Oh hi there! How have you been? I thought I would take you to stop number two today on my Down Under Tour. To recap, we have already visited the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Well, today we are going to the Blue Mountains, Australia. What’s that? You’ve never heard of the Blue Mountains? Well, let me show you what you are missing!
The Blue Mountains are located about 1.5 to 2 hours outside of Sydney. It is part of the Great Dividing Range, which is the longest land based mountain range. It divides the coast of Australia with the outback. It was name as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000. The Hubs actually grew up in the Blue Mountains and we stayed with his family while we were there.
There are endless activities you can do while staying in the Blue Mountains but we decided just to do a select few. Of course we had to visit Katoomba and the most iconic spot in the Blue Mountains, the Three Sisters. The view is incredible! Side note- at the end of my study abroad, my mom came out to meet me and I took her here. I signed us up for abseiling on these rocks. She didn’t even know what abseiling was. Well, she does now!
You can actually hike down to the base of the Three Sisters, which provides even more unbelievable views!
My in-laws booked us in this amazing lunch at Echoes which overlooks the mountains. The food and the views were unlike anything I had ever experienced!
There are tons of hikes you can around the Blue Mountains, which I highly recommend because you can see so much of the Australian native wildlife. There are so many species of animals that live in Australia that are not present in any other part of the world. Plus the hikes all smell amazing because of the eucalyptus trees. Quick trivia: Why is this range called the Blue Mountains?
Answer: The essential oil in the eucalyptus leaves evaporates into the air and creates a bluish hue.
Another must see attraction in the Blue Mountains are the Jenolan Caves. This was my first time to the Jenolan Caves and it was absolutely incredible! The Caves, made of limestone, were discovered in the late 1830s and stretch over 40 km. It took us two hours to explore just one cave and there are many with some still being discovered.
Our tour was quite eventful. We walked into the cave with our tour guide, which was actually only a tiny passageway, and all of a sudden we were plunged into darkness. With no natural light is impossible to see a thing. I was attempting not to freak out when all of a sudden our guide used a lighter to create a small fire light. He explained that before modern lighting, this is how explorers viewed the caves. Honestly, I couldn’t see a foot in front of me. Luckily with a flip of the switch our tour guide lit the cave passageway and when we looked up we were greeted with a view I have never seen before in my life!
The tour continued with us following our guide through darkened passageways and then suddenly the light would come on and we were treated to magnificent rock formations.
It was such a spectacular experience to explore these caves but the act of preparing the caves for visitors actually destroys the habitat of the caves so any new caves being discovered are not available for public viewing.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to view what is available to the public. It is something I will probably never see again in my life unless I go back!
If you are interested in seeing more photos, check out my Google+ album!
Readers, have you ever visited a mountain range-what did you see? Ever seen caves? Do you like Eucalyptus?
Paige@FitNotFad
January 26, 2014Very cool! The Three Sisters mountains look so cool! I would love to go on the tour that takes you to the bottom of those. I love mountains! 🙂
FitBritt
January 28, 2014They are a lot of fun! There are so many hikes you could do them for days and days!
Paige@FitNotFad
January 26, 2014Very cool! The Three Sisters mountains look so cool! I would love to go on the tour that takes you to the bottom of those. I love mountains! 🙂
Paige@FitNotFad
January 26, 2014Very cool! The Three Sisters mountains look so cool! I would love to go on the tour that takes you to the bottom of those. I love mountains! 🙂
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
January 27, 2014Wow it doesn’t even look real!!! You are my go-to guide for a future trip to Australia (it will happen one day!!)
Jillienne @ ChasingRaspberries
January 27, 2014She’s my go-to guide too!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Haha! Glad I could be of service! 🙂
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
January 27, 2014Absolutely amazing! I would love to go to Australia someday! I am adding your post to my Vacation board on Pinterest!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Yay! Exciting! Australia is such an amazing country!
Nicole
January 27, 2014This is right up my alley for traveling… it looks amazing! I know what you mean about being a bit freaked out in a dark cave — It was a similar scenario when I went to the world’s largest ice cave in Austria last year. Each of us had a lantern to help light the way, but that was the only source of light in there and it was quite icy and slippery everywhere. I just kept thinking that I really didn’t want to fall!
Now I’m curious… did you meet your hubby while studying abroad? I didn’t know that he’s from Australia until this post!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014I can’t imagine having to go through a cave with a lantern! At least there were lights once we got to each spot! It was pretty slippery though and it was kind of narrow!
I did meet him when I was studying abroad! We met my junior year when I studied in Australia. I then moved to Australia for two years where we lived together before moving to NYC so I could attend law school! That’s why we get to go to Australia every few years to see his parents but this trip was pretty epic!
Kim
January 27, 2014Wow – so amazing!! The stalactites in that cave are incredible!!!
I’ve been in a few caves and I never even thought about the damage done by making them “tourist” ready.
Those mountains are so beautiful!!!
I’m loving all of your Australia posts!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Thanks Kim! I have a few more planned (it was a long trip!). I was so excited to see the caves because I had never seen them before!
Joi @ Rx Fitness Lady
January 27, 2014Thanks for all the pictures and the history lesson. This is truly amazing. I felt like I was there. I think I may have mentioned this before, but you and your mother are like twins!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Haha! Thanks! She would love to hear that!
Tara
January 27, 2014I would love to see this one day, although I am a afraid of darkness and enclosed spaces…so maybe it might not be the best idea. The biggest cave (I think) is in Vietnam and I would like to go there as well!
Take me with you next time, love these posts!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Yeah if you don’t like darkness or enclosed spaces this tour is probably not for you! But the views are pretty breathtaking!
You can join Davida in my suitcase next time! 🙂
Allie
January 27, 2014Your pictures are AMAZING! I had no clue all this was in Australia. I especially love the ones of the caves since I’ve started booking my trip to Spain and Portugal and there’s supposed to be some amazing caves in Obidos, Portugal that I think my kids are going to LOVE! If their anything like these then we’re in for a treat!
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Oh my gosh your kids are going to have so much fun in Spain & Portugal! There were a few kids on my tour and they loved it! How long are you guys going to go for?
Allie
January 29, 2014We’re going for 12 days and we’re spending quite a bit of time in Portugal. I’m getting really excited!!
Maureen@Scoops of Joy
January 28, 2014Oh WOW! What an amazing adventure you had there. Thank you for sharing the pictures and the story. Would love to see the blue mountains too one day *make mental note to ask boyfriend* lol.
FitBritt
January 28, 2014Is your boyfriend from Australia? I saw in your Reverse Bucket list that you went to Melbourne to see him? So cool!
Carly @ Fine Fit Day
February 3, 2014Great post and beautiful photos of my hometown! 😉 I think it’s so funny we met in NYC and both know the Blue Mountains so well! Glad I found your blog through the cooking event, Brittany!
FitBritt
February 3, 2014Hi Carly! It was so good to meet you at the cooking event! It makes the world seem like a smaller place! 🙂
Also, I am pleased to tell you that we got the green card on Friday! 🙂