The last time Mum visited the Blue Gum Forest was 50 years ago. She’s camped once in the last 25 years. These days, peer pressure for Mum pushes her to finish the last piece of cake, eat more food at dinner parties to please the host, and try the latest offering of wine.

So, when Mum told her friends she was preparing for a two day hike in the Blue Mountains including camping and hiking up the escarpment, she was met with an array of horrified faces, a degree of pity, and offers to drive her to the mental asylum.

However, Mum was undeterred. She backed herself, embraced the challenge and embarked on 10 weeks of LiveAdventure fitness training. She did home exercises, came for personal training sessions and even took on the South Coogee stairs (I’ll admit, not with a great deal of enthusiasm, but she did them nonetheless!).

There were a few nervous phone calls from Mum in the final week, including a suggestion we postpone to an indefinite point in the future! However, by Saturday morning we were all systems go. My partner, Ian, had generously offered to come and help, carrying some of the extra weight and providing general merriment.

Ian and I hauled ourselves out of bed bright and early (well, I got out of bed, Ian hauled himself thanks to the success of the previous night’s Christmas party). We met Mum at Parramatta station and drove to Govett’s Leap, leaving the car waiting at our finish point. The cabbie who shuttled us to our start point at Victoria Falls hadn’t done a hike in his life but didn’t hold back with generous pearls of wisdom including the ever helpful, “don’t get lost!”.

And with that, we were away. The walk starts by Victoria Falls lookout with a stunning view over the valley and across to rich, orange, sandstone cliffs. It then heads down steeply to the beautiful Victoria Falls. You can walk behind them if you follow the track a short way upstream.

We continued down to Burra Korain campsite and stopped for a quick morning tea. Our first leach enjoyed morning tea too courtesy of Mum’s ankle. To Ian and my disappointment, there was no squealing with fright or arm flapping to entertain us, only a couple of quick flicks of the finger and that was that.

The track following the Grose River is beautiful and undulating. There are grass trees everywhere and gorgeous rock pools perfect for a dip. The water will take your breath away though (if you’ve got any to spare)!

We enjoyed lunch at Little Blue Gum but unfortunately Mum’s knee (ITB) was suffering with all the undulations. I tried to help by giving her an ITB massage but she decided the knee pain was the lesser of two evils!

Before we knew it, we rounded the corner and came to the main area of blue gums. These trees have the most incredible presence about them. We all took a few moments to just be there and feel their grandeur.

We finally peeled ourselves away for the final stretch to Acacia Flat.  We rejuvenated the muscles with an ‘ice’ bath in the Grose River and then it was time to relax! There’s a flat rock in the middle of the creek that seemed specifically designed for picnics. We cracked out the sherry and blue cheese (it is a birthday trip after all) and chatted, listened to the bubbling creek, and watched as the fading light tucked the valley into bed.

The next morning we soaked up a final walk amongst the Blue Gum Forest then were off to Junction Rock for late breakfast and a morning dip. Some good-sized yabbies and water dragons thought it was a good spot too.

The hike up from Junction Rock is a solid climb and the part Mum most feared. However, there was no holding her back as she charged onwards and upwards. Only as we approached the base of Bridal Veil Falls did she begin to slow down. At the base of the falls we inhaled some now soggy sandwiches, greasy blue cheese and melted chocolate (enjoyed only as food on a multi-day hike can be).

That was all Mum needed to press up the final push to the top of Govett’s Leap. The final climb really is one of the most spectacular walks around. You can see above you up the vertical rockface, behind you to the falls, and out over the valley. You’re amongst the butterflies and birds flitting amongst the bushes, and the track takes you under overhangs where cool water showers you through the moss. Incredible.

Just as incredible, we arrived at the top of Govett’s Leap. Two days, 22.3kms, almost 1600 vertical and a night of camping. Mum not only survived, she thrived! Such a special weekend and a top notch hike to enjoy it on. If you fancy trying it yourself, check out WildWalks for details and come and join LiveAdventure for some training. I’ll even carry the blue cheese and sherry!