MOUNTAIN RETREAT
FAIRMONT RESORT & SPA BLUE MOUNTAINS – MGALLERY BY SOFITEL
It’s the perfect winter’s day in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park as we arrive late one Friday afternoon after a 90-minute drive from Sydney. The sky is clear and the air feels distinctly cleaner than that of the city.
We’re staying at the newly refurbished Fairmont Blue Mountains Resort & Spa: located on the cusp of the dramatic Jamison Valley, this mountain retreat has views for miles and is described as the “pinnacle of upscale accommodation”.
The reception area is a sprawling luxury lodge with views out over the range below, and as we check-in, our son Xander, 1, is given a fluffy duck as a gift, which is a nice touch. We soon discover that the resort excels at providing for kids.
Xander’s rollaway bed in our expansive suite – complete with a huge spa bath – is made up with beautiful linen and looks comfortable, a luxury that’s surprisingly scarce when travelling with kids.
And the children’s play facilities, located on a lower level of the hotel, close to the pool, are fantastic. There’s a climbing gym for toddlers with a ball pit, slide and a merry-go-round, while in another room, we find arcade games, a maze and a bowling lane. In a third room, there’s a bigger climbing gym that rises up three floors with an impressive slide.
As we’re visiting in winter we don’t brave the oversized outdoor pool, although there is a heated option as well. This time, we focus on the play area, before driving five minutes down the road to the charming town of Leura.
At the Red Door Café, we enjoy a late lunch before strolling around town and stumbling across the iconic Candy Store, which is brimming with traditional lollies from all over the world. Needless to say, we are all in heaven!
Relaxed – and full – we head back to the hotel for the afternoon, and while the boys rest, I get to explore the recently rejuvenated Ubika spa. My therapist is passionate about the natural products she’s using for my body scrub, massage, facial and scalp massage, and over the next two hours, I’m so relaxed, I fall fast asleep.
The next morning, we wake to the sounds of birds in the trees outside our window and head back to the Red Door Café in Leura to hunt for breakfast. It’s bustling and noisy, the sign of a true local favourite. Afterwards, we explore the town further, loading up on sweets from The Candy Store again, before heading back to the warmth of the hotel to let our son run off some energy!