Today we headed out to the Blue Mountains.  Unlike yesterday, a very sunny and hot day, today was cool, rainy and foggy.  Very foggy!  A great day to see a picturesque scenic vista!  Undaunted we headed to the Blue Mountains.  On the way we stopped for tea and scones at Bygone Beauties Treasured Teapot Museum and Tearooms.  Our host, Maurice,  who calls himself  ‘a fair dinkum Aussie who loves to collect tea pots’ introduced us to some of his collection of 6634 teapots.  He showed us a tea pot that was commissioned by a one-armed lady in 1886.  The teapot had a unique base and spout to help her pour.  A collectors item indeed!

We next headed to the Blue Mountains.  It is commonly believed that the Blue Mountains get their name because of their distinctive blue haze which may be caused by eucalyptus oil combined with dust particles and water vapour.

This is the famous ‘Three Sisters’ and apparently their little known brother Kevin (the smallest stone outcrop).  We took the scenic railway into the gorge.  At a 52″ incline, this is the steepest passenger train in the world.

We then walked through the ancient, temperate rainforest and returned to the top of the escarpment via the scenic cableway.  Next stop was the scenic skyway that glides between the cliff tops above the Jamison Valley,  At 270 meters, it is the highest cable car in Australia.

After lunch at the Mountain Heritage Hotel,  we visited the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah, a spectacular cool climate garden with thousands of plants from the southern hemisphere and around the world.

Of course, we saw Wambat and Kangaroo crossings on our tour.

Then back to Sydney for dinner and a well-deserved rest.  Tomorrow is a free day.