Latest news with #BlueMountains
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Why travellers in Australia are still blown away when they find out what lies behind this hidden door in the mountains
An iconic hideaway in Australia continues to wow travellers, both local and international, when they discover what lies behind its mysterious mountainside entryway. Within the small Blue Mountains town of Bilpin is a one-of-a-kind holiday rental situated inside a cave. The unique, rustic Airbnb holiday property, located only 90 minutes from the Sydney CBD, is known as ' The Enchanted Cave ' - and it becomes clear why when guests take a step inside. The intimate two-person accommodation has been masterfully built beneath the clifftop of a natural rock platform and claims to be 'the only cave for a couple in the Blue Mountains region'. Upon arrival, access to the holiday stay is via its easy-to-miss, small, round wooden door. The listing charmingly describes this entryway as something that 'wouldn't be out of place in The Hobbit'. Once inside the cosy abode, the cave retreat fantasy truly takes hold. As described in the listing: 'Close the door. The view, the spa, the fire. I am Caveman.' Property owner Lionel, a builder who specialises in environmentally friendly design and construction, says he created the unique accommodation to offer an experience akin to 'a nature bath'. Lionel told FEMAIL that The Enchanted Cave, which is accessible by car, features 'incredibly beautiful views of World Heritage wilderness'. He said past visitors have commented on how 'relaxing and fulfilling' their stay inside the cave was – and how it often helped them reconnect with 'nature and their partner'. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque national park, the external sides of the accommodation feature floor-to-(cave)-roof glass, showcasing the majestic natural setting. Nestled high on the cliffs, the cave overlooks the treetops, with expansive views to be enjoyed from either inside or outside on the carved natural rock verandah. This romantic holiday venue offers couples a rare chance to feel as though they've escaped into their own world – while still enjoying all the amenities for a comfortable stay. There's a pleasant fire place for the dual purpose of atmosphere and warmth - best enjoyed with a cheese board and a glass of wine in hand while a sunken two-person hot tub has been positioned next to a huge window to take in the majestic bush views. A kitchenette in the corner of the cave is complete with a mini fridge, oven and cooktops to whip up a delicious meal. It's best to come prepared with supplies, as this certainly isn't the type of venue easily reached by an UberEats driver. With not another person in sight from high above the tree canopy, privacy certainly won't be an issue. The intimate two-person accommodation has been masterfully built beneath the clifftop of a natural rock platform and claims to be 'the only cave for a couple in the Blue Mountains region' There is a toilet too - but it's worth noting that it is a long-drop compost toilet due to the remote location, which can take a little getting used to. For those who love the idea of an 'off-the-grid' getaway but still want a touch of creature comfort technology, the venue includes a television beautifully built into one side of the cave wall. But with no Wi-Fi and limited phone signal, the idea is to disconnect and truly revel in the back-to-nature experience. And of course, there's a big, soft bed near the cave entryway. Be prepared to wake up to the sound of birdsong. For those keen to venture out, the property is on the doorstep of the world famous Blue Mountains National Park walking trails. For those who love the idea of an 'off-the-grid' getaway but still want a touch of creature comfort technology, the venue includes a television beautifully built into one side of the cave wall The cost of staying at such a rare property does attract a higher price tag. A minimum two-night stay starts from $1,230 per night. The cave retreat has rave reviews from past guests, with an average rating of 4.84 stars. Among the comments from previous holidaymakers are descriptions of the property as 'magical', 'dream-like' and 'memorable'. 'Cannot recommend highly enough for those seeking an escape from the usual city life. It is a truly unexpected and unique space, one in a million,' read part of one review. 'Highly recommended for anyone seeking a beautiful place to disconnect,' confirmed another. A visitor earlier this year described the cave retreat as the place to go 'to reconnect with nature', adding that it had 'everything you needed to completely unwind'. 'Release your inner child (cave person or hobbit) in this most extraordinary cliff dwelling,' stated another. Many couples commented about choosing to visit the romantic cave abode for a special occasion, like anniversaries. Although many comments were positive, it's worth noting that some visitors were not prepared for just how rustic the stay would be. In the bush, things like errant bugs, the drop toilet (and its slight odour!), outdoor residue and other quirks are all part of the secluded bush location experience. But what it lacks in standard luxury resort amenities, it more than makes up for in uniqueness and breathtaking natural beauty. And being located less than an hour and a half from Sydney means that just when you're starting to yearn for the buzz of city life, you can be back there before you know it.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Artefacts suggest Australia's first people lived in mountains
A team of archaeologists have made a discovery in Australia that suggest that the continent's first people may have lived in high up in mountain found rare artefacts that dated back to the last Ice Age at a cave in Australia's Blue Mountains - which is west of have found that site known as the Dargan Shelter was lived in by early humans around 20,000 years Amy Mosig Way, who lead the study said: "Until now, we thought the Australian high country was too difficult to occupy during the last Ice Age." The study was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour and makes the case that humans once lived above 700m in Australia - with this particular cave being 1073m above sea say the area would be been much cooler during the last Ice Age and there wouldn't have been as much vegetation as also say there wouldn't have been much firewood available at that time and sources of water would likely have been frozen during the study has raised questions about how some of the continents first people managed to adapt to the difficult conditions. Archaeologists from the Australian Museum, the University of Sydney and the Australian National University worked together with First Nations community members to unearth the artefacts during a digs at the site - they found almost of these items were prehistoric tools which researchers believe people used for cutting or is thought that most of those tools were made locally to the cave site, but not say that some seem to have come from an area around 31 miles away.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Ice Age cave find upends what we know about Australia's first people
rare artefacts dating to the last ice age at a cave in Australia 's Blue Mountains, providing definitive proof that the rugged ranges were once occupied by the continent's first people. Researchers working with First Nations community members found that Dargan Shelter, a frigid site at an elevation of about 1073m (3280 ft) west of Sydney, was occupied by early humans 20,000 years ago. The findings, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, provide the oldest evidence yet of occupation above 700 metres in Australia. It upends previous beliefs that the Blue Mountain ranges were too difficult to occupy during the last ice age, and also hints that such icy landscapes may not have been a hurdle for early human migration. The research also raises further questions about the ingenuity of early indigenous Australians that enabled them to adapt to these inhospitable conditions. During the last Ice Age, frigid conditions extended to the upper reaches of the Blue Mountains above 600 metres with temperatures at least 8.2 degrees cooler than today, and vegetation much sparser than modern times. Little firewood would have been available in this region during the ice age, and water sources would have been frozen through winter, scientists say. 'Until now, we thought the Australian high country was too difficult to occupy during the last ice age,' said archaeologist Wayne Brennan from the University of Sydney. 'Yet, despite the harsh conditions, our research demonstrates people were moving in and through this high elevation landscape, which is approximately 400m above the treeline,' Dr Brennan said. In the latest excavations, archaeologists unearthed nearly 700 artefacts at the cave site dating to the last Ice Age, including features of a hearth. Many of these were prehistoric tools likely used by Australia's first people for cutting or scraping, researchers say. 'It was the excellent state of preservation that enabled us to construct such a robust chronology for Dargan Cave spanning the last 20,000 years,' said Philip Piper, another author of the study. Most of the claystone tools unearthed were made locally, but one seems to have come from the Jenolan Caves area, which is about 50km (31 miles) away from the Dargan Shelter site, indicating ancient people were travelling from the north and south. While the Blue Mountains range is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site recognised for its plant and animal diversity, there have been no safeguards to protect the cultural heritage of its indigenous people, researchers say. 'Our people have walked, lived and thrived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years and we knew the cave was there,' said study author and Dharug woman Leanne Watson Redpath. 'It is not only a tangible connection to our ancestors who used it as a meeting place for sharing, storytelling and survival, but is a part of our cultural identity. We need to respect and protect our heritage for the benefit of all Australians,' she said. Scientists are still unsure which early people accessed the mountains during the last Ice Age. They suspect multiple indigenous groups may have been connected to the region. 'We hope that by combining our traditional knowledge with scientific research, we can protect these invaluable storehouses of our history for generations to come,' Dr Brennan said.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Ice age cave discovery in Australia
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of humans living in a huge cave in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, during the last ice age 20,000 years ago. The indigenous people living in the cave, more than 1,000 metres above the current sea level, would have been surrounded by a harsh, frozen environment.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
The little-known Centrelink benefit that could save you hundreds in minutes
A hardworking single mum has shared how she saved $800 from a little-known Centrelink benefit by making one phone call. Mother-of-three Alyce Verade, 37, couldn't believe her luck when she learned she was eligible for a refund on her car registration and licence fee. The Blue Mountains mum told her thousands of followers on TikTok she was expecting a refund worth more than $800 a year. 'I'm going to get a cheque in the mail for over $800 just by making a simple phone call,' she said. 'If you are a single parent in NSW, call Service NSW and try and get your money back.' The refund consisted of $692 for her car registration fee and a partial refund exceeding $200 for her driver's licence. Ms Verade said the process was painless and took no more than ten minutes. It was a helpful lifeline for the single mum who told Yahoo Finance she works three casual retail jobs while also working as a teacher's aide. 'That $800 is going to go towards the kids, that's where all the money always goes. So groceries, bills and school clothes is where the funds will go,' she said. Recipients of a range of Centrelink payments, including the Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension are entitled to a Pensioner Concession Card. Those eligible do not need to apply as Centrelink will automatically send it. It is also available to recipients of the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance who are single and caring for a dependent child and looking for work. Benefits of the card vary between states but in many cases extend to cheaper healthcare, discounted electricity and gas bills and lower water and property rates. In Ms Verade's case, she has held the card since December 2023 as a recipient of the Parenting Payment single. Now, she wants to spread the word that there's help out there for countless Aussies in her position. 'One of my friends, I contacted as soon as I found out,' she told Yahoo Finance. 'She's getting $500 back.'
