Things to Do in Katoomba, Australia

Quick facts: Three Aboriginal sisters were turned to stone by a sorcerer to protect them, according to local legend. The sandstone rock formations rise to more than 900 meters in altitude and change color throughout the day as sunlight falls on them.

Highlights: In winter, the cold valley air meets the warm surface air and forms a sea of clouds that fills the entire gorge, making the peaks look like floating islands. The colors change drastically: from intense orange at dawn to a gray-blue tone in the late afternoon, creating a different spectacle every hour.

Quick facts: More than 2 million visitors annually board the three means of transport that cross the valley. The steepest inclined cable car in Australia descends 52 degrees for 310 meters of pure thrill.

Highlights: Few people know that one of the cable cars crosses the valley at 270 meters high with a fully transparent floor, giving the sensation of floating over the forest. You can see the tops of century-old trees right beneath your feet while the silence of the valley contrasts with the gigantic view.

Quick facts: Looking from above, you see the iconic rock formations called the Three Sisters, which according to Aboriginal legend are three sisters turned to stone. The lookout offers one of the widest views of the Jamison Valley, which stretches for more than 40 kilometers of native forest.

Highlights: At dawn, the mist slowly rises from the valley and creates a spectacle of golden light reflecting on the sandstone walls. Around 4pm, wild rainbow lorikeets line up on the railing waiting for visitors to offer food, an unexpected and noisy encounter.

Quick facts: At about 80 meters high, the waterfalls plunge in three main levels over a sandstone plateau. The volume of water varies drastically between the rainy season, when it forms an impressive curtain, and the dry months, when it can be reduced to a trickle of water.

Highlights: What few people know is that on windy days, the water is thrown upward creating an inverse effect that surprises even those who have visited dozens of times. In the late afternoon, the golden light passes through the mist of the waterfall and forms tiny rainbows that dance among the rocks.

Quick facts: There are 998 steps carved into the blue sandstone of the Blue Mountain, descending 300 meters to the valley below. The staircase was built by Depression-era workers in the 1930s, using only pickaxes and shovels.

Highlights: Halfway down the descent, a seasonal waterfall forms natural pools where you can feel the cold water running through your fingers as it echoes between the sandstone walls. During the hike, you come across old hand-painted signs marking spots where 19th century coal miners worked the slopes.

Quick facts: The waters fall over 30 meters amid a natural sandstone staircase, creating perfect pools for a refreshing dip in the summer. The trail to the waterfalls passes through a forest of giant ferns and centuries-old eucalyptus trees that exude a characteristic scent.

Highlights: What few people know is that the natural pools at the top of the waterfall function like a gentle slide carved by erosion over thousands of years. On hot days, the mist from the waterfall creates micro rainbows that dance among the ferns all the time.

Quick facts: At 428 meters high, it is one of the highest peaks in the region, offering panoramic views of the Jamison Valley. The multicolored sandstone walls change tone throughout the day as sunlight hits them.

Highlights: At the top, you find wind-carved rock formations that resemble prehistoric creatures, a 200-million-year-old geological spectacle. Few people know that there are discreet caves on the northern face of the mountain, used as temporary shelter by 19th century explorers.

Quick facts: At approximately 1,000 meters of altitude, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Jamison Valley and the Blue Mountains. More than 300 thousand visitors come annually to witness the sunrise painting the sandstone rocks with shades of orange and gold.

Highlights: On winter mornings, the dense fog accumulates in the valley below, creating the illusion that you are floating over a sea of clouds. The golden light of dawn reflects on the suspended water droplets, forming a spectacle of colors that changes every minute.

Quick facts: The center houses more than 12 thousand contemporary art works and a giant interactive model that shows the entire Blue Mountains landscape in miniature. The collection includes pieces that tell the story of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples, the original inhabitants of the region.

Highlights: On the third floor, an entire glass wall opens to a 270-degree panoramic view of Jamison Valley, making you feel as if you are floating over the treetops. On Wednesdays, local artists take over the space with live painting and sculpture demonstrations that you can watch up close.