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Published: March 3rd 2009
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The Blue Mountains and Featherdale
Sunday was overcast at 7:30 a.m., when I set out for the Blue Mountains, but the sky gradually cleared until it was bright blue with brilliant sunshine, a perfect day for the tour. Lucked out and was seated next to John the driver, with a great view and the opportunity to chat and ask questions.
First stop was the Olympic complex from the 2000 games. Not much to see here but had a much needed cup of coffee, then on to the Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Our drive took us on the motorways and through suburban villages. Featherdale is a small preserve, started by a farmer and recently taken over by a corporation. My first impression was not good. That zoo smell we all remember from days past was there, but as I walked around I noticed that there were numerous staff members who were cleaning up. The cause of the smell was soon apparent. Wallaby have the run of the park and allow you to pet them. They are inquisitive and friendly. Again, it was the birds that blew me away. Australia is blessed with such a variety of parrots and finches, raptors and herons,
not to mention the emu and cassawary. I made my way to the koala section where I had my koala encounter. Our little guy had just been placed in the “picture tree”. He didn’t want to leave his compound and wrapped is long, strong fingers around every pipe and fence until finally he gave in. Placed in the tree with a goodly supply of gum leaves, he patiently allowed us to pet him. That was a real treat.
I passed a large aviary where two keepers were cleaning up. One had a small parrot on his shoulder that would not leave. He tried to entice the bird with an orange half. No deal! The bird was vocal and screeched into the keeper’s ear. He nibbled and bit his shirt and then his ear and just wouldn’t get off. I watched for a while and left them, still together, the keeper still trying to offload the little fellow. It must have been love. Again, the Tasmanian Devil and the Platypus were no shows. I’ll have two more chances to see them, but they are nocturnal animals and it just may not happen.
I could not have had a better day for a trip to the Blue Mountains. Often cloaked in mist, they were sharp against the blue sky. Designated a World Heritage area, the range has rugged cliffs and rock formations, ravines and waterfalls and the perennial soft blue haze that gives the their name, caused by the light striking eucalyptus oil particles in the air. The three sisters formation was clearly visible from Echo Point and later from Scenic World.
Scenic World is a complex built around an old coal mine. A glass bottom cable car took me from the parking lot to the main building, (think restaurants and shopping). From there I rode down the world’s steepest incline railway to the boardwalk below. Originally built to deliver miners to the mine and coal to the top, it’s incline was steeper than many rollercoaster’s I’ve been on.
I walked through the rainforest where the smell of eucalyptus scented the air. It was cool and pleasant and after a time I found myself at the base of the Flyway Cable car that carried me to the top again.
Our final stop was the Megalong Lookout, where John just had to share that he had seen a large Brown Snake a couple of weeks ago. Made my day! They are poisonous and I was very careful to say in the middle of the group. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter the big boy and it was now time to drive back to Parrametta River for our ferry ride back to town.
It was an interesting day. I arrived back at the hotel at 7 p.m., just in time for a light meal. I’m glad I took the tour but I’m not sure if I would do it again. So much of the day was spent on the road.
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