The Greater Blue Mountains are not just beautiful. They are stunning. Grand sandstone cliffs, twisting forest tracks, gorgeous waterfalls, peaceful glens, cute creeks all fill the 11,400 km² area of “The Mountains”.   If the Blue Mountains were a country, it would be the 159th largest in the world. It has almost the same area as the middle eastern country of Qatar and larger than Gambia in Africa. About a quarter of the area is made up of eight National parks. 80,000 people call this area home along with 400 animal species including Spotted-tailed quolls and Koalas call the Mountains their home. See below for my top ten picks.

It was for these reasons, the Blue Mountains became Australia’s 14^th World Heritage Area in November 2000.

Orphan Rock was closed after much human devastation

Where the Mountains disappoints visually is in human development. Even causal visitors will note that there have been many thoughtless and unfortunately developments. In the middle of pristine wilderness, ugly buildings, fencing and towers intrude. The introduction of imported animals and plants over the European residency has impacted the local environment dramatically. At least 47 species of plants are threatened (over one tenth) as are 38 threatened animal species. As one eresidnet describe d the situation in an election period in 2015: “The environment is our product, our industry. So if we don’t look after that, we lose our product.” For an area that attracts 3.5 million visitors a year, with a chunk of them visiting for the parks and hiking, then a massive priority should be to protect the environment. There are some very positive developments including the limiting of neo signs, billboards but as someone who loves the Mountains, more needs to be done.

To help, as a visitor, keep to the trails, take all rubbish with you, bring no dogs or cats and walk quietly. I am amazed at how many people tramp down paths noisily scaring off animals and birds. I even encountered one guy last week, loudly playing hip hop as he walked down the mountain trail. As we crouched over gazing at a timid lyrebird scratching for food less than a metre (3 feet) away, a woman came crashing down. I turned as she approached and gestured that she walk quietly . She shrugged her shoulders and loudly shouted “come on” to her husband. The lyrebird vanished into the undergrowth. Many visitors must think the environment is devoid of life.

There was a lyrebird here

This is one of the places I would move to on a heartbeat. The clean air,  comfortable climate, community feel, beautiful landscape,  good local food and comfortable climate are all very attractive.  There are nine months of the year that the temperature is a very comfortable 15 to 27 degrees. During the winter months (June, July August), the average temperature in the Upper Mountains is around 5°C and snow has been known to fall. In Summer (December, January February), the average temperature is around 18°C.

The unemployment rate is slightly lower than the Sydney average and one of the lowest in the state of New South Wales. Higher education opporuntities are limited with most student commuting the two hours to Sydney or moving away.

Accomodation ranges from the old and tired to the revitalised to the modern. Check reviews carefully.