Repositioning the Greater Blue Mountains National Landscape including Jenolan Caves as a geotourism product

1. ““The Blue Mountains & Jenolan Caves Geotourism Revival”The Blue Mountains & Jenolan Caves Geotourism Revival”
AESC 2016AESC 2016
2727thth
June 2016June 2016
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

2. Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda
 Inspiration for building the conceptInspiration for building the concept
 The mainstream Blue Mountains tourismThe mainstream Blue Mountains tourism
experienceexperience
 Geotourism Themes of the Blue Mountains andGeotourism Themes of the Blue Mountains and
Jenolan CavesJenolan Caves
 Take AwaysTake Aways

3. Building the Geotourism Concept - Blue Mountains WHABuilding the Geotourism Concept - Blue Mountains WHA
 The ‘Greater Blue Mountains’ is one of Australia’s identifiedThe ‘Greater Blue Mountains’ is one of Australia’s identified
16 iconic16 iconic Australian National Landscapes.Australian National Landscapes.
 A few years ago, Professor David Branagan had highlightedA few years ago, Professor David Branagan had highlighted
the significance ofthe significance of Charles Darwin’s visit to the BlueCharles Darwin’s visit to the Blue
MountainsMountains in 1836.in 1836.
 In 2013, TheIn 2013, The Linnean Society of NSWLinnean Society of NSW held a majorheld a major
symposium at Jenolan Caves with asymposium at Jenolan Caves with a focus also on the earthfocus also on the earth
sciences historysciences history of the region.of the region.
 In 2015, theIn 2015, the American Association of Petroleum GeologistsAmerican Association of Petroleum Geologists
selected the Blue Mountains as a post conference tour asselected the Blue Mountains as a post conference tour as
part of their international event held in Melbournepart of their international event held in Melbourne
(Robinson/Percival co-venture).(Robinson/Percival co-venture).

5. Tourism to the Blue Mountains/Jenolan CavesTourism to the Blue Mountains/Jenolan Caves
Some Interesting FactsSome Interesting Facts
1.1. At one time (mid 20At one time (mid 20thth
Century),Century), Jenolan Caves was once
regarded as Australia’s top international tourist destination..
2.2. With some 3.5 million visitors per year,With some 3.5 million visitors per year, Echo Point in the BlueEcho Point in the Blue
Mountains is currently the most visited regional attraction inMountains is currently the most visited regional attraction in
AustraliaAustralia; compare Great Barrier Reef (some 2.4 million) and; compare Great Barrier Reef (some 2.4 million) and
Phillip Island Penguin Parade in Victoria (some 300,000).Phillip Island Penguin Parade in Victoria (some 300,000).
3.3. With some 230,000 visitors per yearWith some 230,000 visitors per year, Jenolan Caves is the most, Jenolan Caves is the most
popular tourist destination in New South Wales.popular tourist destination in New South Wales.
4.4. By comparison, the Badaling Great Wall attracts some 11By comparison, the Badaling Great Wall attracts some 11
million visitors annually, and can be reached in a similarmillion visitors annually, and can be reached in a similar
travelling time from Bejjing as Echo Point is from Sydney.travelling time from Bejjing as Echo Point is from Sydney.

6. Mainstream Tourism – the Blue Mountains ExperienceMainstream Tourism – the Blue Mountains Experience
comprises the following:comprises the following:
1.1. One day coach tour from Sydney via M4 and Great WesternOne day coach tour from Sydney via M4 and Great Western
Highway (in and out).Highway (in and out).
2.2. Featherdale Wildlife Park.Featherdale Wildlife Park.
3.3. Echo Point Lookout, Three Sisters,Echo Point Lookout, Three Sisters, and Waradah Aboriginaland Waradah Aboriginal
Centre.Centre.
4.4. Skyworld Experience – train, cable car, skyway.Skyworld Experience – train, cable car, skyway.
5. Two Day, stayover tours also available but limited options.5. Two Day, stayover tours also available but limited options.

7. Blue MountainsBlue Mountains
World Heritage AreaWorld Heritage Area
Iconic Triassic sedimentaryIconic Triassic sedimentary
landforms of the Sydney Basin –landforms of the Sydney Basin –
eight protected areaseight protected areas
10,000 square km area10,000 square km area
Size of LebanonSize of Lebanon

8. Geotourism Definition adopted byGeotourism Definition adopted by
the Geological Society of Australiathe Geological Society of Australia
‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area'sGeotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's
geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitoras the basis for providing visitor
engagement, learning and enjoyment’.engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

9. Geotourism – Diversity of Sites in the Blue MountainsGeotourism – Diversity of Sites in the Blue Mountains
GeotourismGeotourism
IconsIcons
((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)
Mine Sites
National Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/
Urban ParksUrban Parks
Geo-trails
Geo-sites
Geoparks//
PaleoParks
Caves/Karst AreasCaves/Karst Areas
LandformLandforms
WHAsWHAs

10. Iconic Geotourism Themes of theIconic Geotourism Themes of the
Blue Mountains National LandscapeBlue Mountains National Landscape
 AA:: Iconic TriassicIconic Triassic sedimentary landformssedimentary landforms of the Sydneyof the Sydney
Basin; PermianBasin; Permian coal/oil shale measurescoal/oil shale measures; Silurian; Silurian cavecave
systemsystem (historically Australia’s premier tourist(historically Australia’s premier tourist
attraction).attraction).
 BB: Cool temperate gardens developed on: Cool temperate gardens developed on TertiaryTertiary
basalt caps; kangaroos, wombats, platypus, birdlife inbasalt caps; kangaroos, wombats, platypus, birdlife in
the wild.the wild.
 CC:: IndigenousIndigenous; and; and European exploration STORIES:European exploration STORIES:
crossing the mountains, discovering and developingcrossing the mountains, discovering and developing
the caves, Charles Darwin visit - an ESHG focus.the caves, Charles Darwin visit - an ESHG focus.

12. Key ‘GEO’ themes of the Blue Mountains WHAKey ‘GEO’ themes of the Blue Mountains WHA
 TheThe STORYSTORY of the Sydney Basinof the Sydney Basin and the present-day landforms.and the present-day landforms.
 Wide variety ofWide variety of landforms and erosional featureslandforms and erosional features developed across thedeveloped across the
Triassic sedimentary plateau; theTriassic sedimentary plateau; the Lapstone Monocline.Lapstone Monocline.
 TheThe Permo-Triassic ‘extinction’Permo-Triassic ‘extinction’ event; and theevent; and the bituminous coal/coalbituminous coal/coal
shale layersshale layers in the underlying Permian sedimentary sequence.in the underlying Permian sedimentary sequence.
 TheThe Tertiary basalt plugsTertiary basalt plugs exemplifed by exposure at Mt Tomah.exemplifed by exposure at Mt Tomah.
 TheThe early discovery of goldearly discovery of gold in the Hartley/Fish Creek area.in the Hartley/Fish Creek area.
 TheThe complexity of the karst landform and depositional featurescomplexity of the karst landform and depositional features of theof the
Jenolan Caves.Jenolan Caves.

13. Blue Mountains/Jenolan Caves Geotourism ItineraryBlue Mountains/Jenolan Caves Geotourism Itinerary
1. Travel across Cumberland Plain, Hawkesbury River flood plain
2. Bells Line of Road, Blue Mountains Botanical Gardens* and WHAWHA
EXHIBITION CENTREEXHIBITION CENTRE*
3. Hartley Vale Comet Hotel*
4. Jenolan Caves*, GUIDED TOURSGUIDED TOURS and wildlife sighting locations
5. Govetts Leap Escarpment, Echo Point Lookouts
6.6. BLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTREBLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTRE*,, Katoomba
7. Soft Adventure Railway Access to Jamieson Valley*
8. Travel back to Sydney by the Great Western Highway
* Works in wet and ‘misty’ weather.

14. Thick beds of shale and coal
Permian
10 million barren years
Tertiary basalt cap
Triassic
extinction event

15. Great Ocean Road National Landscape

16. Great Ocean Road National Landscape

17. Great Ocean Road National Landscape

19. Great Ocean Road National Landscape

22. Take-AwaysTake-Aways
 There are many opportunitiesmany opportunities in Australia to apply theto apply the
geotourism templategeotourism template to existing tourism destinations.
 Geotours must offer a variety of experivariety of experiences for travellers to
succeed as a tourism product.
 Making best use of existing interpretative informationexisting interpretative information can be
of great assistance.
 Availability of smart phone information platformssmart phone information platforms supported
by quality interpretative signagequality interpretative signage would enhance greatly the
visitor experience .e .

23. Field GuidesField Guides
 Layers of TimeLayers of Time, John Pickett and Dave Alder, 1997, John Pickett and Dave Alder, 1997
 Jenolan Caves: The Complete GuideJenolan Caves: The Complete Guide, Mark Hallinan,, Mark Hallinan,
2013 (available in a book or on a CD)2013 (available in a book or on a CD)
 NoteNote:: Geology and geomorphology of Jenolan Caves and theGeology and geomorphology of Jenolan Caves and the
surrounding regionsurrounding region by David Branagan, John Pickett and Ianby David Branagan, John Pickett and Ian
Percival, 2014Percival, 2014

24. Grand Canyon TimeGrand Canyon Time
TrailTrail

25. Contact DetailsContact Details
angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au
0418 488 3400418 488 340
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/country_charm_blue_mountainshttp://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/country_charm_blue_mountains//