To end the trip, I visited one of my favourite places in the Blue Mountains – Leura Falls.
A challenge to photograph, but always a pleasure to visit this place.
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Autumn in the Mountains – Part 7
It’s easy to forget while viewing a garden that Mount Wilson was in the middle of the wilderness. I just needed to get off the main road and there it was.
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This lookout was called Du Faurs Rocks Lookout, and it certainly had some interesting rock formations.
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 6
Next was a visit to Mount Wilson, a hamlet about half an hour away from Blackheath. It’s known for its gardens, and the tour buses were out in force on the main street and the bigger gardens. I chose to visit Windy Ridge Garden, which was away from the main drag.
The garden was superbly landscaped though, with a pond and formal gardens.
There were places to sit.
And of course some autumn foliage to view.
I liked how it was quiet and private and beautiful. Worth a visit.
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 5
Last stop of the day was the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens. I found out about them from the brochures at my accommodation, and the signs around town led me to the garden that was tucked away in a sleepy corner of Blackheath.
It was the wrong time of year for rhododendrons, but I was quite enchanted by this place. Set in a dell, the garden was a very peaceful place to be on a weekday.
There were some autumn leaves to view.
And a few flowers were in bloom to add to the colour.
All in all, a lovely day out.
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 4
One great thing about the Grose Valley is that it has plenty of viewpoints. About 5km away from Govetts Leap is Pulpit Rock. Its lookout is a five minute walk down some steps (pretty easy by Blue Mountains standards), until you come to this platform.
It gives you a view back to Govetts Leap and out further into the valley.
But wait, there’s more! For those unafraid of heights, you can venture down to other platforms that are really on the precipice.
I was too chicken to venture that far, but I saw some French backpackers that ventured into the realm of stupidity – they climbed over the barrier to grab some selfies of themselves seemingly dangling over the edge. Really? Sigh…
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 3
The following day, it was time to explore the other side of Blackheath. The most popular lookout is Govetts Leaps, on northern outskirts of the town. The view into the Grose Valley, is spectacular no matter the weather.
A few k’s down the valley is Pulpit Rock. I’ve always wanted to go there, and was all set to walk it down – but I didn’t count on the track conditions – steep, eroded and slippery.
To the right of the lookout, the waterfall was still running down the cliff-face – the dry winter hadn’t yet arrived.
To the left, the horseshoe-shaped cliffs were a rich green with ferns and other temperate rainforest plants clinging to the sandstone for dear life.
I did manage to get to Pulpit Rock, but that’s for another post.
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 2
Much of the walk was along a fire trail. Aside from scribbly gums, there were grass trees abound.
The trail led up to a high point on the plateau, marked by another lovely gum tree.
The view over Kanimbla Valley was lovely too.
Later in the day, I drove down to Hargreaves Lookout, on the tip of the plateau. It afforded views of both the Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys. It’s down an unsealed road, and so gets a fraction of the visitors that come to the more accessible lookouts in the Mountains.
Autumn in the Mountains – Part 1
Back in May, I spent a few days in the Blue Mountains. I based myself in Blackhealth, and stayed at this cute cottage on the Shipley Plateau.
On my first full day I did a circuit walk around the plateau. It started with a walk through the tall gum trees.
I’m always fascinated by scribbly gum trunks.
The vista soon opened out to a view of the fruit orchards and the Megalong Valley beyond.
Victorian Trip Round-Up and In Memoriam
From Mansfield, we headed on home, taking the scenic route through the Alps via the little town of Corryong, home to the real ‘Man from Snowy River’, Jack Riley.
It was 35C that day – not very alpine weather! We spent the night in Tumut and got home the next day.
I had sketched regularly during the trip, and here are some of them.
This was to be the last car holiday we’d make with our dear beagle, Bridie. She passed away in mid-August after a short illness. We were glad that she got to travel all the way to Victoria – she loved a drive and a sniff!
Rest in peace, old girl.
The Alps – Part 4
Our last stop for the day was the little hamlet of Jamieson, near the shores of Lake Eildon south of Mansfield.
It was another gold rush settlement, but the terrain around these parts were so rough that it only attracted a few hundred permanent settlers.
Nevertheless, the fledgling town soon had a Catholic chapel, an Anglican church, a school, a court house and police station, two banks, two insurance offices, five hotels and several stores.
Today, it is a quaint place with a museum (closed at the time of our visit) as well as plenty of historical artifacts in public places.
Static and Silence 