Editing Blue Mountains National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Blue Mountains National Park
| state                  = nsw
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = Australia - Part 3 (27446932621).jpg
| caption                = View of the "[[Three Sisters (Australia)|Three Sisters]]", [[Jamison Valley]], and [[Mount Solitary]] from Echo Point.{{efn|Midday view from Echo Point observatory in [[Katoomba, New South Wales]], looking south towards the "[[Three Sisters (Australia)|Three Sisters]]" (left foreground), [[Jamison Valley]] (middleground), and [[Mount Solitary]] (background). A layer of fog, a common climatic feature of the Blue Mountains, covers the majority of Jamison Valley from view. The distance between Echo Point and Mount Solitary is {{Convert|5|km|mi|abbr=off}}.}}
| image2   ={{maplink
|frame=yes
|frame-width=300
|frame-height=360
|frame-align=center
|text=Blue Mountains National Park
|zoom=8
|type=shape
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=3
|title=Blue Mountains National Park
}}
| nearest_town_or_city   = {{NSWcity|Katoomba}}
| coordinates                     = {{coord|33.62|S|150.46|E|region:AU|display=inline,title}}
| area                   = 2679.54
| area_footnotes         = <ref name=oeh>{{cite web|title=Blue Mountains National Park: Park management|department=Office of Environment & Heritage|publisher=Government of New South Wales|access-date=8 October 2014|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkManagement.aspx?id=N0004}}</ref>
| established            = {{start date|1959|09||df=y}}
| established_footnotes  = <ref name=oeh/>
| visitation_num         = 8438671<ref>{{Cite web |title=Domestic visitation |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/our-science-and-research/our-research/social-and-economic/social/domestic-visitation |access-date=2022-03-29 |publisher=NSW Environment, Energy and Science |language=en}}</ref>
| visitation_year        = 2018
| visitation_footnotes   = <ref name="awcvt"/>
| managing_authorities   = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]
| url                    = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/Blue-Mountains-National-Park
}}
The '''Blue Mountains National Park''' is a [[state park|protected]] [[national park]] that is located in the [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)|Blue Mountains]] region of [[New South Wales]], in eastern Australia. The {{convert|267954|ha|adj=on}} national park is situated approximately {{convert|80|km}} west of the Sydney CBD, and the park boundary is quite irregular as it is broken up by roads, urban areas and [[inholding|areas of private property]].<ref name=oeh/> Despite the name [[mountain]]s, the area is an uplifted [[plateau]], dissected by a number of larger rivers. The highest point in the park is Mount Werong at {{convert|1215|m}} [[Australian Height Datum|above sea level]]; while the low point is on the [[Nepean River]] at {{convert|20|m}} above sea level as it leaves the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bluemountains-australia.com/about-the-blue-mountains/blue-mountains-facts/|title=Blue Mountains Facts – Blue Mountains Australia Guide|website=bluemountains-australia.com|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

The national park is one of the eight protected areas that, in 2000, was inscribed to form part of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]]{{endash}}listed [[Greater Blue Mountains Area]].<ref name=whl>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/917|title=Greater Blue Mountains Area|work=World Heritage List|date=2014|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|access-date=31 August 2014}}</ref> The Greater Blue Mountains was one of 15 World Heritage places included in the National Heritage List on 21 May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/blue-mountains|title=World Heritage Places – Greater Blue Mountains|website=Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy}}</ref> The Blue Mountains National Park is the most central of the eight protected areas within the World Heritage Site and it forms part of the [[Great Dividing Range]]. The park is also listed on the [[Australian Heritage Database|Australian Heritage Register]] and the overall complex of Blue Mountains regional [[trail|walking tracks]] is listed on the [[NSW State Heritage Register|State Heritage Register]].<ref name=shr>{{cite web|title=Blue Mountains Walking tracks|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5014091|work=[[NSW State Heritage Register]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|date=2 April 1999|access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Blue-Mountains-NP (Blue-Mountains AUS)-Location-Map.png|thumb|The Blue Mountains National Park, shaded in red, as part of the larger [[Greater Blue Mountains Area|Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area]].]]
The genesis of the national park was a proposal by early conservationist [[Myles and Milo Dunphy|Myles Dunphy]] for a Greater Blue Mountains National Park in 1932. This included large areas of what are today the Blue Mountains National Park, and the [[Wollemi National Park|Wollemi]], [[Kanangra-Boyd National Park|Kanangra-Boyd]], [[Nattai National Park|Nattai]], [[Gardens of Stone National Park|Gardens of Stone]], and [[Thirlmere Lakes National Park|Thirlmere Lakes]], along with other smaller [[nature reserve]]s; all managed by the [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]. In September 1959 the Blue Mountains National Park was [[Gazette#gazetted as a verb|gazetted]] covering {{convert|63000|ha}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHistory.aspx?id=N0004|title=Blue Mountains National Park – History since colonisation|access-date=24 April 2009|department=Office of Environment & Heritage|publisher=Government of New South Wales}}</ref> In 2000 it was included as part of the Greater Blue Mountains [[World Heritage]] Area. In 1999, 37 walking tracks were added to the State Heritage Register, extending from {{NSWcity|Glenbrook}} and the [[Nepean River]] in the east; to [[Mount Tomah]] in the north; to [[Wolgan Valley]] and {{NSWcity|Newnes}} in the northwest; to [[Jenolan Caves]] and {{NSWcity|Oberon}} in the west; and in the south, numerous walks leading down the plateau from [[Katoomba, New South Wales|Katoomba]], [[Leura]] and [[Wentworth Falls]].<ref name=shr/>

==Geography==
The Blue Mountains National Park lies on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range. The plateau slopes gently down from west to east from a height of around {{convert|1100|m}} above sea level near {{NSWcity|Mount Victoria}} to less than {{convert|200|m}} above sea level around Glenbrook. There are four major rivers that have most of their catchment inside the park: the [[Wollangambe River]] in the north, the [[Grose River]] in the centre, and the [[Coxs River|Coxs]] and [[Wollondilly River|Wollondilly]] rivers in the south. The latter two flow into [[Lake Burragorang]], which is located just outside the park and is the site of [[Warragamba Dam]], the major source of drinking water for Sydney. A small section of the Nepean River passes through the park. All of the major rivers flow from west to east.

==Geology==
[[File:Leura cascades in the Blue Mountains.jpg|A small waterfall at [[Leura]]. Rainforest plants here include the [[Atherosperma moschatum|southern sassafras]] and the [[Elaeocarpus holopetalus|black olive berry]], both [[Relict (biology)|relict]]s from the age of [[Gondwana]].|thumb]]
Structurally, the Blue Mountains are part of the greater Sydney Basin. The Sydney Basin consists of layers of sedimentary rocks laid down over the past 300 million years. The Blue Mountains and Great Dividing Range were formed about 50 million years ago, when the area was uplifted.<ref name="discover">{{Cite book|title=Discover Australia's National Parks|year=1997|publisher=[[Random House]] Australia|location=Milsons Point, New South Wales|isbn=1-875992-47-2|pages=102{{endash}}5}}</ref> More recently, volcanic flows covered large areas of the mountains in basalt. These have largely worn away, leaving only occasional outcrops on the high peaks.

==Biodiversity==
The park contains a small range of eucalypt species across a variety of habitats including wet and dry [[Sclerophyll]], [[Mallee (habit)|Mallee]], swamps, wetlands and grasslands.  Some species are of significance to our understanding of plant evolution including the [[Wollemi Pine]], of which fewer than 100 trees are known. Notable plant families include [[Myrtaceae]], [[Fabaceae]] and [[Proteaceae]] including 114 endemic and 177 threatened species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/917|title=Greater Blue Mountains Area|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

This range of habitats supports a rich variety of fauna, including a third of Australia's bird species, and numerous mammals, reptiles and frogs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au/world-heritage-area/why-are-the-blue-mountains-world-heritage|title=Greater Blue Mountains Drives – Why are the Blue Mountains World Heritage?|website=greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> Notable endangered and endemic species include the [[Regent Honeyeater]], [[Broad-headed snake]] and the [[Blue Mountains water skink]].

==Tourism==
[[File:BRIDAL VEIL FALLS.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Govetts Leap Falls|Bridal Veil Falls]], at Govetts Leap, {{NSWcity|Blackheath}}.]]
[[File:Three Sisters Walk Lookout at Blue Mountains National Park.jpg|thumb|Mountain ranges at Three Sisters Walk Lookout.]]
The Blue Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in NSW with more than half of domestic visitors originating from Sydney and one of the easiest locations to spot wild kangaroos in Sydney.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sydneytoptours.com/blog/where-to-see-kangaroos-near-sydney/|title = Where can I see Kangaroos in the wild near Sydney Australia?|date = 26 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research/NSWparkspopularity.htm|title=Domestic visitation to NSW national parks|first=corporateName=Office of Environment and|last=Heritage|department=Office of Environment & Heritage|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> The majority of tourists to the Blue Mountains see the national park from one of the many lookouts between Wentworth Falls and [[Blackheath, New South Wales|Blackheath]], and many of these never actually set foot in the park.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Activities for the visitor include short walks to lookouts above cliffs and waterfalls, overnight and longer walks to more remote areas of the park and more extreme sports such as [[canyoning]], [[abseiling]], [[rock climbing]] and [[mountain biking]]. A number of [https://www.bluemountains.tours/ Blue Mountains sightseeing and adventure tour companies] can assist visitors in safely experiencing these activities.<ref name="discover"/> It is also home to the world's steepest railway,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://scribol.com/travel/the-steepest-railways-on-earth |title=The steepest railways on Earth |access-date=30 December 2014 |date=December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/take-five/top-five-funicular-railways/2005/10/29/1130400400382.html |title=Top five funicular railways |access-date=30 December 2014 |date=December 2014}}</ref> the [[Katoomba Scenic World|Katoomba Scenic Railway]].

The national park is renowned for the [[Three Sisters (Australia)|Three Sisters]] rock formation.  Both north and south of Blackheath, the cliffs are the most spectacular as the rock faces are several hundreds metres tall.<ref name="discover"/> Visitor numbers have increased to 5.2&nbsp;million in 2016 from 3.6&nbsp;million in 2008.<ref name="awcvt">{{Cite web |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/Commercial-activities/annual-visits-to-nsw-national-parks-and-wildlife-service-managed-parks-2016-state-report.pdf?la=en&hash=90D35A793AD49666B94D293A13BF5099C324E89B |title=Annual Visits to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Managed Parks & Reserves 2016 State Report  |access-date=5 July 2019 |date=May 2017 |work=Roy Morgan Research |publisher=[[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]}}</ref>

==Southern Blue Mountains==
The [[Blue Labyrinth (New South Wales)|Blue Labyrinth]] is a forested eroded plateau directly south of the [[Great Western Highway]], stretching from [[Wentworth Falls, New South Wales|Wentworth Falls]] to [[Glenbrook, New South Wales|Glenbrook]], stretching from [[Kings Tableland]] in the west to [[Warragamba Dam]] and the [[Nepean River]] in the east, and the [[Burragorang Valley]] to the south.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Cameron|first=Bruce|title=A History of the Blue Labyrinth|date=2014|isbn=978-0-9586215-1-9|edition=2nd}}</ref>

The national park extends south as far as the [[Wollondilly River]], west of [[Mittagong]], New South Wales. This area was greatly affected by the construction of [[Warragamba Dam]] from 1948 to 1960. This required the flooding of the Burragorang Valley, which created [[Lake Burragorang]] and in the process cut the southern part of the Blue Mountains off from areas to the east, for example [[Camden, New South Wales|Camden]], [[Picton, New South Wales|Picton]] and [[Bargo, New South Wales|Bargo]]. Properties and homesteads in the southern part of the mountains were forced to close down, leaving many derelict homes and ruins. These included ''Bran Jan House'' and ''Kowmung House'' on Scotts Main Range,<ref>Treks in New South Wales, Neil Paton (Kangaroo Press) 1986, pp. 83-84 {{ISBN|0-86417-079-3}}</ref> as well as ''Twin Peaks'', south of [[Yerranderie]].

An exclusion zone of approximately three kilometres was created around Lake Burragorang to protect Sydney's water supply, but a through-track was allowed from [[Yerranderie]] to Balloon Pass, then further east, for the benefit of bushwalkers. This pass was later incorporated into the long-distance [[Katoomba to Mittagong Trail]].

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|New South Wales|Environment}}}}
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)]]
* [[Protected areas of New South Wales]]
* [[Katoomba Scenic World]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Notelist}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blue Mountains, New South Wales}}
{{Wikivoyage|Blue Mountains National Park}}
*{{cite web|title=Blue Mountains National Park|department=[[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|url=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/Blue-Mountains-National-Park}}
*{{cite web|title=Blue Mountains National Park|department=Office of Environment & Heritage|publisher=Government of New South Wales|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0004}}
*{{cite book|title=Blue Mountains National Park: Plan of management|department=[[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|date=1 May 2001|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomFinalBluemountains.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806021941/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomfinalbluemountains.pdf |archive-date=2008-08-06 |url-status=live|type=PDF|isbn=0-7313-6998-X}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130317173506/http://www.bluemountainsnswaustralia.com/ Aerial video footage of the Blue Mountains National Park (NSW, Australia) around the Jamison Valley]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130411004055/http://tdmskp.com.au/guide/index.php?title=Category:Blue_Mountains Activities and Attractions in the Blue Mountains]

{{Sydney landmarks}}
{{National Parks of New South Wales}}
{{Blue Mountains topics}}

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[[Category:National parks of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Parks and reserves of the Blue Mountains (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1967]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Great Dividing Range]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sydney]]
[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]