Once we've arrived at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, we'll venture offroad into Australian woodland to spot a plethora of honey-eaters, eastern greys, long-necked turtles and a lyre bird. Of equal interest are the peppermint, scribbly and snow gums and other eucalyptus in the typical half-open savanna landscape.

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, sacred site of the Gundungurra and Darug people.

The scenic Blue Mountains Drive along the Jamison Valley leads us past a couple of fabulous lookouts over the valleys and eucalyptus forests. Like Cahill Lookout, offering best view point over the Narrow Neck escarpment and the Megalong Valley.

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.

This little hamlet with its old post office, church, court house and Aboriginal art centre is a throwback to the Gold-rush times of mid 19th century.

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. Approaching Jenolan, we are quickly greeted by pretty-faced wallabies (real name!), echidna's and a common wombat.

A 5 minute walk from our hotel is the Blue Lake, home of the platypus. Dusk or dawn is the best time to spot this very rare and endangered monotreme (egg-laying mammal).

The McKeown's Valley walking track, also known as Healing Waters walk, is a short and easy return walk at Jenolan Caves offering fantastic karst landscapes and wildlife spotting in the Blue Mountains.

An easy 1 hour guided tour will take us on a journey into the heart of the Imperial Cave to learn about the limestone rocks, the history of the caves and the region and to admire the beautiful sights with colourful lights illuminating the rock walls.