Break away to the Blue Mountains

If you’re looking for a break from city life routine, then a trip to the Blue Mountains will do the trick. Oh and a little thing called rain needn’t dampen your plans.

We set off early in the morning from Sydney and in just over an hour arrive at Kurrajong village and the Sassafras Creek Cafe for a much needed breakfast. This little café is very warm and the view from the balcony overlooking bushland is very serene. They also have a nice little store on the side selling home wares.

Mr LML goes the whole way ordering a very filling “Chefs breakfast” – think sausages, poached eggs, mushrooms. I’m more than happy with my French toast, bacon and maple syrup. Sweet and savoury craving? 35 weeks pregnant? “Canadian Breakfast” check!

Next on our list is fruit picking! There are heaps of orchards along the Bells Line of Road, heading towards the Blue Mountains, you just have to decide which fruit you feel like (or veggies for that matter).

Bilpin Fruit Bowl

Here we pick delicious red apples to our heart’s content. The light drizzle makes the experience more fun.

Except, a word of advice… if the weather is a little damp, take some gumboots with you. My precious little All Stars got a bit of a battering….

From the storefront you can purchase local honey, apple juice and locally made pottery.

Pine Crest Orchard 

Then we head to Pine Crest Orchard where plums and pears are the order of the day. Hot Tip: you have to pay for what you pick at these orchards so don’t go overboard. There are many other choices of orchards to stop at and different orchards have different varieties depending on the time of you go; including quinces, figs and oranges, blueberries and raspberries. To make things easier, explore this map for specific farm gate experiences so you can plan ahead.

The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden & The Gardens Restaurant

Next on our list is a visit to The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. Here we enjoy a lovely lunch at award winning The Gardens Restaurant, perched on a ridge overlooking Wollemi National Park.

We can’t see much of the view, due to the mist and clouds, but within half an hour it all clears up and it looks amazing – sweeping vistas over the Blue Mountains and the valley below stretching all the way to the Hunter, making our lunch even more enjoyable.

Where is the view?

Here it is!

For entrée I have a roasted tomato soup served cool. For main I opt for the Pasta rags with shredded rocket, lemon and chilli, which are delicious. Mr LML skips entrée and goes straight for the free-range roasted chook with carrots, spuds, greens and gravy. Yum!

I would recommend pre-booking if you wish to eat here, because it can get quite busy, especially with well renowned Chef Sean Moran at the helm from Sean’s Panorama at Bondi.

be sure to pre-book so you don’t miss out.

After our sumptuous lunch, we head for a leisurely walk around the gardens where we see lizards, native finches, a variety of trees – Wollemi Pine, the Chinese/Japanese conifer and the California Redwood. There’s also beautiful flowers including waratahs, banksias, grevilleas and proteas. Very relaxing!

Lovely gardens

This would be a wonderful location for an outdoor wedding. Hint hint Mr LML…

selfie time!

Continuing our way towards Katoomba, we make a quick stop at Evans Lookout to enjoy views of the Grose Valley and Govetts Gorge. Amazing sandstone cliffs and a number of tracks wind their way through to the valley floor.

Evans lookout

The Hydro Majestic Hotel

We couldn’t go to the Blue Mountains and not stop at the historical Hydro Majestic Hotel – recently refurbished and reopened. Walking through the lobby you immediately notice the iconic domed roof with grand chandelier and a beautiful grand piano to your right.

The beautiful Hydro Majestic

very grand

Right through the lobby is  The Wintergarden Restaurant. Here we sit down to a High Tea and our hosts Tom and Melissa make us feel very welcome. The panoramic view overlooking Megalong Valley is just amazing. We watch the clouds roll in over the hills creating pockets of light over the valley. Sipping on Darjeeling enjoying scones with jam, assorted sandwiches, panacotta topped with fresh mango and macarons, we’re in high tea heaven!

High Tea with a view? Yes please!

Echo Point

Our final destination is Echo Point where we see the Three Sisters. We take the path towards the Three Sisters Walk but don’t quite make it all the way to the valley floor. Maybe next time…

Waiting patiently for the clouds to clear

Finally! The Three Sisters

What a day! It’s time to head back to Sydney after a wonderful day exploring the Blue Mountains. My only advice if going on a day trip is to plan your day ahead so you don’t waste any time- there’s so much to see! Better yet, stay for a couple of nights at one of these great Blue Mountains hotels so you can just take your time.

Pssst: Got any Blue Mountains photos to share? Get social and hashtag #NewSouthWales and #liveeverylastminute and we’ll share our faves 🙂

Have you been to the Blue Mountains?

• All Blue Mountains accommodation
• Flights to Sydney
• Find amazing things to do in the Blue Mountains with VisitNSW.com

Roula and Mr LML travelled on behalf of Destination NSW.