Captivating Katoomba: Wonders unfold in scenic Blue Mountain village
- Cookie & Keller
- Apr 15, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 24
EYE-CATCHING KATOOMBA TOWN:MAGNIFICENT SCENERY, LOVELY HOTEL,FUN RESTAURANTS, THRILLING TIME AT SCENIC WORLD
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
"The Carpe Diem Kids"
IT IS A TRULY majestic place. Katoomba. The word sounds exotic -- and the place truly is!
Swirling otherworldly mists, steep streets lined with art-deco buildings, astonishing valley views, and a quirky miscellany of restaurants, buskers, artists, bawdy pubs and a classy, historic hotel awaits you.
We took three days off from two weeks of city touring in Sydney and Brisbane. The plan was to spend two or three days in lovely Katoomba, using it as a sanctuary, a respite, between those two busy attractions.
WE INDEED found peace and tranquility in Katoomba, plus spectacular scenery that can't help but inspire. Katoomba is a picturesque place, the chief town in the captivating Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It's a great choice for a weekend or a mid-week get-away. So with friends, we headed out from Sydney via train on a Wednesday, spending the rest of the week and returning Saturday.
Our friends had booked the same inn for a couple days, the lovely Mountain Heritage Hotel and Spa.
What makes it a great weekend place are its multiple charms: scenic days of relaxed touring in Katoomba.
Gourmet fare is artfully served at Mountain Heritage's fabulous restaurant. Here, rare beef. |
There’s something for everyone in Katoomba, from waterfalls the daring can swim under, to lovely sunset spots, a craft brewery and the world’s steepest railway.
Katoomba is in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. We found it an inviting place to take those few days off from nearly three months of hectic touring. Scenic World is a huge part of the draw.
WE SETTLED in Hotel Mountain Heritage, an imposing place perched on the edge of a ridge, 300 meters from the heart of Katoomba’s town centre. It's a bit of a walk, but a beautiful one, slightly uphill. We chose it for its charm, history, word of a fabulous restaurant (it's true!) and panoramic views of the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains.
This delightful inn has a well trained and friendly staff, a huge bowl of apples to welcome, a full-service bar, grand piano and antiques and historic photos throughout the comfortable lounge areas and rooms.
The hotel captures the charm of the past, but with modern amenities. It's a grand, old-fashioned place, a stately one-time hunting lodge turned pampering hotel with one of the best restaurants we encountered in five visits to this vast and varied country.
With spectacular attractions like Scenic World and its Three Sisters, Katoomba is a ''must" when you're planning an Australia itinerary. Particularly if you're in Sydney, you're within easy range so don't miss it.
Our spectacular hotel and restaurant with its calming vibe had hospitality in spades, including an invitation to play that beautiful vintage grand piano. Our short daily walks to the city revealed a thriving cafe culture, colorful boutiques and galleries galore.
WE SPENT our three days with bird's-eye views of the valley, centering our time in Scenic World. It's like a "nature oriented Disneyland" where we descended into the Jurassic rainforest on the world’s steepest railway and hopped on the famous Skyway cable car for spectacular 360-degree views of waterfalls, lush foliage and rocky ledges.
THE TOWN is an interesting mix of architecture and a steadfast endorsement of the welcoming spirit for which Australia is famous. Shopkeepers greet you and people on the street are happy to give directions. Tourism is king. Hotels, restaurants, tour agencies and the town's fun double-decker bus rely on tourism, including conferences.
Major draws are clean fresh air, spectacular flora and fauna, and a comfortable, temperate climate. Each town in the Blue Mountains region is filled with history, sights, culture and community spirit. This beautiful area awaits just hours from Sydney.
The glories of the town's natural attractions are not over-stated. Landmarks are remarkable. The dramatic "Three Sisters" sculptural peaks teeter over the Jamison Valley. The thrilling
Scenic World glass-bottom cable car and world's steepest railway are goose-bump inducing. A stroll through the Jurassic rainforest is an invigorating way to spend hours
.
WE JUMPED on the red double-decker Explorer Bus all three days, visiting sights dotted along the escarpment. One can also travel in a chauffeured vintage car with Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillacs.
Young pals at the hotel laced up their hiking boots to tackle the Golden Staircase on the Ruined Castle Walking Track. Maybe next time!
If you're too tired to walk your bag from Mountain Heritage back to the train station, the hotel will call a taxi. We took advantage of that service. Fulfilled, rested and happy, we can't wait to return.
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UP NEXT: Sydney. There's no other city like it. Settled by convicts sent to Australia from Great Britain, this colorful city is one of the world's most diverse and prosperous, with a mix of East-meets-West culture. We take you to the harbor, the beaches, the famous bridge, beach and Sydney Opera House, with a look at how people live, what locals like and what tourists see. Then Fiji beckons, as it has to each of us many times since our first trips in the 1970s, long before we knew one another. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at travel, nature, the arts, family and more.
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