What to do, where to stay and what to eat: take your Blue Mountains Escape up a notch with five-star indulgence and award-winning gastronomy.
There are fewer destinations more magical and mysterious than the Blue Mountains. Now, the undulating landscape of eucalyptus giants, craggy cliffs and hazy valleys has pushed this rocky slice of the Australian landscape into the global spotlight. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed region is not only one of the country’s most beautiful destinations, it’s also the perfect place for an ultra-luxurious escape – just an hour yet a world away from Sydney. Home to world-class, five-star hotels, Chef-Hatted fine-dining restaurants and one-of-a-kind experiences, the Blue Mountains is not only for nature lovers, but those is search of unforgettable luxury and epicurean indulgence.
Ready to book your Blue Mountains escape? View our hotel packages here.
Stay
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery is reminiscent of a Swiss ski chalet, framed by the epic landscape of the Blue Mountains. Watch the silver mist roll across a thick canopy of eucalyptus trees from your warm room with a soothing cup of tea in hand. The seven onsite bars and restaurants shine a beacon over Jamison Valley – whose views are best enjoyed by the fireplace with a succulent steak and a glass of wine at Embers Restaurant. Whiskey enthusiasts can warm up with an amber drop at Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern, a cosy bar tucked away in the basement.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
From star-gazing to horse rides and guided nature walks, every experience is designed to celebrate the sheer beauty of the Blue Mountains at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. This ultra-luxurious, conservation-focused resort is nestled between Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park in a remote valley that Harper’s Bazaar hailed ‘Australia’s best-kept secret’. Splashes of signature One&Only luxury is enhanced by bespoke adventure. Days are spent on the wild terrain, traversing the endless expanse by 4WD, clip-clopping on horseback or spotting native wildlife (we’re talking kangaroos, wallabies and wombats, just to name a few).
The Hydro Majestic
Steal a moment in the grandeur of yesteryear at The Hydro Majestic, an iconic heritage hotel stretching 1.1 kilometres along the cusp of the picturesque Megalong Valley. Built in 1903 as a hydrotherapy spa and Australia’s first wellness retreat, this truly is an escape from the everyday. If you’re a gourmand to the bone, dine at the chef-hatted restaurant The Wintergarden, a former ballroom-turned-restaurant with jaw-dropping views over Medlow Valley. Be sure to try the legendary high tea (bookings are essential).
EXPERIENCE
A cable car adventure like no other
The sheer majesty of the Blue Mountains is hard to comprehend on ground level, but when you climb above the lush canopy aboard a Beyond Skyway cable car, the panoramas are jaw-dropping. Before ascending, you’ll be fitted with a harness – that’s right, this is no ordinary cable car ride. Once aboard, watch the grand landscape unfurl below before your carriage comes to a halt in the middle of Jamison Valley, 270 metres above the forest. At this point you’re invited to climb the ladder, pass through the hatch and out onto the roof of the cabin. Breathe in incredibly crisp, clean air and take in 360-degree views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary. Enjoy a rooftop picnic or warm mug of hot chocolate while listening to the calls of yellow-tailed black cockatoos.
Epic scenes on the golf green
There’s golf, and then there’s golf. Keen putters can’t pass up a bucket-list worthy course with a stunning mountain backdrop at Leura Golf Club. The club is the oldest in the Blue Mountains having opened in 1902. To this day, it remains a noteworthy stretch of green with the most spectacular views of the Jamison Valley. The course is challenging but short, perfect for a quick round before retiring to the Club House, where the onsite bistro offers sophisticated pub fair with a breathtaking view.
Indulge in a spa day
If there’s such thing as heaven on Earth, there’s a good chance you’ll find it at the One&Only Spa at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. The beauty of the rugged Australian landscape is invited into the treatment rooms through floor-to-ceiling glass walls to round off the immersive experience. Treatments are designed to restore and bring balance: try the thermal infusing mask for radiance, the mountain aromatherapy massage to soothe muscles, or the sacred stones massage to calm body and mind. After your heavenly ritual, sip herbal tea, enjoy a soak and a steam at the adjoining spa and sauna, or simply revel in the healing benefits of your treatment in the relaxation lounge.
Join a spellbinding stargazing experience
Add a touch of celestial magic to your Blue Mountains escape with a spellbinding stargazing experience. Here, the night sky is free from light pollution, so countless stars, bright planets and fabled constellations delight the naked eye. Equally romantic and educational, this unforgettable experience invites you to rug up with your loved one, wrap chilly hands around a steaming hot chocolate and turn your gaze skywards. Plus, fascinating storytelling led by an astrophysicist makes it extra captivating.
Taste
Embers Restaurant at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
A fireside dinner is always a winner, but when you add superb mountain views, your dining experience becomes a holiday highlight. Reserve a table by the crackling embers and begin your dinner with a glass of local wine or a Sydney Brewery pale ale (or a hot spiced cider on a frosty winter’s night). While admiring floor-to-ceiling Jamison Valley views, peruse the menu. Tantalising dishes shine a light on local produce and culinary excellence: try the blue swimmer crab cake with cauliflower and white chocolate mousse, twirl a fork around handmade fettuccine with Yamba prawns, kingfish and scallops, or cut into a succulent 300g Jack’s Creek sirloin steak with mushroom ragu.
Arrana
For that special anniversary or celebration, score brownie points with your loved one when you reserve a table at Arrana, awarded two Chef Hats by the Australian Good Food Guide 2022. For dinner, two degustation menus are on offer, both successfully marrying native ingredients with innovative gastronomy. Think delicious ocean trout with rosella and lemon, crocodile with native succulent and corn, and wattle seed babka with red bean (for something sweet). If you’d like to go the extra mile, opt to have each course paired with the perfect wine.
Josophan's Fine Chocolates
Dive into a world of fine Belgian chocolates at Josophan's, a boutique in Leura where Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory dreams come true. You’ll find this sweet spot along a cherry blossom-lined street, where expert chocolatiers (no Oompa-Loompas in sight) create morsels of heaven, available to taste. Try the chocolate drop with Tahitian vanilla, the silky block with strawberry and balsamic, or the powdered orange truffle. If you can’t choose just one, take home a gift box with your absolute favourites to enjoy later.
Champagne Charlie's Cocktail Bar
What could be more luxurious than sitting in a grand cocktail bar under a stained glassed dome with a French martini in hand? For those who enjoy the finer things in life, head to Champagne Charlie's Cocktail Bar in Katoomba. By day it’s freshly brewed coffee and Devonshire tea, by night it’s champagne and handcrafted cocktails that stretch the imagination – try unique concoctions like the Lamington (dark cacao liqueur, Malibu and Baileys) or the Dark Side Margarita with Mezcal.
Looking for more New South Wales inspiration? Read Things to do in Byron Bay: Your Weekend Guide.
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