The Blue Mountains, located just a 1.5-hour drive west of Sydney, is one of the most popular natural tourist destinations in New South Wales.
According to NSW Parks, more than four million people come to this UNESCO World Heritage site every year. Most visitors tend to base themselves in the main town of Katoomba and see all the usual sights: The Three Sisters, Wentworth and Katoomba Falls, and the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest passenger railway.
While all these attractions are spectacular and well worth a visit, there are countless options for those interested in exploring further afield. The western Blue Mountains and adjacent Kanangra-Boyd and Wollemi National Parks abound with natural beauty, history and adventure, with the added bonus of fewer crowds.
The area known as the Greater Blue Mountains, which covers an expansive 10,000 square kilometres, was traditionally divided into six Indigenous language groups: the Darug people in the east, the Wanaruah and Darkinjung people in the north-east, the Wiradjuri people in the north-west and west, and the Dharawal and Gundungurra people in the south. Presently it is made up of four geographical sectors, each named after a significant Aboriginal landmark: Monundilla, Mellong, Kedumba, and Colong. While Kedumba is the most popular and visited sector, the other three sectors have much to
