Sydney - Blue Mountains

Today was a later start than originally planned after receiving some news from home, but we decided to not pas up the chance we had to visit the blue mountains.

As we had no car, train transport was our only option, which wasn't great as it took 2-3 hours to get there. As soon as we got off the train, the change in temperature hit us... Baltic!! We set off to the first viewpoint we wanted to visit, Cahill's lookout in the Katoomba area. This wasn't overly busy which was a good start, but it was extremely windy with some impressive views, just a shame it wasn't a bright sunny day!

From here we wanted to see the three sisters. It took us about an hour to walk there, which was mainly on roads past houses. I'd envisioned walking in nature all day so wasn't really aware of how spread out the viewpoints were. Three sisters was super busy and touristy which we were NOT expecting. It appeared that many asian tourists go coaches to the viewpoints and weren't actually hiking like us, but ruined the viewpoints and although my patience was wearing thin....this was nothing compared to Tom's!

The next part of our blue mountains experience will be remembered forever....

Tom decided to try and beat the crowds, and was adamant that the steps we could see would take us to the ground and then a 10 minute walk, and we'd be out! Sounds simple...simple this was not.

The steps on the giant staircase just kept going, and going and going...998 steps later, we finally made it to the forest ground. This is where Tom assured me we won't have to walk back up the same amount of steps as we'll come out at the roadside. The forest was pretty sheltered, which made it pretty dark, and with the early sunsets, we realised we had to walk speedily to beat the dark (and any hiding creatures!)

After walking, for what was most definitely more than 15 minutes, we finally came across another couple who advised us the path was closed, but that they went through it and it was fine. They also had a packet of sweets which I couldn't take my eyes off! So on we went, through the no access path and bridge, and there they were...the never ending stairs to get us out. This was a real test of the fitness and half way up, Tom dared tell me to speed up as though I wasn't trying.

After what felt like hell, we made it to the top, stopped at the shop and returned back to our hostel.Read more