If you notice a sudden influx of backpackers to Katoomba this summer from the tiny European nation of Slovenia, you can thank one of its leading travel bloggers, Nina Kogej.
Mrs Kogej and her husband Simon, who run a blog site and Facebook page called Nina Travels in the country of two million people, were selected to be part of the Big Blog Exchange organised by YHA and Hostelling International.
Sixteen bloggers were chosen from 633 entrants from all over the world to swap countries for 10 days from October 31 to encourage global understanding, after a total of 128,248 votes were cast.
The Slovenian couple swapped with Australian travel blogger Jono Cuscak from www.seesomething.com.au who boarded a flight to Slovenia.
After a few nights in Sydney, the Kogej's were keen to see some nature so they stayed at Blue Mountains YHA in Katoomba on November 2 and spent two days exploring.
It didn't take long before their enthusiasm for our region became evident, with Nina posting on her blog's Facebook site, in English and Slovenian, "this is freaking awesome!
Following her stay, she told the Gazette "we [Slovenians] are a very outdoors nation, so the Blue Mountains was perfect for us.
"The area is vast, the nature is beautiful and the smell of eucalyptus trees is out of this world.
"We loved the Three Sisters' Aboriginal story and the Scenic Railway ride.
"The next day we were challenged with a most frightening activity, canyoning.
"Fear of heights was my biggest concern, but we completely trusted in our amazing guide, Tim Watson from High 'n' Wild, and the end result was sliding into rock pools and having lots of fun.
"One of the most daring things I have probably done in my entire life came at the end, abseiling down a 30m waterfall.
"It was crazy and my knees were shaking before actually doing it.
"We have canyoning in Slovenia that ends with a 12m waterfall, but nothing like this."
The Kogej's Australian Big Blog Exchange experience also included stays at YHA-member hostels in Port Stephens, Melbourne and the Grampians where the couple enjoyed surfing lessons, wildlife tours, sand dune sliding and stand up paddle boarding.
For more information about the Big Blog Exchange and YHA holiday and accommodation packages, visit www.yha.com.au.