I woke up around 9 am, ready for a day trip to the Blue Mountains and Wentworth Falls. My phone automatically adjusted for the time change, evident when my watch showed it was an hour later. Swiftly, I got up and left the hostel. Today, I had to make the solo trek to the car, unlike yesterday. New Beach Road was approximately 2 kilometers away. Making a quick stop at Coles supermarket for some bread, I then drove the car back and parked it in front of the hostel. At the hostel, I purchased a 30-minute parking pass and retrieved my belongings from the dorm room. Although I had checked out the day before, Daniel had graciously allowed me to use his last night since he was leaving anyway.
Leaving Elephant Backpacker’s
Dan, the guy at the reception who shared our dorm, mentioned that I could extend my stay for another night, courtesy of the remaining night on Daniel’s booking. I appreciated the offer but declined, expressing my need to continue my journey. I had already spent more time at this hostel than intended. Hannah provided me with another dorm key, and my purpose was to reclaim the deposit for it. Dan promptly returned the deposit, and I bid farewell to the less-than-stellar hostel.
Back in the car, my belongings safely stowed in the back, I set up my navigation and hit the road. Navigating through tunnels, I crossed my fingers that my GPS settings were accurate; I aimed to avoid any toll roads. If I ended up with fines, I figured I’d discover them later when I returned the car to Wicked Campers.
Hamster Bladder
An hour and thirty minutes into my drive, I decided to make a pit stop. Being in the mountains, finding toilets proved to be a challenge. I attempted a small train station along the route, but unfortunately, their toilets were locked. Another man had the same idea and walked back through the tunnel to the other side of the road. “They are locked, aren’t they, mate?” he inquired. “Yes, how silly, why lock toilets at a public train station?” I responded.
“That’s because it’s Sunday today. I know it’s silly, but there aren’t many trains running, so they lock the toilets,” the man explained. I chuckled and bid him farewell; I had to turn left, and he was heading right. It’s always nice how Aussies engage in small talk with everyone around. Back on the other side of the tunnel, I found relief in a local pub’s restroom. Post-pee, I swung by a convenience store and picked up some snacks, including Maltesers, which I absolutely love. My friends sometimes playfully nickname me “Maarten Malteser” because of my fondness for them.
Wentworth Falls Track
Returning to the car, I set off for Wentworth Falls, a quaint village. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, it was dry for the moment. Eager to witness the waterfall, I navigated to the National Park and parked at the lot adjacent to Jamison Lookout. This impromptu stop turned out to be quite rewarding. Additional visitor information about the Wentworth Falls track can be found here.
I donned my only warm sweater, essential for the chilly mountain air. Grabbing a coke and a pack of Maltesers chocolate, I set out for a small hike to Wentworth Falls. Later in the afternoon, my plan was to explore the Blue Mountains National Park.
Once my car was parked, I strolled to the lookout and perused the information available. Opting to embark on a walk to the waterfalls, I chose the 1.4-kilometer roundtrip hike. The lookout provided me with picturesque views of the Blue Mountain valley.
Fletchers Lookout
Descending, I encountered wet roads with puddles scattered everywhere. Regret washed over me for not wearing my hiking shoes, but I hesitated to dirty or soak them. A light drizzle began, altering my mood. I reached the first lookout on my way down.
From Fletchers Lookout, I enjoyed a splendid view of the Wentworth Falls—absolutely breathtaking. Anticipation built up as I looked forward to heading up there to witness the panoramic view of the Blue Mountains valley. A friendly couple approached, seeking a photo, so I gladly snapped one for them. In return, they kindly took a picture for me.
I aimed to descend to the waterfall, but the rain picked up, forcing me to seek refuge under a tree. Without a jacket, frustration set in, and I cursed my lack of preparation. Choosing to cut my losses, I decided to head back to the car and call it a day. The weather left me feeling ill-equipped for hiking, and I was thoroughly disappointed. While I anticipated more rain in this region of Australia due to the seasons and geography, I couldn’t help but harbor a sense of displeasure.
I successfully avoided getting too wet from the rain when I reached the car. On the return journey, the abundant vegetation provided ample protection from the rain. Once back in the car, I opted to drive to Katoomba and explore the possibility of finding a library or a similar facility. Katoomba, a mere 10 kilometers from Wentworth Falls, was quickly accessible. Cruising around, I spotted a Coles supermarket and decided to purchase some ice—an item I had forgotten to buy in Sydney.
Blue Mountains YHA
Using my phone, I explored the Wikicamps app and came across a hostel priced at 25 dollars with complimentary laundry and Wi-Fi. Following my less-than-ideal hostel experience in Sydney, I decided to stay for a night, aiming to upload content to the website and tackle some laundry tasks. The pressing need was to wash the pillow sheets my grandaunt had kindly provided, which I had been using for the past three weeks. Upon checking in at Blue Mountains YHA, I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness evident in the lobby, common area, and dorm.
The hostel had clearly defined rules, and they were diligently enforced. These rules, such as washing dishes and cleaning up after oneself, were reasonable and easily understood. After receiving the Wi-Fi password, I secured my belongings in the locker within the 22-bed dorm, which was almost fully occupied. Prioritizing personal hygiene, I took a shower—a refreshing experience, considering the cleanliness of the bathroom. It was a stark contrast to the terrible shower experiences of the past few days. While under the shower, I couldn’t help but reminisce about Elephant Backpackers and how, in hindsight (rewriting this in December 2021), it might have been the worst hostel of all my accommodations during my 2014 world journey.
After completing my shower, I loaded my dirty laundry into the washing machine and set it in motion, planning to check on it later. Around 4 pm, I made a return visit to Coles supermarket. Determined to prepare a healthy and delicious meal for the night, I took advantage of the well-equipped kitchen at Blue Mountains YHA. The kitchen’s cleanliness and the array of cooking gear, spacious counters, and pristine sinks left me in awe—it felt like being in a professional restaurant kitchen.
Spiced Prawns
In Coles, I picked up prawns, mushrooms, an onion, a steak, and 200 grams of carrots. That evening, I spent an hour in the kitchen, leisurely preparing everything. I began with the prawns, sautéing them in parsley and garlic. Moving on to the main course, I cooked mushrooms and onions on toasted bread. Simultaneously, I boiled some carrots and seared the steak. The process was enjoyable, and I engaged in entertaining conversations with fellow backpackers. Among them were a French guy and another Italian, though I regrettably forgot their names.
In the evening, I attempted to upload the website, but unfortunately, it failed. The upload connection was extremely poor, and even uploading a single picture to Facebook proved unsuccessful. I made the decision to try again tomorrow, either at a library or another public Wi-Fi network.
Instead, I utilized my time to draft some reports and watch a movie: Thor 2. I enjoyed it, particularly the impressive special effects. I retired to bed around midnight, looking forward to visiting the Three Sisters the next day.
