Who knew you could do all this in the Blue Mountains?
Now that you’ve survived the school holidays, it’s time to recover with a relaxing (remember sleep?) weekend mini-break and the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney is the perfect place to unwind. Why not knock off Friday lunchtime and beat the peak hour traffic?
Stay (and Spa)
As soon as we checked into Lilianfels Resort & Spa we could feel our city stresses melt away, the homely feel and friendly staff ensured our transition from sleep-deprived, frazzled parents to blissed-out beings, reminiscent of our former selves, was an easy one. We immediately booked in for hour-long massages and after being lulled to sleep from the rich macadamia oils and as we coined them “magic hands” of the spa staff it really helped set the tone for much the weekend.
When you're holidaying it's easy to think that a hotel room is just a hotel room, but it’s often the attention to detail that makes your a stay a memorable one. And at Lilianfels it's no exception, from the ever-smiling and helpful staff to the luxurious bedding and turn down service you'll notice the small personal touches that rmake you feel like your staying with friends. And don’t even get me started on the nightly chocolate on the pillow. It’s not your stock-standard average chocolate, it’s from the handcrafted and locally produced chocolate factory, Josophan's (cue: Homer Simpson-esque drool noises).
If you must leave the hotel (you really don’t need to with the day spa, daily High Tea, restaurants and pool at your doorstep) then head to nearby Leura for it’s interesting mix of shops and cosmopolitan cafes.
Eat (and Eat)
If devonshire teas aren’t your thing, Leura Garage might just do the trick. A funky cafe/bar/restaurant that serves a delicious selection of pizzas and antipasto platters, coffee which would please even the fussiest of Melbournians and more importantly for us - wine!
If you’re celebrating an anniversary or special occasion, a visit to the recently refurbished and one-hatted Darley’s restaurant is a must. Since our nightly meals usually involve a toddler flinging finger food at the walls, floor and well, my face, the historic dining rooms of Darley’s seem utterly indulgent - and it really is.
Shop
Start at Zuri (next to Leura Garage) which is a homeware store with an amazing range of eco products, fair trade goods, crockery and clothing. Next door is the gorgeous Peponi Home - worth a trip to Leura on its own - as most of the unique stock is sourced by the owner, Lisa Wright, on her trips to Africa.
If vintage is your thing, head straight to Mrs Peel for a mix of second-hand and new labels, send your other half for a coffee as you’re sure to get lost in here for awhile. From perfumes to parasols, the francophile’s amongst us will want to have a mooch in The French Shoppe located next door to Mrs Peel.
The aforementioned chocolate shop, Josophan's is located on the main strip so make don’t leave without dropping in - the lovely counter ladies will be sure to help you if you’re overwhelmed by all the amazing chocolate on offer. And stationery addicts will adore Elizabeth Rosa (153 The Mall).
Walk (it off)
If all the eating and indulging is giving you the need to take a hike, make a date with Tread Lightly for an eco-tour of the Blue Mountains World Heritage region. The tours cover all fitness levels and the tour guides are such info-filled specialists in the environmental and the cultural aspects of the region you’ll find yourself learning more about Australia than you did at high school (in a good way).
Nicky Champ travelled courtesy of GTI Tourism.
