Before I came to Australia everyone told me that I had to visit the Blue Mountains. Now, I can’t say that I’m majorly into looking at, or trekking up mountains (everyone knows I’m lazy) but this was the best thing I have EVER done.

Apart from the breath taking landscape, our amazing tour guide Smokey made the day. A blend of Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin, a cracker of a man who you’d definitely want on your pub quiz team or if you ever find yourself lost in the wilderness. Bear Grills has nothing on this man.

Climbing into the minibus at 7:15am was a struggle I admit but we were soon woken up by the ‘warning talk’ and liability forms we had to sign. Watching everyone subtly inspect their shoes for the level of spider and snake protection was amusing to say the least. To be honest even I started to wish I’d dumped a few clothes and brought steel toe capped hiking boots instead.

Our day started in true Steve Irwin style, getting up close and personal with Huntsman spiders and wild kangaroos in the bush.

Then the trekking commenced, a total of 3,000 steps to beautiful look out points throughout the Blue Mountains.

From a distance the Blue Mountains are bathed in a blue haze due to the gasses emitted by the eucalypt forest.

Wentworth Falls

Three Sisters

The Three Sisters aboriginal creation story

Long ago in the Blue Mountains there lived three little Aboriginal sisters. They were Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, whose Witch Doctor father was called Tyawan.

Only one creature was feared by all – the Bunyip who lived in a deep hole. When Tyawan had to pass the hole, he would leave his daughters safely on the cliff behind a rocky wall. One day, waving goodbye to his daughters, he descended the cliff steps. On top of the cliff a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meehni, who threw a stone at it. The stone rolled over the cliff and crashed into the valley.

Birds, animals and fairies stopped still as the rocks behind the three sisters split open, leaving them on a thin ledge.

The angry Bunyip emerged to see the terrified sisters. In the valley, Tyawan saw the Bunyip close to his daughters, so he pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them to stone. The Bunyip then chased Tyawan, who found himself trapped in a cave, so he changed himself into a Lyre Bird. Everyone was safe, but Tyawan had dropped his magic bone. After the Bunyip had gone, Tyawan searched and searched for his bone – and he is still searching.

The Three Sisters stand silently watching him from their ledge, hoping he will find the bone to turn them back to Aboriginal girls.

To anyone visiting Australia, The Blue Mountains day trip is a must!

Downunder Adventures