ATTRACTIONS LAPSTONE NSW

Aitkens Australia in the Round is a unique and exciting gallery, display and museum all in one with a spectacular painted panorama of famous Australian destinations. The harbour-dominated beauty of Australia's Emerald City, Sydney along with the rugged mystery of the Blue Mountains; the toughness and brilliant colours of Australia's outback; and the natural beauty of beaches scattered along endless stretches of coastline. Add the fertile riches of Australia's rural heartland and the character and excitement of Queensland's fabulous Gold Coast and you have a fascinating collage of life in modern Australia - all captured within the 213 square metres of wall space, along with hundreds of flora and fauna samples from all around Australia.

Perched atop the lower ridges of Blue Mountains National Park, Mount Portal lookout offers magnificent views of the junction between Glenbrook Gorge and the mighty Nepean River. With a wheelchair-accessible path, it’s a perfect pit stop on a car tour or a base for more adventurous thrill seekers who love abseiling and climbing. Gazing across the dramatic tree-lined gorge to the water, you’ll see how the grand sweep of Nepean River opens up to the Cumberland Plains on the western edge of Sydney. Evidence that the ridge top was an ancient river bed can be found in the large rounded pebbles, called lapstones. The shapely angophoras, with their elegantly contorted limbs, thrive in this rugged terrain and bearded dragons are often seen sunning themselves on the surrounding rocky outcrops. If you’re keen to explore the region further, check out the unique Aboriginal art at Red Hands Cave or stay overnight at Euroka campground....

Lapstone is a small village on the eastern escarpment of the lower Blue Mountains. Bushwalks in this area are popular with history enthusiasts. The Lapstone Zig Zag is now a walking trail along the old railway cutting and a feature of this walk is the Lucasville platform, which is now abandoned but the remains of it can still be seen. The Knapsack Gully Viaduct is an impressive and attractive structure which can also been seen on this walk....