The Blue Mountains

My phone said 4degrees in Katoomba when we woke up! So we put on a lot of layers for a day trip! Walked to Newtown station, buying a sandwich on the way. Train to Central, where we'd be able to get on the Blue Mountains train. It cost $11 for a return!! 2 hour journey, So cheap. Also the trains are double deckers and have seats that can change direction! So you can sit as a four or a two or in the right direction of travel.

So the two hour journey consisted of a screaming child and drifting in and out of a nap. The shock of the cold when we got off was awful and it never eased up. 

Outside the station was a ticket office who suggested what we should do and took our money. $35 for Scenic World unlimited ride usage. So this is the steepest train in the world, first used to carry coal from the mines to the town of Katoomba but then as a tourist attraction since 1940's. Queuing was stupid, but we had to do it. Should have been a midweek trip, although everyone was Chinese so maybe it wouldn't have made any difference. They were everywhere, so rude and pushing into you. The railway was quite fun but was kinda over quickly. But 52degree angle was steep! 

From the bottom we walked a bit around the elevated pathways to the cable car. Another queue and then got packed in like sardines and couldn't see anything anyway. Felt like I was in a Lift in China. We won't be doing anything like this again, too busy. Went on the train again when the Chinese seemed to have left with intentions of getting a picture taken but then decided it wasn't worth going back up again for it. 

We found a pathway which led to The Three Sisters, out of scenic world and into National Park path. This was fun, being out in the open and hiking! Still cold though! We'd been walking for ages probably 45 mins when we got to a sign that said halfway point! Couldn't believe it. Started getting warmer and warn out! And then at the end of this pathway we were faced with no other option but the Giant Staircase!

This is not a lie, don't attempt unless your fit! 900 steps that were practically vertical. And some handrails were missing. We were aware that sunset would be soon and didn't want to get caught out. Was so hard work. Chinese girl crying. A dog bounding down looking very happy. And an old man walking down who warned us we were only half way! He sounded like he did this all the time 😳

Anyway we made it, 5 o'clock by now and had photos as the top. This was three sisters but was way too cold to hang about. I could have turned to ice. All we really wanted now was some pub grub! Got on the local bus back to Katoomba Town and found a hotel/pub with a fire and pie and mash! Stayed here until warm and then dashed back to the train station hoping we'd be in time!