PHOTO: Mark Ley

From its windswept heath clinging to the escarpment, to misty rainforests or soaring eucalypt woodlands, the Blue Mountains is a haven to more than 180 species of Australia’s most beautiful birds.

They say a meal is only as good as the ingredients it’s made from; and in the Blue Mountains, the use of fresh, locally-sourced produce has become a signature for many of our leading restaurants, as well as a necessity for discerning home cooks.

After nearly 10 years of closure, two bushfires and a pandemic, the legendary Zig Zag Railway is inching closer to reopening and introducing a new generation to the thrill of locomotive travel.  

The Blue Mountains’ koala population is growing and on the move – but you’re more likely to hear them than see them. And that’s where Blue Mountains locals can help.

Infused with the flavours, aromas and textures of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, craft beverage alchemists have created a carafe of distinctively flavoured beverages for connoisseurs of alcoholic libations and teetotalers alike.

By Ellen Hill