Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains, Australia

The Blue Mountains get their name from the natural blue haze created by vast eucalypt forests in this World Heritage area. Tiny droplets of oil released from the trees mix with water vapour and sunlight to produce the distinctive colour. Enjoy crisp mountain air, beautiful panoramas, charming villages, one of the world’s oldest cave systems, and exhilarating adventures in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney. You can even see dinosaur trees in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. This is a great Australian escape and a natural wonder of the world.

Population:

Latest census 76,000

Currency:

Australian Dollar (1 AUD=100 cents)

Emergency Numbers:

Police, Fire and Ambulance 000

Opening Hours:

Newspapers:

Blue Mountains Gazette
The Echo Community Newspaper
Blue Mountains Life Magazine

Top things to do

Breathtaking panoramas of giant ravines, sandstone plateaus, piercing pinnacles, vast forests and cascading waterfalls, and journeys into 340 million-year-old cathedral caves, are the amazing highlights of this World Heritage wilderness, near Sydney.

The towns of the Blue Mountains

The majestic Blue Mountains have lured travellers for decades. Named a World Heritage site in 2000, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area contains eight national parks and protected areas, four internationally significant wetlands and a rich cultural tradition of some six Aboriginal groups dating back many thousands of years. More than 1,500 species of plants and a third of Australia’s bird species live in an area ten times older than the Grand Canyon. With luxury retreats, charming villages and towns, and a flourishing artistic community, it's easy to see why the Blue Mountains are a sanctuary for explorers, adventurers and those seeking tranquillity.

Do and See

The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains offer many exhilarating adventures and experiences, from walking trails and abseiling to golf and gardens. Deeply connected to Aboriginal culture, the Blue Mountains also offer wonderful insights into The Dreaming and indigenous heritage. Enjoy tours with Aboriginal guides on walking trails through the spectacular wilderness and see traditional dance and music.

Restaurants and bars

The Blue Mountains are home to many committed chefs who create delicious dishes using fresh seasonal produce for which the area is renowned. But it’s not only the award-winning restaurants - boutique bakeries, artisan producers of fine foods, and farmers markets ensure the Blue Mountains have an abundance of great food. Influences include Asian, French and other European cuisine, but contemporary Australian is the typical menu choice attributed to the region.