The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is Australia’s most accessible wilderness.
Stretching over one million hectares, the region is an inspiring and diverse mix of rainforest, blue-hazed valleys, golden sandstone escarpments, canyons, tall forests and windswept heathlands. It is one of Australia’s iconic landscapes and has received National Landscape status in recognition of its world-class experiences of environmental and cultural significance.
The Blue Mountains is one of Australia's natural wonders. It is an inspiring mix of rainforest, canyons, tall forests and heathlands, combining eight individual conservation reserves - Yengo, Wollemi, Gardens of Stone, Blue Mountains, Nattai, Kanangra Boyd, Thirlmere Lakes and Jenolan Caves Karst Reserve.
Despite the descriptor, the Blue Mountains are not, as the name suggests, mountains, but in fact are dissected sandstone plateaux which shelter a rich diversity of plant and animal life. For millions of years water has carved out the rugged sandstone escarpments of the Blue Mountains region, and continues to do so today. There are waterfalls everywhere.
The Blue Mountains has the greatest concentration of eucalypt diversity on the continent, and landscapes ranging from rainforest to heathland. There are rare and ancient plants and isolated animal populations tucked away in its deep gorges and more than one hundred species of eucalypts (gum trees) grow here.
Also, the Blue Mountains region has one of the most extensive cave networks in Australia. At Jenolan Caves choose from a range of spectacular show caves, don a hard hat and try adventure caving, or enjoy a musical concert under the Grand Arch.
Exploring is easy. Local tour guides are experts on the local fauna and flora, and offer a range of tours to the region's most spectacular natural locations. Adventure tour operators provide canyoning, rock climbing, mountain biking, abseiling and bushwalking tours to those who want to push their limits.
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