Kms in Katoomba

I woke up at 6am on Boxing Day (26^th) to Skype with my family (who were celebrating Christmas) and then lazed around before heading out to catch the train to the Blue Mountains.

The train was great. It was comfy, spacious and quite empty, allowing me to stretch out across 3 seats and take a nap for the duration of the 2.5hr journey. When I awoke, I was in the Blue Mountains with only a couple of stops between me, and my destination, Katoomba.

After checking in at my hostel, I unloaded my bags and went to explore the town. By the time I got to the far side of main street, (which is about a 15 minute walk) dark clouds rolled in, and it began to rain. Caught without my rain jacket, I returned back to the hostel where I retired for the night.

The next morning when I stepped outside, the rain to my surprise had stopped. However, thick fog had replaced it. I could not see my hand in front of my face! So – to brekki I went.

Yummy organic bakery where I bought some rolls for brekki at

Katoomba like most of Oz has plenty of used bookstores and second hand shops. (I believe this to be because these stores are the only affordable stores Oz has to offer). I browsed through store after store, waiting for the weather to clear.

This picture was taken in color - not B&W, despite the outcome (thanks, fog)

the "Three Sisters" are there...somewhere behind the fog

By the afternoon I was bored enough that I decided to venture out – regardless of the weather. I bought a pass for the hop on/hop off trolley and headed to Echo Point, where the famed Three Sisters were to be viewed from. Today, the view included a white sheet of fog and that was it. I wandered down a path and walked a bit, eventually finding a spot that was below the fog, that offered great views of the Blue Mountains, which are more like jagged rock formations than mountains. I watched as the SkyTram took people over the valley and then continued walking to Scenic World where the Tram ended, where I caught the trolley back to the city center.

Mesha at Echo Point (even though the fog, made it impossible to see anything)

a view from below the fog (SkyTram in air)

The Blue Mountains, Katoomba, Australia

Scenic World (big tourist attraction)

The next morning the fog had lifted slightly and I was determined to go on a hike. My plan was to take the trolley to Gordon Falls and hike from there to Leura Cascades, then catch the trolley from there to Echo Point, hike the Giant Stairway down to the Three Sisters, and then ride the Scenic SkyRail back to Scenic World, where I could catch the trolley back to the city center.

Mesha at one of the many entrances to the Blue Mountains National Park

However, things would not be an adventure if they went according to plan…right?

This is how the day actually went:

1.     Got to Gordon Falls - minus my camera battery

2.     Waited an hour for the trolley to return, and then went back to the hostel to get my battery and then headed to Gordon Falls for a second time

3.     Hiked Gordon Falls to Leura Cascades (well I actually missed the falls, hiking 3km east of them before realizing such)

4.     Hiked back 3km to see the cascades

5.     Tried to find the trolley at Leura Cascades to ride it to Echo Point (but couldn’t)

6.     Ended up hiking to Echo Point (4km)

7.     Hiked down the Giant Stairway

8.     Hiked back up the Giant Stairway ankle - as I missed the last train back up

9.     Decided that the Giant Stairway is a steep stairway, that feels like death on a sore knee, hip, and ankle.

10. Hiked back to the hostel (as I missed the last shuttle back to it)

11. Collapsed when I got to the hostel, as my 5km hike had turned into a 15km hike.

Happy, even if the fog still made it a little hazy out. 

view from Bridal Veil Lookout

And then they appeared... the Three Sisters!

and my friend that hiked the Giant Stairway with me

Regardless of the mishaps and extended hiking time, I enjoyed the Blue Mountains and escaping the frantic city life. I find I have smiled more while being in the outback, great barrier reef and blue mountains than anywhere in Oz, simply because the outdoors are what truly makes me happy.  The only things left on my To Do list in Oz, now include: seeing an actual Kangaroo (I’ve only seem wallabies and Tree Kangaroos so far) and attending the Australian Open (tennis). Perhaps I will return after seeing them, perhaps I will stay longer…time will only tell. (that and a job).