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The Blue Mountains do in fact appear blue - a unique mountainous panorama. The dense forests of eucalypt trees release droplets of oil that cause the blue light rays of the sun to be scattered more effectively. This intensifies the usual light refraction and results in mountains that appear blue from a distance.
| Blue Mountains Hotels Cars Tour Specials | |
| Blue Mountains National Park | |
The Blue Mountains National Park can be reached just over 50 kilometres, 30 miles west of Sydney. Waterfalls and cascades look silver as they glide and tumble over sandstone ledges into pools surrounded by ferns and mosses. Narrow gullies protect pockets of warm temperate rainforest filled with ferns, mosses and vines. The elegant, superb lyrebird, golden whistler, satin bowerbird and rufous fantail all live in the wet forests. Along the creek banks platypus, water-dragons and skinks are often seen.
| Blue Mountain Heritage Centre | |
The Heritage Centre in Blackheath, which presents the geological, Aboriginal and European histories of the region, is the best place to start exploration. One walking track extends to Govetts Leap Lookout where the view of the Grose Valley and Bridal Veil Waterfall is one of the Blue Mountains greatest sights.
A spectacular rock formation known as the Three Sisters is the result of erosion. Aboriginal legend has is that the rock is in fact three sisters, imprisoned by their father to protect them from a bunyip.
| Blue Mountain Scenic Skyway | |
The Scenic Skyway is Australias only horizontal cable ride. The cable car takes passengers 350 metres, 382.8 yards across a deep gorge suspended from a cable 226 metres, 247.2 yards above the Jamison Valley.
| Sceniscender Aerial Tramway | |
A new aerial tramway called the Sceniscender has been added to the original Railway and Skyway. After leaving the top station the aerial tram drops steeply over the edge of a 100-metre, 109.4 yard cliff, travels 554 metres, 605.9 yards then rests on the rainforest floor of the Jamison Valley.
Around 450 million years ago when Australias eastern coastline was further inland, coral atolls developed around a series of partially submerged volcanoes, the coral became compressed and developed into Australias most spectacular limestone caves.
Central Blue Mountains Blue Mountains NSW - New South Wales
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New South Wales - Map of Blue Mountains Australia
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