Any visitors to Sydney should stay a while in the stunning Blue Mountains, just 1 1/2 hours west of Sydney, you can get there by car or train. Blackheath is the village to explore, with several gay/lesbian owned cafes and restaurants, lots of very interesting antique shops, galleries, and op. shops.

Plus, Blackheath has the famous views, waterfalls, hikes, and amazing scenery. It is the headquarters of the World Heritage listed Greater Blue Mountains National Park. Robert, from Allendale Cottages, works at the National Parks Heritage Information Centre, and a couple of times a month does hikes for a gay hiking/outdoors club. It is free and lots of fun, so find out when the next walk is on and join in.

Hikes in the coming months will include the gorgeous Grand Canyon track in Blackheath. We start the hike at Evans Lookout, with a dramatic view into the sheer gorges of the Grose Valley (visions of this area can be seen on the Allendale Cottages website) and take the trail into the rainforest and start our explore through a 'slot canyon', which is a very narrow canyon carved by the stream.