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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

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

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

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group       Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media The enchantment of opera performed within a legendary party palace, fine dining, the intimacy of crackling fireplaces and even the possibility of snow-dusted landscapes this Yulefest with Escarpment Group. High tea with a view at the Hydro Majestic Hotel Locals and sojourners are warmly welcomed into any of its boutique hotels for steaming drinks, fireside dining and rousing entertainment to celebrat

Free 5-star training available for would-be hospitality workers in some of the best hotels in the Blue Mountains By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group     Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media Would-be hospitality workers can receive 5-star training in the region’s top hotels for free after the State Government scrapped TAFE fees for 100,000 apprentices, saving students about $2000 per course in order to combat the national trades drought. Escarpment Group of hotels will contribut

Experience the amazing Horizontal Falls on the Kimberley Coast cruise By Ellen Hill for Christian Fellowship Tours Towering waterfalls, rugged Outback landscapes, ancient Aboriginal art and abundant wildlife. Discover the remarkable Kimberley Coast on the Christian Fellowship Tours (CFT) cruise of the West Australia area in August. Tour passengers will see the most recognisable natural and manmade attractions of the Kimberley Coast during 10 escorted, unforgettable days cruis

A Fantastic Aussie Tours bus at Echo Point Lookout By Ellen Hill for Fantastic Aussie Tours Rail riders can experience a great fat look at the Blue Mountains when the Indian Pacific pulls into Mt Victoria each week. The optional off-train excursion for passengers travelling from Perth is the result of a new partnership between Fantastic Aussie Tours (FAT), Great Southern Rail which owns the iconic Indian Pacific touring train, Scenic World, Blue Mountains Guides and the Tripp

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

Hillbilly Cider maker Shane McLaughlin tests his latest batch at the Hillbilly Cider Shed By Ellen Hill for Hillbilly Cider       Photos: David Hill Hillbillies at heart can escape the big smoke and experience nature for real at the newly opened Hillbilly Cider Shed in the heart of Bilpin apple country. Wend your way up the famed Bells Line of Rd and follow the comforting aroma of fermented apples into the Hillbilly Cider Shed to discover a hidden refuge of Prohibition-era sp

Born Free will be part of Rod McRae’s Wunderkammer exhibition at Everglades Historic House & Gardens, Leura By Ellen Hill for Everglades Historic House & Gardens Everglades Historic House & Gardens will provoke and challenge environmental change by opening its closet to a secret stash of exotic animals in June. The Wunderkammer exhibition of ethically-sourced taxidermied animals by artist Rod McRae will be displayed at the Leura landmark from June 10 to August 27 (11am to 3pm

Opera singers (l-r) Damien Whiteley and Brad Cooper will perform at the Hydro Majestic Hotel By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group            Photos: David Hill Seat-swapping, hand-crossing bravura, drama, passion and cheeky fun will return to the original Blue Mountains party palace as a string of musical events rolls out during the next few months. Tenor Brad Cooper performing at the Hydro Majestic Hotel last year The music program will see the return of popular opera and clas

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group          Photos: David Hill Respect your elders, celebrate the holidays and begin the Chinese New Year of the Rooster afresh with Asian street food, music, lanterns, lights and lions at the Hydro Majestic Hotel on Sunday, January 29. The original Blue Mountains party palace will celebrate its Asian heritage past and present with all the sights and sounds of the Orient. Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger said: “Our Lunar New Year

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group          Photos: David Hill Respect your elders, celebrate the holidays and begin the Chinese New Year of the Rooster afresh with Asian street food, music, lanterns, lights and lions at the Hydro Majestic Hotel on Sunday, January 29. The original Blue Mountains party palace will celebrate its Asian heritage past and present with all the sights and sounds of the Orient. Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger said: “Our Lunar New Year

Hydro Majestic sous chef Max Vloet By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group               Photos: David Hill Traditional dishes from exotic global locations infused with local flavours served by staff from around the world: the Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains represents the modern face and cuisine of Australia – as it has for more than a century. The original Blue Mountains party palace will celebrate its history of cultural diversity during the Australia Day week with a

Join Jason Jackson at the Thriller dance-off at Lithgow Halloween `16. Photo: David Hill By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Tourism        Photos: Ben Pearse and David Hill The spirit of the late King of Pop will inject a thrilling spark into Lithgow Halloween `16 when hundreds of Michael Jackson fans take part in a dance-off in Main St on Saturday, October 29. Jason Jackson performing at Lithgow Halloween `15. Photo: Ben Pearse The national record bid for the greatest number of costu

Burlesque performer Jacqueline Furey. Photo: Joel Devereux By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group Sheer enchantment, chimera and intrigue will herald a modern era of breathtaking drama for the original Blue Mountains party palace when the Australian Burlesque Festival performs at the Hydro Majestic Hotel in May. The Australian Burlesque Festival featuring Shake-O-Rama will offer three hours of cheeky variety entertainment with more than a dozen buxom burlesque artists. Shake-O-Ra

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group              Photos: David Hill The first in a series of classical music concerts at the Hydro Majestic Hotel last Saturday re-established Mark Foy’s “Palace in the wilderness’’ as the definitive destination for romance and elegance. Chief conductor Sarah-Grace Williams The Metropolitan Orchestra played to critical acclaim in the world-famous hotel’s Majestic Ballroom after guests supped on specially created cocktails and canapes followed by

The oldest registered club in NSW is serving a modern era of upmarket dining for the home of Australia’s first industrial hub, Lithgow. The new Esk Restaurant at Lithgow & District Workmen’s Club was part of a recent $6.5 million revamp which also included a new 36-room 4-star (self-rated) motel with two disability access rooms, a refurbished showroom, conference centre, art gallery and more. Esk Restaurant was added to complement the existing successful Cino Café and club bi

By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Workies Club                    Photos: David Hill The oldest registered club in NSW will take centre stage when the curtain officially goes up on the revamped showroom at Lithgow & District Workmen’s Club on March 19. Club audio visual manager Allan Gregory. The showroom is part of a $6.5 million refurbishment of the club, known affectionately as “the Workies’’, along with a new 36-room 4-star (self-rated) motel, art gallery, restaurant, conference

Lithgow Workies Club general manager Geoff Wheeler By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Workies Club                    Photos: David Hill The oldest registered club in NSW will unveil the newest facelift among its state peers when Lithgow Workmen’s Club Motel is officially opened on Saturday, March 19. Renowned media and sporting identity Mike Whitney will be guest of honour at the event. Founded in 1887, the Workies has grown to more than 10,500 members with its backbone entrenched in