ON THE MOVE: KATOOMBA
THIS HISTORIC BLUE MOUNTAINS TOWN HAS SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND A RELAXED VILLAGE VIBE.
Famed for its views, this town is the centre of the NSW
Blue Mountains and home to many creative people.
HIGH ON AN escarpment overlooking the Jamison Valley and the iconic Three Sisters, Katoomba is the largest town in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, with a population of around 8000 people. Nearly two-hours’ drive west of Sydney, it has long been a haven for tourists and day-trippers, who come to explore the surrounding Blue Mountains National Park, as well as Katoomba’s mix of restaurants, cafés, galleries and shops. With reliable transport links to Sydney, Katoomba is attracting a growing number of professionals drawn to its village charm, who either commute to the city or work from their mountain-top base. Jacqui Porter and her partner Dan Peterson moved to Katoomba in 2014 and launched Northwood Green, a branding and design consultancy shortly after. “Now we are all so connected we can live in the country and work with people from everywhere,” says Jacqui, who collaborates with clients based in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, London and New York. Recently, Northwood Green partnered with Anthony Puharich of Victor Churchill in Woollahra on the farm-to-kitchen-to-butcher book Meat: The Ultimate Companion, and also designed the cover for former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s autobiography, The PM Years. “Both Dan and I grew up in the country and were drawn to having eucalypts around us. It’s a creative environment in the mountains close to the city; and country people are so welcoming,” she explains. The couple are also able to give their children Poppy, nine, and six-year-old Oslo a connection to nature. “We love to bushwalk and look at local landmarks, such as the Three Sisters or the Everglades Historic House and Gardens,” says Jacqui. “We feel like we’re part of a great community with lots of friends and connections. And there are tourists here every day — they bring a good vibe.” Tourism in the town is definitely booming with the Blue Mountains National Park attracting four million visitors each year — more than any other national park in Australia. Many of them make the trip to the lookout at Echo Point to see the Three Sisters while the nearby Waradah Australian Centre is a great place to learn about the indigenous heritage of the region. > For details, visit bluemountainscitytourism.com.au