The Three Sisters are three tall sandstone pillars standing at the edge of the Jamison Valley, and the lookout at Echo Point is where almost everyone goes to see them. They are the best-known sight of the Blue Mountains, and Katoomba, only a short distance away, has grown up around the view. The rock formations are the remnants of a plateau worn away by wind and water over millions of years, and they are floodlit at night. The cliffs fall away hundreds of metres into the valley, with eucalyptus forest filling the space below.
The Gundungurra people tell a story of three sisters who were turned to stone to protect them from a rival tribe, and the story is told in various forms. In the nineteenth century, the town grew as a coal mining and railway centre and later as a mountain resort, drawing visitors from Sydney by rail. The grand hotels and art deco cafes in Katoomba's main street are legacies of this era. Scenic World, with its steep railway, cableway and skyway, gives other views of the cliffs.
The blue haze is a real thing. Eucalypt trees release fine droplets of oil into the air, and these scatter the blue part of sunlight, giving the valleys their tint. On a clear morning, it is easy to see, and the light on the cliffs is warmest soon after sunrise. Fog and cloud also fill the valley, and the Three Sisters sometimes vanish entirely, which can disappoint visitors but make a good story.
For a rider, Echo Point is a destination rather than a ride. The streets around the lookout fill with coaches and cars, and parking is limited and metered, so arriving early, before the tour buses, is wise. The road from Katoomba to Echo Point is short and slow. A little further on, Cliff Drive and the roads through Leura, with their garden shops and cafes, are more relaxed.
Fuel is easy in Katoomba, which is large enough to have several stations, and there are cafes and restaurants all along the main street. Take a jacket, because even in summer, the wind at the lookout can be cold. Winter often brings clear, sharp light after rain, and it is the least crowded season.