Sometimes when you grow up with something at your feet or nearby you don’t always appreciate it as much as you should. I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I should be exploring places that are “anywhere but here” or “been there before, I wanna go somewhere new.” You forget what your local area has on offer, possibly blinded by wearing your “I live here googles.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The pandemic changed that. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With international & interstate travel off the table due to border restrictions, old places closer to home became new places again. And in what could be described as a dark time in the Earth’s history, these once forgotten and overlooked gems became the light we needed. Well, in my case anyways 😊😊 The urge to do the “lap” of this big, brown land has only become a lot stronger. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What local gems did you become reacquainted with during the pandemic? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #bluemountains #feelnsw #visitbluemountains #holidayherethisyear #wentworthfalls @visitnsw @australia @canonaustralia @siruiaustralia ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #findyourselfoutside #welcometoaustralia #womenintravel #water_perfection #ruralaustralia #nswparks #raw_waters #water_perfection #getintotheoutthere #yourweatherpics #madewithlightroom #adoberisingstars #longexpoelite #easywayphotography #wb_water_brilliance #ozscapers #takemetoaustralia #goneawol #tv_australia #abcmyphoto #igersaustralia #focusaustralia #canonaustralia #exploringaustralia (at Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg_hx63vglh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I am so grateful that I am able to call this wonderful part of the world home, now more so than ever, to think that this spectacular view is just a few moments walk from my front door. ⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #visitbluemountains #leura #bluemountainsaustralia #hiking #explore #nature #wanderlust #bluemountainsnswaustralia #adventure #tourismnsw #australia #lovelocal #explorebluemountains #bluemountainsliving #visitnsw #visitbluemountainsnsw #travelgram #hike #bluemountainssydney #photooftheday #bluemountainsnsw #bluemountains #travel #travelphotography #mountains #instagood via @hashtagexpert (at Leura, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ43lsVgcg6/?utm_medium=tumblr

Novelties #peoplewithcameras #travellingpants #wanderlust #shuttertales #iamnikon #visitbluemountains #hydromajestichotel #sydneylocal #ilovesydney #blackandwhitephotography #noir #mono (at Hydro Majestic Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_jzo4pHxX/?igshid=qd92kf7wnqqc

3 days left! Even just $5 can make big difference to the artists, performers and creatives who have put their time and passion towards this event 😊😊😊 * * * #Repost @wintermagicfestival with @get_repost ・・・ Can we say a massive thank you to all the people who pledged to our Pozible campaign? - Yesterday we hit the first target, which is the magical point at which pledges become actual donations. The campaign doesn't close until Monday afternoon, so there's still time for those who want to make a difference to chip in. - Thanks everyone for your magnificent community spirit, the Winter Magic Committee and coordinators 🙏 - - - - 📸 by @brigittegrantphotography @pozible #wintermagicfestival #wintermagic2019 #bluemountainsnsw #visitbluemountains #brigittegrantphotography #katoombabluemountains #wintersolstice #pozible #makethemagichappen #bluemountainsevents #community #crowdfunding #katoomba #katoombansw #lovebluemountains #supportlocal #bluemountains #bluemountainswinter #bluemountainsevents #pozible #pozipics #threedaystogo https://www.instagram.com/p/ByH5YO5AJOm/?igshid=1dabbvgga2lb6

#Repost @scenicworld_aus with @get_repost ・・・ WOW! We have no words for the incredible Winter wonderland that’s taken over the upper Blue Mountains! Scenic World is still open as per usual today. If you’re planning to visit please check the www.livetraffic.com for road conditions and take extreme caution on the roads. Or better yet jump on the train! This magical video of the Three Sisters was captured by @jaydidphoto! ❄️☃️🌨 . . . #ScenicWorld_Aus #ScenicWorld #Katoomba #BlueMountains #VisitBlueMountains #NewSouthWales #VisitNSW #Australia #SeeAustralia #snow #AustralianSnow #AustralianWinter #ThreeSisters #BlueMountainsMagic https://www.instagram.com/p/B0-6TlPhhzl/?igshid=yyuexoty2coi

Enjoying the breathtaking scenery on offer here 👌#mustdo #bluemountains #seensw #visitbluemountains #familytravel #4x4 #offthebeatenpath #mitsubishi #triton #overland #goexplore #wanderlust (at Blue Mountains)

Regram @garyphayes.photography ・・・ Taken this arvo - Mount Wilson, especially in Autumn, is like walking out of Australian bush and then finding a magical portal and ending up in a London park. One of several aerial panoramas taken on my Phantom 4 Pro. 1-10 #ourplanetdaily #artofvisuals #lightart #wow_planet #sonyphotographer #amazing_australia #aussieimages #australia_shotz #australiagram #discoveraustralia 10-20 #exploreaustralia #focus_australia #ig_australia #wow_australia2018 #newsouthwales #tourismnsw #visitnsw #ilovensw #sydneyinsta #nswparks 20- #visitbluemountains #ig_bluemountains #BlueMountains #scenicworld_aus #bluemtsaus #fairmontresortleura #dronephotography

About last night. #Avalon cocktail bar #katoomba #BlueMountains #nicediscovery #travel #visitbluemountains #gabriellejones

Always exploring with @jessleeflint !! We waited silently in the dark for the glow worms to show in the abandoned railway tunnel. Epic adventures!

As we are heading into the last week or so of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, so I thought I’d post some Aussie Autumn content to change things up a little 😍🍁🍂😊 This was taken on my trip last year to @breenholdgardens You May have seen something similar when I posted last Autumn content last year. I like the image a lot as it represents the transition from Summer to Winter perfectly. So I flipped it 😁😁 Prints are now available from alittlebitofskye.com with free shipping now available within Australia. Head @alittlebitofskye or @printsbyalittlebitofskye for the link. #feelnsw #holidayherethisyear #canonaustralia #goblue #mountwilson @visitbluemountains @visitnsw @australia @canonaustralia (at Breenhold Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd5PtBLPgcm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spring flowers. #abcmyphoto #visitbluemountains #smputas365 #spring #smputasw15 #cherryblossom (at Medlow Bath, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTEZd6Aqya/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gohglljhc8v3

Today is the last day to see ‘A Printmaker’s Exhibition’ with the good people at @galleryone88finearts in Katoomba. Big thanks to Victor and Sharon for making it such a successful show! Posted @withregram • @galleryone88finearts Close ups of these stunning #artworks by @damonkowarsky on #exhibition now @galleryone88finearts This is a must see #artexhibition by the #winner of the #bluemountainsprintprize #printmaker #printmakersofinstagram #print #ink #watercolour #paper #etching #aquatint #katoombastreetartprecinct #katoombastreet #katoombaartgallery #interiordesign #interiordecorating @visitbluemountains @visitnsw (at Gallery ONE88 Fine Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdB5hDcBbzl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Prezzie #peoplewithcameras #travellingpants #wanderlust #shuttertales #iamnikon #ilovesydney #sydneylocal #hydromajestic #visitbluemountains #blackandwhitephotography #noir #mono (at Pavillon Hydro Majestic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF8RhReJV1z/?igshid=1wfwskc49ui4l

This long running festival is such a huge part of sharing and showcasing all that the Blue Mountains community is so get behind #localartists and let’s keep the magic going 💕😊 Pledges will go towards artists and performers being paid for their work and contributing to the incredible vibe which is #wintermagic ❄️ even $5 can make a difference ✌️Head to @wintermagicfestival for a link to the donate page #Repost @wintermagicfestival with @get_repost ・・・ 12 days until our Pozible crowdfunding campaign ends. Donate tonight. Go on ✨ - - - - 📸 by @benpearsephotography @pozible #wintermagicfestival #wintermagic2019 #bluemountainsnsw #visitbluemountains #wintersolstice #pozible #makethemagichappen #bluemountainsevents #community #crowdfunding #katoomba #katoombansw #lovebluemountains #supportlocal #bluemountainsevents #pozible #pozipics https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxw86AiHJED/?igshid=nz66ynzh44gi

Need a break? How about a staycation? Nothing better than a trip to the scenic Blue Mountains this long weekend... oh, and pop in and say hello to a local business or two while you're at it 😊 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #discovertradition #wetshaving #wetshavingproducts #skincare #shavelikeaman #grooming #TheStrayWhisker #Leura #Katoomba #WentworthFalls #LeuraShopping #mensgrooming #mensgifts #shavingproducts #oldschool #skincareproducts #shoplocalnsw #mountainlife #localbusiness #gentlemanshop #leuravillage #bluemountains #zerowasteliving #womensshaving #shavingsoap #aftershavebalm #bluemountainstore #goodgrooming #visitbluemountains #holidayherethisyear (at Blue Mountains, Katoomba, Three Sisters) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1MzHtnLZy/?igshid=bv1emyqad4oa

Regram @garyphayes.photography ・・・ "Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country". Anais Nin TELEPORT ~ MOUNT VICTORIA The hazard burn continues and filled the sunset sky with layers of smoke. At times the sun was a large red disk, but I like it here looking very Saturn like over Lithgow Valley. Sony a7r2 ~ 90mm crop ~ 1/320s ~ f6.3 ~ ISO 100 1-10 #ourplanetdaily #artofvisuals #lightart #wow_planet #sonyphotographer #amazing_australia #aussieimages #australia_shotz #australiagram #discoveraustralia 10-20 #exploreaustralia #focus_australia #ig_australia #wow_australia2018 #newsouthwales #tourismnsw #visitnsw #ilovensw #sydneyinsta #nswparks 20- #visitbluemountains #ig_bluemountains #BlueMountains #scenicworld_aus #bluemtsaus #fairmontresortleura