One of the most beautiful and intricate sandstone landscapes in Australia - dramatically coloured escarpments and headlands, slot canyons, cave overhangs, ancient sand dunes and the complex arrays of internationally significant rock turrets known as pagodas.
Huge plant diversity, including more than 1000 species and 33 different vegetation communities (15 of which are threatened or poorly conserved), ancient montane heathlands; nationally endangered upland swamps and a unique species of snow gum.
The plateau woodlands that represent the highest area of native vegetation on Sydney basin sandstone.
Poorly conserved grassy White Box Woodland that thrive on the slopes below the plateau.
Rich fauna diversity of at least 319 vertebrate species: 185 birds; 67 mammals including twenty bats; 47 reptiles, 18 amphibians and two fish.
Numerous threatened species: 42 plants and 42 animals including iconic species such as the Regent Honey Eater, Powerful Owl, Squirrel Glider, Koala and Purple Copper Butterfly, eight bats and the swamp dependent Giant Dragonfly and Blue Mountains Water Skink.
Outstanding Aboriginal Cultural sites.
Fascinating oil shale mining ruins at New Hartley.
Nationally significant historic passes descending from the Blue Mountains and leading westward to Bathurst and Australia's interior.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land – the Darug and Gundungurra people – and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.