Local Information - Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is a beautiful mountainous region in New South Wales and a popular retirement area with a cooler climate and a number of national parks. It borders on Sydney's metropolitan area, with good train connections from the major towns, and its foothills start approximately 50 kilometres west of the state capital.

The area begins on the west side of the Nepean River and extends westward as far as Coxs River. Consisting mainly of a sandstone plateau, the area is dissected by cliffs and dramatic forrested gorges up to 760 metres deep. The highest point of the range is 1,190 metres above sea level.

A large part of the Blue Mountains is incorporated into the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site, consisting of seven national park areas and a conservation reserve. Bushwalking, caving, climbing, camping  and other natural environment leisure activities are popular, and despite encroaching urbanisation, much of the area remains in a pristine natural state, with many areas quite inaccessible.

The Blue Mountains area includes the local government areas of the City of Blue Mountains, the City of Hawkesbury, the City of Lithgow and Oberon.