Blue Mountains: The Jurassic wonderland on Sydney’s doorstep

Right now, I’m probably the only person on the planet on top of a cable car.

Many people in the surrounding towns are still in bed, while I’m on top of the world. Well, it feels like it.

Welcome to the Blue Mountains – the Jurassic playground full of geological marvels on Sydney’s back doorstep. From where I’m standing it looks like a green fortress protecting the city.

You’ve probably heard of Scenic World, with its world-famous cable car, known as the Skyway. Well, they’ve just added a new thrill – and it’s the only place in the world you can do it.

The Skyway has carried millions of people over the years. It’s known for its magnificent views of Mount Solitary and the Three Sisters. While the masses have experienced the vistas from the inside, you can now take it to the next level with the Beyond Skyway experience.

We arrived just after dawn for a full briefing and to get kitted up. Everything you take, like a mobile phone, must be tethered to you. Even your glasses.

We watch a brief safety video, then board the Skyway for the ride across to the middle of the valley. This natural marvel is a little like a bush-clad grand canyon. It’s carpeted by lush rainforest and crisscrossed by meandering streams.

Its formation began 470 million years ago when the entire area was below water. Over millions of years, the area was uplifted and sculpted by rivers, wind and rain. That resulted in a deep, steep-sided valley flanked by towering sandstone cliffs.

As the cable car comes to a stop in the middle of the valley, the first rays of light begin to pop over the mountains. I’m impressed by the level of safety – I’ve done a lot of zip-lining in New Zealand and around the world and have experienced the whole scale of safety systems. But this well exceeds anything I’ve seen. At all times, you’re attached by two separate wires, and it’s impossible to fall over the side. Seeing this helps calm my nerves. The company behind Scenic World also runs the Sydney BridgeClimb, so I know I’m in good hands.

A ladder to the roof is lowered, and we slowly make our way up through a hatch. Our two safety clips are transferred one at a time to the line on the top, and then we’re free to walk around.

The view is sensational. On one side, we have the Katoomba Falls, which cascades majestically over multiple tiers.

Below, 270 metres to the ground, is a thick rainforest. We’re roughly three times the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and higher than the top floor of the Auckland Sky Tower. And we can walk right up to the edge.

On the other side, we have one of the most breathtaking views in Australia. Mount Solitary stands tall among a sprawling wilderness that’s so beautiful it’s a Unesco World Heritage site.

Our gaze is interrupted by birdsong – a melodious reminder of the region’s rich biodiversity. The piercing laugh of the kookaburra echoes around the valley.

After 20 minutes of enjoying the view and snapping lots of pictures, we make our way down into the cabin, where hot chocolate is served. And, best of all, our day of exploring has only just begun.

Next, we travel back in time and explore the ancient Jamieson Valley. We take the world’s steepest railway, which has an incredible 52-degree incline. To put that into perspective, the Pyramids of Giza have a 51-degree slope. So it’s like taking a train off down the side of it.

The railroad was initially created in the 1880s for transporting coal, but in the 1940s was repurposed for tourism. The cabin has reclined seats, safety bars, an elaborate breaking system and a panoramic glass roof for enjoying the view on the way down.

Once at the bottom, you’re able to explore the longest elevated boardwalk in Australia – extending more than two kilometres. If you have children, don’t miss the Gruffalo Spotters Trail. After downloading an app on your phone, kids can explore the bush using augmented reality to try and spot the mouse, fox, owl, snake and The Gruffalo – all from the famous books. Once found, they can even interact with the characters through the phone.

After exploring the boardwalk, take the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest cable car back to the main Scenic World building. From there, you can ride the Skyway over to the other side of the valley, where you can wander out to Echo Point Lookout for a closer view of the Three Sisters.

After a morning exploring, unwind at the Echoes Restaurant & Bar for a fine dining lunch with spectacular views.

End the day by staying a night at the Blue Mountain’s most luxurious hideaway, Spicers Sangoma Retreat. The resort has just eight sprawling suites, each lavishly decorated.

Guests are treated to an all-inclusive gourmet dining experience with a focus on locally sourced, seasonal produce. The retreat’s restaurant is headed by Garth Edas who was the executive chef for one of the wealthiest families in the world, and his skills are astounding.

Edas artfully weaves together flavours at Restaurant Amara resulting in dishes that are worth the trip alone.

Aside from the infinity pool with distant views of Sydney, the luxury spa tent, and an opulent lounge, Sangoma Retreat has some of the most elegant rooms in Australia – providing a haven for a romantic retreat.

You might be less than two hours from Sydney, but here you’ll feel a world away, wrapped in an ancient wonderland.

Essentials:

Getting there: Getting there: Air New Zealand flies to Sydney from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. The Blue Mountains is a 90-minute drive from Sydney or a two-hour train ride. See: airnewzealand.com

Staying there: Starts from A$1799 (NZ$1935) a night, a sumptuous breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages and full minibar. See: spicersretreats.com

Playing there: Scenic World Discovery Passes from A$53 per adult and A$31.80 for children. You can enjoy as many rides as you like on the Scenic Railway, Cable Car and Scenic Skyway. The Beyond Skyway cable car rooftop walk starts from A$349. See: scenicworld.com.au & beyondskyway.com.au.

Carbon footprint: Flying generates carbon emissions. To reduce your impact, consider other ways of travelling, amalgamate your trips, and when you need to fly, consider offsetting emissions.

This story was produced as a part of an editorial partnership with Destination NSW, which hosted the writer. Read more about our partnership content here.