{"id":1587,"date":"2018-11-23T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/?p=1587"},"modified":"2018-11-23T11:35:27","modified_gmt":"2018-11-23T11:35:27","slug":"leura-and-katoomba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/2018\/11\/23\/leura-and-katoomba\/","title":{"rendered":"Leura and Katoomba"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T121246GMT1100-1536x567.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"567\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We drove round to Leura cascades where we enjoyed the gentle descending paths by the water.<br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T094358GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T094433GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A section of dramatic cliff path<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T100931GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T094933GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T094747GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T101105GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then we plunged down steep metal steps into the valley below<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T095219GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T101908GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T102935GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I am obsessed with Australian trees, here are some photos to show why<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T144137GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T093527GMT1100-930x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"930\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T105458GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T110223GMT1100-1536x1152.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1152\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw 2 beautiful male lyre birds with their amazingly long curly tails but they were too quick for a photo &#8211; here\u2019s a statue to show the tail<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T140747GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And we saw a very fine bush turkey who seemed much fatter than the one we saw up in Daintree<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T103137GMT1100.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1250\" height=\"937\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Into the beautiful Leura forest where the trees are so tall with glimpses of the orange cliffs towering even higher above them<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T103452GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T103550GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While looking at a very pretty rufous fantail I managed to step back off the path (there was a bit missing!) and fell about 10 feet down! I only had scratches and thought it quite funny &#8211; if a bit of a surprise! David didn\u2019t think it was very funny. There was a lot of trees and vegetation to stop me, but it was quite steep!<\/p>\n<p>Then I managed to twist my ankle which was less funny and then walked the 8km back which probably made it worse! Ouch.<\/p>\n<p>Once we got to Katoomba we wished we hadn\u2019t! Lots of coach tours from Sydney doing \u2018scenic world\u2019 &#8211; Blue Mountains Disneyland! We took the vertical train up because of my foot. I quite enjoyed it &#8211; David didn\u2019t &#8211; it was very vertical (a bit like my cliff!)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T124312GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Everyone comes to Echo Point to see the 3 sisters (turned to stone to save their lives but then the chap who turned them died so couldn\u2019t change them back) &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T140337GMT1100-1536x1152.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1152\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>there are plenty of other great views elsewhere without the crowds<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T141612GMT1100-1152x1536.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T121401GMT1100-1536x1152.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1152\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As soon as we left the 3 sisters we were back on our own.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T111452GMT1100-1536x1151.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1151\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I was walking a bit slower, we sat down to look at the view and realised there were 2 glossy black cockatoos calmly eating pine cones right next to the path! No one who passed noticed them! Unlike their white cousins who wheel around squawking when anyone comes near<\/p>\n<p>We also saw a lovely king parrot (below), more crimson rosellas and a treecreeper, scrub wren and the elusive golden whistler &#8211; and 5 lyre birds by the end!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T143944GMT1100.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"690\" height=\"920\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw a girl go by with a t-shirt: Dream, Believe, Achieve! That sounded a bit ambitious for me &#8211; I thought a better slogan would be: enjoy the birds but don\u2019t fall off the cliff!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"11\/22\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181122T133757GMT1100-1536x1152.jpg\" alt=\"11\/22\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1152\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Goodbye lovely blue mountains &#8211; or orange and green canyons &#8211; and on to Sydney!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large\" title=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/23\/18\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BIRU-WP-20181123T102304GMT1100-1536x1020.jpg\" alt=\"NSW \/ Australia - 11\/23\/18\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1020\" data-json=\"\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We drove round to Leura cascades where we enjoyed the gentle descending paths by the water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1587"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1626,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1587\/revisions\/1626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.holloway.me.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}