Fairmont Resort, Leura accommodation review: Weekend away

The location

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney beckon bushwalkers, rock climbers and golfers. The upmarket village of Leura is also popular with craft lovers, devonshire tea aficionados and low-food-mile, organic-produce enthusiasts. A visit to Katoomba's Three Sisters rock formation and Echo Point lookout remains a childhood rite of passage for Sydneysiders.

The place

Set on a sprawling plateau on the edge of the Jamison Valley, the 212-room Fairmont Resort has been built to showcase its expansive views, with Embers fireside restaurant and the Terrace cafe the best spots to take them in. You'll also find bushwalking trails, two pools, tennis courts and a basic gym.

The experience

Top marks for a fine array of activities suited to the under-12s. The Fairmont Express train ride takes tots around the grounds ($5), there are Segway tours for kids ($55) and junior golf ($5) at the adjacent Leura Golf Club. Free fun includes merry-go-round rides, games rooms and Saturday-night in-house films.

Don't miss

A visit to Katoomba's Scenic World, aka kid heaven. Plunge into the valley on the country's steepest railway, then dangle between the clifftops 270 metres above the ground on the glass-bottomed Skyway cable car.

Need to know