Today's plan was to walk to the Scenic World Tramway and visit this incredibly popular tourist attraction and then visit some other locations we hadn't seen yet. So off we headed on a quasi-bush walk from Echo Point. It was weird to be there with very few other tourists. The walk along the cliff was very pretty and the gondola ride was spectacular with great views of Katoomba Falls and the Jamison Valley. We also met Susie, one of the Maasdam's singers who was up here for the day as a tourist. At Scenic World we transferred to the world's steepest railroad for a ride down into the valley and rainforest. The seats are adjustable to increase the thrill factor, and we positioned them for the maximum thrill. At a 52° drop angle, it was a steep and thrilling ride. At the bottom there is a boardwalk throughout the rainforest. We walked virtually all of it before riding the inclined railway back up. After a quick refreshment break, we rode the gondola back across the Falls and then walked back over the falls and took the cable car down and back up before catching the Explorer Bus to the Everglades Gardens.
At the Gardens, the ticket agent was a serious motorcyclist so we had some good conversation about motorcycles and riding. He's rode a KLR650 all over the US and Canada. The 13 acre gardens were built in the 1930's by a rich Belgian Industrialist and were pretty amazing. The Gardens are now owned by a Trust and kept up by volunteers. It was a little thrilling to encounter signs 'Watchout for Copperhead snakes. Move slowly.' We got back on the Explorer and rode it around to the Bear Gallery and toured it. We walked to the Shuttle Stop Take Out and enjoyed Aussie Burgers and chips for dinner. On the walk back to our motel we stopped at the chocolate Factory which was a bit underwhelming.
We finished our day watching the X Factor results show, an Australian talent competition, and I also took pictures of all of the ship's daily programs so I wouldn't need to pack the heavy paper home.
Tomorrow will be a cleanup day where we'll visit the venues we've not seen yet.
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