Sydney, Australia -- Day 2

Aerial tram crossing the gorge in the Blue Mountains

Railway that takes you to the rainforest valley

Walkway in the rain forest valley

Steep cliffs, ferns and eucalyptus trees

The scenic Blue Mountains 

 We drove about 35 miles northwest of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, a region known for its steep cliffs and temperate rain forest with ferns and eucalyptus trees.  Our first stop was Echo Point, where we viewed the large rock formation called the "three sisters."  Next we went to the Katoomba Scenic World and were able to view the area on 3 scenic rides that cross the rainforest and gorge:  a cable car with glass floor, an aerial tram, and a railway that was once used to carry coal out of the mines in the valley.

The Blue Mountains are so named because, from Sydney, they look blue. They are clad in vast forests of eucalypts (commonly called gum trees), which in the hot sun discharge a fine mist of eucalyptus oil from their leaves. The mist refracts light, which makes the haze look blue at a distance.

The Three Sisters