Lithgow, Hartley, Jenolan Caves, Oberon
The first town on the western descent of the Mountains is Hartley, a historic village nestled at the base of Victoria Pass. The beautiful sandstone Hartley Court House was built in 1837 and the following 50 years were prosperous times for the town. The Court House is now a museum where you can watch a mock trial, and try out the convict cells.
Only a short distance past Hartley is the turnoff to the Jenolan Caves. At the end of the narrow and precarious Jenolan Caves Road, a spectacular rock archway creates a natural foyer to the magnificent limestone caverns. Since first open the public in 1838, the cave systems have amazed visitors making them one of the oldest and best known attractions in Australia. There are nine open caves each with their own professionally guided tours and level of difficulty. If daylight is preferable, the caves are surrounded by a flora and fauna reserve with walking trails, kiosk, cafe, picnic and barbeque facilities. Accommodation includes the charming Tudor-styled Jenolan Caves Guesthouse, which has adjoining backpacker residence.
Another alternative, offering a wider selection of accommodation is the township of Oberon. Known as the gateway to the Jenolan Caves, Oberon is less than thirty kilometres away, on the edge of Explorer Country. The countryside is popular with fossickers searching for gold, sapphires, and other precious gemstones. It's equally popular with horseriders, and there are a number of farmstay opportunities in the area.
Back on the Great Western Highway and down to the western fringe of the Blue Mountains is the large industrial town of Lithgow. Huge coal deposits were discovered here in 1827 and steel production was added to the list in 1886 this was the first steel ever cast in the country. In town here are a number of museums and classic buildings, which help paint a clear picture of Lithgow's important heritage. Nearby, the famous Zig Zag Railway has authentic steam trains running on restored sections of this now redundant track. Built in 1869, it was an engineering marvel of it's day and the 90 minute return trip passes across three sandstone viaducts and through two tunnels. This fantastic experience is perfect for those wanting to slip back in time for a couple of hours.
