13 - 16 March 2019
We had left the camper trailer for repairs at the Cub factory in Sydney and spent the night with friends Anne and Stephen before heading up to the Blue Mountains. We weren't sure exactly how long it would be before we could collect the trailer, having been told it could be up to two weeks. We had decided to book accommodation until the end of the weekend and then see where to go after that.
We left Sydney with plenty of time to kill before we reached Blackheath so we headed out through Windsor where we stopped for moring tea and a look around this historic town. Established in 1810 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, Windsor is situated on the Hawkesbury River and is a great place to stop before heading up to the Blue Mountains via the scenic and quieter Bells Line of Road.
The weather was cold and drizzly so we were glad to be able to check in early to our cabin in the caravan park at Blackheath, our home for the next three days. We hoped to be able to get out and see a few of the local sites while we were in the area.
We chose the famous Govettts Leap, with its magnificent view over the Grose Valley for our first morning excursion. The name "leap" comes from a old Scottish word meaning waterfall or cascade and has nothing to do with anyone jumping off the cliff, despire persistent tales suggesting just that. It was "discovered" and named by Government Surveyor William Govett in about 1831, although I think the local Darug and Gundungurra peoples would have a different story.
Did I mention the fabulous view from the lookout? Not on the morning of our visit! Shrouded in cloud the atmosphere was quite other-worldly. We did revisit later in the day and were treated to the promised views. We also walked the Bridal Veil Falls track which takes you down for a different view of Govetts Leap.
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| The caravan park in the fog. |
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| Govetts Leap in the fog. |
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| Banksia flower |
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| Banksia flower |
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| Govetts Leap with the weather lifting. |
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| Creek crossing on the Bridal Veil Falls track. |
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| Not many birds on this leg of the journey. New-holland Honeyeater. |
A visit to the Three Sisters is also a must when staying in the Blue Mountains. This iconic destination located at Echo Point is visited by millions of visitors each year. There are walking paths which allow the crowds to spread out a bit, as well as a visitor centre. For the more energetic there is a walk that goes from Scenic World to Echo Point. Scenic World is the location of several attractions including the Scenic Railway which takes visitors down into the valley on the steepest railway in the world, built to service a coal mine.
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| The iconic view of the Three Sisters. |
Kandos
16 - 18 March 2019
Once again the weather seemed to be against us as we drove through Lithgow and on to Kandos. We chose Kandos for a couple of nights because of its proximity to Capertee Valley and its birdwatching opportunities. We had camped in the National Park, on our very first trip with the camper trailer, and were keen to return. A very detailed birding location map is available, which includes GPS co-ordinates of spots where you are likely to find particular birds.
There were clouds in the sky so, after a stop at the local markets in Rylestone we set off on the trail. The rain held off for a while, but unfortunately we had to bail out before lunch time. We were hopeful that the sky would clear, but it wasn't to be. I guess we'll just have to come back another time.
The good news, though, was that the camper trailer was ready to be picked up on Monday morning so we planned an early start and steeled ourselves to battle the Sydney traffic. We must have been just at the tail end of peak hour as we made it to North Rocks in good time.
We weren't sure how far we would be able to travel but were hopeful we would make it to around Taree.
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