Greater Blue Mountains Area

Landscape and biodiversity

The area is characterised by extensive sandstone plateaus, escarpments, deep gorges, river valleys and cascades. A blue haze, caused by volatile oils released by eucalyptus vegetation combined with atmospheric scattering, gives the cliffs and ridges their familiar hue. Vegetation ranges from open eucalypt woodlands and tall forests to heathlands, wetlands and pockets of cool temperate rainforest. The site is notable for exceptional diversity within the eucalypt group, high levels of plant endemism, and for harbouring rare, relict species such as the Wollemi pine, discovered in the 1990s. Fauna includes a variety of marsupials, birds, reptiles and invertebrates typical of eastern Australian forests, and many species depend on the mosaic of habitats maintained by natural fire regimes.

History and cultural significance

Indigenous peoples have lived in and managed the Blue Mountains landscape for thousands of years. The region contains numerous Aboriginal cultural sites, traditional travel routes and places linked to spiritual and resource use. European exploration and crossing of the mountain barrier in the early 19th century opened access for settlement and resource use, but large tracts remain relatively undeveloped. State and regional authorities work with local Aboriginal communities to recognise and protect cultural values alongside natural heritage; see regional information: Blue Mountains region and New South Wales government resources.

Conservation, research and recreation

Management of the Greater Blue Mountains Area focuses on conserving ecological processes, protecting endemic and threatened species, and enabling sustainable, nature-based recreation. Fire management, pest and weed control, visitor management and scientific research are central to long-term conservation. The area is valued by researchers as a living laboratory for studies of evolution, ecology and fire ecology. Popular recreational activities include bushwalking, camping, canyoning, rock climbing and wildlife observation; managers aim to balance public access with measures that reduce visitor impacts. Information for visitors and management plans are available through national and regional resources: Australian government resources and the record of the Cairns meeting where inscription was confirmed: World Heritage Committee meeting archive.

Notable facts

• The property comprises a network of protected areas managed to conserve a single World Heritage property rather than a single contiguous park.
• Recognised principally for the exceptional diversity and evolutionary significance of eucalypt species.
• Contains rare and ancient plant species and many sites of Aboriginal cultural importance.
• Offers a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities while serving as a focus for conservation science and education.