The Blue Mountains, Australia - Like nothing we have ever seen before! | Vlog | 

I always enjoy the perspective of people from other countries when they see for the first time, the amazing natural wonders that we have here in Australia. Those of us who have grown up here tend to take them for granted in much the same way as you would take for granted, historical medieval castles and ruins.

I used to live in Katoomba, 15 minutes walk from Echo Point & also close to Leura Cascades. My daughter & I were regular bushwalkers & she went to the local primary school. We had an open fireplace & we loved it when it snowed in winter. It was a wonderful place to live, I have a lot of happy memories, but my favourite memory was walking up to Echo Point at dusk one night with visiting family. We watched as a huge yellow full moon rose & crossed the sky behind the Three Sisters. A local Aboriginal man, I guess from the Dharug and Gundungurra people, was sitting there playing the didgeridoo. It was magical as the eerie sounds echoed out over the valley.

That scenic railway train has changed a lot since I was there as a kid (many decades ago). It was all open back then - no cage or roof. If it was raining you'd get wet but you didn't care because it was so much fun, and of course, the views are spectacular.

It took the Blue Mountains to make Rob speechless!! 😆

My childhood. Born in the Blue Mtns. It was an amazing experience to be a child in a national park. Back then in the 80s it wasnt full of tourists and it was choc full of animals and crazy weather. We also had survival training with aboriginal elders. Milk was delivered by horse and cart. It snowed twice a year before global warming. I survived many bushfires, tremors and storms, as well as some deadly animals.

One thing I love about the Blue Mountains is the smell. The air is so crisp with the scent of eucalyptus.

Trivia. So this is why the Blue Mountains are blue: Eucalyptus oil droplets emitted from the forests combine with dust particles and water vapour, scattering short wavelength rays of light which are predominantly blue in colou

You've provided some of the best footage of The Blue Mountains area that I've ever seen. Thank you.

That "little train" has obviously changed enormously since I was a kid. It wasn't enclosed way back then and you could actually reach your hand out and touch the trees as you were going down.

I live a little west of the Blue Mountains, a tad higher too, and I take it for granted. I'm glad to hear people from overseas discovering the magic of the area for the first time. It's shame so many Australian head off overseas and not discover what's in their own backyard first. Slightly west of Katoomba there, and north of me, is a town called Lithgow. Not far from Lithgow at Capertee is the world's second largest canyon, after the Grand Canyon. It's 1km wider at the widest point, a more shallow.

Massive thanks and props to Garth for taking you two around and taking good care of you.

I’m privileged to be able to visit the Blue Mountains quite regularly. The view of Mount Solitary certainly never gets old though.

The Great Dividing Range. One of the oldest mountain chains in the world apparently. I have heard that if they were as young as the Himalayas they would be as high. Time has taken its toll.

They've really updated the cable train since I was last on it (30 years ago lol). It used to resemble more of a wired cage 😂

I went to the Blue Mountains when I was 13, as part of a round-Australia 30 day tour with my father. Been back a few times in the intervening 40 odd years, so it's all just "normal". That's why it's interesting to see it through fresh eyes; to appreciate that we truly are the lucky country.

An amazing story is the crossing of the Blue Mountains, it is fascinating. So many explorers failed, some even went close to death in their endeavours to conquer the range, with the government offering lots of money/land grants to the first person/s to do so. Finally in 1813, Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth succeeded and paved the way for the opening up of the fertile lands of the west and the establishment of the first inland settlement of Bathurst

Finally! I've been looking forward to this one! I'm so so glad you came to Sydney on your trip - not just for the Swans game, not just for our Harbour, landmarks and gardens, but for the Blue Mountains! They are so picturesque and just over an hour away. It feels like another world!

So glad you got to experience something of Australia other than the cities and towns 😊 Wait until your next couple of trips back here. So much to see in this amazing, vast country, from the tropics in the top end, red sands of the outback to the pristine and literally untouched wilderness and mountains in Tasmania. You were talking about the 100 year old tree at Sydney Botanical Gardens, in Tas there are 1000 year old Huon pines growing in the wilderness. We do live in an incredibly diverse country. So glad you love it like we do 😊❤

The Blue Mountains and the Sydney sandstone is ancient. This sand actually came down river from an eroding mountain chain in Antarctica when it was still joined to Australia. Ultimate recycling just like Ayers Rock(uluru) and Devils Marbles(kata jutu) formed from an eroded mountain chain .

A bit of trivia for you Rob and Charlie, the Blue Mountains is where the idea of Christmas in July started. It snows up there in winter so one of the restaurants decided to put on the kind of Northern Hemisphere roast Christmas dinner that it is too hot to have here at Christmas and they decorated with Christmas trees and tinsel to add to the atmosphere. It snowballed from there (pun intended) and more and more people started celebrating Christmas in July. It’s so popular now that the shops sell Christmas decorations mid year to cater for it.

to add to your speechlessness in those views in a valley are the WOLLEMI PINE which were discovered in the last 30 years and who are prehistoric trees

You could spend a life time exploring all the different walking trail's & canyons of the Blue Mountains!! just another reason why Sydney is undefeated!! You should checkout the Jenolan caves next time you're around the Sydney area.

I live in Penrith which is the bottom of the Blue Mountains. You picked a good day to go up there. Sunny days really make it so much better to see its glory.

There’s so many beautiful little towns on the way up too such as Leura- they have local artisans markets etc. It’s always cold in the Blue Mountains! Just to think you almost didn’t come to Sydney yet so far it seems some of your best experiences have been here! I’m so glad the Swans made it to the Prelims so you came to Sydney!! I live 45 mins from Katoomba.

I grow up and schooled in Sydney, before moving to London 30+yrs ago. I always try to visit the Blue Mountains each time I visit Sydney. It's my go to place to feel Australia again.

The UK landscape is very sedate compared to Australia. I imagine the early explorers must have had that stunned mullet expression when they gazed out on the never ending wildness of Australia.

Been following your Oz adventures with keen interest. Wow for such a short holiday you certainly packed a hell of a lot in. As you said culturally we obviously have a lot in common with the UK but yes it is like a different planet. Imagine the early convicts, pioneers & settlers trying to carve out an existence in what would have been the equivalent of Mars. And about as much chance of getting back home if it all went pear shaped

I remember the 3 sisters - my parents took us there as kids and I was probably 8 or so then. Now 62 and have lived my life in Adelaide. Although I have been back to Sydney on a few occasions, never went back there, but yes it is awe inspiring. Of course the reason it is called blue mountains is because of the eucalyptus trees putting out a blue haze at certain times of the day so they mountains don't look green, but blue. Glad you enjoyed yourselves there.

Beautiful production, great music and the scenery was spectacular. Thanks guys. (And Charlie never stopped smiling:)

I've camped in the blue mountains and it is both beautiful with all the stars in the sky but scary as hell (pitch black) at the same time. Cos its so quiet you can hear the movement of animals and again its a crazy experience, it gives you another level of respect for all the indigenous and early explorer people who did it

If you thought that was a speechless experience, Charlie and Rob, on your next visit you MUST go to King's Canyon in the Northern Territory! Also, the Skyrail from Cairns to Kuranda in North Queensland. I did both! Then there's the Flinders Ranges, Sth Australia in the Spring when the wildflowers bloom.

That takes me back. As a kid we used to go bushwalking and camping through those valleys. I used to pretty much take the area for granted.

As a Science teacher, I have taken students every year for many, many years to the Blue Mountains to study the geology and the biodiversity. A working trip. I didn't ever really get to appreciate the grandeur and the beauty, having to be ever vigilant with the safety and wellbeing of my (gorgeous) students. Thank you allowing me to see through fresh eyes, to share this amazing experience with you both.

It's clear Australia's had an impact on you, hopefully for the better, sometimes I feel most Aussies don't really comprehend how lucky they are, there is so much beauty in this country and you've just scratched the surface.

The second time I visited the Blue Mountains it was completely fogged out. But, to stand at one of the lookouts and see a sea of fog was so eerie and amazing.

Awesome vid Rob and Charlie. Geez youve packed alot in.. You guys are going to need a holiday to get over your holiday

We used to go there when I was a kid in the 1960’s, it was dirt walking tracks and when that train started it was open and rattled down that slope it was terrifying and fun 😊

We lived at The Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls area for 4 years in the early 1980's such a magical place to experience, and the scenic railway has been beautifully upgraded, now a fantastic tourist destination....so glad you guys enjoyed seeing this beautiful part of Australia....we now live on the Central Coast, 1 hour north of Sydney, our beaches are amazing... hope you get to enjoy them on your next visit. xxxxx

There is quite a few off the beaten track interesting views of the Blue mountains and you could spend quite a while checking out all different locations if you had the time, but another good view that is on the tourist route is near Blackheath where an early family ancestor of mine, a surveyor William Govett, discovered “ Govett’s leap” or called Bridal Veil Falls the largest single drop water fall at 180 metres in the Blue Mountains back in 1831

If you get a chance to spend a night in the outback make sure you check out the night sky. You can see millions of stars with the naked eye. There is nothing like it.

The Blue Mountains are stunning, though remembering the last time I went there makes me feel old, as I was a teenager, and it was over 30 years ago…. probably before either of you two were born. Standing right next to the Three Sisters is an incredible memory that I will never forget.

My hubby was born in the Blue Mountains, and his parents still live at Lawson, a few train stops below Katoomba. I never tire of visiting this beautiful, natural, majestic region of Australia. Every time we visit there’s something we hadn’t seen before. One time we visited in October when it was sunny and 27 degrees, 2 days later it snowed in Katoomba and higher up the mountain. Another awesome place nearby is the Jenolan Caves.

Great vid guys. If you really want spectacular scenery in Australia then you should consider a week in Tassie next trip. Freycinet Peninsula, bay of fires, cradle mountain and the three capes walk will blow your mind. September however is pretty cold in Tassie though. Maybe Tassie first then finish up in the tropics for some heat🤗

I can see the Blue Mountains from my place, this video is going to make me appreciate them even more. Thanks Charlie & Rob

Hi Charlie and Rob, your video truly shows how beautiful, grand and vast our country is. Walking around I am sure you felt our ancients whether they be the trees, the wind, the rain, the rocks or the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land being present with you. It is a very spiritual place but all places of natural beauty are spiritual and connect us to our roots. That's why our Indigenous brothers and sisters say our land is our mother she looks after us. That's why we must look after her. I'm so, so happy for you that you got to experience this journey. Rob, your nerves cracked me up. 🤣Thanks for your honesty. Charlie's calmness fitted in well with the surroundings. Thanks so much. I look forward to your next adventure.😀

Great to see you guys being blown away with the sights of the Blue mountains, what a different world hey Charlie and Rob 💯👍❤️🇦🇺

Many years ago, my sisters and I had a bad winter, having measles, mumps and chickenpox over a few months. To give a bit of recuperation and a break for my mother, my parents took a cottage at Lawson where we spent 3 weeks or so at the end of the winter. Lawson is 4 stations towards Sydney, and 300 or so metres lower After that, we went back for many years for the August school holidays. Over that time I got to know the Mountains well, particularly the upper mountains from Katoomba to Mt Victoria. Still get blown away by the views at Echo Point and other lookouts, and now we're retired we take frequent day trips by both rail and car to the Mountains.

I loved your reactions, can you imagine how our ancestors felt when they saw it for the first time. My earliest arrived in 1839 and travelled overland to settle near Adelaide, it must have been amazing views then, completely unspoiled.

Have loved Charlies perspective on this trip. imagine the early settlers trying to get ox carts over those mountains

Yes Rob, the train was built for transporting coal (and workers, and occasional bush walkers). There was also the Bleichert Aerial Ropeway that went across the valley to below the ruined castle formation to carry oil shale from the mine there.

Last time I went there was nearly three decades ago, and everything was built before they invented Occupational Health and Safety. So, if you got a little nervous with anything how it is right now, you probably wouldn't have been able to handle the previous version. Also, it's the Blue Mountains, plural, not Blue Mountain singular. It's a section of a mountain range called The Great Dividing Range and the Blue Mountains part of it runs along a nearly 100km length of Western Sydney. It's given a separate name because it's the section of the range that the first white settlers could see, and it wasn't until they started exploring more that they found out it was a part of a much larger mountain range. It was a big deal for the white settlers to find a way through them that vehicles could handle to access the interior of the country, otherwise they would be stuck in the narrow strip of land from the base of the range to the coast. The Great Dividing Range runs down from Cape York, the northernmost point of the country, all the way down to Victoria. That's 3,500km or 2,200 miles.

I lived there in the beginning of the 70s as a 4-5 year old and left in ‘73 as Mum wanted to be closer to her parents in Sydney. (Like we were 1000 miles away or something 😅) Now 54 I visit when I can. The place just has that reach. Once it has you, it’s forever.. 🥰🥰

Like others my family and friends went there a lot in the 80s. The train was so different then, open and old, but it did its thing. It was cold there more than hot. One time we went there for a picnic but no one could feel their hands so it was back in the cars! You guys had a very pretty day.

It's always great to stop in the Blue Mountains on the way to Bathurst for the great race.

I stopped in at the Blue Mountains on my road trip from Hobart to Cairns and stayed overnight so I could see the Sisters lit up. The Blue Mountains/Katoomba and Jenolan Caves were in my top 5 highlights of my trip💞👌. The Mountains are Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon, but with trees. Good one Garth👍. One more thing, the music you played was just beautiful 😍

I grew up in the Blue Mountains and loved it, I still agree that it’s one of the most impressive places on earth! I’m now settled in Adelaide, just outside the McLaren Vale and LOVE it!!!

Majestic! Thank you for showcasing our Blue Mountains.

When you come back you must go to Broome or Kakadu, you will be amazed by the scenery, at Broome you must do the horizontal falls

WOW, that was great Rob. The walls came out really nice with the setting sun. I really enjoyed seeing this, as it had been so long (a couple of years) since I last took my English friends out there. I really enjoyed the day, it was a pleasure to take you and Charlie there. SO if you have English friends coming out this way, tell them to contact me and I'll bring them out the the Blue Mountains as well.

Thank you for this post. There's something soul-healing about standing at a viewpoint and being able to see miles and miles of wilderness and no human sign. Did it myself on a bushwalk yesterday, north of Sydney looking over the Hawkesbury and National Parks. When I lived in London, I complained to my Great Uncle that I missed being in the bush and being able to look out on 360 degree views of gorgeousness. He took me to New Forest, bless him.

When I was in Scouting, I had done a many a hike in the Blue Mountains, the Jamieson Vally, Megalong Valley, Blue Gum Forest, hiked from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba over Mt Solitary up Chinamans Gully and around Ruin Castle. This was in the 1960/70's, when it was very strict when hiking in the Blue Mountains. You needed to report to the local Police Station and enter your personal details, where you were hiking and expected time of return, how many in the hiking party. When completed, you had to go back to the Police Station and report back. If you were found to be more than 6 feet off the normal track, there were large fines imposed. I'm glad you enjoyed that part of Australia and the other places that you visited in your time Down Under.

Yes, we are so fortunate to live in this unique country. The Blue Mountains are spectacular, and where I live, west of Lithgow, we have the Capertee Valley, which is the second largest canyon in the world, and the widest. It is breathtaking in its beauty. I must gently chide you though Rob. You say you have nothing so beautiful in the UK but when I was in the Scottish Highlands, it almost took my breath away (literally too! It was SOOO cold). Go explore your beautiful country, you'll find places to ooh and aah at, but Aussie landscapes are magnificent!

Perrys lookdown, brought some memories there mate. Used to catch the train up from Parramatta to Blackheath then hike out to Perrys, stay the night, hike down to Blue Gum forest and Acaia flat. Two nights there, then hike back out via Govetts leap to Blackheath and train home. We'd usually have the train to ourselves on way home after 3-4 days in the bush. 👍👍 Great Vid. Glad you're both enjoying the place.

Been to the Blue Mountains many times over the years as I've never lived more than an hour and a half from there my whole life. It is one of my favourite places to visit and I know how truly blessed I am to live near an incredible place. Loved this video so much, glad you both enjoyed it too and I hope everything is going well at home. Love to the fur babies x

This is great to see, I am finally heading to the Blue Mountains next week for the first time in my long life and we were wondering whether to go to Scenic World. Can’t wait!

Love how much joy you both have for the Australian backyard. There are so many wow type places like the blue mountains throughout Australia. Looking forward to you both returning to our shores. Next time Tasmania….. that will blow you away.

Wife and I got married in the Blue Mountains - it truly is breath taking! From the top of the world where you left off, not far inland is Jenolan Caves where you can walk through it's many underground limestone caves.

Wow, you certainly have got yourselves around our country. I'm so pleased that you have enjoyed your time here and thank you for sharing such a special time with us.

I am so glad you guys came to Sydney and the Blue Mountains. My Mum and Dad had their honeymoon there way back in 1942! Every capital city in Australia has great features for sightseeing, history and tourist excitement. I told you to take warm clothes to the Blue Mountains when we met in Hyde Park. Glad you did!

Breathtaking...in a word. While I grew up living in a National Park (Grampians in Victoria) which is similar Blue Mountains for a first time visit are spectacular. Glad you enjoyed 🙂

And the Scenic World is used as a Reception centre for events. Our Daughter had her wedding reception at that venue 😍

Thank you for sharing your experience as a nervous sightseer Rob because many people experience that with rides or heights and seeing how you feel about each ride will really help many people prepare for their visits. As much as I love the mountains I can sometimes struggle with the vast expanses and heights. Charli is a calm & encouraging partner and that’s so important if you are with anyone who can get the wobbles. You had a wonderful clear day to see the view. It’s great to see the mountains in all their moods, sometimes foggy and misty and you wouldn’t even know those valleys are there! Through your eyes we can see how the truly epic landscapes of Australia impact the imagination when people first see them. We can see across to the blue mountains from our part of Sydney and they never lose their magic or majesty.

So much of the tourist side of things has changed there. The scenic rail & skyway has had a major upgrade and once upon a time, you could walk down a steep stairway carved on the side of the cliff to the 3 sisters and walk across a bridge to the 1st sister

I'm so glad you guys had a nice time in the Blue Mountains. I haven't been up there in a couple of years but it really is gorgeous. If you are ever in Sydney again in the future (2023 AFL campaign? C'mon..... you know you want to), I'd recommend going the extra 1-2 hours and visiting Jenolan Caves. Truly one of my favourite places in the world. Shout out if you're visiting again and I'm sure one of us Sydneysiders will drive you up there :)

I'm so glad you guys went to see a few more things in Aus, which don't always get noticed😃🌹 I hope your time here was wonderful and is always a good memory🤗🤗🌏🪐🍀🌕🙏👣🦋🌸👣🇦🇺⭐🦉🏡🌴🌹🌹

We visited the Blue Mountains and the Jenolan Caves when in Sydney a few years ago. I remember the cable car snd thinking I was going to slide off on the way down. I am amazed at the diversity we have in Australia.

Glad you two enjoyed the Blue Mountains. As a Sydney boy I have been there quite a few times. But Rob has encouraged me to give the Scenic rail etc a go sometime. Imagine the first settlers seeing these sights 200 odd years ago - it really must have seemed like another planet. Just over the mountains you have the beautiful Central West of NSW. I love getting out to Bathurst and Mudgee.

So glad you got to visit the 'Blueys'. I had the pleasure of living there for 3 years and every day I found something new and beautiful to behold. The word you are looking for is 'breath-taking'.

The zigzag railway before it burnt down, when you'd wake up to the occasional snow, always stopping in Springwood to load up for the trip into Sydney. The life that was close enough to the city but still 5mins from bliss.

Another fantastic video, really enjoying watching your trip around Australia!

Wow so spectacular I want too go, there's so many beautiful places in the world, and just a vast place here in Australia, to explore. This has inspired me to do more exploring, I used to do it, I find it exciting, reflective, creative, and healthy in so many ways.

Could you imagine how the first European explorers felt trying to find a way through? Also, thank you for your ongoing acknowledgment of Australian’s traditional owners.

Glad to see you enjoyed your trip and the weather was kind enough for you that day

So glad you got to check out the blue mountains, they really are amazing

Thank you for showing me the Blue Mountains - I've never been there and I live only a few hours drive away in Brisbane. But I do have to say that, if you're looking for some spectacularly amazing country that you'll not see the like of in any other part of the world, head of to Central Australia.Uluru, Kata Juta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and the painted desert near Coober Pedy will truly send your heart spinning.

Welcome to my preteen years Rob, we first moved to Katoomba in 1976(6 months before the Granville train disaster which happened in 1977), it was a great place to grow up and i can remember when we did the move from Katoomba Primary School(which was in Parke St up top of the hill) to Katoomba Public in Merriwa St for the first time at the new school this was in 1981 and i still have the 100th anniversary coin that they gave to all of the students. We lived right at the bottom of Katoomba Street(next door to Hinkler Park), loved it there and naturally as kids we were never home.

Thanks for another great video, I keep adding to my places to see next time I go to Sydney.

Experiences like this is why some of us are so protective when it comes to conservation. Nourishment for the soul is the feeling you were trying to relay I think.

Next time you are here try and get to Hargraves lookout which is on the western edge of the mountains, it will nock your sox off. Also our version of the Grand Canyon is on the northern edge and is an entirely different aspect of the Blue Mountains.

I was so excited to see this episode - the Blue Mountains really are incredible. I've visited a few times, the last time being 27 years ago & things have changed a lot since then - the train wasn't quite as high-tech back in the 90's 🙂 Thanks for showing us this from the point of view of an international visitor. We take our incredible landscapes for granted sometimes and I think it's high time I went back for another visit. 🙂♥

Oh yes stunning views. I was in grade 7 and we went on a school trip to the Blue mountains and then Sovereign Hill, a memorable trip. We checked out the sights at Blue mountains, and most exciting was the night hike we went on, breathtaking. 💖

As a kid I was well aware of the Blue Mountains through a beautiful postage stamp commemorating the 1813 crossing. Something about that stamp mesmerized me. Since that time I have only flown over it and looked down in awe...

Lovely to see the Blue Mountains through your eyes. It’s been years since I went there. Absolutely stunning.

Great vlog great views

Glad to see you made it. It was wonderful to see such a great reaction.

I travel through the Blue Mountains several times a week for work and it still gets me everytime! My most memorable trip though was a school camp, 12 students and two teachers, bushwalking and camping for a whole week throughout the mountains!

Breath taking is another good description Rob and so very happy you were blown away by our spectacular scenery in my country. So glad you both enjoyed your trip down under. Come back soon

Loved going to NSW and Blue Mountains as a kid - loved the scenic railway 😄

Ahhh lovely! Thank you for showing us what we have in our backyard but really take for granted if it's not pointed out. There are so many great hiking trails all through that area. Good job Garth!

Thanks for showing us the great views of The Blue Mountains maybe I'll get there one day in the meantime I have your video