The Tablelands Way Experience meanders along the western side of the Blue Mountains connecting Canberra, Goulburn, Oberon, Lithgow, Mudgee and Muswellbrook. It describes some of the nature-based trails to explore around Lithgow which have also been described in brief in this guide:
www.tablelandsway.com.au

The Greater Blue Mountains Drive is a network of touring routes along the roads and highways of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Lithgow is centrally located in the heart of the Drive with roads leading from the south from Oberon and Goulburn, north from Rylstone and Muswellbook and east from Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Maps and a book are available from Visitor Centres. The book also outlines Discovery Trails around the Lithgow area.

www.GreaterBlueMountainsDrive.com.au

Exploring all things botanical along the Bells Line of Road from Lithgow to Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine, Mount Tomah to Richmond, the Botanists Way is designed to showcase the incredible diversity of plant life of the Blue Mountains and Lithgow areas.

Start at either end, spend time around Lithgow exploring plant life on Hassans Walls Reserve and Newnes Plateau, visit the gardens at Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine, stop at the scenic lookouts of Pierces Pass and Mount Banks and spend time at the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens where you will find the Blue Mountains World Heritage Interpretative Centre.

Contact Lithgow or Hawkesbury Visitor Centres or Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens for more information.

Venture out to Mt York to the site of the original Coxs Road into the Lithgow area and for views of the Hartley Valley.

The heritage village of Mt Victoria is worth a stop with tea rooms, a picture theatre and hotels. Visit Blackheath village as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Visitor Centre. There are numerous lookouts overlooking the Grose Valley including Govetts Leap, Evans Lookout and Pulpit Rock. On the other side of the highway, a drive along the Shipley Plateau reveals further lookouts.

The road down into the Megalong Valley goes through the rainforests of Blackheath Glen before opening up under the escarpments.

Take a 45 minute drive from Lithgow, along a road that follows high ridgetops with panoramic views. Wind your way through rural pasturelands, native and pine forests and down a scenic mountain to Jenolan Caves, one of the oldest cave systems in the world. There are walking tracks in external caves and along the river and you can choose from any number of cave tours. From Jenolan take the road towards Oberon and turn off to the Kanangra-Boyd National Park to view an 800 metre deep gorge with towering cliffs and rolling blue ridges (40km unsealed road). The town of Oberon is the highest town in the Blue Mountains Region and provides a restful place to stop. Wind your way back to Lithgow after a busy day.

If you want more time to explore, why not stay over and make sure that you see everything there is to see. Spend another day and make the journey past Mount Werong to the old silver-lead-zinc mining village of Yerranderie (172km unsealed road total). Check road conditions with Oberon Visitor Centre.

Katoomba is the home of the iconic Three Sisters.

Take the turn off to Blue Mtns Drive 5 just west of Katoomba and travel around the escarpments of the Jamieson Valley stopping at lookouts along the way. This road takes you to the Three Sisters and then on to Leura and Wentworth Falls where you find more lookouts.

Bushwalks and waterfalls are a feature, so take your time. Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls are full of cafes and restaurants, along with speciality shops.

You can spend the whole day exploring nature or, if you prefer, spend a relaxing day in the shops and cafes.

Travel up the Castlereagh Highway to Ilford, across to Sofala (take a side-trip to Hill End if time permits) and then to Bathurst before heading back to Lithgow.

With its many wineries, Mudgee is a great place to visit.

Travel direct via the Castlereagh Highway or take the scenic drive through the Capertee Valley to Rylstone, Lue and then to Mudgee.