Sydney Start up Blog

The view overlooking the vast expanse of untouched Australian outback from the summit of the renowned Mount Werong is one that is rarely seen by the over 1,000,000 visitors that make the trek to the untamed Australian wilderness annually. Mount Werong resides in the Greater Blue Mountain World Are Site, and is only accessible by a once in a lifetime journey through a sea of sandstone plateaus and unrelenting Eucalyptus forests. The unique fauna and exclusive “blue haze” that surrounds the mountain range make the area one the best for an adventurous journey that is best made by mountain bike. Mountain bikes are available to hire in the Sydney region from a number of bike shops if you are on a holiday and just looking to experience the trails and bicycles Sydney has to offer.

Hanging Rock to Blackheath

Hanging Rock offers a scenic route through the burly Eucalyptus forests to one of the most recognizable views in Australia; the “Hanging Rock”. The area surrounding the trail was burnt in a blossom fire towards the end of 2006, and the redevelopment of the most iconic fauna for the area is absolutely stunning. The trail is a great way to begin your journey into the Blue Mountains, and being less than 10km from start to finish, will make a sublime memory for some of the less experienced bikers. The exciting journey is an ideal ride for weathered bikers and newbies alike.

Narrow Neck

This narrow strip of weathered soot is a great addition to any experienced outdoors man’s trail list. The 36km ride has very few steep hills and can easily be ridden most of the way. The trail ends in Megalong valley, with a stunning view of the Katoomba forests. While the trail may sometimes be a bit loose, the absence of cars make it a great trail that is not to be missed.

Lawson Ridge

This area was attacked by an onslaught of bush fires in 2002, but the recuperating Australian outback makes the fires nothing but a fading memory. The trail is mostly made of sand, and has some large hills, however the view at the peak of the trail shows the pinnacle of Australia’s essence. The 20km trail has some of the best examples of how the wild can recover from such an immense fire. Throughout the whole excursion, some of the most intricate rock formations litter the sides of the trail, and offer a fulfilling and rigorous trip that will not be forgotten soon.

Tags: Entertainment, Sports

Think of Archery and stern images of high-tech bows may spring to mind, held agonizingly still by grim-faced archers aiming at a circular target fixed to the ground. This portrait of modern Western archery could not be further from the sport that has intrigued long term Hong Kong resident Stephen Selby since he graduated in Chinese studies from Britain’s Universities of Edinburgh back in 1974.

It was a combination of indifference to modern sports archery, and the fact that he had encountered many a reference to the noble practice of traditional Chinese archery while an  undergraduate, that prompted Selby currently director of the Hong Kong government’s Intellectual Property Department to study the ancient form. The more he learned about contemporary archery, the more monotonous it seemed to me, he started to research the old Chinese and Asia forms.