The trip to the Blue Mountains started by visiting Echo Point which provided panoramic views of the southern Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness and the Three Sisters rock formation

Walking down from the viewing point to the cultural centre you pass this restored (and still functioning) old post box.

The vertical slots (now closed up) were designed to make it easier to post a letter without dismounting from your horse.

The photograph below is a view inside the cultural centre, a performance was underway (see centre of lower part of photograph).

I took the the Katoomba Scenic Railway down, this is said to be the steepest railway in the world and was originally part of the Katoomba mining tramways constructed between 1878 and 1900. The cable railway line descends 415 metres through sandstone cliffs, via a rock tunnel with a maximum gradient of 52 degrees.

This is what the “train” and track look like from outside.  It is pretty exciting to ride as you build up some speed and the track is quite bumpy.

In the old days it was even more exciting, you rode in a car like this known as “The Mountain Devil”

However even this was an improvement, previously you rode in empty coal skips!

The information board is reproduced below.

Once you have recovered from the ride you realise you are walking around in a completely different environment to the one you left at the top.  There appear to be an number of caves but they actually are the remains of coal mines.

This is the Cableway Car that could be seen in the distance from Echo Point.  You can ride it down if the Katoomba Scenic Railway looks too exciting.

The Scenic Cableway is the steepest aerial cable car in Australia and gives you an excellent view or the rainforest as you climb back to the visitor centre.

You also get a good view of the various waterfalls that emerge from the rocks.

The Scenic Skyway provides a magnificent birds eye view of features such as this waterfall which works its way down the rocks and into the rainforest.

The panels in the cars floor allows you to look down on the rainforest below.

Rather than take the Scenic Skyway back I decided to walk around the Jamison Valley back to the visitors centre following a marked train.  This is a typical scene on that trail.

The collection includes a variety of birds (above and below) as well as some lazy kangaroos.

Lots of messing about in boats on the river.

The above view was taken from the platform over a swimming pool on Woolloomooloo Bay, the photograph on the left was taken from some high ground further along Mrs Macquaries Road.