Say goodbye to strenuous uphill climbs and embrace the freedom to explore more ground than ever before with an electric bike (e-bike) adventure in the Blue Mountains.

The benefits of hiring an electric bike

Revel in the joy of effortlessly cruising up hills, going further than you ever imagined, and unlocking the full potential of your cycling adventure with an e-bike. Advantages include:

• Accessible for various fitness levels: Built with comfort and ease of operation in mind, our e-bikes come with unisex frames, making them suitable for anyone looking to enjoy the ride without physical strain. It's perfect for those new to road cycling or cycling holidays, by giving you the confidence boost needed for a seamless journey.
   
• A great equaliser: If you have joint issues or are recovering from an injury, the added support from an e-bike is gentle on your legs and knees compared to traditional bikes. This makes it a great equaliser when travelling with families or friends with varying strength and stamina levels as it eliminates concerns about keeping up and allows you to focus on quality time together.

 

• Tackle tougher climbs with ease: An electric bike transforms the journey into a more relaxed experience, allowing you to enjoy your surroundings without the physical challenges. Enjoy the extra boost to conquer challenging hills, where the electric assist of an e-bike provides the added power needed to make it to the top effortlessly. 
   
• Eco-friendly and efficient: E-bikes offer an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, reducing your carbon footprint. Quick to master, electric bikes make active holidays physically easier without sacrificing the adventurous spirit of the trip. 

Our high-quality hardtail Merida hybrid e-bikes are equipped with powerful 630Wh batteries, a 10-speed drivetrain, and hydraulic disc brakes, ensuring a ride that's as effortless as it is enjoyable. 

Experience the Blue Mountains in a new light, where the power of e-bikes brings people of all fitness levels together for an unforgettable journey amidst breathtaking landscapes.

Tag along with our guide, Dan Lewis, as he shows you all the natural beauty of the canyons in the Blue Mountains. For tourists visiting the area, many of them don't get any further than the lookout at the top, and while it's gorgeous, Dan believes the best way to explore the heart of the Bluey's is to get down into their depths, which is why canyoning for him is the perfect way to go.

Watch the full clip below:

"The magic of the Blue Mountains doesn't lie in their height, it lies in their depth. You know you descend a hundred metres in altitude, but you've effectively gone back a hundred million years in time. They're just magical places that you won't find anywhere else." 

The Blue Mountains — which, in actuality, are not so much a series of peaks but a collection of captivating ridges, plateaus, and gorges. Only 90 minutes from the Sydney centre, the World Heritage Listed site offers a swift escape from the city and an ideal place to spend the weekend away for plenty of adventures from abseiling to canyoning.

Me and Zac Efron? Yeah, we go back a fair way. All the way back to high school, in fact. 

Not the high school I went to in the Blue Mountains in the 1980s. No, I’m talking legendary East High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the early 2000s. 

Thanks to my daughter, Molly (now aged 21), that’s where I first got to know the Hollywood actor through the movie, High School Musical. Molly was a huge fan of Zac’s schoolboy character, the deadly-handsome, all-singing, all-dancing basketball jock Troy Bolton. The Disney movie was so incredibly successful that along came High School Musical 2 and 3 and their songs were the anthems of my daughter’s adolescence. 

I endured and enjoyed all three films being on high rotation at the Lewis household throughout Molly’s teenage years. Millions of other young ladies throughout the world felt exactly the same way about Zac as my daughter did and this appeal has seen his acting career continue to blossom. 

As a humble Blue Mountains canyon guide, I didn’t think I had a lot in common with this global celebrity until early 2021 when Zac Efron – in the flesh – walked into my world. 

He was filming a second series of his Emmy-award winning Netflix documentary series Down to Earth and, due to the COVID pandemic, it was being made entirely in Australia. 

As Zac explains in the first episode, he left the United States for Australia in early 2020 to visit some friends, relax and do some surfing “and then BOOM!” COVID meant his vacation turned into an extended stay in Australia “and what started with me being stuck here has turned into me falling in love with this country”. I feel very chuffed that Zac voices those words in the documentary as he joyfully leaps into a deep pool of water in beautiful Empress Falls Canyon in the Blue Mountains. 

It turns out Zac and I do have a lot of things in common and one of them is a love of canyoning in the Blue Mountains. Although I lack Zac’s rippling physique, we also share the same sized wetsuit. (It’s a Seatec size four solid, in case you need to know.) 

Zac – now an honourary Aussie complete with his own pair of Blundstone boots - decided he wanted to share the beauty and spirituality of Australia with his family, friends and fans, so he had come to the Blue Mountains with his documentary sidekick, the US wellness guru Darin Olien, to film what became the first of eight episodes of Down to Earth Down Under. He wanted to look at lessons the wider world could learn from Australia when it comes to things like conservation, agriculture, fire, waste management and Aboriginal voices. 

Down to Earth Down Under launched on Netflix on November 11. The first 43-minute episode is titled “Habitat Conservation” and the Netflix blurb says: “From Sydney to the Greater Blue Mountains, Zac and Darin meet with leading eco-warriors to learn about protected lands and habitat conservation.” 

Nobody has ever called me an eco-warrior before (thanks, Netflix!), but I do try hard to use every canyoning adventure I guide to build an understanding of what a precious place the Blue Mountains is and why its conservation is so important. 

As a guide, I have done a lot of work with television productions wanting to use the cliffs and canyons of the Blue Mountains as high-adrenalin backdrops, but they are usually disinterested in looking beyond the action and the scenery to understanding why this place is so special. 

What made working with Zac and his Netflix crew so pleasurable was their genuine interest in and respect for things that I hold precious such as treading lightly on this breathtaking landscape of vast biodiversity, acknowledging its deep and rich Indigenous history and culture, understanding the significance of its World Heritage status as a place of universal value. They were also up for the physical and mental challenges of the formidable canyon environment. And they were friendly and pure professionals who respected all that my fellow Blue Mountains Adventure Company guides did to keep them safe. 

Indeed, it was a canyoning day like no other. Despite signing a lengthy legal document that threatened me with life imprisonment and bankruptcy if I mentioned to another soul that Zac Efron was going canyoning in the Blue Mountains, I have never had my daughter squeal with such disbelief and delight when I whispered in her ear about what her dad was going to do. 

I have never departed on a canyoning adventure with a bodyguard as part of the entourage before. And I have never had the paparazzi following a canyoning adventure before. At the time, Zac was dating Vanessa Valladares, a waitress he had met in Byron Bay, and the tabloid media was very interested in their relationship. But I still got a shock the following day when long-lens photos of them and me on our way to the canyon were plastered across the Daily Mail website. 

As part of my research to prepare for the big day, I watched the entire first series of Down to Earth, which launched in 2020 and had Zac and Darin globetrotting to destinations such as Sardinia and Costa Rica. I quickly realised who I didn’t want to be – the hapless guide at the famous Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland who was incapable of answering almost all their perfectly reasonable questions. 

On the big day, I was naturally nervous. Molly had politely informed me there would be millions of Zac Efron fans all around the world – including her - hating on me if I let him get damaged in the canyon. When Zac was looking a bit anxious at the top of Empress Falls as he prepared to abseil through its pounding flow, I reassured him that he had nothing to worry about because there was no way I was going to disappoint my daughter. That gave him a smile! 

There has been 20 months of nervous waiting since the filming to see if I had avoided the Icelander’s embarrassing fate. As soon as I heard that opening episode start with the pumping sound of awesome Yolngu musician Baker Boy, I had a good feeling about Down to Earth Down Under. That good feeling grew as I watched Zac and Darin meet with Darug elders of the Sydney region for a solemn welcome to country and a smoking ceremony that honoured more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal history. 

One of the Darug uncles asked Zac why he was here and I loved his answer: “I guess the reason I’m here is to learn and gain perspective and insight into your culture and your people.” 

And then they cut to the Blue Mountains and Empress Falls Canyon and for about 15 minutes I loved the way they made the Blue Mountains look so wonderful and canyoning look so cool. 

Using the language of the Darug people of the Blue Mountains, I look forward to saying “warami mittigar” – welcome friend - to Zac again someday. 

Empress Falls Canyon is named after another global celebrity – Queen Victoria, who was also the Empress of India in her day – but I suspect that for a lot of people around the world it’s now going to be known as Zac Efron Canyon.

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”

With the sage advice of British philosopher and polymath John Ruskin (1819-1900) fresh in our minds, let’s start by dispelling these two key myths:

1.    Canyoning can’t be done safely when it’s raining.
2.    Canyoning is unpleasant when it’s cold.

It’s true that the vast majority of canyoning takes place in the warm half of the year because it involves full immersion into chilly canyon waters. Many people, therefore, have the impression it’s a fair-weather, summer-only activity. But in 10 years as a canyon guide, some of my most memorable adventures have happened in conditions the less well-informed would rate as less than ideal for canyoning. The weather was cold or wet, or both, and still the experience was magical.

I vividly remember an icy winter’s morning after heavy overnight snowfall in the Blue Mountains a few years ago. The Newnes Plateau was coated in a thick blanket of white as we drove towards Tigersnake Canyon. Snow continued to fall in fat, silent flakes as we hiked through the hushed bush towards our first abseil into this spectacular winter slot canyon.

Yes, it was very cold, but it was also beautiful and ethereal. 

Tigersnake Canyon is as remarkable as it is remote. It boasts deep, dark, water-sculpted slots as stunning as any canyon, but can be completed without getting anything more than your feet wet. It is what we call a dry canyon – just one of several such canyons Blue Mountains Adventure Company can take you to during the colder months. 

It’s not that they don’t have water in them, it’s just that they can be navigated without having to don a wetsuit and swim, thus avoiding any icy winter agony. 

Other examples include Deep Pass Canyon on the Newnes Plateau, Dione Dell Canyon out Kanangra way, and Juggler Canyon between Medlow Bath and Blackheath. These dry canyons are also the perfect alternative when torrential rain makes many wet canyons too dangerous to tackle. 

A good example is BMAC’s most popular dry canyon, Juggler. It is a winter classic with its four abseils through a deep rainforest-lined slot, some cave crawling, traversing and a magnificent exit hike along the Rodriguez Pass, through Grand Canyon and up the historic Pilcher Track. In normal conditions it can be done by getting nothing more than your feet wet. 

During the record-breaking La Nina summer of 2021-22, Juggler was also a spectacular but safe option during and after heavy rain. 

With either raincoats and thermals or wetsuits to protect from the water and the cold, it was an utterly breathtaking canyoning option amid raging waterfalls that inspired awe and got the adrenalin thoroughly pumping. 

Another bonus is that wet weather brings out the brilliant aromas and colours of the Blue Mountains bush and keeps the tourist crowds back in the cafes.

They know a thing or two about bad weather in Britain and the famed British fell walker Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991) once observed: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” 

That’s why BMAC can provide you with all the gear you need to make canyoning in cold and wet conditions safe and pleasant - hot drinks and lollies, thick wetsuits and neoprene socks, beanies and thermals, spray jackets and fleeces. Even more importantly, BMAC will provide you with guides with the skills and experience to make your canyoning experience special in all conditions.

Part of the charm of canyoning is that it helps create a serene mind and sound body. That’s why I love this final weather-related quote from the English novelist George Gissing (1857-1903): “For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously.”

Come canyoning with us, regardless of the season or the weather. You won’t be disappointed because every day – and every canyon - has its beauty in every condition.

Written by Dan Lewis - BMAC guide since 2014

The last thing you need on a long hike or multi-day trek are blisters, but often all it takes is a little preparation to keep your feet stress-free! Here are some helpful ways to make your next outdoor adventure a comfortable one.

Why do I get blisters?

Blisters form when there is too much friction between your foot and your hiking boots. Blisters most commonly appear on your heels or around your toes, but they can appear anywhere on your body if the activity is repetitive enough and creates friction against your skin.

On multi-day treks, blisters can make or break your experience, so to ensure your feet are healthy, comfortable and blister-free, we recommend using the following techniques to prevent and treat forming hot spots.

Top blister prevention tips for happy hiking feet

Your hiking boots

Your hiking boots are the most important tool in preventing blisters – they could make or break your walking holiday! Firstly, make sure your boots are the right size and fit you well – sounds simple, but if you feel your boots pinch your toes together uncomfortably, they may be too small for you and your likelihood of blisters is almost guaranteed.

At the same time, a pair of hiking boots that are too big for you will make your feet move around loosely in the boots, creating unnecessary friction and consequently, increase the likelihood of blisters. 

A well-fitting pair of hiking boots will leave enough space for your toes, even when descending a steep hill. They will, however, hold your heels securely in place, which will prevent any heel blisters from forming.

Once you have a pair of well-fitting boots, you need to ensure they have been broken in before you start your hike. If not, the stiffness of a new set of boots can create unnecessary pressure on certain parts of your feet and cause blisters. Breaking your hiking boots in slowly will make their sole more flexible and mould the inside of the shoes to your feet, helping create the perfect fit for your foot.

No other piece of equipment can impact your enjoyment of your trek more than your boots, so investing in comfortable trekking boots is highly recommended.

We advise going to a gear shop to be fitted by an expert who will talk you through the range of boots on offer and find the best boot to suit your foot type.

Once you’ve bought your boots make sure you wear them as much as possible! They might feel a bit uncomfortable and stiff at first, but the more you wear them, the more they will mould to your foot shape. Start with short walks and build up to longer ones. It might take some time to wear them in, but it's better you get blisters now rather than on your trip.

Your socks

Now you’ve got your boots sorted, the next thing to look at is your socks.

Hiking socks are usually thicker in certain areas, such as the heel and the ball of the foot, to reduce friction against your skin and provide padding between your trekking boots and your feet.

Avoid cotton socks, as they tend to absorb your sweat and hold the moisture, while the bunched up fabric will rub against your skin and create blisters.

Hiking socks are designed to transport moisture from your foot, through the socks and into the material of your hiking boots. If you have a breathable pair of hiking boots, these will then transport the moisture out of the boot and leave your feet dry and comfortable, with a low risk of blisters.

Wearing two pairs of socks is another way to reduce friction and minimize the likelihood of blisters forming; we recommend very thin synthetic socks closest to your skin with regular hiking socks worn on top. The theory is that the socks will absorb any friction. There are socks specifically designed for this purpose and, if you are susceptible to blisters, it’s worth trying this method.

On the trail

There are a few things you can do to prevent blisters before you start your hiking adventure. If you already know of any problem areas that are likely to form blisters, tape them before you start to reduce friction. If you start feeling any of these hotspots getting uncomfortable, tend to them immediately to prevent blisters from forming. You can do this by taping them with moleskin, bandages, medical leukotape or even duct tape.

Alternatively, if none of these methods are available to you, simply take a break and take your shoes and socks off for a while to let your feet air out and give your feet a well-earned rest. If your feet get wet or sweaty enough to soak your socks, this is a good time to air them out.

Moisture creates more friction and favourable conditions for blisters to form.

When putting your shoes back on, make sure you tie them properly in a way that relieves the hotspots from pressure or friction. Another way of avoiding wet feet is changing your socks regularly throughout the day; your dry, blister-free feet will thank you later.

How to treat blisters

Notify your guides

Our guides are trained on how to best treat blisters to reduce physical discomfort while on a trek. If you feel a blister forming be sure to notify your guides the moment you notice it. Early treatment is best made for a more enjoyable walking adventure.

Treating your blisters yourself

Try to avoid creating any more friction on the affected spot by covering the area with an extra layer between your skin and your boots. You can use normal plasters, gauze or special blister plasters.

If your blister has popped, it's important to protect the blister from infection, so apply a disinfectant cream to the area and cover it with a plaster to prevent dirt and sweat from touching the sore.

Should I pop a blister?

Popping a blister is a controversial topic. Small blisters, which are not painful, should usually not be drained. The intact skin on them protects them best from infection.

How to drain a blister

Draining a blister that is larger and painful can reduce the pain but increase the risk of infection. If you decide to drain a blister, wash the blister and surrounding area thoroughly first. Sterilize your needle with heat or alcohol. Insert the needle near the base of the blister. Dress the blister like any other wound to keep it clean.

Whilst a trek may seem daunting – particularly if it’s your first time, if you take the time to prepare yourself mentally and physically, you’ll be well on your way to being ready to take on the challenge. Following these tips will hopefully help you avoid blisters and make the most of your next walking adventure. Good luck on the trails!

Have tips of your own to share? Let us know in the comments below.
 

Whether you want to be the master of your own travel destiny or enjoy the journey of travelling solo, choosing to travel independently doesn't have to be a daunting task.

Enter self-guided walking holidays. They provide the freedom of moving at your own pace and being challenged further. When there's a lot to consider on an active adventure – from transfers to accommodation, route mapping to gear hire – it helps when the hassle of organising is taken out of your hands.

What does a self-guided walking trip involve?

A self-guided hike is pretty much letting you control the steering wheel but having a personalised Siri navigator – i.e. an experienced outdoor company – help you along the way.

Especially when seeking out paths less travelled, a self guided walking trip combines the flexibility, comfort and freedom of independent travel with the benefits of an organised guided hike.

Our self-guided walks don't compromise on security and organisation, with 24/7 support and logistics taken care of by our ground team. You can get the perks of gear hire included, have most meals (or food drops when out in the wilderness) provided, camp equipment use, maps and route details on hand, luggage transfers and more. All you need to do is arrive on the day of your great adventure and start navigating.

How different is a self-guided hike to hiking independently?

Independent tours are for travellers that want to go it alone, seeking out a unique experience with that extra freedom to venture where and how one pleases. And thanks to the internet, the boom in DIY has become the rage. But that means planning, researching, making calls, organising bookings and schedules, budgeting, doing more research, making more phone calls... I think you get the drift. Planning an itinerary and managing all the logistics can get tedious and exhausting. 

So is saving a few bucks worth sacrificing the overall experience, not to mention the time taken to co-ordinate a one to two week holiday? And, do you actually save that much money in the end?

Self guided walks take the hassle away with expertly planned itineraries and service both on and off the trail with plenty of wiggle room to tailor your travel experience to suit your style, budget and needs.

While travel styles are continually evolving, a regular constant is people's need to seek out value for experience and value for money. So a boom in self guided tours makes a lot of sense for those that like the feel of independent travel but with the luxury of the expertise, advice, assistance and safety of a travel company.

Self guided walking trips offer a multitude of advantages, regardless of whether you are an experienced active traveller or a first-timer.

6 benefits of opting for a self guided walk:

1. Convenience: Researching all the possibilities can get exciting, but it is also time-consuming, overwhelming and even exhausting at times. Choosing our self guided holidays means we do all the leg work with specialist knowledge of your destination from our experienced team of adventures and experts. You'll save a lot of screen time not scouring the internet researching ideas and reading reviews with the luxury of an expertly crafted itinerary, based on years of experience and local knowledge of a destination. It allows you to make the most of your time and ensure you can travel worry-free with all the logistics sorted.

2. Competitive pricing: Travel companies can get a better price thanks to their volume. We can help pre-book accommodation, gear hire and activities at great prices and our team can help tailor your trip to meet your budget. Plus, with plenty of inclusions in the trip cost already, you can better budget for your adventure holiday and eliminate many out of pocket expenses. 

3. Luggage transport service: Having your bags transferred for you each day is a major plus where you simply leave your bags at the reception of your accommodation in the morning with our luggage tags attached and they’ll be picked up and dropped off at your following destination accommodation.

4. Travel at your own pace: With more flexibility, you can pick and choose what you want to do, where you wish to spend more time and not have to worry about keeping up with a tour group. (You can even choose your own travel buddies!) Under your own steam, you’ll have time to savour the sights and delights of the region.

5. Up-to-date and well-thought-out route notes and maps: These get updated more often than a guide book does and they always benefit from local insights and knowledge. Rest assured that we'll look after the logistics, so you can concentrate on the trail ahead.

6. Added security: If something goes wrong on your trip when travelling independently with a small group of friends or solo, who are you going to call? There's no need to go into 'survival mode'. Our self guided trips offer 24-hour local emergency contacts, which can be the difference between you getting back on the trail in a matter of hours, or aborting the trip completely. Travel with a peace of mind knowing that there is help only a fingertip away, especially when the unexpected has a way of happening.

Rather than thinking and worrying about trip logistics all day, isn’t it worth treating yourself to a trip where someone else takes on this thankless task, so you can focus on all the amazing reasons you came to the destination in the first place? We don’t doubt that independent travel doesn’t have its place, but there are certainly plenty of perks when you have expert support and advice on hand.

New to self guided trips? Check out our range.

The most frequent question I get asked as a canyon guide? Easy! "Dan, what is YOUR favourite canyon?"

The answer, however, is not so easy. For many years I gave the diplomatic reply that choosing a favourite slot canyon was like choosing a favourite child - it can't be done. They are all beautiful in their own way and you love them all equally, I would reply. It was my honest belief.

But as the years went by and I thought about it more deeply I realised that, for me, there was a first among equals when it came to the canyons of the Blue Mountains - Empress Falls Canyon.

Because of its immense scenic beauty, much of the land around Empress Falls Canyon was among the first in the Blue Mountains to be set aside as a recreation reserve back in the 1870s, during the reign of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and her Australian colonies. Another of Victoria's titles was Empress of India and the stunning falls were named in her honour. The name is perfectly apt. Empress Falls Canyon, I believe, is the queen of Blue Mountains canyons.

Why did it take me so long to work this out? There's a saying that familiarity breeds contempt. I've certainly never had anything remotely resembling contempt for Empress Falls Canyon, but as a guide it is inevitably the canyon you work in the most often, the canyon where you do your initial guide training and - in my case - the very first canyon I ever did. Living in Wentworth Falls, it's also my backyard canyon. And that familiarity can cloud your judgment.

Why do I now reckon that Empress is my favourite? Because, metre for metre, there is no other Blue Mountains canyon that gives you greater pleasure.

That pleasure starts with simply driving into the beautiful village of Wentworth Falls, with its sprawling gardens of cool climate plants and quaint weatherboard homes.

From the rock shelter on Kings Tableland where Aboriginal occupation has been dated back 22,000 years to the rock lookout where the famed naturalist Charles Darwin stared down into the cliff-lined Jamison Valley in 1836 and declared it one of the most astonishing things he had ever seen, this is a part of the Blue Mountains that just has so much history and so many great stories attached to it. Your BMAC guides can share all this with you.

The half-hour walk to the canyon (which starts at the iconic Conservation Hut cafe) is an absolute delight. The Valley of the Waters Track descends steeply through a fragrant forest of eucalypts, tea tree, banksia, wattle and mountain devils. Along the way you will often see or hear cockatoos, lyre birds and kookaburras.

The vegetation within the canyon is also magical. It is temperate rainforest, a remnant of the time Australia was still part of Gondwana - the great southern continent that included Antarctica, South America, Africa and India - 100 million years ago. Here the mighty coachwoods, sassafras and tree ferns create a real-life Jurassic Park. This is the Australia dinosaurs roamed through! This is canyoning, but it's also time travelling!

For the adrenalin junkies, Empress kindly contains four very exciting and very different jumps into the cool waters trapped by the rock walls squeezing in on either side. They never get old! The smooth, steep rock walls of the canyon are a natural masterpiece themselves, sculpted over millennia by rushing water. Then comes the crescendo - a 30 metre abseil down Empress Falls with a crowd of bushwalkers below cheering you on as water from the falls tumbles onto your helmet. Absolutely exhilarating! It's also a serious challenge, which is why we like to take you out abseiling on some dry cliffs in the morning so you have the technique and confidence to tackle the waterfall with style. At the bottom of the waterfall, it's time for your Blue Mountains Adventure Company guide to brew you a hot drink and hand around the lollies as you reflect upon your amazing canyon adventure.

The walk out is steep and hard work, but the perfect place to stop for a rest is Queen Victoria Lookout, which boasts a priceless view over the Jamison Valley, Kedumba Walls, Mount Solitary and the massive Blue Mountains wilderness beyond - the traditional country of the Gundungurra people.

As an adventure-loving Blue Mountains boy, Wentworth Falls resident and now a Blue Mountains Adventure Company guide for the past eight years, I long ago lost count of the number of times I have done Empress Falls Canyon, but every time still feels like a pleasure and a privilege. 

And during this crazy summer it is the only canyon we can currently guide due to the bushfires, and I'm extremely grateful that I can still share my favourite canyon with you.

Written by Dan Lewis - BMAC guide since 2014

READY TO EXPERIENCE EMPRESS FALLS? View all Empress Falls adventures.

There’s something special about getting out of your comfort zone, even if it is ever so slight, and embarking on an adventure and really experiencing the natural world. There are many ways to explore the Blue Mountains and we believe that walking the trails, abseiling into the deep canyons and generally having fun using your own energy is the best way to enjoy the wilderness. 

But don't take our word for it. Here are eight ways travel that active adventures can truly benefit your well-being and everyday life. 

1. Spending time outdoors reduces stress

There’s a reason why there’s a smile on everyone’s face after they’ve come back from an active adventure – because they’re happier for it! All the stresses of life just melt away as you embark among some of the most stunning sceneries in the world.

Australians are some of the most stressed out people in the world, with recent report reporting that stress levels have been rising around the country for the past five years. Thankfully, research suggests that nature walks can reduce stress, as well as boost levels of attention.

Gregory Bratman, the lead author of the study, said that 'nature experiences, even of a short duration, can decrease this pattern of thinking that is associated with the onset, in some cases depression.'

So if you’re feeling the strain of city living, immerse yourself into the Blue Mountains to reduce your stress levels. 

2. Nature makes exercise easier

If you're having trouble getting the motivation to get fit, here's a bit of information that will make exercise easier.

Research conducted at the University of Essex suggests that exercise feels easier when you are viewing the colour green, such as on trees, grass and other plants in nature.

The study conducted tested cyclists pedalling in front of green, red and grey images. Those who pedalled in front of the green screen reported that they felt lower exertion during their cycling, as well as displayed less mood disturbances than the other participants.

If you're looking for a way to get fit the easy way, fool your mind and go on an active adventure in nature where it's "green" - like here in the Blue Mountains!

3. Nature can rejuvenates your soul

One of the best reasons to spend time outdoors trekking and cycling is that it can reinvigorate your mental state. Studies have shown that viewing natural beauty can elicit feelings of awe, which can release endorphins and trigger a mental boost.

An interview by HuffingtonPost with a Seattle-based environmental psychologist states: 'In addition to helping decrease stress levels, spending more time with nature shows a shift toward more positive moods... the theory is that we respond positively to things that are good for us. Trees offer shade, protection and often have fruits and nuts, so they are a source of food as well as protection and comfort.'

Ultimately, we tend to be drawn and attracted to things that are beneficial to our survival, which is one of the reasons why trees and other natural elements can help lift our moods.

4. Gain a sense of accomplishment

Regardless of age and size, taking on an adventure can create feelings associated with personal achievement. The more difficult and greater the challenge, the more sense of achievement we feel when we accomplish those goals. Talk to us about our challenging canyoning experiences.

5. Travel increases your self-awareness

A bi-product of travel is raising your self-awareness and it’s one of the most beneficial parts of taking on an adventurous trip.

Adventure travel brings you closer to your “inner self”, giving you the chance to examine and challenge yourself in ways you didn’t think were possible.

Stepping into the unknown and taking a risk demands our increased attention and can bring an intense state of self awareness – one of the reasons that people, such as mountain climbers, engage in adventure activities.

These adventurers often return home with a more relaxed mind and an increase in self confidence – yet another reason to pack your kit and head to the Blue Mountains for some adventure.

6. The outdoors can make you smarter

Just ask our guides! Immersing yourself in the outdoors can increase your higher order cognition in more ways than one. This study found that brain scans taken after exercise showed that the participants had greater and more focused activity in the prefrontal cortex than they did before.

What’s more, active adventures help increase activity in your hippocampus, the brain’s main “storage unit”. Typically, the hippocampus decreases as you get older, leading to memory loss, however physical outdoor activity can lead to a chemical reaction in the body that increases the hippocampus. A group of middle aged adults took a 40-minute walk three times a week and over a year grew their hippocampi by two per cent.

7. Forge new friendships

Take an adventure and gain a friend; if there's one benefit of an adventure overseas that leaves you with the warm and fuzzy's, this is it.

Embarking on a challenge with other people can bring you closer together; sharing the trials and the triumphs gives you something to bond over and forms relationships that'll embed deep in your memories.

8. Learn new skills

If you ever want to brush up on your life skills, a rope based activity is all you need. The experiences gained from entering new surroundings and improving your skill set when abseiling will provide you with confidence that you can use in every day living..

These are some of our favourite reasons why adventure travel is good for you. Can you think of any more? Share them in the comments section below.