Romantic getaways in the Blue Mountains: escape to nature together

Perched at the edge of the cliffs of the Megalong Valley, the brilliant white of the Hydro Majestic Hotel shines out from the trees. Built in 1902, the Hydro Majestic set the bar for architecture that makes the towns in the Blue Mountains so picturesque.

From the crenelated walls and the beautiful domed roof, which was constructed in Chicago in the early 1900s then shipped here, to the lavish furniture and huge works of art in the reception hall, the Hydro Majestic is a place of beauty.

The 67 rooms – as stately and Victorian as the rest of the building – are also quite modern, yet blend the elegance of art deco into the ensemble. Valley View rooms boast spectacular views out across the valley, framed through leaded windows to make this hotel one of the most romantic stays in the Blue Mountains.

Known for its high tea, the Hydro Majestic’s Wintergarden dining room looks out across the scenery and serves towering silverware filled with sumptuous goodies. The perfect way to start the romance of a Blue Mountains getaway.

Peering out across the magnificent landscape from its perspective in the Blue Mountains’ biggest town of Katoomba, Echoes Boutique Hotel offers contemporary accommodation with a wonderfully sophisticated lean.

The hotel’s vaulted brick and sandstone entrance leads you to a lobby with a modern fireplace in the centre of the room and an impressive grand piano, often busy with the delicate touch of the resident pianist.

Rooms are well-appointed with large, comfortable beds and up-to-date ensuite bathrooms, and most with grand views out over the valley. This Blue Mountains romantic accommodation’s spa facilities offer treatment rooms and a pool in the sunken garden looking across at the escarpment walls across the wilderness.

Dining at Echoes Restaurant is a must when you’re in the Blue Mountains whether you’re staying here or not. The menu is superbly designed and the food coming from the kitchen is exquisite. Lunch here provides you with superlative views you don’t get at dinner, but the evening service is more of a dining experience with the piano playing and beautiful lighting creating a romantic ambience.

The most recognisable and popular view of the Blue Mountains has to be the Three Sisters rock formation. Staying at Cloud Nine, the perfect retreat for a romantic break, you’re only a minute’s walk from this iconic vista and the legendary bushwalk into the valley via the Giant’s Staircase.

Cloud Nine offers amazing privacy in its self-contained apartment retreat, where you can make as much or as little use of the fully equipped kitchen as you want. The back deck provides breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains you only need to share with the resident sulphur-crested white cockatoos, king parrots and lyrebirds.

To enjoy more of the views around Katoomba, it’s only a five-minute drive to Scenic World, an impressive development of the landscape that takes you down, through and across Jamison Valley on a variety of walks and exciting rides.

The Scenic Skyway is Australia’s highest cable car, which crosses a plunging chasm that delves 270m into the valley, and the Scenic Cableway, Australia’s biggest cable car, can carry up to 84 people at a time as it clambers up and across the dramatic landscape.

Meanwhile, the world’s steepest train ride, Scenic World’s historic funicular railway, travels from the valley floor straight up the cliff to the top of the escarpment, its tracks tilted at a terrifying 52-degree incline.

Next door to Katoomba is the relaxed Blue Mountains suburb of Leura. It’s the ideal setting for the Fairmont Resort and Spa MGallery by Sofitel, which offers visitors a luxuriant range of facilities to max out the romance of their stay. From outdoor lagoon-style and indoor fitness pools, wellness spa and gym to a range of restaurants, bars and even a supermarket.

The property stretches out along the edge of the mountainside with cliffs on one side and a full 18-hole golf course on the other. Inside the resort, rooms are large and modern with colourful, comfortable furnishings. All rooms and suites have views out over Jamison Valley or the golf course, or looking over the resort itself.

Leura town has plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops to explore, including The Candy Store – the ultimate destination for a sweet tooth. Browse the shelves of sugary treats and perhaps take a box of chocolates back to the privacy of your room at the Fairmont, and snuggling down to relish the romance.

Set on a private country estate in one of the prettiest towns of the Blue Mountains, the Silvermere Guesthouse in Wentworth Falls mirrors its charming surroundings. Cosy and welcoming, this luxury bed and breakfast is full of the grand touches of a stately home. Chesterfield sofas around marble-mantled fireplaces, sweeping lawns set with ornate wrought iron garden furniture and timber floors throughout the property make a grand impression.

Rooms are bright and airy with beautifully comfortable beds, fireplaces, balconies and patios. But for ultimate luxury, privacy and romance, spend your couples getaway in the recently renovated Chauffeur’s Cottage. This stand-alone building has its own kitchen and outside deck with a barbecue exclusively for guests staying in this romantic cabin in the Blue Mountains.

Breakfast at the guesthouse is replete with choices of continental, full English and cereals. However, save room for the Bakery Patisserie Schwarz a 10-minute walk down the road. A bit of a local secret, this bakery has been going for years and makes some of the most delicious cakes, pastries and bread you’ll find. Known for their incredible strudels, this German bakery has also adapted to Australian standards and makes some of the best meat pies in the area too.

With more lookouts across the beautiful valleys and escarpments than any other suburb in the Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls really makes the most of its altitude and proximity to the edge of Jamison Valley.

From the luxury of your self-contained apartment or cottage at the Falls Mountain Retreat, you’re only a quick walk to some of the most dramatic views of the national park. From platforms like National Pass Lookout, you can see the whole valley below you framed by the rugged headland of Princes Rock. A bit further along the cliff’s edge, Fletchers Point Lookout provides stunning scenes of the Weeping Rock – a waterfall that issues straight from the rock wall.

Falls Mountain Retreat and its 17 two-bedroom, two-storey apartments offers space, privacy and that home-from-home feeling perfect for a romantic stay. Comfortable lounge space, a dining room and a fully-equipped kitchen means – apart from enjoying the incredible views of the mountains nearby of course – there’s no need to leave the sanctuary of your place at Falls Mountain Retreat.

However, there are a number of cafes in Wentworth Falls worth venturing out for a bite to eat. Mountain High Pies has an excellent range of pastries while Fed does more complete meals and great coffee. The Conservation Hut is the ideal spot for a snack while you pore over your map and plan your hike along one of the many bushwalks into the park.

For the privacy and space of an apartment with the convenience and ease of a bed-and-breakfast, the Parklands Country Garden and Lodges brings the best of both those worlds to you. Beautifully detailed finishes and facilities like gas-fuelled open fires, comfortable sofas, and window seats and nooks create a wonderful place for romance.

Amid carefully tended lawns and flowerbeds, the main building of the hotel has an old-school lodge feel with dark wood furniture, polished tables, thick rugs and deer antler chandeliers. Breakfast is served in an elegant conservatory with glass walls and doors leading to views across the greenery of the grounds.

Beyond the Parkland Country Garden and Lodges, the pretty little town of Blackheath has some excellent little spots for food, but best by far is Fumo – a hatted modern Asian restaurant that’ll make your romantic getaway to the Blue Mountains even more memorable.

When the need for some of that famed Blue Mountains fresh air arises, not far from the comfort of Parklands Country Garden and Lodges is Govetts Leap Lookout and a wide range of excellent bushwalks amongst trees, creeks and waterfalls. The romance of the wilderness is truly on your doorstep.