Overnight in the Blue Mountains

[andye]

No flights on this one. For our wedding anniversary last August the four mstrandyes bought us a hotel voucher for a stay in the Blue Mountains. Not possible to take then to the dreaded lurgy but we booked for a year later. Hotel was quite happy to switch for a weekday rather than a weekend.

 

[andye]

Walked the dogs and dropped the two younger ones off at school. Champagne breakfast


Weren't too sure it would be smooth driving as the roads had been closed in Katoomba due to snow (train wasn't an option as another strike day)
Anyway it was and made good time with first stop at Wentworth Falls, which despite multiple visits to the Mountains, we've never had a good look at. There is a wheelchair accessible viewing area but to see in full glory, need to take a 10 minute walk down to a better lookout

 

[andye]

Arrived at the Echoes Hotel which is only a few minutes from the Three Sisters in Katoomba.

The rooms are not numbered but named after explorers of the Mountains. By accident or design, the surname on our room matched our own

Rooms are a decent size with the rear looking onto a pretty garden with vistas of the Jamison Valley. There is something quite magical about the light on the rocks.

 

[andye]

After G&T's ( Green Ant and Archie Rose) in the well-appointed bar..

we popped into Katoomba for supplies. Asked in Liquorland if there was anything on clearance and managed to snaffle a couple of bottles of Keyneton Euphonium hidden in a cupboard for $30.
Then back to the Queen Elizabeth Lookout for the Three Sisters

 

[andye]

Echoes is owned by the Escarpmemt Group which run many of the bigger hotels in the area. This includes the adjacent Lilianfels where most of the amenities are and to which Echoes guests have access.
We set off for a game of tennis but it started to drizzle and we downgraded our exertions to the billiard table

Then on to the rather splendid indoor pool which we were lucky to have to ourselves

It did remind us of one from a certain Joan Collins film

 

[andye]

We had pre booked dinner in the Lillianfels hatted restaurant Darley's. Despite it being within the grounds it is not well signposted. After walking past it and around for another 20 minutes, mrsandye was not over impressed as it was dark and she had heels; fortunately we found it before too much anniversary bliss evaporated.

The furnishing is akin to a gentleman's club but very cosy with a roaring fire

Appetiser was a delicious liquefied pate (can't remember if duck or goose)

I had the venison tartare and mrsandye pork belly. Both sumptuously flavoured

And for mains, wagyu and duck

Desserts were a Lemon verbena cremeaux and, the taste sensation of the evening, porcini mushroom ice-cream (don't knock it until you've tried it)

Washed down with a rather magnificent Rockfords Rifle Range Cab Sav

 

[Matt_01]

Walked the dogs and dropped the two younger ones off at school. Champagne breakfast

Weren't too sure it would be smooth driving as the roads had been closed in Katoomba due to snow (train wasn't an option as another strike day)
Anyway it was and made good time with first stop at Wentworth Falls, which despite multiple visits to the Mountains, we've never had a good look at. There is a wheelchair accessible viewing area but to see in full glory, need to take a 10 minute walk down to a better lookout View attachment 293149View attachment 293148

If in Wentworth Falls these photos may also be referred/ called empress falls, the name has changed over the years. Your post takes me back as I went to school at BMGS and spent a number of years (as a kid/ young adult) at this place on Fletcher street which is not to far from the entrance, and not even sure if the old hutt still exists. My girlfriend at the time, her parents owned a large parcel of land from Wentworth St across to Falls Road and down to the valley edge. IIRC her father was negotiating with the council to make his land available for new housing whilst at the same retaining/ insisting that the most valuable land near the cliffs edge had to retained for public use or given to the parks and wildlife or whatever it is called. This area is is a great and often overlooked neck of the woods and IMO a good way to spend a day.

 

[andye]

Breakfast in Echoes is overlooking the mountains.

The shape tomato was appropriate

 

[andye]

After checking out we dropped in on the Hydro Majestic in Medlow Bath. It is a sister property but we did feel a bit naughty swanning round as non-guests.

It's been fairly recently renovated. The main building is quite sympathetic but the casino extension is a bit of a carbuncle (to quote the new King)

Made good time on the way back. I'd had visions of extending our celebrations for an early evening locally in Manly but as soon as we hit the door, we were thrown back into parent mode. Still a lovely trip and well worth considering a stay there

 

[andye]

If in Wentworth Falls these photos may also be referred/ called empress falls, the name has changed over the years. Your post takes me back as I went to school at BMGS and spent a number of years (as a kid/ young adult) at this place on Fletcher street which is not to far from the entrance, and not even sure if the old hutt still exists. My girlfriend at the time, her parents owned a large parcel of land from Wentworth St across to Falls Road and down to the valley edge. IIRC her father was negotiating with the council making available land for new housing whilst retaining land that had to retained for public use or given to the parks and wildlife or whatever it is called. It is a great neck of the woods and IMO a good way to spend a day.

Don't know how we've missed them. Even when we the nearby Darwin Trail a few years back. It wasn't my best trip-planning as it was boiling hot in midsummer with my 75 year old mother and a toddler in a pram. The 1 hour Grade 3 bushwalk ended up taking three

 

[NSun]

Nice report. When I go to the Blue Mountains its typically a day trip but I've stayed at the Lillianfels a couple of times and it's a nice place.

 

[Solid]

Looks like you had a ball, thanks for posting.

 

[andye]

Found the menu and wine list for Darleys

 

[andye]

Note the price of the Keyneton Euphonium that I bought for $30 earlier in the day