Katoomba is the principal town in the Blue Mountains, around 110km to the west of Sydney. At one time it was an important source of coal, shale and similar products, but more productive sources were later found. These days it's more of a tourist town based on the surrounding national parks including the sandstone gorges and rainforests of the Jamieson Valley. Examples of these will be shown in more detail in my Katoomba and Leura gallery, to be posted in the next few days (work permitting).

One attraction near Katoomba is Scenic World, a privately operated park which contains a scenic railway and a scenic cableway to take visitors down to the floor of the Jamieson Valley below where they can explore the valley on an elevated walkway. As well as showing off the natural environment it shows relics of the previous mining days.

Miners lived in basic huts like this replica. No electricity, no bathroom, limited light from windows and oil lamps (like the one just to the right of the door) and heat from only a single coal fired stove. Dark and basic as it is, it's still useful cover when it rains as it does often in this area. Despite being mid summer, we were caught in a thunderstorm and took shelter inside on our way around the walkway. And yes, it is quite dark inside but thankfully I had a flashlight with me and was able to use (as I rarely do) the built-in flash on the 40D to take some interior shots.