From Broken Hill to the Blue Mountains
The Indian Pacific departed broken Hill and New South Wales around midday, bound for Sydney. The train journeys through the night, arriving at Mount Victoria Station (about an hour west of Sydney) around 8 a.m. At Blue Mountains guests depart the Indian Pacific. The journey from this point to Sydney is via a chartered train from the New South Wales rail service. Guests are offered four different experiences on this stop. Two involve tours of Scenic World (the "Scenic World and Echo Point" and the "Scenic World and Echo Point Cultural Experience") and two that were centered around the Blue Mountains ("High Tea in the Blue Mountains" and "Blue Mountains Discovery Trail.") We chose the one that we thought offered the best blend of nature and culture, the "Scenic World and Echo Point Cultural Experience."

We began our tour by taking the Scenic Skyway from the east to the west stations. The Scenic Skyway in the Blue Mountains is a breathtaking cableway experience offering spectacular panoramic views of the region's rugged landscape. Suspended 270 meters above the Jamison Valley, the Skyway glides across a 720-meter span, providing passengers with an unparalleled aerial view of iconic landmarks like the Three Sisters, Mount Solitary, and Katoomba Falls. Its large windows, as well as a floor that can be made transparent, create an immersive experience, allowing visitors to gaze down at the lush rain forest canopy and steep sandstone cliffs below. As the cable car moves, knowledgeable guides offer insights into the unique geology and history of the Blue Mountains, adding depth to the visual element. The trip lasts about 12 minutes. The Scenic Skyway is not only a thrilling adventure but also a peaceful, scenic retreat, showcasing the grandeur of one of Australia’s most treasured natural wonders. Below is a video of the Skyway trip from east to west, with commentary. Below that are photos of some of the highlights of the crossing..

Views from the Skyway (Click to Enlarge)
Jamison Valley	Solitary Lookout	Katoomba Mine
Katoomba Falls	Mount Solitary	Three Sisters

Exiting the Skyway at the west station bring visitors to the main hub of Scenic World, the point from which all three conveyances depart.  We entered a cafeteria area which also sported a deck that provided a good view of the route taken by the Skyway.  After warming up with some cocoa and a donut, we were greeted by our guide for the morning, a local aboriginal who gave us background on the history of the inhabitants of the Blue Mountains, was well as sharing personal stories and insights from his time in the mountains. Behind him were a table of artifacts and totems, which he carefully explained to the group. This cultural experience component would inform all that we

visited in Scenic World. After a short question and answer session, our guide led us to our next experience, descending to the Jurassic era rainforest in the Jamison Valley via the Blue Mountains Cableway.

Blue Mountains Cableway
The Blue Mountains Scenic Cableway is a heart-pounding experience, as travelers are suspended high above the lush Jamison Valley. It offers passengers a panoramic view of rugged sandstone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and the iconic Three Sisters rock formation. The large, fully enclosed cabin glides smoothly along its trajectory, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey while showcasing the region's stunning natural beauty. As the world's steepest aerial cableway, it provides a thrilling descent into the valley below, where verdant rainforests and walking trails await Exploration.  Our trip started at the cableway's Top Station, riding the gondola down to the Jamison Valley.  Below is a video of our descent to the Jamison Valley and the Jurassic Period rainforest.

At the lower station, visitors exit the cableway and enter the Scenic Walkway. It offers visitors a 2.4-kilometer elevated boardwalk through the ancient Jurassic-era rainforest of Jamison Valley. There aer multiple route options ranging from a brief 10-minute stroll to a comprehensive 50-minute immersion through one of Australia's most pristine temperate rainforests. Our trip was the shorter variety, which took us through a portion of the forest and as well as the mining exhibit, ending at the funicular. The boardwalk itself winds through Gondwanan era forests, where visitors can observe remarkable flora, including bird's nest ferns, southern sassafras, and iconic waratahs, while spotting native wildlife such as lyrebirds, grey kangaroos, and over 130 bird species. In addition, there are more than 400 fauna species that inhabit the region. Educational signage illuminates the area's rich history, from 40,000 years of Gundungurra custodianship to its coal mining heritage, preserved through replica miners' huts and historic mine entrances. For children, there is also a dinosaur park, just off the main walkway. The walkway exemplifies accessible design while protecting fragile ecosystems and providing visitors with an immersive sensory journey through Australia's ancient natural heritage. Below is a sped-up video of nearly the entire 2.4 kilometer Scenic Walkway, followed by a gallery of some the trees found in this Jurassic Era forest.

Trees of the Jamison Valley Jurassic Forest (click on image to enlarge)
Ribbon Gum Tree	Cedar Wattle Tree	Sassafras and Lilli Pilli	Five Leaf Water Vine

From the Scenic Walkway to the the Scenic Railway
If exiting left out of the Cableway, there is a short portion of the Scenic Walkway not covered in the video above--an area dedicated to coal mining operations in the Jamison Valley. Approaching from the cableway, the first thing one sees is a board containing the tools used by the miners. Just beyond that lies the opening to the Katoomba mine. Just past the mine opening are bronze statues of a Welsh miner leading his pony hauling a wagon of coal. Interestingly, the ponies were actually lowered down via ropes and never left the valley. Past the bronzes is a ventilator furnace to keep air flowing to the miners. A set of timbers to the right of the furnace mark the entrance where coal was first discovered. Approaching the Scenic Railway, there is an example of the original cars used to transport coal and miners from the valley floor, as well as a replica of the Katoomba Mining Company office. Between the office and the railway are posters explaining both the train and the mining operations. Below is a short video of the mining exhibit, as well as a photo gallery

Katoomba Mine in the Jamison Valley (click to enlarge)
Miner's Tools	Katoomba Mine Entrance	Katoomba Entrance Closeup	Bronze Sculptures
Coal Hoppers on the Track	First Coal Seam Discovered	Ventilation Furnace Sign	Ventilation Furnace Closeup
Old Tourist Rail Cars	Previous Tour Rail Cars	Katoomba Mining Office	On to the Scenic Railway

 

The Blue Mountains Scenic Railway
We concluded our visit with a trip from the Jamison Valley rainforest to the Scenic World's entrance via the Scenic Railway, renowned for being the steepest passenger railway in the world. Originally built in the 1880s to haul coal and shale up the rugged cliffs, it was  transformed into a thrilling passenger experience when the mine closed in 1945. The journey begins as riders board carriages with panoramic windows that allow stunning views of the dense eucalyptus forests and dramatic sandstone escarpments. As the train descends at a remarkable 52-degree incline, passengers can choose their seat tilt, ranging from mild to “cliffhanger” mode for a heart-pounding experience. To be honest, the trip down to the Jamison valley is the more spectacular of the two rides, as shown by this descent video by Canobie Coaster.

Echo Point Lookout
Our final destination of both the day and the trip was Echo Point. It is a promontory that offers sweeping views of the Blue Mountains. While we were transported from Scenic World by bus, there is also a cliffside trail that leads from the east station of the Scenic Skyway to the point. You may view this on our virtual tour (below).   We spent the remainder of the morning taking in the views before having a last lunch at the Echo Point cafeteria. From there, we boarded a bus to the Katoomba rail station, and took a charted train into Sydney. Below is a photo gallery showing all the points of interest visible from Echo Point Lookout.

Echo Point Lookout Vistase (click to enlarge)
Vista 1: King's Tableland to Gangarang Range	Vista 2: Mt. Solitary to Kedumbra River	Vista 3: Fire Tower to Scenic World

There is a virtual tour of the Scenic World and Echo Point. Follow this link. Tour opens in a new window.