Blue Mountains

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passage through the mountains and thus opened up the route to the grazing land beyond, of which the settlers were in such urgent need. After 1875 well-to-do citizens of Sydney discovered the charms of the scenery and built holiday homes in the mountains that offered a refuge from the heat of summer on the coast.

Once the Blue Mountains - 'blue' because of the intensification of the bluish tones of the solar spectrum by particles of eucalyptus oil suspended in the air - could be reached only by coach or by rail: nowadays they are less than two hours by car from the center of Sydney. Large numbers of visitors come to Katoomba every day on coach tours or by train.

In spite of intensive tourist development along the Great Western Highway only a small part of the Blue Mountains is directly accessible for day trippers. The sheer rock faces of the mountains, which rise up to 1100 m, and the deep wooded gorges close much of the area to all but thoroughly experienced bush walkers and rock climbers. There are climbing schools running courses for beginners or more advanced climbers.