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Blue Mountains & the Southern Highlands Adventure

Blue Mountains & the Southern Highlands Adventure

From $ 1,730 AUD

Description

Escape the everyday with this four-day adventure to the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands of NSW with Intrepid. Pass though heritage towns and hike to the dramatic falls of the mountain wilderness, then learn the story of spectacular rock formations from the Traditional Owners. Feast on local produce direct from the producers, and look over the spectacular Kangaroo Valley (maybe with a nearby wombat). Be lucky to spot a platypus in the wild and spend some time visiting bushfire affected areas, a chance to see how locals are bouncing back and support the community. Enjoy a memorable First Nations food experience under the stars, and take the time to enjoy laidback Jervis Bay with a nature cruise.

Trip Name
Blue Mountains & the Southern Highlands Adventure
Last Updated
2021-03-11
Days
4
Capacity
16
Highlights
  • Discover the local Gundungurra story behind the Three Sisters, one region’s most iconic geological formations, on a Blue Mountains walk.
  • Support the recovery of bushfire-affected towns, and enjoy the bounty of a Southern Highlands harvest with wine, cider and mead tastings, plus a gourmet lunch, at local producers.
  • Get back to nature with waterfall walks, a nature spotting wildlife cruise on Jervis Bay, and maybe if you’re lucky spot a wild platypus on a ranger-led hike.
  • Experience an immersive Indigenous food experience around the campfire under the stars.
  • Learn how fire and traditional knowledge plays an important part in land management of the land as part of unique First Nations bush experience.

Itinerary

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CULTURAL EXPERIENCES & COMMUNITIES: Please note due to cultural sensitivities, entry to particular parts of local First Nations communities may be unavailable. Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guides are unavailable in the Red Centre an Intrepid guide will lead the interpretive cultural walk. Top End cultural experiences are only available during the dry season (May-Oct) as site is subject to flooding (contact our customer service team for availability). Participants may be absent due to cultural commitments with minimal prior notification and Intrepid reserves the right to amend the itinerary in these circumstances with no obligation to refund.

Day 1 - Blue Mountains National Park
Your journey begins today with a welcome meeting and 8 am departure from Sydney CBD, heading inland to the Blue Mountains National Park. Make your way through Western Sydney’s suburbs, then help support the local community with a stop for morning tea in one of the towns along the highway. Walk off that morning pastry with a hike to the double drop Wentworth Falls, one of the Mountains’ most spectacular cascades. Refuel with lunch in the heritage town of Leura – chat with local store owners and maybe choose one of the cafes along The Mall that has views across the valley to Katoomba. Check into your hotel this afternoon, then set off for an easy walk to see one of the Blue Mountains’ most famous geological formation – the Three Sisters. Learn the Gundungurra story behind the rocks, then round off your first day back in town with an included welcome dinner and drinks.
Day 2 - Southern Highlands
After breakfast turn your attention south and stretch the legs with a morning nature walk along the way. The Southern Highlands is known for its wine, so today there’ll be a tasting tour of local produce. Begin with a sampling of local drops at the cellar door of a nearby vineyard, then try some other beverages, including locally made mead, at a winery where you’ll also enjoy a gourmet lunch overlooking the vines. Continue south towards tonight’s accommodation, stopping in some of the small towns en route and maybe supporting local businesses with some shopping. Freshen up in the hotel, then this evening’s free for dinner in Bundanoon, where it feels like not much has changed since the early 20th century.
Day 3 - Jervis Bay
It’s a short drive this morning to the edge of Morton National Park and Fitzroy Falls, an 81-metre cascade that drops into the upper reaches of Kangaroo Valley. Take a walk with a local ranger to view the falls, learn about the area, and maybe spot a platypus in the wild if the season is right. Head towards the coast, making your way through towns that were largely affected by the bushfires at the beginning of 2020. Use some free time to see how the locals are bouncing back, and maybe help support the community by buying local goods. Head out to the gorgeous Kangaroo Valley, crossed by creeks and carpeted with rainforest and neat farms, and lookout for a wombat or two as you look across the surrounding mountains. Later tonight is a real treat for the tastebuds with a First Nations food experience, where you’ll try incredible dishes made with local native ingredients under the stars. You will also learn how, when the land is managed in the way it was for thousands of years, fire and traditional knowledge plays an important part in the management of the land.
Day 4 - Sydney
Begin the day with a nature focused cruise out into Jervis Bay, where the chances are high that a pod of dolphins might jump from the water and race alongside the boat. This is one of the best dolphin and whale watching areas along the whole NSW coast, and from May to November you might just spot a number of these big beautiful creatures breach the blue waters. Take your time returning to Sydney in road trip style – enjoy a slow pace to drop into the regional towns that have been affected by the bushfires, and take in the beautiful coastal cliff lookouts that dot the route back to the city. You’ll arrive at tonight’s drop off point – conveniently located near to the Royal Botanic Gardens – in the early evening, with the rest of your night free to check out the restaurants in areas like Darlinghurst or along the harbour front as your trip comes to an end.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-04-202117-04-2021AUD $ 1,730-

Accommodation

Hotel (3 Nights)

Transport

Private Vehicle

Map