Abseiling In The Blue Mountains
World Heritage Bushwalking and rappelling near Sydney, Australia
Walking the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to the Three Sisters in Katoomba is good, but it's a bigger adventure to descend, like Wentworth Falls, into the Jameson Valley
Now I don’t want to sound ungrateful here… After all, the views are absolutely lovely, the clean country air is an absolute treat compared to the traffic fumes of the city, and it’s a beautiful sunny day. However, it’s a little difficult to appreciate such things when you’re about to walk off a cliff.
I’m strapped up like a turkey, told to spread my legs further apart, and get a good rhythm going with my hand. This, folks, is abseiling, and that first step is a real leap of faith. To put your life in the hands of a rope, harness and a couple of metal carabeenas is a monumental risk. Now, are you absolutely certain that the rope isn’t frayed slightly? Sure? Don’t kid with me now.
We are perched over the Jameson Valley, the awesome spectacle that provides most of the picture postcard images the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains are famous for. Ahead is a vast swathe of forest, with a river winding gently through it and the blue eucalyptus haze that gives the area its name.
More importantly, though, below us is a steep drop. To fall would, quite bluntly, hurt like hell, and a disproportionate amount of trust is being placed in the complete stranger who has tied the ropes to tree branches.
After getting the OK, the first ginger prod with the feet shows the same level of confidence that girls have when someone offers to put a python round their neck.
Bumbling around, completely forgetting the instructions I’ve just been given, advice keeps flying from the more fortunate souls on the safe ground above.
Fully off the side, though, the rope holds strong, and the slow walk down the cliff face begins. Realising that I’m probably not going to die after all provides an enormous boost, and a couple of bounces are in order. Give me a bit longer and I’ll be sliding down ropes out of helicopters, toting heavy weaponry like they do in Bruce Willis films.
Hitting the bottom is a triumphant feeling. It was really quite simple after all – what was there to worry about? Bring on the bigger drops…
Uh, maybe not… That is an awfully long way down. Can we do the baby run again?
Two hours of introductory abseiling with the Katoomba Adventure Centre (1800 824 009) costs $55. More extensive courses can be taken if your prepared to splash a bit more cash.
You don’t have to dangle off cliffs to get active in the Blue Mountains, of course. It is one of the most scenic spots in the country, and if you can’t find an excuse here to slap on a pair of decent shoes and have a wander, then you’re clearly the sort of fat beast that will have a coronary by the age of 35.
There are hundreds of routes and tracks available, but most accessible one is the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, which, somewhat predictably, snakes around the cliffs in Katoomba.
Along this walk, you get fantastic views of the valley, and superb photo opportunities of famous icons such as the three sisters and Wentworth Falls. It starts at Scenic World, and winds along to the Three Sisters, making it the perfect introduction to the area. If you fancy getting in a bit deeper, though, head down the steps and into the valley. Although, if you do this, make sure you realise that getting back up again is going to be sweaty work.
