The ads tell of back-packing and idylic days and nights in the great outdoors under the southern skies.

A British bushwalker has been found after more than a week in the wilderness at the coldest time and probably 'within stones throw' of the edge of town. His father flew in and joined hosts of people searching the area for this guy who luckily was used to cold weather and lived on leaves and bush food while he was lost.

The Blue Mountains has always been a traditional place to visit and one might have visions of snow covered alps and spectacular mountains but this country is not like that at all but is the scene of ancient gorges and rocky outcrops, of bushwalking down into deep remote valleys and bracing climate and olde world tourism as well upmarket destinations.