From the Blue Mountains to the Hunter Valley

Monday 23^rd October

Let me take you now on a tour of the beautiful Blue Mountains up to the Hunter Valley. When you get to look out across the ranges, they look like large folds of a rumpled blue green velvet carpet with the recognisabe blue haze.

Before we left Katoomba, we took another look at the Three Sisters from Echo Point.. This morning, most of the Jamison and Megalong Valleys were shrouded in early cloud but the Three Sisters stood proudly above them. Just along the road, we came to Blackheath, another historical town with a coal mining background. Here, a short detour took us to Evans Lookout where we had a remarkable view across a grand canyon with a river winding its way through the valley. Across the deeply wooded ravine, were Mount Hay (944m) and Mount Banks (1062m).

Next town along the Tourist Loop is Mount Victoria from where we cut across the valley along the Darling Causeway, with fertile dairy paddocks either side, to Bell. From here, the road twisted up and down, with ever changing views of sandstone or granite rocky outcrops surrounded by dense forests of gum trees.

We refuelled at Bilpin and continued through the Wollemi and Yengo National Parks to Kurrajong, were we joined the Putty Road leading to the Hunter Valley. After climbing up several hills, there was a sharp descent into the Howes valley which opened out into a wide, open plain, which was mainy a cattle farming region.

On this journey, we passed so many different species of eucalyptus trees. Some all sentinels with their smooth, white bark having been stripped of the stringy, outer bark. Others were ochre or red in colour, whlst in many places they were black having been ravaged by bush fires. However it is amazing how they have regenerated new growth in their upper branches. With gum trees, the intense heat of a fire bursts the seed pods and they start to sprout in the ash after the fire has gone.

                

Interestingly, the road now changed again and we passed through what seemed like a large Cheddar Gorge, twisting and turning, before opening out into lush green countryside reminiscent of Mid-Wales with horses, sheep and cattle grazing in small holdings.

Then the road finally led to the Hunter Valley, the famous wine growing region north west of Sydney.

Another gently rolling plain covered with vineyards o both sides of the road. Lindemans the large winery was closed permanently. It appears as though smaller co-operatives and family cellar doors is more desirable here. Along the rows of vines were roses in bloom. These are grown as the roses can detect if viruses harmful to the vines are present.

Highlight of the day: Bushcamping

Tonight, we 'bushcamped' (free camping) at the Macnamara campground in Broke. Very peaceful with only kookaburras for company.