A Walk in the Blue Mountains

On the first full day of our trip, we decided to do a nice, relaxing walk in the Blue Mountains. We drove to Katoomba and started by seeing the Three Sisters at Echo Point.

The Planned Walk

Many years ago, we did a great walk from Echo Point across the cliff top, then down into the valley, and took the scenic rail back up. I decided to repeat the experience. So, I went up to the Tourist Info centre to ensure that the walk still exists and to get a trail map. The woman working there gave me a trail map and told me that the scenic train wasn’t running that day, but that we could take the cable car instead. (This sounded like it was going to be expensive, but maybe fun, so I agreed.)

So, off we went for an hour-long walk along the cliff top, over to Katoomba Cascades and down the Furber steps (1000 steps down into the valley). The Furber steps were beautiful, following a waterfall and creek down into the valley with views of other waterfalls.

When we got to the bottom, the gate to Scenic World, where BOTH the scenic train and the cable car are located was locked!

Uh Oh….. we…just…walked…down…1000…steps!! And now no easy way back up! Our legs were already shaking, this was certainly NOT what we had planned! We decided to turn it into a loop walk and follow the path along the valley. With any luck, the path back up at the other side would be easier.

The Python

About halfway through the valley walk, our daughter yells “Snake!” and sure enough, there’s a snake right in our path! We walk back a bit and wait for it to leave…. no such luck… So, we throw some stones at it hoping that it would go away. It didn’t even flinch! What to do now? Surely we aren’t going to go back and extend our walk even further?!

Just then, another couple came by and the guy says “Oh, that’s just a python, he won’t hurt you!” And, he walks by. Now, the snake has changed is position and is in strike position staring at this man. His partner says “I’m not risking it” and she starts heading down the creek to cross over a fallen tree. In the meantime, another older and younger man come along and the young man follows the first man over past the snake. The older man says “I’ve been bitten twice before, I’m not going near the snake!” so he follows the woman down the creek.

We are still standing still in the path. The first man is urging us to him. Our daughter is terrified and now crying… But, we go forward around the man and the snake… whew!

The Giant Stairway

Off we went on our way further down the path until we got to the aptly named “The Giant Stairway” (also nearly 1000 steps) which we needed to climb up to get back to Echo Point.

12kms and 2000 vertical steps. My legs were sore for 3 days after that one!