T is for Tantalising

So far behind. This was what I did on Tuesday.

Tantalising. I was going to do Train, but that's a bit boring. Stunning would also be appropriate but I'm sticking with my theme. 

(FYI this is probably the best photo!) 

Today I am heading out of Sydney on the Blue Mountain Train, which, you guessed it, goes to the Blue Mountains. I found out from my guide book that they are named after the blue haze, which is caused by the eucalyptus and water vapour refracting the blue light (Rayleigh scattering). 

The train slowly cleared the suburbs and surrounding towns. By Blacktown we were out of the suburbs and into surrounding towns. By Emu plains we could see the foothills (or rather lower sunken bits).

~Emu Plains

Eucalyptus woods/forest

Some of the track is carved down into the rock

I'd originally planned to try to get to the red hand caves near Glenbrook, but the main trail is from a car park that is inaccessible from the train and having experienced Aussie trails I didn't want to risk it.Instead I stayed on the train for two hours untill Katoomba.

Once I arrived in Katoomba I spotted a hop on hop off bus. They had a lovely guide book and this seemed like a good way to cut out some unnecessary walking and focus on the good stuff.

First stop Honeymoon lookout with a walk around the plateau to Echo point.

Had a moment when I spotted my second set of parrots eating Banksia (?) flowers. 

This was supposed to take 40 mins and I was pushed to do in in an hour, but that did involve quite a lot of standing still and taking it in. Also path was busy enough that someone would have found you in 5 mins but quiet enough to relax and enjoy. Awesome! 

The next stop was nice but a bit disappointing. Katoomba Cascade was beautiful but you were supposed to be able to walk around the Katoomba falls. However the path was closed for repairs and the detour was just on the road. Consequently the cafe by Katoomba falls was closed. However I was entertained by Cockatoos. Which turned out to be everywhere! 

My next stop was Leura Cascades. You were supposed to be able to walk here from the stop before, but the path was closed, so I got off by the path to the falls, which was also closed - not a good day for waterfalls! 

However I took a shortcut to the local town and spent a happy slow walk chatting to the birds. This area is Eucalyptus forests predominantly with hints of rainforest in little pockets. Nice to see a different niche.

New Holland Honeyeater

Satin Bowerbird

Nice Tree Fern 

At this point I got a little lost in relation to my tour map, but I managed to figure out where I was okay and cut down to another lookout to continue walking around the plateau/cliff. 

I dodged back up for water, a sit in the shade, and the loo, and cut down again to see Lyrebird Dell.

By which point my ankles and knees were pretty done so I headed back to the bus and station. 

There was some great colour in the non-native disiduous trees.

A quick subway on the way to the train set me up for a beautiful one hour journey further in to the mountains to Lithgow. Which held more spectacular views, a mountain climb on the train and lots of tunnels with short vistas between them. 

At Lithgow I got off for a 10 min walk. Really interesting with lots of older store fronts still around. 

Back on the train, it got darker a little earlier than I anticipated so hard to see the return route but the sunset was wonderful colours. All the little stations were very pretty too.

Apparently the area holds one third of all Australia's bird species. Didn't spot a lyre bird but not complaining. Possibly my best day for spotting and enjoying avians.