Sydney Off the Beaten Path Tips by margaretvn

Get out of the city (only a short distance) and visit the Blue Mountains.
This has been the home to Aboriginal communities for some 14,000 years and at first it was a formidable barrier for the white settlers. The Blue Mountains are 1100 metres above sea level at their highest point and this kept the colonists virtual prisoners around the Sydney cove area. The early colonists thought that plains for grazing and crop farming would be better beyond the mountain but repeated attempts to cross the mountains failed. It was not until 1813 that three farmers set out on a well planned mission and got to the western side of the range successfully. Since the 1870’s though it has been a popular holiday resort. In 1959 the National Park was set up ensuring the safe keeping of the area The landscape has been developing over about 250 million years as sediments built up and then eroded, forming sheer cliff faces and canyons. The mountains get their name from the oil that is released from the eucalyptus trees which causes a blue haze. There are some lovely hikes and drives throughout the park. The Three Sisters were formed by erosion and Aboriginal legend says that the rock is in fact three sisters imprisoned for their own protection by their father.

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This park is just an hour from Sydney and is a lovely place to see the Australian animals and birds. It is open every day except Christmas Day from 09.00 until 17.00
The Koala enclosure is open 10.. until 11.30 and 14.30 until 15.30
At 217 Kildare Rd Doonside

Getting there:
By car: from Sydney take the Great Western Highway, turn off onto Doonside road where the park is signposted
By public transport: by train to Blacktown, then bus (nr 725) from the station
By coach tour daily from Sydney, information phone 622 1644

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Phone: 622 1644

Really off the beaten path but well worth a visit, is Wave Rock in the little place of Hyden. We hired a car in Perth and drove 350 kilometres along the Tonkin Highway to see it.

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While visiting the Wave Rock at Hyden walk along it on top or in the shade to the Hippo Cave. It really does look like a hippo's mouth.

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