Local attractions

The Rhododendron Garden

This is a beautiful garden with azaleas, spring bulbs, hundreds of rhododendrons, towering trees and a lake. Picnic areas and a kiosk are available. The garden is best seen in November and December, and especially during the Rhododendron Festival held the first weekend in November.

The garden features natural fern glades and an abundance of native flora. 

Lookouts

There are  fabulous lookouts accessible by short drives...a wonderful experience around sunset!  A pleasant drive to the western end of Shipley Plateau passing local apple orchards will bring you to Hargraves Lookout and provide magnificent views over the rural Megalong Valley. At the end of Shipley Plateau is Mount Blackheath, a popular hang-gliding site.

Blackheath Growers Markets

 ...wonderful!... held in the Park Cnr Hat Hill Rd and Great Western Highway 2nd Sunday each month (except January). Check for June, July and August.

Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park & Pool

The beautiful and expansive Memorial Gardens extend over a large area in Blackheath and can be accessed from Park Avenue. This park has significant heritage value, with lovely old style sweeping lawns and well established cold climate plants.  Within are many heritage items including historic sandstone ANZAC memorial steps and old-style playground equipment. A major feature is the newly installed ‘Rocket’, inspired by the original Rocket play equipment in this park from 1962.

The park also embraces Blackheath Swimming Pool, the original form of which was built during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The modern version is still open in the warmer months. The park is opposite Council’s Blackheath Glen Tourist Park.

This local park provides many facilities including lots of open space, interesting playground equipment and electric barbeques. There is also a duck pond. The pool takes pride of place in the park and is open from late November through to the end of March. 

Please, no BBQs or fires at the cottage - this great park is only a short walk away.

Scenic world at Katoomba

At Scenic World (famous!) in Katoomba you can pay for a trip in a skyway, flyway, railway or along a walkway where the beautiful surroundings can be viewed from different perspectives. The kids will have lots of fun too. A link to the website for Scenic World can be found below. It can however be quite expensive. While visiting tourist sites in Katoomba, drop into the historic Paragon Cafe and ask to see the heritage listed rooms inside at the back.

Links

(Brochures and detailed information about local attractions can also be found at the cottage when you arrive.)

• • http://www.visitbluemountains.com.au (What to see & do, including information about bushwalking & a calendar of events. Also some maps & driving instructions.)

  • http://www.scenicworld.com.au

  • http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0004

  • http://www.visitnsw.com/Blue_Mountains_National_Park_P623.aspx

  • http://www.blackheath-nsw.com/

  • http://www.infobluemountains.net.au/rail/upper/blackheath.htm