Bells Line of Road
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Bells Line of Road is a scenic route crossing the Blue Mountains section of the Great Eastern Ranges, from Windsor on the Hawkesbury River to Lithgow, on the edge of the Central Tablelands just east of the Great Dividing Range. The road distance is 93 km with a travelling time (without stops) of about 1.25 hours.
The road follows an historic route that has been a traditional Aboriginal pathway, a colonial track (from 1819), and a passageway for miners heading to the Bathurst goldfield (in the 1860s). Today it is predominately a thoroughfare between Sydney and the Central West.
The road takes in the large centres of Windsor, Richmond and Lithgow, and a number of villages of varied sizes, including North Richmond, Kurmond, Kurrajong, Kurrajong Heights and Bilpin.
Blue Mountains National Park
The key central part of Bells Line of Road traverses the undeveloped bushland of Blue Mountains National Park, with Grose Wilderness and Grose Gorge on one side and Wollemi Wilderness on the other. Blue Mountains National Park is part of the 1 million hectare Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, a core link in the chain of protected areas along the Great Eastern Ranges.
Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens
Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens is a major tourist site that has a strong environmental and native plant theme. It features extensive cool climate gardens, walks, picnic areas, a restaurant and shop, educational programs and exhibitions.
Mount Tomah Picnic Area
Mount Tomah Picnic Area is a small site at the high point of the road, with a picnic shelter.
Ham Common
Ham Common park extends along the side of Bells Lind of Road at Clarendon, east of Richmond. It includes picnic tables, toilets, play equipment, a visitor information centre, a café, a skate park and information displays.
Bellbird Lookout
On the east side of Kurrajong Heights, on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains is the recently redeveloped Bellbird Lookout, on top of Bellbird Hill. No facilities are available, except an information display.
Mount Wilson
Basalt-capped Mount Wilson offers extensive private gardens (many open seasonally), several lookouts and many Crown Reserve walking tracks bordering on Blue Mountains National Park. Blue Mountains City Council manages the large Cathedral of Ferns picnic area, where camping is allowed. 2 information boards displagyin local maps are located in parts of the village area.
The Zig Zag Railway
A popular attraction for steam train rides, the Zig Zag Railway includes a kiosk and an information shelter.
Newnes Plateau
Newnes Plateau incorporates State Forests (mostly native, some softwood plantation) with camping, day use and off-road vehicle opportunities, joining Blue Mountains National Park, Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park. Glow Worm Tunnel is a popular Newnes Plateau historic railway feature reached by a walking track.
Breathtaking Drives
Greater Blue Mountains Drive
The Bells Line of Road is part of the Greater Blue Mountains Drive, comprising 1,200 km of highways circumnavigate the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, with 18 discovery trails branching off into the surrounding region, taking visitors on in-depth explorations.
The Botanists Way
The Botanists Way presents native plants and their human associations as a unifying theme. It links the World Heritage values and attractions of the Blue Mountains and the key themes of the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden. The touring route is supported by a brochure, and information displays.
Blue Mountains Video
