees, the wind, the rain, the rocks or the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land being present with you. It is a very spiritual place but all places of natural beauty are spiritual and connect us to our roots. That's why our Indigenous brothers and sisters say our land is our mother she looks after us. That's why we must look after her. I'm so, so happy for you that you got to experience this journey. Rob, your nerves cracked me up. 🤣Thanks for your honesty. Charlie's calmness fitted in well with the surroundings. Thanks so much. I look forward to your next adventure.😀
I am such a bloody wimp. Charlie is the real rock in this relationship!
Great vid guys. If you really want spectacular scenery in Australia then you should consider a week in Tassie next trip. Freycinet Peninsula, bay of fires, cradle mountain and the three capes walk will blow your mind. September however is pretty cold in Tassie though. Maybe Tassie first then finish up in the tropics for some heat🤗
Wife and I got married in the Blue Mountains - it truly is breath taking! From the top of the world where you left off, not far inland is Jenolan Caves where you can walk through it's many underground limestone caves.
I grew up in the Blue Mountains and loved it, I still agree that it’s one of the most impressive places on earth!
I’m now settled in Adelaide, just outside the McLaren Vale and LOVE it!!!
Thank you for this post. There's something soul-healing about standing at a viewpoint and being able to see miles and miles of wilderness and no human sign. Did it myself on a bushwalk yesterday, north of Sydney looking over the Hawkesbury and National Parks. When I lived in London, I complained to my Great Uncle that I missed being in the bush and being able to look out on 360 degree views of gorgeousness. He took me to New Forest, bless him.
haha we live close to the new forrest and go there regularly. It is lovely, however no blue mountains!
Great to see you guys being blown away with the sights of the Blue mountains, what a different world hey Charlie and Rob 💯👍❤️🇦🇺
I can see the Blue Mountains from my place, this video is going to make me appreciate them even more. Thanks Charlie & Rob
Awesome vid Rob and Charlie. Geez youve packed alot in.. You guys are going to need a holiday to get over your holiday
Like others my family and friends went there a lot in the 80s. The train was so different then, open and old, but it did its thing. It was cold there more than hot. One time we went there for a picnic but no one could feel their hands so it was back in the cars! You guys had a very pretty day.
WOW, that was great Rob. The walls came out really nice with the setting sun. I really enjoyed seeing this, as it had been so long (a couple of years) since I last took my English friends out there. I really enjoyed the day, it was a pleasure to take you and Charlie there. SO if you have English friends coming out this way, tell them to contact me and I'll bring them out the the Blue Mountains as well.
Nice job Garth 😊
@@Reneesillycar74 Thanks Renée. I always take pleasure in showing tourists around our lovely city and it's surrounds. Plus it gives me a chance to get out too! 😉
I stopped in at the Blue Mountains on my road trip from Hobart to Cairns and stayed overnight so I could see the Sisters lit up. The Blue Mountains/Katoomba and Jenolan Caves were in my top 5 highlights of my trip💞👌. The Mountains are Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon, but with trees. Good one Garth👍. One more thing, the music you played was just beautiful 😍
Yes have to agree with you on that, I noticed the music as well.
When I was in Scouting, I had done a many a hike in the Blue Mountains, the Jamieson Vally, Megalong Valley, Blue Gum Forest, hiked from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba over Mt Solitary up Chinamans Gully and around Ruin Castle. This was in the 1960/70's, when it was very strict when hiking in the Blue Mountains. You needed to report to the local Police Station and enter your personal details, where you were hiking and expected time of return, how many in the hiking party. When completed, you had to go back to the Police Station and report back. If you were found to be more than 6 feet off the normal track, there were large fines imposed. I'm glad you enjoyed that part of Australia and the other places that you visited in your time Down Under.
When you come back you must go to Broome or Kakadu, you will be amazed by the scenery, at Broome you must do the horizontal falls
Thank you for showing me the Blue Mountains - I've never been there and I live only a few hours drive away in Brisbane. But I do have to say that, if you're looking for some spectacularly amazing country that you'll not see the like of in any other part of the world, head of to Central Australia.Uluru, Kata Juta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and the painted desert near Coober Pedy will truly send your heart spinning.
Perrys lookdown, brought some memories there mate.
Used to catch the train up from Parramatta to Blackheath then hike out to Perrys, stay the night, hike down to Blue Gum forest and Acaia flat. Two nights there, then hike back out via Govetts leap to Blackheath and train home.
We'd usually have the train to ourselves on way home after 3-4 days in the bush. 👍👍
Great Vid. Glad you're both enjoying the place.
I have done similar, back when I was (much) younger. Train to Blackheath, walk out to Govetts Leap and down the stairs, out to Acacia Flat for one night, then up the Grose Valley to Burra Korain Flat for the second night, then the climb up to Mt Victoria for the train back to Sydney.
Could you imagine how the first European explorers felt trying to find a way through? Also, thank you for your ongoing acknowledgment of Australian’s traditional owners.
The day my wife and I went a few years ago was fog (cloud?) bound, but still had an almost magical feel. Of course, the first time I went was 40+ years ago, and both the skyway and the railway were……a bit different back then….
Yes, we are so fortunate to live in this unique country. The Blue Mountains are spectacular, and where I live, west of Lithgow, we have the Capertee Valley, which is the second largest canyon in the world, and the widest. It is breathtaking in its beauty. I must gently chide you though Rob. You say you have nothing so beautiful in the UK but when I was in the Scottish Highlands, it almost took my breath away (literally too! It was SOOO cold). Go explore your beautiful country, you'll find places to ooh and aah at, but Aussie landscapes are magnificent!
@Leo it's so beautiful. Never mind, we do what we have to do at the time. I'm a bit west of that at Rylstone. Love living in this district
I am so glad you guys came to Sydney and the Blue Mountains. My Mum and Dad had their honeymoon there way back in 1942! Every capital city in Australia has great features for sightseeing, history and tourist excitement. I told you to take warm clothes to the Blue Mountains when we met in Hyde Park. Glad you did!
Of course, during Summer, it can get a bit hot in Katoomba. I have been there when the mercury was around 28°C, also experienced -3°C 🥶🥶🥶
It's always great to stop in the Blue Mountains on the way to Bathurst for the great race.
Love how much joy you both have for the Australian backyard. There are so many wow type places like the blue mountains throughout Australia. Looking forward to you both returning to our shores. Next time Tasmania….. that will blow you away.
Usually the camera never does things justice but this was pretty good.
So much of the tourist side of things has changed there. The scenic rail & skyway has had a major upgrade and once upon a time, you could walk down a steep stairway carved on the side of the cliff to the 3 sisters and walk across a bridge to the 1st sister
Still can. There are two stairways down into the valley and each is a spectacular journey (particularly the Giant Stairway) but only suitable for the reasonably fit.
Loved this video, thank you. The Blue Mountains is the largest wet canyon system in the world, with over 800 canyons and also forms the widest canyon. So glad you enjoyed it!
Been to the Blue Mountains many times over the years as I've never lived more than an hour and a half from there my whole life. It is one of my favourite places to visit and I know how truly blessed I am to live near an incredible place. Loved this video so much, glad you both enjoyed it too and I hope everything is going well at home. Love to the fur babies x
Thank you for sharing your experience as a nervous sightseer Rob because many people experience that with rides or heights and seeing how you feel about each ride will really help many people prepare for their visits. As much as I love the mountains I can sometimes struggle with the vast expanses and heights. Charli is a calm & encouraging partner and that’s so important if you are with anyone who can get the wobbles.
You had a wonderful clear day to see the view. It’s great to see the mountains in all their moods, sometimes foggy and misty and you wouldn’t even know those valleys are there! Through your eyes we can see how the truly epic landscapes of Australia impact the imagination when people first see them. We can see across to the blue mountains from our part of Sydney and they never lose their magic or majesty.
Ps meant to add the smells of the mountains are so divine! Could almost sense them through the screen, it would’ve been so fresh there on a windy day.
I'm so glad you guys had a nice time in the Blue Mountains. I haven't been up there in a couple of years but it really is gorgeous. If you are ever in Sydney again in the future (2023 AFL campaign? C'mon..... you know you want to), I'd recommend going the extra 1-2 hours and visiting Jenolan Caves. Truly one of my favourite places in the world. Shout out if you're visiting again and I'm sure one of us Sydneysiders will drive you up there :)
We are coming back same time next year!
As a kid I was well aware of the Blue Mountains through a beautiful postage stamp commemorating the 1813 crossing. Something about that stamp mesmerized me. Since that time I have only flown over it and looked down in awe...
This is one of the many reasons I want to move to rural blue mountains from Sydney. People will be amazed by the scenery that I get to live by everyday. Also I LOVE the cold, the Sydney heat isn’t for me. Sometimes it snows in the further areas of the blue mountains like Orange.
And the Scenic World is used as a Reception centre for events. Our Daughter had her wedding reception at that venue 😍
This is great to see, I am finally heading to the Blue Mountains next week for the first time in my long life and we were wondering whether to go to Scenic World. Can’t wait!
Majestic! Thank you for showcasing our Blue Mountains.
While the Blue Mountains are spectacular (not to mention The Grampians), it's the Flinders Ranges and more outback areas that do it for me. The sky is just so vast. I love it!!!
Experiences like this is why some of us are so protective when it comes to conservation. Nourishment for the soul is the feeling you were trying to relay I think.
Glad you two enjoyed the Blue Mountains. As a Sydney boy I have been there quite a few times. But Rob has encouraged me to give the Scenic rail etc a go sometime.
Imagine the first settlers seeing these sights 200 odd years ago - it really must have seemed like another planet.
Just over the mountains you have the beautiful Central West of NSW. I love getting out to Bathurst and Mudgee.
Next time you are here try and get to Hargraves lookout which is on the western edge of the mountains, it will nock your sox off. Also our version of the Grand Canyon is on the northern edge and is an entirely different aspect of the Blue Mountains.
hi Aussie, which road do you use/take to get to the Northern edge?
@@gbsailing9436 Take the Great Western Highway and turn onto Evans Lookout Rd which is between Medlow Bath and Blackheath. I think it is temporarily closed due to the weather.
@@aussiejohn5835 I took Rob and Charlie up the Evans Look out road, It was indeed closed as was the other one. Which was why I then took them to the Anvil Rock. Spectacular area.
@@gbsailing9436 Thats a pity as they are the most spectacular of all but you did a great job in showing them what you could and now the world has also been introduced to the area.
@@aussiejohn5835 Thanks John. Yes I vaguely remember going there some years ago with my other English friends. I was trying to think of the ones that has a small sharp stair case down the to the lookout point. Was that back near the 3 sisters? I think it was closed.
Breathtaking...in a word. While I grew up living in a National Park (Grampians in Victoria) which is similar Blue Mountains for a first time visit are spectacular. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
So glad you got to visit the 'Blueys'. I had the pleasure of living there for 3 years and every day I found something new and beautiful to behold. The word you are looking for is 'breath-taking'.
In the first settlement in Botany Bay, no-one was able to climb or otherwise summit or get over The Great Dividing Range (that goes the length of Australia's east Coast from Far North QLD to Victoria). A PRIZE WAS MOOTED for the First to find a way to Climb them. The winners eventually as years rolled on, found a way to climb them and see the splendor of the wilderness beyond. They were. Gregory Blaxland, Charles Lawson & William Charles Wentworth- the latter of whom, went on to 'do some underhand dealing' to acquire a Spanish Sheep - The Marino. By 1950 there were 150 million Marinos & 7Million Australians. [there was even a Service Station (fuel) "GOLDEN FLEECE" named after them -as many will recall fondly] thanks Rob + Charlie
Correction. I typed 150 sheep by 1960. The number should have been 350 Million to 7 million Australians. 🙂
"Blew mountains away and his three sisters" - Austen Tayshus
Heard everyone talk about these all my life as I live here but I never realised how beautiful they were. This is an amazing video and the only one that’s made me want to go to Sydney and experience the Blue Mountains. They kinda look like tablelands rather than mountains.
That’s exactly what they are, folded up from the Sydney Basin with the Lapstone Fault and Monocline on the eastern side and folded and eroded on the western side. Early explorers tried to cross the mountains by following the valleys but that just ended in huge cliff faces and disappointment until Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson climbed up the monocline and, once up on the plateau, followed some aboriginal foot trails that followed the ridges and made it across. That trail is now (mostly) today’s Great Western Highway, a major arterial route from Sydney to the country’s interior. From 1788 until 1813, none of the explorers had been able to cross what the aboriginal people had been crossing successfully for tens of thousands of years.
I have two nieces living in the Blue Mountains, but my best memories are from the "70's...a little less commercial then, but, the both of you do a wonderful job of reminding me and I hope you have lot's of people overseas who are jealous of you....I am!
The best holiday we've ever had, crossing Australia on the Indo-Pacific Railway with silver service. 💕💕
That area is like a great canyon, but forest clad and green under the blue haze.
Thank you, my grandmother lived in the Blue Mountains and I’ve done a lot of walking there but not recently. I’ve done numerous walks that drop 1000 feet down into those valleys, walking and camping for a day or two or three, and then an incredible climb up at the other end. But after not being there for a while you start to believe the lie that ‘these aren’t really mountains’ ‘they have much bigger mountains overseas’. Its good to see it through another’s eyes. It really is a spectacular vast wilderness.
Over the years I've walked down into the valley below Perry Lookdown, from boths sides of the valley. It's another glorious world down there. Years ago you could find brumbies (wild horses) roaming through the Blue Gum forest. The blackened tree trunks around you at Perry's are reminders of the years of drought and the fierce bush fires that ravaged many parts oif Eastern Australia in 2019.
It doesn’t go around, it only goes out and comes back. I hope you went to the janolan caves while you were in this area. Amazing caves with about six open to the public as a guided tour, about 45 minutes to an hour under ground. Amazing decoration throughout these caves.
Glad you are enjoying our ,beautiful country. I am enjoying watching your travels, thank you for sharing.
The Blue Mountains is a part of The Great Dividing Range which extends from northern Queensland to Victoria. It took white men till 1815, 27 years after The First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove to find a way through that maze of trees, gullies, valleys and high hills to the plains of NSW.
That brought back some memories. I haven't been to the Blue Mountains since the late 80's. The tourist train going down the mountain was a lot different back when I went, open, less protection and made of wood and metal... rattled as it went down and back up. A lot less people back then.
For a real scary ride in The Blue Mountains, choose a day of thick fog, where you can barely see past the front of the car, to drive on the roads through them. Pure terror! And sadly we didn't see any views that day!
The zigzag railway before it burnt down, when you'd wake up to the occasional snow, always stopping in Springwood to load up for the trip into Sydney. The life that was close enough to the city but still 5mins from bliss.
To add a couple of points: 60 years ago you could see the headwaters of the Warragamba Dam to the SE of Echo Point. The dam is the main watr supply for Sydney. I don't know if they are still visible, but the dam needs to be pretty full. Don't stop at Echo Point but travel on to Blackheath with views over the Grose Valley and then to Mt Victoria where a short walk from the station will give you views SW toward Jenolan Caves, west to the Great Divide and straight down to the Hartley Valley.
Wow, you certainly have got yourselves around our country. I'm so pleased that you have enjoyed your time here and thank you for sharing such a special time with us.