The Aberdeen Highland Games is held annually in the Upper Hunter town of Aberdeen in New South Wales Australia.
Getting There
Held in Jefferson Park Aberdeen, access is very easy with signs directing you where to go for parking and entry to the park. There is ample parking available on site which is managed by with local SES volunteers. They will direct you to a parking spot and ensure they car parking is orderly so that people can get in and out safely.
Buying Tickets to the Aberdeen Highland Games
Tickets can be purchased on the day, or on-line. On-line purchases give you a discount of $5.00 (in 2018). Tickets purchased on-line also enable faster entry which is a great way to avoid queuing.
All action is based in one of two ovals and a dancing stage and fully surrounded with market stalls selling Scottish heirlooms and souvenirs.
It’s very cold so rug up or dress in theme.
Typical Scotsman at the Games
Events on the Day
Initially there is an opening chieftain’s address welcoming guests and sponsors and giving information about what’s happening during the day (you can also buy a guide book).
The day’s events then start with the massed pipe bands. Each clan and band enters dressed their clan’s tartan playing bagpipes and drums. Once all of the bands are on the field, they perform a massed march of the bands. They march up and down the field several times, so there is ample opportunities to see everything and take photos.
Massed Pipe Bands
The Australian Defence Force sent the Australian Federation Guard Precision Drill Team. Selected from all three services, they provided an amazing display of precision marching and weapons firing.
Australian Federation Guard Precision Drill Team
The Scottish dancing competitions are held on the central stage. These are very popular, so to get a good view, get in early and get a good spot.
The strong men in the tartan warriors competition is a highlight of the day. Events include the sheaf toss, caber toss and commenced with the stones, or Clach Cuid Fir.
The Tartan Warriors
The bands compete individually to choose the best band, so the sound of bagpipes is in the air the whole day. This gives a great atmosphere throughout the day.
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
The Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien temple in Wollongong is a major centre for Buddhist learning in Australia. The temple is open to the public and provides an excellent insight into its workings. Remember to act respectfully at all times and remove shoes when requested (for most temples).
Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple
The temple and adjoining pagoda temple are works of art in themselves and the decoration inside is beautiful.
Pagoda Temple
Buddhist Prayer Bell
The gardens surrounding the temple are beautiful and contain many statues which are worth looking at. Photography is allowed in the gardens and exterior of the temples which is great because they are fantastic.
Rooster Statue
Buddha Statue
We found that access and parking was simple. Signs direct you to the temple as you travel from Wollongong and there is a huge car park at the main temple. The monks were all very friendly and happy to discuss the works of the temple as well as Buddhism.
If you are up for an amazing amount of breathtaking scenery, friendly people and relaxed environment, then the Blue Mountains is the place to go. From the centre of Sydney a car journey to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains will take nearly two hours. This will vary depending on traffic and the day you travel. The big advantage of driving yourself is that you can stop at places along the way and enjoy everything from lookouts and small places like the Norman Lindsay Art Gallery in Faulconbridge prior to reaching the Blue Mountains. .
Katoomba can be reached by public transport from Sydney, using the Blue Mountains Line. Depending on you departure point and day, this journey takes two and a half to three hours. When you arrive at your destination, you will need transport from the train station to your hotel and from there to other points of interest.
Where To Stay at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains
There is a great choice of places to stay in and around Katoomba. We have always stayed near Echo Point, so that we can walk to the Tree Sisters at night and see them lit up, as it’s a magnificent view.
Accommodation from basic to five star is available depending on your budget.
Where To Eat
There are many eateries in the centre of town, ranging from take away and pub food to fine dining at restaurants. The Blue Mountains cater for backpackers through to overseas visitors. Other restaurants are scattered around town at other locations and hotels, some with great views of the National Park.
Walking Tracks
Katoomba is on the door steep to the Blue Mountains National Park. There are numerous walks available, for all fitness levels. All walks allow you to see picturesque mountains, waterfalls and breathtaking scenery.
Echo Point
Echo Point is the best place in Katoomba to view the Three Sisters because you have easy parking and great viewing areas. There is an information centre here where you can get directions for the many walks available and buy souvenirs. The Blue Mountains are very popular, especially on the weekend, so there are usually a lot of people around. This is the starting point for the Three Sisters Walk and you can join the Prince Henry Cliff Walk here, if you don’t want to do the whole track.
Foodlights illuminate the Three Sisters at night, so it’s worth visiting then for a great view.
The Three SistersViews From Echo Point
Three Sisters Walk
The Three Sisters Walk starts at Echo Point behind the Information Centre. As you would expect, it takes you down to the Three Sisters, where you can walk out onto the Giant’s Stairway, a bridge out to the first of the sisters. From here you get some spectacular views of the escarpment and surrounding scenery. A great photo opportunity!
The walk can be strenuous as there are a lot of stairs to go down (and then climb back up) and they are not all even. Many are irregular so you need to be careful. They are not always wide enough for two people to pass so you will need to be patient on a busy day to allow other people through. There are spots on the way to stop and have a break.
On the way down, check out the small metal animal sculptures along the track as they add some great interest to the walk. Overall a great walk with rewarding views at the end.
The Escarpment From Giants Stairway
Lizard Sculpture
Prince Henry Cliff Walk
We have only walked the part of the track from Echo Point to Katoomba Cascades. There are fantastic views out over the surrounding bush and national park, making it a very popular walk.
Katoomba Cascades
The Katoomba Cascades can be seen as part of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, or by themselves. There are several car parks nearby so parking should not be a problem. The walk down to the Cascades is short but steep. At the bottom there is a nice shady area where you can relax near the water.
Katoomba Cascades
Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is one of the classic and must do walks in Katoomba. Parking can be difficult as the car park becomes full quickly. Every time we have been there, we have parked in the street nearby .
The track to the top of the falls is downhill on a well formed track. There are some steps to negotiate and some small streams with stepping stones to cross. The top of the falls is where most people stop, as you have a good view of the surrounding valley, but you can only see the upper section of the falls.
For the really fit, there is a track to the base of the falls. We have never taken it as it appears to be mostly steps down and back up again.
The climb back to the car park is all up hill, but if you want a break on the way, you can look at the Underecliff walk or just stop and take in the scenery.
Top of Wentworth Falls Top of Wentworth Falls
Stepping Stones Wentworth Falls
Under Cliff Walk
The Under Cliff Walk starts from the same car park at the Wentworth Falls Walk. Part of the way down, there is a side track to the right. The side track is all flat and will take you to the undercliff area after about 10 minutes. This is a beautiful undercut area dark, shady and full of ferns.
Katoomba’s Scenic World provides three ways to view the Blue Mountains all starting from one location.
Scenic Skyway
Part of Scenic World, the Skyway is a cable car that runs across the Jamison Valley. The cable car can be taken in either direction, to or from Scenic World. If you have a day pass, ride it as often as you like.
The car has a glass bottom, so there are superb views of the valley below. The operator will take photos of you on the glass floor if you want. We went early in the morning, so had this all to ourselves.
Half way across, you get a great view of the Katoomba Falls from the best vantage point there is. On the eastern side, the cable car exits onto the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, which leads around to Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
Katoomba Falls
Scenic Railway
The Scenic Railway leaves from the Scenic World main building and travels down to the bottom of the valley. A very short ride, but fun if you want to go in the steepest inclined railway in the world. The ride finishes where the Scenic Walk begins so you can look around the valley floor before going back up, either on the railway, or the cable car.
Scenic Railway
Scenic Cableway
The Scenic Cableway runs from the Scenic Walking Track to the Scenic World main building. You can travel either way, or combine it with the Scenic Railway. We chose to use it for the leg back up to the top after walking around the walkway in the valley.
The Cableway gives you some fantastic views of the surrounding country. The cable car itself has large glass windows for uninterrupted views. The operator provides a running commentary throughout the journey, pointing out places of interest.
Scenic Walk
Scenic Walkway can be accessed by either of Scenic World’s Cableway or Railway. We used the Railway to get down and the Cableway to return, allowing us to get both experiences.
The walkway is mostly board walk around the base of the valley. The environment is very different to that at the top of the escarpment, being shady and cooler. There is some memorabilia for pioneering days on display and a statue honoring the pioneers .
Scenic Walk
Places to See in Town
Katoomba has many old historical buildings, making the town’s older area very attractive. There is also a memorial park to Sir Kingsford Smith, to commemorate the great Australian aviator.
In Leura, the main street has some good photo opportunities, especially the old post office.
Leura Post Office Kingsford Smith Memorial
What Did We Think Of Katoomba?
Katoomba is a great place to visit, especially if you like bush walking. There are so many tracks to chose from, ranging for short and moderate, to long and difficult.
The scenery is fantastic, from waterfalls and the Three Sisters to Australian bush landscapes.
A great place to stay for a few days and experience the Blue Mountains.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
