Discover the things to do and see in Leura. Hint: there’s plenty.
Lucky, Sydneysiders have the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains right in their backyard, with swapping concrete jungle with natural skyscrapers only a short 1.5-hour drive away.
Besides rugged peaks, the Blue Mountains is home to forest filled valleys, countless cascading waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, diverse wildlife and cutesy towns across its 11,400 km² area. Leura is one of those towns, only minutes away from the world-famous attraction, The Three Sisters, and other sights that make the quaint alpine village the perfect base camp for mountain adventures.
Have your bags ready and grab the car keys as we reveal the top things to do in Leura.
What to do and see in Leura
No trip to the Blue Mountains is complete without visiting The Three Sisters, the area’s must-see rock formation but once you have seen it, where to go from here?
The Blue Mountains is home to plenty of hiking trails to suit your endurance and stopwatch, and there are simply too many to list. (See more trails here.)
For that epic Instagram shot, head to Hanging Rock – a large spire of sandstone with sweeping views of Grose Valley. The bushland trail is an 8km return, and for the most part, it’s a leisurely stroll along flat terrain until climbing the pinnacle rock itself.
If you don’t have that daredevil gene in you to get close to the edge, you can score yourself just as impressive vistas at nearby Baltzer Lookout.
From the high tops to the valley below, to better appreciate the beauty between the mountains, embark on the trail, Valley of the Waters to Wentworth Falls, and see the Blue Mountains most famous waterfall. You will also get to chase other waterfalls along the way of the 6km track. It’s simply magical and worth the sweat. Better yet, all just a short drive from Leura.
Where to eat and drink in Leura
There’s nothing like kick-starting your day with a warm drink in tow to combat the coolness of the misty morning mountain air. Luckily, Leura has plenty of delightful places to visit for that morning cuppa and an extra something-something.
Head along Leura Mall to spot Red Door Café. Behind the strip’s brightest door is a cosy cabin-esque café, with its shopfront windows a perfect place to perch yourself with a hot drink and watch life pass you by.
Leura Gourmet is a foodie delight, with its counter filled with baked treats such as gozleme, pies and mixed in with salads and other mouth-drooling snacks. It’s an ideal place to grab and go or take advantage of its floor-to-ceiling elevated views of Leura’s scenescape below.
Hidden from the main drag is a local favourite, Lily’s Pad, famous for its all-day breakfast, homemade cakes and pies.
From midday, the rustic-chic restaurant and bar Leura Garage is firing up the kitchen until the late evening, serving up modern Australian cuisine using locally sourced food. It’s recommended to come here if you really want to spoil yourself with award-winning flavours.
Dine with a view at The Bunker Café Bar Restaurant. The restaurant sits on a hilltop behind the station, with views of the mountain on the horizon. It’s a sublime spot to unwind in the restaurant’s gardens – especially when the coffee and wine cart is on standby! Food-wise, the menu goes through four changes daily, from breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Keep an eye out for foodie events such as themed degustations and the OG Sunday roast.
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Where to stay in Leura
If you are coming to Leura via train, there is no place more convenient to stay than Leisure Inn Spires. It’s a hop, skip and jump from the Leura Train Station located across the road with the main shopping precinct, Leura Mall, just a moments’ walk down the road.
Leisure Inn Spires is an excellent base to start and end your daily excursions to the Blue Mountains. Apart from the prime locale, the property is suited to travellers who like to immerse themselves in their holiday destination’s everyday life, with self-contained one-and two-bedroom apartments equipped with modern amenities to have you feeling at home. The latter includes a spa bath, perfect for muscle relaxation after an epic day of hiking through mountains or to regain feeling.
Both the kitchen and lounge areas are spacious, modern and can comfortably cater for small gatherings. If you love preparing your own food or want to save the holiday spend, you’ll be happy to know the kitchen is fully equipped, and you may be impressed that it is just as big (or bigger) than your own. Very handy.
Top tip: Aldi and Woolworths are a short six-minute drive away.
Make sure to take advantage of the balcony in the mornings. It’s a nice little spot to perch yourself, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and feel really alive. Just make sure you have a mug of hot brew cupped around your hands for warmth!
Julia travelled as a guest of Leisure Inn Spires and all thoughts and opinions are of her own.
Feature image: Quentin Grignet
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