Loved driving up to the Blue Mountains during winter and seeing little signs of snow. A beautiful place to sight see, do some hiking, visit the caves, the little towns and learn about the history of that part of Australia when the convicts arrived. Very interesting.

About two hours from the centre of sydney are the Blue Mtns and its worth the visit. There are heaps of walks- the 1000 staircase round to the scenic railway would have to be one of my fave walks in Katoomba, but there are tons of other walks. Make sure you wear good shoes and take water, and if your planning a longer walk, jump on the national parks website for details of where to camp etc. Always let somewhere know where you are going and when you will be back. And DON'T stray off the track! This is both for your safety and protection of the bush! If walks arent your thing, there are heaps of vantage points for good photos, scenic railway, shops. The shopping is fantastic, heaps of quirky things. I love the Leura Lolly Shop!

Perfect for a weekend getaway from Sydney!  You can spend a day hiking through the bush, briefly stop and see the Three Sisters (I say briefly because the lookouts are usually crammed full of people so you mightn't want to spend too long there) and then some time exploring all of the wonderful little shops, cafes and restaurants in the towns.  

Blue Mountains- These mountains got their name because of the blue haze which is a result of ultrafine oily mist given off by eucalypts. This haze makes the mountains look blue looking from a distance.

There are some great antique shops, with cheap, unusual books in the Blue Mountains. Try and go for Winter Solstice when there is the Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba. Be sure to dress up!