Blue Mountains, New South Wales
The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are a vast expanse of rugged sandstone cliffs, deep valleys, and dense eucalypt forests with a dynamic range of colours that shift dramatically with the light and weather. One of the defining features of the Blue Mountains is that famous blue haze, which is the result of a fine mist of oil released from the millions of eucalyptus trees in the area. When sunlight hits the vapor, it refracts the light, casting the distant hills and valleys in a soft, smoky blue tone. The Blue Mountains offer a constantly shifting interplay of colours—soft blues from the haze, warm oranges and reds from the sandstone, and deep greens from the forests—all set against the dramatic backdrop of cliffs, waterfalls, and sky.
