Beyond the Three Sisters: a local reveals the Blue Mountains' 10 hidden gems
1. FOOD: The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are famous for the Three Sisters, millions of eucalyptus trees and the steepest passenger train in the world. But there's so much more to see and do. Let's start with the food. Several top Blue Mountains hotel-restaurant chefs have quietly branched out on their own. Gia Cafe & Bistro in Leura serves food faves with a Sri Lankan twist by day and curry at night. Katoomba's Cafe Lurline serves cafe fare by day and street-style barbecue dishes after dark, while its sister venue Smokey Bundits is a gourmet burger joint. Jamison Views Restaurant at Katoomba's Hotel Mountain Heritage has undergone a food revolution (one diner asked for five serves of the cauliflower soup - two after dessert), while down an arcade in Springwood, the two-hatted Arrana Restaurant (you'll see gold bollards and white feathers at the entrance) focuses on dishes with Indigenous ingredients.
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Beyond the Three Sisters: a local reveals the Blue Mountains' 10 hidden gems
1. FOOD: The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are famous for the Three Sisters, millions of eucalyptus trees and the steepest passenger train in the world. But there's so much more to see and do. Let's start with the food. Several top Blue Mountains hotel-restaurant chefs have quietly branched out on their own. Gia Cafe & Bistro in Leura serves food faves with a Sri Lankan twist by day and curry at night. Katoomba's Cafe Lurline serves cafe fare by day and street-style barbecue dishes after dark, while its sister venue Smokey Bundits is a gourmet burger joint. Jamison Views Restaurant at Katoomba's Hotel Mountain Heritage has undergone a food revolution (one diner asked for five serves of the cauliflower soup - two after dessert), while down an arcade in Springwood, the two-hatted Arrana Restaurant (you'll see gold bollards and white feathers at the entrance) focuses on dishes with Indigenous ingredients.
Canberra Times
2 days ago
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Beyond the Three Sisters: a local reveals the Blue Mountains' 10 hidden gems
1. FOOD: The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are famous for the Three Sisters, millions of eucalyptus trees and the steepest passenger train in the world. But there's so much more to see and do. Let's start with the food. Several top Blue Mountains hotel-restaurant chefs have quietly branched out on their own. Gia Cafe & Bistro in Leura serves food faves with a Sri Lankan twist by day and curry at night. Katoomba's Cafe Lurline serves cafe fare by day and street-style barbecue dishes after dark, while its sister venue Smokey Bundits is a gourmet burger joint. Jamison Views Restaurant at Katoomba's Hotel Mountain Heritage has undergone a food revolution (one diner asked for five serves of the cauliflower soup - two after dessert), while down an arcade in Springwood, the two-hatted Arrana Restaurant (you'll see gold bollards and white feathers at the entrance) focuses on dishes with Indigenous ingredients.
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Intrepid Travel launches new Active-ism trips to support US national parks
Intrepid Travel has launched two limited edition 'Active-ism' trips in US national parks in response to a series of executive actions from the Trump administration that resulted in the dismissal of more than 1500 National Park Service staff and proposed $1 billion cut to the service's budget. Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas for Intrepid Travel says the company recognises the role tourism can play in supporting both people and protected areas. With the new Active-ism trips, Intrepid hopes to raise awareness and foster discussion around the challenges facing US national parks. 'Whether you travel with Intrepid or not, the most important thing is that you go,' he says. 'And if you can't visit a park, you can support them by learning, sharing, advocating, volunteering or even donating to your local national park.' Each Active-ism trip will be led by a local Intrepid guide and hosted by a guest activist, who will provide travellers with unique insights into the challenges facing national parks and guide conversations on how people can advocate for their protection. From Zion and the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone National Park, the trips will visit some of the world's best-known landmarks and the country's best hiking trails. With a maximum group size of only 11 people, Intrepid aims to create a more intimate and supportive travel environment to help travellers foster deeper connections. The tours are part of the company's wider initiative that includes a commitment to donate $US50,000 ($77,395) on behalf of its travellers to non-government organisations protecting US national parks. On this trip travellers will experience the region's diverse landscapes, hiking Zion's canyons, touring Monument Valley with an Indigenous guide, and walking along the Grand Canyon's rim. They'll learn about the history of Northwestern Arizona, gaining insight into today's challenges and how we can help preserve the park for future generations. There are two departures: November 1, 2025 and April 14, 2026 — and prices starts from $2234. Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the US, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. On this trip travellers will spend three days exploring Yellowstone's northern and southern loops, including a wolf-tracking adventure led by a naturalist wildlife guide — and discover Grand Teton National Park's alpine landscapes, pristine lakes, and wildlife like moose and grizzly bears. There are two departures: June 7, 2026, and June 14, 2026 — and prices starts from $3185. To learn more and book an Intrepid Active-ism trip, visit
