Learn First, Then Visit Blue Mountains National Park in Australia!

The Blue Mountains National Park in Australia is one of the most famous national parks near the country’s most popular city, Sydney, which is in New South Wales. The national park covers approximately 2,680 square kilometers of land area, about 80 kilometers or no more than two hours drive from Sydney.

Even though the Blue Mountains National Park is named as mountains, it is actually considered a plateau. It has the highest peak point of slightly more than 1.2 kilometers above sea level at Mount Werong.

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History of Blue Mountains National Park in Australia

The Blue Mountains National Park is a part of the Greater Blue Mountains National Park, which was proposed to be a national park in 1932 by a conservationist, Myles Dunphy. Blue Mountains National Park has become a World Heritage Area since 2000, and it has 37 walking tracks in the area.

Such a large national park area is divided into six smaller areas: the Katoomba area (the heart of the Blue Mountains National Park), the Blackheath area, the Glenbrook area, the Lower Grose Valley area, the Mount Wilson area, and the Southern Blue Mountains area.

What is the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia Famous for?

A lot of natural beauties can be found in the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia, and the national park is well-known to be the home of the Three Sisters. The Three Sisters is a weird-looking rock formation located in the Katoomba area, or above the Jamison Valley, to be more specific.

The three unique rocks themselves have their own names. They are Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo, which are 922 meters, 918 meters, and 906 meters tall, respectively. Aboriginal legend says they are named after the three sisters who were the Katoomba tribe’s members living in the Jamison Valley.

They were not allowed to marry the three brothers from another tribe. They loved each other, so the three brothers wanted to kidnap the three sisters. However, the three sisters were protected by an elder who turned them into stones. The three sisters could not be turned back as the elder was killed in a battle.

Weather in Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains National Park has a temperate climate similar to Sydney, but it has lower temperatures as it has higher altitudes. It is hot during summer and cold during winter. Rain sometimes falls in the national park, while snow only falls on some days in the winter. 

Related: Everything You Need to Know about Seasons in Australia

Things to Do in Blue Mountains National Park in Australia

The vast and diverse area of Blue Mountains National Park makes it possible to have a lot of activities with many varieties. Visitors can just relax with the cool and refreshing temperature, enjoy the beautiful scenery, learn something new, or even do some exercises and sporting activities.

One of the highlights of Blue Mountains National Park is seeing the wildlife, as it feels a bit incomplete to visit an Australian landmark without doing this activity. In the national park, visitors can watch birdwatching and encounter some wildlife, such as kangaroos and koalas.

Related: 11 Native Animals of Australia, Some You’ve Never Heard Of

How to Get to Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains National Park can be traveled from three cities: Sydney, Richmond, and Lithgow. From Sydney or Lithgow, the national park areas such as Glenbrook, Katoomba, Blackheath, and the southern side of Lower Grose Valley can be entered via the Great Western Highway.

Visitors can also drive along the Bells Line of Road from Richmond or Lithgow to enter the national park through some park entry points in Mount Wilson and the northern side of the Lower Grose Valley areas.

Is Visiting Blue Mountains National Park in Australia Free?

Most areas in Blue Mountains National Park are free to enter, except for the Glenbrook area, which charges $8 per vehicle to do a day of attractions in the area. There are also some annual passes for many parks in New South Wales, which are cheaper if visitors like to frequently do park activities.

With the beautiful views, interesting activities, and affordable fees, the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia is one of the country’s national parks worth visiting. It can go side by side with the Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in, which also can not be missed for an Australian holiday destinations.