Glenbrook, Blaxland, Springwood, Lawson
When travelling from Sydney on the Great Western Highway, the first towns of the Blue Mountains are Glenbrook and Blaxland. Two thriving lower mountain villages, they offer the most convenient access to the more eastern stretches of the Blue Mountains National Park. This is a particularly popular section of the park, with swimming holes, BBQ grounds, and camping facilities. There are also some great walks to features such as Glenbrook Gorge and Red Hands Cave.
Further up the mountains, is the major centre of Springwood. The halfway point between the upper and lower mountain areas, it's home to some fine National Trust Buildings, Hawkesbury Lookout BBQ and picnic grounds, and some more breathtaking bushwalks. The Community Ivy Markets are held here every second Saturday throughout the year.
Lawson, another thirty kilometres up the highway, is the best place from which to attack the short round trip walks to Fairy Falls and Dantes Glen. The Lawson Magpie Markets are held here every third Sunday of the month.
