Blue Mountains (Australia:Prior to RS)
The organized tour from Road Scholar travel group missed one item that we added to our must-dos - visiting the stunning Blue Mountains, located just north of Sydney. Our guide Jason chatted away as we made our way North to start our exposure to Australia's natural beauty. Booked through Viator, the excursion not only took us to beautiful landscapes of the mountains but also introduced us to our first animal sanctuary. There, we had the opportunity to meet various local wildlife, many of whom were either injured, in rehabilitation, or had been rescued from illegal trade. Many people made a bee-line to touch the koala. We did not feel compelled to pet the wild animals, and for the rest of the trip this seemed to set us apart. It was plenty to just see them up close.
We also saw a huge bird we had never heard of a Cassowary. It looks like a dinosaur bird, and is apparently very dangerous. But we didn’t find that out until later. Their kicks are powerful enough to break bones and kill. Cassowaries are heavy birds and can weigh up to 157 lbs. When they kick, the kick downwards, so the full force of their weight is behind their kick. Cassowary kicks are also dangerous because they have claws that can grow up to 5 in. In the wild, they live for 18-20 years. In human care, cassowaries can live up to 40 years.
Our very first stop in the Blue Mountains featured an awe-inspiring launch point for paragliders, perched dramatically on a cliff's edge. The panoramic views created a stunning backdrop for watching their flights across the sky. We stood there with mixed emotions, a cross between envy and thinking they were just crazy. We wanted to see more of the area, but we did not have anywhere near the gliders level of adventure. Thanks, we’ll stay land locked and work on exploring at our pace.
We continued hitting a few more overlooks, each presenting a unique perspective of the stunning landscape. At one particular overlook, we were invited to hike down the side of the mountain to catch a closer glimpse of a waterfall. As we descended, the sound of rushing water intensified. Once we reached the viewing point, the light was perfect—the sun peeked through the clouds, casting a shimmering glow over the cascading water. The mist danced in the sunlight, creating a vibrant rainbow that arched gracefully across the scene, making it feel like a postcard moment captured in time.
Our next and last overlook brought us to the Three Sisters, a stunning trio of rock formations steeped in the poignant legend of Wimalah, Meeni, and Gunedoo.
The legend of the Three Sisters is that they fell in love with three men from the neighboring Nepean tribe, but marriage was forbidden by tribal law. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to capture the three sisters. A major tribal battle ensued, and the sisters were turned to stone by their father to protect them, but he was killed in the fighting and no one else could turn them back. Now they remain part of the beautiful landscape.
It was a short but invigorating hike down to get closer, where the majestic rocks stood tall against the backdrop of the lush valley. After soaking in the view and (for Karen) stewing about the legend, we hustled back to our meet-up point, excited to see that we had enough time for a local brew.
