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Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains region, about 65 kilometres west
of Sydney, is recognised worldwide as an important wilderness area.
These are not really mountains – rather, a magnificent high plateau
of weathered sandstone cliffs, canyons and valleys. Spectacular views
are available from numerous lookouts, and visitors eager for a closer
look can enjoy bushwalking, 4WD tours, horse riding, rock-climbing, abseiling
and canyoning.
The Blue Mountains National Park is part of the Greater Blue Mountains
World Heritage Area, acknowledged worldwide for its amazing biodiversity
of animals and plants, including about 90 species of eucalypt.
>> Conference & meeting venues Blue Mountains
Picturesque towns and villages stretch along the Great
Dividing Range escarpment, including destinations such as Leura, Katoomba,
Springwood, Glenbrook, Faulconbridge and Wentworth Falls.
Leura, known for its art and crafts shops, clothing boutiques, cafes,
delicatessens and bakeries lining its charming old-fashioned main street,
is also the home of Doherty Leura Gardens Resort.
Set amidst two hectares of landscape gardens, it is set for a $4 million
development – including a conference facility and restaurants catering
for up to 250 people. The expansions will also include 80 guestrooms,
with 48 king-size suites and a health and beauty spa.
Historical Katoomba
Rustic, beautiful Katoomba is the largest town in the Blue Mountains region.
Visitors can explore galleries, craft shops and cafes, including the ornate
Paragon cafe, established in 1916 and renovated in art deco style in 1925.
There are also various foot tracks for short bushwalks, ranging from an
hour along the clifftop.
New Developments
Emirates Airline, the Dubai-based international carrier, has chosen the
Blue
Mountains as the site of its first conservation-based, luxury hospitality
development outside Dubai. Using the philosophy of the award-winning Al
Maha resort, Dubai, the Australian conservation project will be one of
Australia’s most environmentally sympathetic developments. The project
will be located in the Wolgan Valley, where 1,500 hectares has been incorporated
into a conservancy reserve. Bordering the Gardens of Stone National Park,
guest facilities will occupy less than two per cent of the total land.
It is expected the new resort will open in 2007.
