Mount Portal Lookout

Mount Portal Lookout is part of the Blue Mountains National Park near Glenbrook.

The lookout is perched above the junction between Glenbrook Gorge and the Nepean River.

The 2-3 km drive into the park is through magnificent tree-lined roads.

It's wheelchair friendly and easy to access via a regular small car.

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.

Thursday Travels

Thursday Travels @Exploring the World is a new photographic meme that highlights your favourite and best holiday pics.

One at a time.

Some easy to follow rules:

• Pick just ONE photo that shows something unique, unusual or quintessential about your travels.

• You can label it, write a story or do a travelogue piece about your photo if you so desire.

• These photos are about the place, the environment (man-made or natural), panoramas, macros - whatever captures your eye.

• All photos must be your own.

• NO selfies or family pics please.

We're all about the scenery at Thursday Travels!

Today I'm in the Blue Mountains of NSW
Govett's Leap is a lookout over the Grose Valley.
It's part of the Blue Mountains National Park and is open for bush walking.

#ThursdayTravels

Road Trips

Over the past few months, we've enjoyed a few family roadtrips.

1. A trip to Albury in southern NSW for my father-in-laws 80th birthday party.

We encountered stormy weather on the drive down, which made for some amazing views.

Gunning Wind Farm

After the storm

Lake Hume

2. A quick trip to Blackheath in the Blue Mountains last month revealed beautiful autumnal streets.

3. A recent soccer trip to Mudgee gave me a chance to photograph my old home town in all it's wintry glory.

Lake Windamere

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot

Wildwood Gardens

Last weekend we had a day trip to view autumn in the Blue Mountains. 

We stopped at Wildwood Gardens at Bilpin. 

It was glorious! 

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot. 

Autumn in the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are famous for their quaint villages, deep valleys and spectacular sandstone cliffs...oh, and of course, the gum trees! It is the bluish tinge produced by the vapour of the gum trees that gives the mountains their iconic name. 

However since early settlement times, the mountains have become home to an ever increasing array of decidious trees famous for their autumnal displays. Ash trees, maples, elms & an assortment of pears, apples & pistachios line the streets and highways & fill the beautiful parks found in each village.

Today's selection of photos highlight a few of the autumn trees to be found in Blackheath during March.

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.

Summer Florals

 This week #fmsphotoaday (on Instagram) featured two of my favourite prompts - macro & grow. 

Below are the happy results!

The first group are Sydney flowers....

Magnolia bloom after the rain

Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle

Succulent

Grevillea

Bougainvillea

 ...and the next three pics are from the Blue Mountains.

Westringia

Chestnuts

After the rain

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.

Blue Mountains in Summer

 

Mr Seasons & I love the Blue Mountains and visit whenever we can.

We love it in all seasons and all weather.

But nothing beats a lovely summers day when you can enjoy the views, uninterrupted.

When the cicadas sing & the bush gives up a lush eucalyptus scent you could be a million miles from anywhere.

Yet Sydney is just an hours drive east.

 

Megalong Valley, Leura

It wouldn't be the Blue Mountains if it didn't rain at least once during your stay!

 

Walking out to Sublime Point, Leura

View from Sublime Point, Leura (click to open in full for an even better view).

Hargraves Lookout, Blackheath

Mount Blackheath

Kinimbla Valley from Mount Blackheath

 And folks a little more dare-devilish than I, like to use Mount Blackheath for reasons other than viewing!

 This post is part of Saturday Snapshot