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Discover the lower Blue Mountains, the overlooked drive-by end of the region, packed with hidden gems only locals know.

By Ellen Hill Photographs by David Hill Can you have your cake – and wine – and eat and drink them too? Indeed you can with the new Fantastic Aussie Tours (FAT) high tea and winery shuttle in the Blue Mountains and Megalong Valley. The charter and tour bus company rerouted its itinerary to close to home locations after the COVID-19 pandemic forced interstate tours off the road. From Saturday, September 5, passengers will be transported from Katoomba into the verdant

Kids can experience edge-of-the-cliff thrills in the Blue Mountains from the safety of a double decker big red bus these school holidays – for free. Travelling to the best sights and sites of Sydney’s grand backyard after months of Covid-19 hibernation, Blue Mountains Explorer Bus has expanded its route from 29 to 37 stops. A highlight of the 45-minute trundle around Katoomba and Leura is the jaw-dropping vista of Cahill’s Lookout overlooking the Megalong Valley and Narrownec

Blue Mountains businesses are adapting to the “new normal’’ by creatively embracing new business practices and digital technology. Blue Mountains Tourism president Jason Cronshaw praised the ingenuity and flexibility of businesses, especially small enterprises. Blue Mountains Tourism president Jason Cronshaw at Echo Point. Photo: David Hill, Deep Hill Media. “The response has been fast and enthusiastic,’’ he said. “Of course there’s been tears and tantrums as people are under

The Blue Mountains region has prepared a jam-packed calendar of festivals and events to welcome visitors back to Australia’s first tourist destination. “Compared to other regions where tourism attractions, hotels and infrastructure have been destroyed, we recognise how very blessed we are. “Much of our 1 million square hectare Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area looks as fantastic as ever, including the globally-recognised Three Sisters scene. “More bush tracks into th

Plans to upgrade an historic Blue Mountains airfield vital to emergency services during bushfires and as an air “safety ramp’’ have been made public. Opened on October 5, 1968, and operated continuously as a commercial venture since, Katoomba Airfield is located about 4km east of the famous Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath in the upper mountains. (l-r) Floyd and Derek Larsen With a dirt pothole-scarred runway, it is currently open only to helicopters and to fixed-winged ai

Higher flight levels, residential no-fly zones, a new enforceable Fly Neighbourly policy, “light footprint tourism’’, community charity events and a suite of green initiatives. These are just some of the plans that new lessee FLYBLUE Management Pty Ltd has for Katoomba Airfield which are outlined in documents soon to be available on the industry.nsw.gov.au website of the Department of Industry (Crown Land and Water). FLYBLUE voluntarily published their vision on flyblue.com.a

The first flurries of snow have fallen over the wild Blue Mountains landscape – just in time for Yulefest in Australia’s first tourist destination. Bookings are now open for warming winter activities such as toasty fireside dining, river cruising, vintage motorcar tours and heartwarming classic humour, all just 90 minutes from Sydney. A regional tradition since 1980, mid-winter Yulefest is the season for which the Blue Mountains is most famous. Darley’s Restaurant After the e

Darley’s Restaurant Bon bons and plum pud among myriad teapots, belly laughs at classic humour, river cruising, and luxury digs and dining accessed by vintage motorcar and modern glitzy wheels. There’s even a chance of snow flurries around one of the most famous landmarks on the planet. Visitors to the Blue Mountains are in for a cool Yule this July. A regional tradition since 1980, mid-winter Yulefest is the season for which Australia’s first tourist destination is most famo

Muse, nurturer, creative force and “feminine dominant’’ Rose Lindsay circa 1919. Photo courtesy of Norman Lindsay Gallery Blue Mountains actresses are invited to audition to play muse, nurturer, creative force and “feminine dominant’’ Rose Lindsay in a monthly artistic theatre lunch event at Echoes Restaurant from May to October. The event will be part of the new Art of Lunch series to be held simultaneously at five Blue Mountains restaurants every last Sunday from May 26 and

Tenor Brad Cooper performs at the Hydro Majestic Hotel. Photo: David Hill, Deep Hill Media The enchantment of opera at a legendary party palace, river cruising along a mighty waterway, belly laughs at timeless humour, the intimate luxury of crackling fireplaces and even the possibility of snow-dusted landscapes. Yulefest in the Blue Mountains is the most magical season. After the exhilarating zing of a chilly day spent exploring the lookouts and bushwalking tracks of the magn

By Ellen Hill       Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media Celebrate family unity, vitality and respect for your elders with the exotic flavours of the Orient when the Miss Lilian Teahouse heralds the Year of the Pig throughout February. The new Echo Point dining venue which serves a tasty array of popular Asian street foods, will serve a special Chinese Lunar New Year tasting menu this month. Escarpment Group, which also operates the adjoining Darley’s Restaurant and the Hydro

By Ellen Hill for Katoomba Christian Convention Katoomba Christian Convention (KCC) management is considering its options after a Sydney Western City Planning Panel refused its development application to upgrade its site. KCC executive director Jonathan Dykes said: “We’re disappointed. “We were willing to be flexible with various aspects of the design and had hoped to work with Council and the Rural Fire Service further for a mutually beneficial outcome, but that didn’t happe

(L-R) Urban Caves owner Guy Brown with Nova client Wayne Marmion By Ellen Hill for Urban Caves       Photo: David Hill, Deep Hill Media For the past five months, Wayne Marmion and Guy Brown have traversed a shared path of self-discovery, reflection and challenge. Their journey has earned Mr Brown and his business, Urban Caves, a place among the finalists in the 2018 Blue Mountains Business Awards in the Employee Inclusion Award category. Mr Brown employed Mr Marmion under a N

Locals are rewarded for dining at Leura Garage Free rides, discounts, two-for-one deals, birthday bubbly – just some of the perks handed out to residents by some of the region’s most popular tourist businesses just for being a Greater Blue Mountains local. Bilpin Cider Co, Leura Garage, Miss Lilian’s Teahouse and Blue Mountains Explorer Bus reward locals for living in a tourist zone that attracts an estimated four million visitors from around the world every year. Here are so

By Ellen Hill for Blue Mountains Explorer Bus    Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media What’s big, red, the only one of its kind in the world in a national park and the only one that doesn’t live in a city? The hop-on/hop-off Blue Mountains Explorer Bus. And Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon locals can use it to explore their own backyard for free for one weekend only – September 22 to 23. The Locals Ride Free weekend will be a chance to check out secret swimming holes, waterf

An artist’s impression of the proposed redevelopment of the KCC auditorium and bookshop space By Ellen Hill for Katoomba Christian Convention A multi-million dollar upgrade of the Katoomba Christian Convention (KCC) site would solve parking and noise problems and provide a state-of-the-art venue for large conferences and sporting events for Christian and secular groups alike. A development application before Blue Mountains Council outlines the plan to revamp outdated faciliti

By Ellen Hill            Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media The chirp of cicadas competing with Christmas carols, an awe-inspiring backdrop of towering golden escarpments and dramatic valleys and a cooling breeze carrying the subtle scent of eucalyptus. Welcome to an Aussie bush Christmas and summer holiday season in the Blue Mountains. PRE-CHRISTMAS: GIFT IDEAS: Give your adult loved ones some grown-up time with a Faeriestorm Nanny Service voucher. Available in hourly block

Greater Blue Mountains – one ginormous holiday playground By Ellen Hill for Blue Mountains Attractions Group From furry critters and underground caves to enchanted gardens, bushwalks for small people, cool art and Aboriginal culture, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is one big playground. Have a close encounter with a furry friend at Featherdale Wildlife Park Blue Mountains Attractions Group president Louise Clifton said: “Australia’s first tourist destination h

(l-r) Echoes Boutique Hotel waiter Leo Tran with Frank Kuteesa and Venerandah Nakato of Uganda. By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group           Photos: David Hill Members of an African children’s choir experienced the diversity of the Aussie workforce during their visit to the Blue Mountains last week. (l-r) Frank Kuteesa and Venerandah Nakato from Uganda with Lilianfels restaurant manager Jess Fisher in the Orangery dining venue. As well as enchanting audiences throughout the m