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Attractions & Entertainment
Most of the Mountains Major Attractions are in fact well known throughout Australia and overseas.
Unlimited Mountains Access
Mountains visitors who may have time limits always appreciate the convenience of the hop on / off ‘Trolley Tours’, leaving each hour from Katoomba’s Carrington Hotel. Every tour takes you past all the major views and attractions including the Three Sisters, Leura Village, Everglades Gardens, Scenic World, the Jamison Valley, Gordon Falls Lookout and many more. The aim of Trolley Tours is to make your Mountains viewing experience as flexible and worry-free as possible - coaches stop on request for photographs, and the on board commentary from knowledgeable, friendly staff offers a fascinating insight into regional history.
The service operates hourly seven days a week taking in 29 splendid World Heritage attractions, and the $20.00 all day pass (from 285 Main St) includes local bus links to other locations – trolleytours.com.au.
Featherdale Wins Gold at State Tourism Awards
For the second time in its thirty-seven year history, Featherdale Wildlife Park has claimed top tourism honours for its Gold Medal (‘Major Tourist Attractions’) at the prestigious NSW Tourism Awards. Accepting the award, Manager Rick Webb said it was a proud moment in his career. “This award reflects the commitment of our team who dedicate every day to providing a world class native wildlife experience unlike any other”, he said. “In early 2010, we are opening a brand new Australian Farmyard precinct to enable young and old alike to interact with favourite farm animals”.
Open seven days a week and located in Kildare Rd, Doonside, just 45 mins west of Sydney, Featherdale showcases one of the world’s largest and most varied collection of Australian native mammals, birds and reptiles – featherdale.com.au.
Australia’s World Famous Scenic Attraction
No trip to the Blue Mountains is complete without visiting Scenic World, where millions from around the globe have visited since its opening in 1945. Scenic World boasts Australia’s steepest cablecar, the world’s first cablecar with an electro-sceniglass floor and the southern hemisphere’s longest elevated rainforest boardwalk. Almost 400 metres of the 2.8 kilometre walkway is wheelchair friendly, through a temperate rainforest with opportunities to inspect Jurassic Era plants and trees, as well as wildlife like the Superb Lyrebird.
The Scenic Railway and Cableway are the easiest and safest ways into and out of the Jamison Valley, while the Scenic Skyway offers spectacular views of the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls. Scenic World opens 9 – 5 every day, including Christmas Day at 1 Violet St, Katoomba – 1300 759 929, scenicworld.com.au.
Real Value for Association’s Guests
Quality accommodation venues which are members of the Blue Mountains Accommodation Association now offer guests a complimentary ‘Privileged Guest Card’. The initiative is designed as an exclusive service to add real value to any Mountains visit and it works very simply.
Guests booking any accommodation with a BMAA member automatically receive the Privileged Guest Card, which entitles them to many valuable discounts and complimentary gifts throughout the Mountains. Some of the discounts include excellent savings on adventure activities and attractions, fine dining, special offers, hair, beauty and spa treatments, shopping and gift vouchers. There are also complimentary gifts with selected purchases, ‘2 for 1’ opportunities and tour and transport discounts – all well worth having. For more information, a full list of BMAA members or to make a booking, visit bmaa.org.au.
Eco Tourism Open Day at Jemby
In Blue Mountains eco-tourism, Jemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge in Blackheath is known internationally for quality and commitment to the principles of sustainable tourism. On May 1 from 2.00 pm, see for yourself all that’s involved at the ‘Remember Jemby’ Open Day. There’ll be a unique indigenous art exhibition ‘Reflections on Papunya’, a collaboration with Red Cockatoo Australia, the Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre, and Papunya Tjupi Arts from Central Australia, with special guests Narlie Nakamarra and Isobel Gorey.
Artworks and canvas art will be available for purchase along with bracelets, posters and environmentally friendly indigenous giftware; and there’ll be a small film presentation from Red Cockatoo. Food and wine tastings, dance, live music and a ‘local produce’ dinner (pre-bookings essential) will make this a fascinating day out – (+612) 4787 7622, jemby.com.au.
Megalong Valley Farm in the beautiful Megalong Valley is a unique attraction catering for all the family - specially kids and horse-riding enthusiasts.
Set on 2000 acres with superb views, visitors can enjoy 'Awesome Adventures to Amazing Places'. The fun includes 4WD ATVs, Eco Heritage Tours, horse and pony rides, adventure rides and various styles of accommodation. A must for all ages.
Norman Lindsay Gallery at Faulconbridge is the beautiful stone home and museum of the late famous and controversial Australian artist of the same name. Inside, visitors can see many of Lindsay's finest paintings - mostly female nudes of his wife Rose and other models - plus his amazing model ships, equally famous puppets, etchings, drawings and novels; while the grounds and manicured lawns feature many of the artists famous sculptures including the Seahorse Fountain. The property was used in the popular film 'Sirens' which told of Lindsay's colourful life.
Zig Zag Steam Railway at Clarence, also on the Bells Line of Road, just outside Lithgow. The historic railway operates every day. Built in 1889, engineers devised a series of gently sloping ramps in the form of the letter Z. The construction was hailed as one of the greatest technological feats of the 19th century. Today, with its magnificent steam engines, the Zig Zag Railway thrills visitors from throughout the world. Your journey takes you through two tunnels and over three towering sandstone viaducts.
Kurrajong Radio Museum contains a world renowned collection of nostalgia from radio's golden years - domestic & military radio sets, a working broadcast control room and transmitters. Relive the WWII years in the AWA Room; try your hand at Morse Code; listen to an operational teletype machine; listen to some favourite old radio programs; check your watch accuracy on shortwave with WWVH, Honolulu.
The collection has been put together over 50 years and covers a wide period of radio history. For all who have ever listened to radio it brings nostalgia, entertainment and education. Visitors enjoy the Museum's layout, presentation and the expert guidance, open at weekends from 10.00am - 5.00pm or by appointment. We welcome individuals, groups, mini buses and coaches at 842 Bell's Line of Road, Kurrajong Hills - 4573 0601, vk2bv.org/museum
Penrith Whitewater Stadium was built to host the canoe/kayak slalom events for the Sydney 200 Olympics and is the only man-made whitewater river of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The channel has been designed to recreate the characteristics of a wild river. Some 14,000 litres of raging whitewater per second, flowing over a movable obstacle system, have proven a challenging and exciting ride for even the best in the world. Set at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the $6.5m Stadium is open all year round and offers whitewater rafting, kayaking, beach volleyball, guided venue tours, wetsuit hire and a great terrace cafe.
Sydney International Regatta Centre - right next door to Whitewater Stadium at Penrith - was also built specially for the 2000 Olympics. It has subsequently become one of Australia's best and busiest sporting venues with events held most week-ends, showcasing athletes from throughout the world. Recreational opportunities include rowing, canoe hire, tandem skydiving, fishing, dragon boating, cycling and sailing. It's a wonderful place for a family picnic and admission is free. Open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Everglades Gardens
Now in National Trust care, Everglades is the Mountains' finest heritage garden. In the 1930s original owner, Henri Van de Velde, with renowned designer Paul Sorensen, created 12.5 acres of European gardens and native wilderness. In Autumn, these colours turn in the many deciduous trees and seasonal flowers, loved by local people and visitors alike. The stone walls, peacocks, lawns, incomparable views and native birds all complete a sense of transportation to another world.
The art deco house, with yesteryear charm, is open to the public with a gift shop, art gallery and tearooms for light lunches and Devonshire teas. At the bottom of the formal gardens, the brook babbles through the glades before dropping to the Grotto Pool. Open every day at 37 Everglades Ave, Leura - 4784 1938, everglades.org.au
The Candy Store at Leura is a true Blue Mountains icon which for years has been tempting and satisfying the tastebuds of tens of thousands of tongues in the mouths of men, women and children from throughout the world.
Relive your childhood surrounded by a tremendous range of old time favourites. Select from more than 1000 unique and unusual candies, chocolates, nougats, novelties, tins and toffees gathered from around the globe. With more than 1000 jars, The Candy Store - which opens every day - boasts the largest collection of lollies in NSW.
Energy Expo at Mount Piper near Lithgow is a delightful surprise for the kids and the whole family. Interactive, video and static displays combine to explain everything about electricity. Station tours are held daily at 11am and group bookings can be made at other times.
Playground, BBQ and toilet facilities are also available in a pleasant landscaped setting. Energy Expo is open from 9am, to 4pm daily.
Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural Centre, just north of Penrith, is a true indigenous experience with a cultural museum, native nursery, art gallery and retail shop - giving visitors the opportunity to participate and interact with members of the Aboriginal community. The museum shows visitors the tribal areas, the diversity of Aboriginal culture, the local Darug tribe, Aboriginal art and traditional artefacts, while the outdoor amphitheatre displays entertaining and informative rituals of Aboriginal tribal dance - with guests invited to perform. Didgeridoo and boomerang throwing workshops are a significant part of the Muru Mittigar experience. The nursery specialises in growing indigenous native provenance stock with many plants used for rehabilitation at Penrith Lakes.
Clubs and Pubs
Live entertainment, cosy bars, great brasseries and good old poker machines are very much a part of life in the region, with the usual variety of specialist clubs and numerous pubs and taverns to welcome you.
At Penrith there's the giant Panthers World of Entertainment as well as Penrith RSL Club; in the mid Mountains there's Springwood Country Club for golfers, the Grand View Hotel; further up is Leura Golf Club and the Carrington Hotel bars; in the western foothills there's the huge Lithgow Workmens Club with its great Bistro/Carvery and O'Gradys Tavern and Grill.
Photos: Scenic World at Katoomba, Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow and the Wonder of the Underworld at Jenolan Caves.
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