Leura

Leura is a small picturesque town in the Blue Mountains region of the Australian state of New South Wales, located some 100 km from central Sydney and situated at an altitude of 985 m above sea level. The village you see today is bustling with a constant parade of visitors. They arrive by car, by Sydney tour buses and by the Blue Mountains train. While known for maintaining its unique heritage village, Leura is a shopper's paradise with charming botiques, casual cafes and sophisticated restaurants. You'll never be hungry in Leura. Leura is framed upon a background of stunning natural wonders, bare sandstone landscapes and a rough terrain of dense eucalypt forests. Get in Get around See the Toy and Railway MuseumWebsite Do Walking Leura For the most stunning panoramic view of the Jamison Valley, try the short and not too difficult walk to Sublime Point Lookout. This is not a walk for small children. Walking shoes with a good grip are strongly recommended. The walk is approximately 10 minutes from the car park on Sublime Point Road and is paved until you reach the steps. The steps are steep and rocky, so caution is advised. The best view is quite literally on the rock's edge. This is the setting that humans have seen for thousands of years, for the view out to Mt. Solitary is too powerful and too beautiful to have been overlooked by the Aboriginal people in the Blue Mountains. A Shopper's Paradise Leura is renowned for its shops, and you could easily spend your whole day browsing and buying in this charming village. As if for your convenience, specialty shops, restaurants and stores selling necessities line up, side by side, on the street fronts, up a flight of stairs or tucked away in an arcade. It is possible to shop immediately as you step from your car, for a number of shops are located in turn-of-the century cottages alongside the only car park. In 2007, a number of new, very smart shops and cafes opened in Leura and while keeping the unique heritage look of Leura, new construction of a retail/residential complex opening on The Mall is now underway, although opposed by locals who fear the new complex will destroy the village's character. mrs peel vintage to modern. Situated right next to the Post Office, off the Leura Mall, you'll find 'mrs peel'. It specialises in fashionable, wearable vintage clothing, jewellery and homewares. It also stocks some great contemporary labels as it's owners are constantly on the lookout for new and quirky additions to complement their great vintage stock for both men and women. Leura Cellars, 169-171 The Mall, Leura, ☎ 02 4784 1122, [1]. 10am to 8pm + 9pm Fri/Sat. More that a local bottle shop, the cellars have a magnificent cellar of their own, offering a large range of vintage wines in the downstairs area.  edit Bloom Park, (On the western side of Leura Mall, two blocks down from the shops). A pretty little park with children's playground, picnic tables and attractive plantings. A good location for an impromptu picnic.  edit Eat Leura Gourmet, 159 The Mall, tel 02 4784 1438 - great food and a great view over the adjacent valley from large windows. Friendly staff and a home-baked yet sophisticated decor make this a great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Consistently packed, especially on weekends (worth waiting in the queue!) Mains $16-$20. Great value portions. Front of house retails a great selection of gourmet foods and ingredients. Drink Alexandra Hotel, Great Western Highway (up the hill behind the train station), ☎ (02) 4782 4422, [2]. A traditional pub from 1903. There are pokies and a TAB which does nothing for the ambiance, but the front bar hosts a roaring fire all winter, and the back dining room offers cafe meals of good quality.  edit Sleep Marsden Lodge (Art Deco Holiday Flat), 25 Great Western Hwy (aka Chateau Tce /Sydney bound ramp), ☎ 4784 1525. Lovingly restored Art Deco three bedroom self-contained flat, includes all linen and breakfast basket (with freshly baked bread and fresh eggs) $160 per night for two people/$20 surcharge for each extra person $1000 per week One night okay. from $160.  edit Bethany Manor, 8 East View Ave, Leura, ☎ (02) 4782 9215, [3]. The period style grand house looks out to over an acre of private park-like grounds and gardens just 800m from the historic garden village of Leura. Rooms from 140 a night. All rooms include spa bath, TV and DVD.  edit Get out Discover historic Leura. Get out for an hour in sensible shoes and a broad-brimmed hat and see how Leura developed in the 19th century. At Megalong Books and several of the cafes, you'll find "Leura Blue Mountains Walking Tour & Guidebook" which includes a leisurely paced self-guided tour designed to open the senses to sights, sounds and scents you may have missed before in Leura. There's a bit of history and architectural facts and a bit of local residents' cheekiness throughout. The tour is time for small details. However, it ends on The Mall, just in time for tea and a sweet at one of the many cafes. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!