The beautiful village of Blackheath is the highest township on the Great Western Highway , being 1065 metres above sea level.
Blackheath boasts the best scenery in the entire Blue Mountains region with magnificent lookouts such as Govetts Leap and Evans Lookout. It also boasts some of the best bushwalks in the region - the Blue Gum Forest, Popes Glen, the Grand Canyon walk, just to name a few.
Blackheath is also unique for having two valleys on either side of the township. On the western side is Megalong Valley , famous for its scenery, patches of rainforest, and horse riding trails.
The valley to the east of the township is the Grose Valley with sheer cliff faces, awesome escarpment views, and waterfalls.
The village of Blackheath is a charming collection of country style shops, antique and art galleries, and terrific cafes and restaurants. Some of the more well known eateries include Vulcans, Ashcrofts and The Pines.
Two of the great local café "hang outs" include the Victory Café in Govetts Leap Rd and Bakehouse on Wentworth in Wentworth Street . You can get a great cup of coffee and yummy cakes at both of these local delights.
A visit to Blackheath isn't complete without a trip to the Rhododendron Gardens and Memorial Park and swimming pool. Both of these gardens boast amazing colour when the rhododendrons are flowering (late October/early November).
There are two famous festivals held in Blackheath each year. One is the Food and Wine Festival held on the first weekend in May. The grounds of the Gardeners Inn Hotel are the venue for this full day of eating and drinking. Restaurants from the region show off their culinary expertise and the wines come from areas such as Mudgee, Cowra, and Orange .
The second festival is the Rhododendron Festival, held on the first weekend in November. There's a street parade and loads of stalls in the Memorial Park and Swimming Pool grounds.
For a location map of Blackheath and the Blue Mountains, click on the links below:
http://www.wilmap.com.au/bluemtns.html
http://www.sydney.visitorsbureau.com.au/page2-12.html |
Palm Beach, Sydney, Australia
Sydney 's Northern Beaches are the jewel in the crown when it comes to scenic coastline. You will be hard pressed to find a better stretch of coast anywhere in Australia . The area from Manly in the south to Palm Beach in the north is nothing short of stunning.
Palm Beach is known as Sydney 's hang out for the rich and famous but it's also inhabited by an eclectic mix of local residents who've lived in the area for years, or their families have had holiday houses in the area for years.
Many of the locals in this area have water access only to their properties and the "tin boat" or "tinnie" is a common mode of transport on the waterways.
Mountains to the Sea's accommodation offerings are concentrated in Palm Beach , the western foreshores of Pittwater (Coaster's Retreat, Mackerel Beach ), and Patonga and Pearl Beach - on the very southern shores of the Central Coast .
The scenery in this part of NSW is absolutely outstanding. On the northern end of Palm Beach stands Barrenjoey Headland with its famous lighthouse. A visit to Palm Beach isn't complete without a walk up to the Light. The view from the top is well worth the 30 minute stretch of the legs. You can see across to Box Head (2 ¼ miles across Broken Bay ), down the mouth of the Hawkesbury River , and across to the Central Coast townships of Patonga, Pearl Beach , Umina, Ettalong and Killcare.
On the western side of Palm Beach lies a large body of water known as Pittwater. The scenery on this side of Palm Beach is just as good as the scenery on the "beach side". Pittwater is a haven for yachties and all boat enthusiasts. From Palm Beach you can catch ferries across Pittwater to The Basin, Mackeral Beach and Currawong. You can also do scenic river cruises through Kuringai Chase National Park and Twilight Pittwater Cruises (in January only).
Another beautiful gem in Palm Beach is the " Bible Garden ". Operated by volunteers, the garden is perched on the side of a hill and faces due north over Barrenjoey Headland, Lion Island , Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River . The view is breathtaking and the garden itself provides a peaceful spot to sit, read or contemplate life.
For a location map of Palm Beach and Sydney’s Northern Beaches, click on the link below:
http://www.gdaymate.com.au/1.htm |
