The Blue Mountains are part of the
Great Dividing Range that separates the coastal area of Sydney from the western plains.
The convicts believed that China lay beyond the impenetrable range.
From the time the
Europeans settled here, it took another 25 years to find a path through the Blue
Mountains. Eventually when a path was found, the explorers found evidence of Aborigine
people but not the people themselves. In all probability, European diseases had travelled
ahead and killed the Aborigines.
The mountains have lush eucalyptus forests that give off a fine mist of
oil, creating a blue haze that gives its name to the range. They are everything you could
want from a mountain range. Beautiful scenery, adventurous cliffs and gorges, exciting
bushwalks (most areas are so precipitous that only experienced bushwalkers are allowed)
are some of the high points. It's been the favourite getaway for Sydneysiders for decades
and is a very popular tourist resort. Watch out for the climatic difference between the
coastal areas and the mountains. At a height of 1100 meters the mountains are chilly, even
in summers. It even snows in July - August and the area celebrates Yuletide Festival in
full Christmas regalia.
