The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is a broad plateau of rock rising above the Nepean plain. Over hundreds of millions of years it was shaped by uplifting forces and volcanoes and carved by rivers. Its peaks, ridges and valleys contain open and closed forests, woodland, heath and swamp. These habitats support an array of flora and fauna. Flora includes eucalyptus, acacias and banksias. Fauna includes up to two hundred species of birds, dozens of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

Aboriginal Heritage
There are six language groups in the mountains: the Dharug, Gundungurra, Wiradjuri, Darkinjung, Waranua and Dharawal. Aboriginal people have lived in the Blue Mountains area for tens of thousands of years. One place you can see evidence of past Aboriginal habitation is at Red Hands Cave at Glenbrook. It is one of about 700 Aboriginal sites in the mountains. The site known as the Three Sisters at Katoomba is of great significance to Aboriginal people.

World Heritage
The Greater Blue Mountains Area was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) at the end of 2000. With World Heritage status the Blue Mountains joined sites such as the Taj Mahal in India and Machu Pichu in Peru as a site of international importance. Other Australian World Heritage sites include the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu National Park.

The Blue Mountains was chosen for its outstanding examples of evolving ecosystems and particularly the range of more than ninety eucalyptus species. Also mentioned was the Wollemi Pine, an ancient tree from the time of the dinosaurs once thought extinct and rediscovered in a remote section of the mountains in 1994.

It was also chosen for its extraordinary biodiversity, unique to Australia and not already represented on the World Heritage list. Many rare and threatened species live in the area including the Spotted-tailed Quoll, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, Long-nosed Potoroo, Leura Skink, Green and Golden Bell Frog and Giant Dragonfly.

Activities
The Blue Mountains is a wonderful place to enjoy the Australian bush. There are bushwalks for everyone, from wheelchair accessible walks to week long adventure hikes. You’ll see dizzying views from the escarpment, waterfalls and streams in hidden valleys, magnificient trees and tiny flowers. You might encounter a skink or a wren, see a possum at night or glowworms in a cave.

Always follow safety procedures when bushwalking:
• Wear good shoes and a hat
• Take a map and plenty of water
• Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return
• Take your rubbish with you
• Follow the old adage: Take only photos, leave only footprints.

In the townships you can enjoy a picnic or a café lunch, buy fresh-baked bread or old-fashioned lollies, find a great book or interesting sculpture. The Blue Mountains have a rich cultural life with performances, workshops and festivals throughout the year.

Blue Mountains websites

Blue Mountains Conservation Society
www.bluemountains.org.au

National Parks and Wildlife Service
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/
Click on NSW Parks and Reserves, then on Blue Mountains in Select a Park.

Portal to Blue Mountains businesses and events
www.bluemountainsaustralia.com

Bee Green
www.beegreen.com.au

Department of the Environment and Natural Heritage
www.deh.gov.au/heritage/worldheritage/index.html

UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
Click on Australia in the world map, then NSW and the Greater Blue Mountains Area.