We parked on Stone Parade near Davidson Park for what would be a 3km return on an evenly-surfaced…read moretrack through beautiful NSW bushland. A perfect spring morning, saw us, tramping through the Eucalypts and hopping over creeks on our way to 'The Cascades' - large rock platforms over which 2 creeks meet. Armed with a long stick, our son had a great time exploring the rock pools and the creeks whilst we picnicked and looked on. Happy with our play, it was on the return journey that we encountered a 3 metre Python. It oozed slowly across the path as I breathed into a paper bag and reminded myself why I'd left England where the most menacing natural encounter might be with a wasp. Despite the abundance of 'nature' (SSNNNNNNNNAKKKKKKKKKEEEE). It's a great walk with kids that is somewhat challenging on the uphill back, such that I felt justified shovelling in great handfuls of chocolaty trail snack on the way.

Looks like a nice place to picnic and the trails are super easy and you get to see a lot of little…read morewaterfalls and cascades! If you go a little further on the trail and then start climbing up to the right for a bit, you'll be able to look out on this beautiful big waterfall beneath you. That was definitely worth it.

800m, 40min return? Psh we'll be there and back in no time we said and ambled down the stairs. A…read morefew steps later and we were there - a bubbling stream, two little waterfalls and a bridge. Cute, but not as impressive as I thought. But then we looked to the right and saw more steps going down - I wonder where these go? And so we walked on, following the widening stream and discovered just how wrong we were. The two little falls just below the Leura Cascades carpark is just the teaser for the great walk it is part of. With plenty of steps and rails, the walk to the ACTUAL cascades is perfect for young and old, time poor and the unfit. Walking onwards, I was trying to think of the difference between a waterfall and a cascade. All I could think of was the beer. Which may be what you need after running back up the steps to the carpark but going down is a breeze with plenty of lush greenery and sandstone to admire, and you're rewarded at the end with the cool and calm of the cascades and a grand view over the valley. Afterwards, choose to keep walking along the circuit route or head back up the stairs to that other Cascade waiting for you in town.

The Blue Mountains is a pretty special place, where in the world does a forest of eucalyptus trees…read moreproduces an oil that somehow mixes with the atmosphere to create a blue hue? Fascinating. I have to say that out of all the lookouts on the Blue Mountains region that Govetts Leap has to take the cake as my favourite to date. It probably has something to do with the ever so beautiful weeping waterfall that goes on and on and on. Beautiful spot to even bring down the friends n slab of beer & a couple of sausages for a BBQ. The area has clean toilet facilities & is also the starting point for an array of hikes. Be warned you may take longer than indicated from all the stops you'll make to photograph... Yes it is that spectacular!

Nice little walk at the northern end of royal National Park. Great lookout over the Park and the…read moreright place to take a deep breath after leaving or returning to Sydney. Go on south to Audley and the Beaches like Wattamolla and enjoy the nature around you. And keep in mind: keep it clean and don't feed the cockatoo, so others can enjoy it too!!!

An out of the way lookout 10-15mins from Blackheath. Great views of the Blue Gum Forrest, Gross…read moreValley and if you look into the distance on a clear day you can see the skyline of Sydney 86KM away! The Anvil shows exactly where to look for the skyline. The Anvil is a great unusual addition. Its a 5 min walk from the car park area. The road to the lookout is paved until the end of Hat Hill Road and then about 4KM of dirt road. The road can be used by cars just watch out for random deep potholes.

You can drive to this lookout and park very close to the viewing platform. There are a couple of…read moreinformation boards that describe Lithgow's history as you are looking over the town and across to the next set of hills. There are no picnic tables here and the parking area is small but there are not many visitors to this area so you could easily just set up your own. Best of all, it is free!