IT is the closest World Heritage-listed area to a major capital city in the world, so travelling to Sydney without making the trip to see the spectacular Blue Mountains is almost unthinkable.
Named for the distinct blue haze of the mountains when viewed from a distance – caused by vapour from the abundant eucalyptus trees in the region – the Blue Mountains range has an area of some 11,440sqkm, rises 1190m above sea level and boasts gorges up to 760m deep.
Just 50km from the Sydney city centre, numerous bus tours take tourists out to the mountains daily for between one and four days, many of which include pick-up from city hotels.
Opting for the day trip, we were picked up from our hotel on a cold but beautifully clear Sunday morning.
The journey from Sydney to the banks of the Nepean River, which marks the beginning of the Blue Mountains, takes less than an hour.
At this point, the tour follows the same path set by explorers Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, who succeeded in crossing the previously “impassable barrier” in 1813.
The first road through the mountains was completed in 1815 and the first toll house was built shortly after in Glenbrook, which marks the next stop in the tour.
Being a long weekend, this area of the Blue Mountains was packed with campers, hikers and visitors.
It is a chance to stretch your legs, take in the natural beauty and even see a kangaroo or two in the wild.
The next stop examines Aboriginal links to this land. Aborigines have lived in the Blue Mountains for some 20,000 years and a 400-year-old rock engraving tells the story of a tribe hunting a kangaroo for food.
Remarkably well preserved, it gives an insight into life in the region before European settlement.
Then it is on to Wentworth Falls and the first opportunity to truly look out across the grandeur of the ranges. Wentworth Falls is a stunning three-tiered waterfall, 187m in height.
Leura, a small town of fewer than 5000 people, is the ideal place to stop for lunch.
With large takeaway food chains banned from the area, its historic streetscape has been preserved.
Wander through traditional shops, bakeries and pubs, or have lunch at one of the many restaurants.
From there, it is on to some of the major tourist attractions in the Blue Mountains.
The Scenic Skyway takes visitors on a 720m journey 270m above ravines and waterfalls. A glass floor and 360-degree views highlight the full beauty of the region.
Once on the other side, you get the first full view of the famous Three Sisters rock formation, which towers above the Jamison Valley and was formed by erosion over millions of years.
The Scenic Cableway is the steepest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere and takes you on a 545m ride into the rainforest area of the Jamison Valley.
There, the Scenic Walkway winds 2.8km through the ancient rainforest, with the guide offering insight into the local flora and fauna, and the history of the valley.
The Marrangaroo Spring also gives visitors the chance to fill their water bottles with pure Blue Mountains water.
Then the Scenic Railway takes you back to the top on the steepest incline railway in the world – the 415m ascent is a hair-raising ride.
The return journey includes a stop at Homebush Bay, before a ferry takes you on a relaxing cruise back to Circular Quay in Sydney.
A day hardly seems enough time, but it does offer a beautiful glimpse of this region on Sydney’s doorstep.
The writer was a guest of Great Southern Rail.