Blue Mountains Area - Katoomba
The World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains have become one of the most consistently popular holiday regions of Australia. Numerous visitors return year after year to enjoy the wide range of sporting facilities and outdoor activities in the healthy, invigorating climate. The breathtaking scenic beauty, nostalgic appeal and opportunity for relaxation attract more than a million visitors each year.
The Blue Mountains are easily reached by road and rail from Sydney in less than 2 hours, while one day round trip coach services run daily from Sydney to Katoomba. The wide diversity of accommodation and great range of activities available makes it an ideal destination for a stay of longer duration.
Evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the Blue Mountains dates back at least 14 000 years ago. Many camp sites, art sites, axe grinding grooves, rock engravings and stone tools and flakes exist throughout the Blue Mountains. The Daruk, Gundungurra and Wiradjuri Aboriginal tribes existed in the central, south and western areas of the Blue Mountains respectively. All Aboriginal sites and relics are protected. The Legend of the Three Sisters states that according to Gundungurra dreaming, three beautiful giant sisters named “Meehni”, “Wimlah” and “Gunnedoo” once lived with the Gundungurra people in the Jamison Valley
Adjoining the Great Dividing Range and known as a City within a National Park the Blue Mountains has vast, serene bushland, cliffs and gorges, wilderness areas, waterfalls and rivers and a blue haze that gives it a unique beauty which changes with light and weather. The City occupies some 1436 square kilometres and the population is scattered across 110 kms of ridgeline in 26 towns and villages.