Well here I am in the Blue Moutains, Katoomba is the town, looking over the treetops into the blue beyond. And what an packed four days I have had since I flew out of Melbourne on Saturday.
The gig was to spend a couple of days in Sydney catching up with friends and doing a bit of sightseeing, which despite having been there half a dozen times, I had never done in earnest, and to spend a couple of days in the Blue Mountains. I had been to Katoomba before but that was on my round the world expedition which was about 18 years ago and when I arrived, it was thick mist which kinda defeated the object of the exercise – more later.
So Sydney. Well all was planned, catch flight, land and head straight to lunch with some friends had met the previous week in Cairns, have lunch with them and then to hotel and onwards. However, good old Qantas bless them, could not deliver the goods. Flight was delayed over an hour, which would not be so bad apart from the fact that Qantas fly hourly to Sydney. The icing on the cake was when I checked at the information desk about reason for the delay – I was informed “mechanical problems” – classic! When I raised an eyebrow (or two), the response was, “but it is in the air”. Yippee!
Anyway was not all bad, had managed to squeeze a business class tickets out of my frequent flyer points, so not as if I was paying to be delayed. And I must say, even though the flight was only just over an hour, flying business was quite a pleasure. Which I could say the same for the landing in Sydney – felt more like I was on a bouncy castle.
Anyhow managed to catch a taxi and get into Surry Hills in time for lunch, and a pleasant time was a had by all. And then onto Mr M and his luxurious residence off Oxford St, a quick beverage or two and then to my hotel. I had decided to try out a new place, the Hughenden Hotel, which was drowning in history and was, I had thought in a good location. It was, except it was at the other end of Oxford Street, ie at the top of the hill and not the bottom. This is material as central Sydney is at the bottom of the hill and the hill is rather steep in places. Still it gave me the chance to get some serious exercise which I have been sadly lacking over the past few weeks.
The hotel was very edwardian and fitted the bill. Went out for a few beers in the evening and then to bed – a rather spacious kings size bed – but without a map telling you where to disembark.
Brekkie in the morning. It had been raining in the night and rather heavily and I was hoping it had deicded that was enough so I could do my touristy stuff. I was kinda in luck. Headed down the hill and into town tacking a turn to the left at the bottom of the hill thinking I was heading to Circular Quay which is kinda where all transport gravitates towards. However I had stuffed up the geography and after realising I was lost, asked a kindly local who indicated I was about half an hour adrift of where I wanted to be and that a bus was the best solution. So a bus I took which sped through the streets and to my destination. Off the bus I got and down it poured. Ho hum. Anyhow not to be defeated I directed myself towards the info centre and from there located the nearest stop for the Sydney Explorer and low and behold there it was waiting for me – good timing eh!
As my legs were about to drop through overuse I decided to stay on the bus for most of the trip which took in some 29 stops during a two hour journey. This was very useful as I had never got my head round al the different suburbs or sussed out where Kings Cross was in relation to Wooloomooloo – and yes there is a place with that many “o”s in its name. By the time I had got round the whole trip it was time to head back to Oxford St for lunch. Had arranged to meet another mate from Cairns, and we were joined by Mr M (who was looking pretty sonambulic). After food and a catch up, headed back to hotel for a power nap and then out with Mr M to some club in a hotel – all very confusing. However I was flagging after a fairly full day so left mid evening for an early night.
So by now it must be Monday, which here is the Queens Birthday and a public holiday. Ironic as we do not have a public holiday, though I recollect with work we used to get an extra day off. The joys of public service.
Had brekkie and then decided to embark on an expedition into Centennial Park which was located diagonally opposite from the hotel and seemed to me some kind of mecca for power walkers and women in lycra. Was quite a large park and very pleasant walking around the circuit, although almost took the wrong gate in exiting the park. Then packed and caught the bus down the hill and trundle towards Central Station and onto my Katoomba bound train – which was in the platform over half an hour before departure so was able to pick a choice seat and use my Paddington stare when undesirables appeared.
The journey was a very pleasant couple of hours trundle through the ‘burbs and then into the country and was accompanied mostly by good weather. Until we got to Lawson and then the mist appeared. How I chuckled. When I last came to Katoomba, I had planned to spend two days exploring the very scenic blue mountain region. That requires clear weather. I had two days of mist, thick mist. I thought here we go again. Well when I got to Katoomba station, the weather was beginning to improve slightly and there were patches of clear sky so my spirits lifted.
I was booked into the Katoomba Mountain Lodge which was the place I vaguely remembered staying at last time I was here. What a surprise I had. The room could hardly squeeze in a double bed, had a one bar electric heater affixed half way up the wall and was directly above the owners living quarters and that of their small, but vocal, little child. Spirits slighted tarnished, I headed off to explore the town and caught the Blue Moutains Explorer Bus (BME
staying on it for the whole hour to sus out what was what and the location of the places I would visit the next day. All good.
A night spent at KML was one night too many. Dreadful. Cold. And uncomfortable – the mattress had seen better days – though I guess could tell some tales!
Tuesday, I got up early and headed off to the YHA which had a good review in the Lonely Planet. The woman behind the desk guessed straight away where I was staying after I had explained my predicament. She also told me that the KML used to be in a different building but had moved – this could explain why I had not recognised the place when I had had a look around. Anyhow they fixed my up with a decent room and ENSUITE – how I love ensuite!!
Once had moved stuff into YHA, I set off for a full day of adventure. As the BMEB did not start it first round trip till 9.45, I walked down to Scenic World which was not too far. Was very touristy but good fun, a trip almost vertically downwards to the floor of the valley accompanied by Indiana Jones music and then a walk around the rain forest accompanied by a huddle of Japansese tourists (they were everywhere). And then up on the cable car, not too bad up to the top of the valley. All good. And then the Skyway. Oh me oh my!! Some 545 metres above ground – ok if you do not suffer from vertigo – I suffer from vertigo and was gripping onto the metal rail prepared to crush it!
At the other, bless ‘em the Japanese tourists decided to journey back on
the skyway. Me, looking for a bit of peace, embarked on a bit of a walk to the chocolate factory. A walk up a very steep hill and more exercise was amply rewarded by a big mug of latte and a scrummy slice of mango and passion fruit cheesecake. Bought some choccies too.
And then to Echo Point and, wait for it, more Japanese tourists – bus loads of them. Anyhow that was more than outweighed by the fact that the mists and clouds were quite quickly clearing to reveal some of the most stunning views I have ever seen. I was over the moon!
After going mad with the camera, I headed off to a trek down to the three sisters. A gentle trundle initially. However this was soon to turn into a metal stairway, a very steep metal stairway which hugged the edge of the escarpment. The legs began to go and the project was subsequently abandoned. I headed back up. However, there were a junction which I had noticed on my descent to the Prince Henry walk which looked invited and went via the Leura Falls which was my next port of call. I thought why not – 3kms – not that far. So off I headed into one of the best walks I have done. The sun got ever stronger and the sky cleared. Bliss!
Passed by various lookouts and took photos where the wow factors was pretty full on and could be encapsulated into a small screen. Finally got to Leura Falls in time for the next bus and took it to Leura itself where I had much deserved beer and steak sandwhich. This was followed by a spot of shopping and then a trundle down to Gordon Falls – more stunning views – and to the Toy and Railway Museum established by the first secretary of the UN if I have my facts correct.
Then back into town, a visit to a tea pot museum – bizarre, and then back to base. This final journey was taken using a local bus (not just for local people I believe). I was the only one on the bus and he got chatting and recommended the Blackburn Family Hotel in Katoomba for a decent steak that night. I took him up on his recommendation and it was spot on, accompanied by more beer – I am becoming a beer monster! Then back to the YHA via Coles to get some provision for the journey back to Sydney and beyond.
