Benanna in the land down under: Feeling far from blue in the Blue Mountains!

Near the top of our list of things to do in Oz, since even before we'd arrived here, was a weekend trip to the Blue Mountains.

An early spring (still not getting used to that) weekend saw us set off from Sydney central station after work on Friday.

Double decker trains!

Two hours on a train later - we were in the mountains, in a town called Katoomba. First impressions - cold. Second impression - central heating. Third impression - nice Thai food.

That was day one.

We decided to go cheapo and stay in the YHA to make the most of the membership that I bought for us both when I was a bit merry on my stag do at the YHA in Castleton. Turned out good in the end though!

We got up bright and early on the Saturday morning as we had a big walk planned. I was carrying the equivalent of a medium-sized family car on my back, as I was fully laden with flask, sandwiches and an assortment of other food and drink items. Safe to say we'd have been able to survive for a fortnight if we'd have got lost.

We were both sporting our newly purchased outdoor gear, Anna looking particularly fetching in her half-mast trousers. It seems they don't make trousers to fit Anna's limbs here in Oz.

We had a 5-hour walk planned, thoroughly researched with maps and guides printed off. So - away we went!

The views were stunning. The Blue Mountains are basically a large plateau, formed over 150 million years ago, giving way to a huge canyon covered in rainforest. It feels properly primeval with huge flocks of cockatoos squawking around you. Ben purchased an 'outdoor hat' to do it all justice.

The Three Sisters are one of the most famous spots in the mountains, named after an aboriginal legend. Three massive sandstone lumps, the remnants of some large slabs of rock sliding about. That's the geological explanation I believe.