Newnes to Jenolan Caves

Leaving the upper part of the Blue Mountains, we headed to the old township of Newnes. 

Located in the Newnes National Park. This town was from the early 1900's

was a large scale oil-shale mining town. This was up until the 1930's when the mining operations were moved to Glen Davis and now all that remains of the town are the pub (which is currently being restored) and various crumbling ruins from the oil-shale processing plant. 

The old Newnes Hotel 

Our camp surrounded by Kangaroos

Sunset over the hills 

With many Wombats, Kangaroos, Possums and Ducks surrounding our free camp, I set about trying to hand feed the local wildlife...

 (Ok so those of you who know me, know that this doesn't always go to plan....) 

Feeding the Roos... No problem!

Feeding the Ducks... Even easier! 

Feeding the Possums... Well... For once I didn't actually get bitten!

Feeding one of five possums that came to visit one night.

The moment that this friendly little Possum came up and licked my phone screen.. 

Feeding the wombats... Well... Let's just say that 14yrs ago I tried to feed a wombat.. And this wombat may have charged me and reared up on its hind legs to head butt me in the stomach.. Having been 14yrs since my last real wombat encounter I decided it was time to again get a little closer than a possibly saner person would..

Let's just say that this pretty much didn't work out for me once again.

A twig snapped under my foot when I was approx 2m from what I thought was a docile, lazy wombat. The wombat then, like before, charged me!

I tried my best to jump out the way but this wombat just grunted, put his head down, and proceeded to head straight for me!

Luckily all I recieved was a slight nudge to my leg and no rearing head butt! But what can I say?? Gary and the girls watched on in amusement and were in hysterics when I made it back to the safety of the car! 

Wombats 2

Bree 0

Not so cute and cuddly.. 

Heading out for a drive one day, we made our way to an old Railway Tunnel that has been disused since the 1930's. The tunnel is known to be full of Glow Worms. 

The drive to the tunnel was an adventure in itself! 

We took a 'shortcut' from our camp along a winding 4x4 track before arriving back on the main road to the tunnel.

The road then followed the old railway track, and we had much fun driving through another old railway tunnel. 

Driving through an old railway tunnel 

Crossing a bridge on the hike to the tunnel

The entrance to the Tunnel 

Ella having some fun in the entry to the tunnel 

After a 250m walk in the dark, checking out the glow worms, we came out the other side! 

After a few days spent exploring Newnes, we set of for our next destination.. 

Oberon!

Arriving in Oberon we set up in the local Showgrounds campsite for a few nights. We had heard that Oberon was a great place to go fossicking for Sapphires, so we soon set out to see if we too could find a few more to add to our growing collection! 

After digging around in the extremely hard dirt for a few hours, we managed to find a couple of small pieces of blue sapphire. 

Gary and Tori fossicking through some dug up rocks

Tori sorting/washing some rocks 

Unfortunately not as impressive as a few of our previous finds, we still had a great time trying anyway! 

That night we headed to the local RSL club and managed to win a huge meat tray with a large roast lamb and 9 sausages on it! I was quite happy with this!! 

We drove out to Jenolan Caves and took a tour to explore the Lucas Caves. Having seen quite a few caves before I was a little sceptical as to whether I would think it was impressive/worth the money, but I'm pleased to say that it was worth every cent! 

Walking up, down and around many winding tunnels, we were in awe of the formations that had been created over 1000's of years.

Heading down into the caves 

A formation known as The Broken Column 

This one is called The Bishop due to the Bishop shaped formation on top

There were huge caverns with roofs that reached atleast 4 stories above our heads, and areas not so high where we had to duck our heads to make our way through. 

We learnt all about caving back in the 1800's when only torches were used to guide people deep into the caves. (Now that dos not even slightly interest me!! Arghhhh!!) 

This cave was actually a tunnel that you can drive through! It was HUGE!

The opening of another huge cavern. None of my photos actually show you just how large it is! 

The Main Street of the Jenolan Village 

Next stop.... Canberra! Where we plan to visit Parliament House, The Mint, The various Museums and everything inbetween! 

Xx 

The Blue Mountains, NSW

After a quick stop at Palm Beach to check out where the filming of the TV series 'Home and Away' is filmed, where we managed to see one of the Braxton boys lurking around the Diner, (I'm not up with my Home and Away, so I'm not sure exactly who he was!) haha! 

We then headed up into the hills to check out the Blue Mountains. 

Summer Bay surf club 

The Restaurant used in Home and Away. (I didn't realise it was actually a real restaurant and not just a set.) 

The beachfront regularly filmed in the show.

After a chilly overnight stop roadside, we headed to Scenic World to ride the Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Skyway Cable Car.

The Scenic Railway was by far our favourite.

The railway runs from the top of a mountain and decends straight through the middle to the bottom. 

The original train use to have passengers sitting at a 45 degree angle. The new train now allows those who dare, to experience the already extremely steep decent at what's called the 'Cliffhanger.' 

The Cliffhanger has you sitting at a 62 degree angle, which pretty much has you sliding off your seat!

(We of course chose this option ;))

We rode the train a few times, both up and down the mountain.

Ready to ride the Scenic Railway 

The train 

An old train carriage once used to cart passengers up and down the track. 

We caught the Skyrail over to the other side and walked to the various lookouts to see the Three Sisters rock formation. One of these tracks took us right up to the base of the first of the Three Sisters. 

The Three Sisters 

Family photo at the base of one of the Three Sisters 

We set up camp for the next few nights at a great free camp situated right on top of a mountain.

With 360 degree breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside I just loved this campsite! 

My favourite spot near camp

Sunrise 

Sunset 

We hiked and drove to quite a few lookouts around the Blue Mountains. When Gary and the girls were all hiked out, I left them back at camp, and set out to do some of the bigger hikes around the area by myself. 

One of many lookouts. (I can't remember which one this is ;)) 

Some of the many views from various lookouts around the Blue Mountains :)

Tori taking in the views 

My favourite by far was a challenging hike that took me to the very base of Wentworth Falls. 

After descending down 100's of steps carved into the side of a sandstone cliff, I arrived at the first falls base. 

Just a few of the steps, hand carved into the side of the sandstone cliff over 100 years ago, that I walked down.

The top of Wentworth Falls 

Halfway down Wentworth Falls 

Wentworth Falls. It was a bit of a foggy morning.. 

From here a lot of people turn around and walk back up, but I decided to follow the track out the other side. 

From here I had to walk along cliff ledges that I had to duck my head to get around, I climbed down steep ladders over the side of cliff faces and inbetween boulders. 

Finally after a steep 800m decent from the top, I arrived at the base of the falls. With no one else here, I had the place to myself! 

After spending a few moments to take it my surrounds I again followed the narrow, winding path, and hundreds of more steep uneven stairs (no complaints, It made for a great, much needed leg and butt workout!!) through beautiful forestry.

Along the way I came across many stunning waterfalls and with some slight jealousy, watched a group of guys abseil down one of the larger waterfalls! 

This hike was by far my favourite! By the end of it I was feeling pumped and pretty much talked Gary's and the girls ears of on my return! 

Waterfalls along the trail 

If you look closely in this photo you can see a guy abseiling down the 

Another closely followed favourite spot was Pulpit Rock. 

I arrived here around sunset and once again ended up having the place pretty much to myself! 

Walking out along the narrow bridge, down the steep ladder, onto the small rock that's known as Pulpits was pretty impressive. With views that went forever and a steep drop off that put me well above the ground, once again I was on a real high after visiting this special place. 

The view looking down to Pulpits Rock

The steep stairway down to the various lookout points

Steep stairs onto Pulpits 

Sunset from Pulpits 

Another amazing view 

From the Blue Mountains we decided to head up the old township of Newnes. More hiking and a trip out to check out an old railway tunnel full of glow worms!  

Read about this, and a run in with a wombat I had in my next blog! 

Bliss!! 

Xx