KANANGRA!
WILDERNESS SAFARI IN THE GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS
2 days deep in the wilderness of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area
(8 reviews)
WILDERNESS SAFARI IN THE GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS
Doing a world heritage listed national park justice by allowing plenty of space and time to explore the breathtaking Greater Blue Mountains, the Central Tablelands and the Great Dividing Ranges of NSW is our Blue Mountain overnight safari.
With deep gorges and soaring cliffs, the UNESCO–listed Blue Mountains offer some of Australia’s most beautiful wilderness scenery — but they’re popular among Sydney’s tourists.
So let’s avoid the crowds and go deeper – deep into the Kanangra Boyd Wilderness. Experience the best of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area with hidden canyons and dense forests, and spot native wildlife in its natural habitat.
On this small-group, overnight safari into the Greater Blue Mountains Wilderness you will get personalized attention and plenty of time to explore.
With an expert guide providing navigation and commentary, you can focus on the scenery and the experience. See wildlife such as platypus, swamp wallabies, wombats, and grey kangaroos. Visit local waterfalls, blue gum forests, and steep-walled canyons, stopping along the way in small country towns.
This jam-packed overnight expedition may be time-consuming to plan on your own, but this guided tour takes care of all the details.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy valley walks to experience the heart of the Greater Blue Mountains from the inside.
- Discover remote waterfalls, magnificent canyons, ancient ridges, and ferny rainforests.
- Spot a platypus, an eastern grey kangaroo, a brush-tailed rock wallaby, a superb lyrebird, a common wombat and an abundance of birds in the wild
- Experience the rich and natural diversity and cultural history of a World Listed Heritage Area off the beaten track
- Marvel at the sight of one of the world’s oldest and largest cave system with the 1 hour Imperial Cave walk.
- Spend a night at the iconic and heritage listed Jenolan Caves House at one of the world’s largest and oldest caves.
TODAY’S ITINERARY
Starting no later than 7.30 am to avoid the traffic, we’re straight off to Australia’s own Grand Canyon for a eventful day packed with close wildlife encounters, spectacular vistas and explorative walks. On route we’ll cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge before enjoying morning tea with wild kangaroos deep in the Australian bush. See kangaroos up close plus friendly parrots and cockatoos.
On our circuit hike (app. 1-2 hours, pending on guests’ agility and the weather) along the Jamison Valley today we’ll discover waterfalls, magnificent canyons, eucalyptus and rainforests and an abundance of local birds. The true beauty of the Jamison speaks for itself at the famous Three Sisters.
After an Aussie picnic at our secret hideaway (far from any tourist canteen), we descent halfway down the remote Grose Valley for spectaculair and interrupted vistas over Mount Banks, the Bridal Veil Falls and Pulpit Rock.
In the afternoon, we drive up the Great Dividing Range and into the Central Tablelands to enjoy the solitude and beauty of country NSW, before arriving at Jenolan, home of one of the world’s most spectacular limestone cave formations of the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve.
Having settled into our room of the charming, heritage listed Jenolan Caves House, it is time of another highlight: a walk around the fairy-like Blue Lake for a realistic chance to see the resident platypus in the wild!
An evening (or morning walk the next day) in de hidden, unknown McKeown’s valley brings us close to the endangered Brush-Tailed Rockwallaby!
Dinner at the Jenolan Caves House (at own expense).
Accommodation: Jenolan Caves House
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
- A brisk morning walk to spot a platypus, a brush-tailed rock-wallaby or a wombat.
- Off-road drive to the remote Kanangra Plateau, part of the 5% remaining true wilderness in NSW. Spot herds of eastern grey kangaroos and plenty of pretty-faced & swamp wallabies (true name) on the way.
- The 2 hour walk on Kanangra Plateau. offering spectaculair views over large parts of the Greater Blue Mountains Worlds Heritage Area.
- The views & ultimate photo opportunities at Kanangra Wall and the blue eucalyptus forest of Kanangra Deep. If ever you wondered were the name “Blue Mountains” comes from – this is it!
- Lunch in the old postoffice of the quaint explorers’ hamlet of Hartley, with a visit to the local Aboriginal gallery.
- Scenic drive through the magnificent Hartley Vale Valley with a good chance to spot eastern rosella’s, more kangaroos, an emu or a wedge-tailed eagle.
- Visit of the Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens, the only botanical gardens in the world to be integrated in a world heritage area. Good area to spot an eastern spine-bill, a satin bowerbird, Australian king parrots or a bassian trush.
TODAY’S ITINERARY
After a hearty breakfast at our hotel (included), we’re straight off to yet another national park within the Great Blue Mountains World Heritage Area: the Kanangra Walls, of the Kanangra-Boyd National Park.
An easy but refreshing walk along the valley ridge seamed with silver banksia, bright red mountain devils and white flowering hakeas offers unparalleled views across one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes with its waterfalls, exposed spikes of ancient rocks and misty mountains.
In the depths of the gorge, spot an Australian red cedar or the gorgeous flame robin. Or look up to see some soaring wedge-tail eagles.
On the way back through the Australian woodlands of the Great Divide, we experience yet another highlight of the tour: a close encounter with wombats in the wild! As most marsupials, these close relatives of the koala are active mostly early in the mornings or late at night, when they leave their undergrounds burrows to graze. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see this beautiful animal in its own habitat!
After our lunch at the historic Hartley village, we make our way via the scenic Bell’s Line of Road to a remote lookout on the green slopes of Mount Banks, one of the highest points of the Blue Mountains National Park on the northern ridges of the Grose Valley.
A short drive later we find ourselves amount the flowering grass trees, giant ash gums and enigmatic Wollemi pines of the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens of Mt Tomah. Look out for the clever satin bowerbird!
Return to your hotel at ca. 5 PM, packed with memories that will last a lifetime.
“One of my favourite moments of the Greater Blue Mountains Wilderness Safari happens on the patio of Jenolan Cave House, just after 5 pm, when all the day-tourists are gone and we – my guests and I – can enjoy an intense peacefulness not found in anywhere in the city. Only interrupted by a wallaby, a superb lyrebird or a friendly waiter bringing our well deserved beer !”
Carlos Demnati, Tour Guide
OTHERS TourS TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS
Wilderness Overnight Safari
Two days in hidden canyons and dense forests to observe the local wildlife in their natural habitat.
GRAND CIRCUIT
Mountains, wine and dolphins
Discover the best of the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and Port Stephens. With valley and beach walks, wine tasting and a dolphin cruise.
THE OUTBACK EXPLORERS TOUR
Gold, wine and wilderness
A journey into Outback NSW and its variety of landscapes, historic and heritage towns and abundance of wildlife.
MOUNTAINS TO SURF
Sun, Surf & Wildlife
This 4-day journey showcases some of NSW’s most beautiful and unspoiled areas, offering an unforgettable experience that engages all your senses.