Monday, December 9, 2013

Exploring My Local Area

It's been over a month since my last blog post. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to think the name 'Country Clueless' was becoming redundant as I became more cluey and less prone to rookie disasters. But that's not really the case - yesterday I managed to bugger my new ride-on mower's blades by running over a rogue tree root. But instead of stopping immediately, I continued to mow, digging up the turf and creating what now appears to be crop-circles on my back lawn ... yep, still clueless. 


Good one, Jules!

In the meantime, I've been spending some time getting to know my local area a little better, partly for recreational reasons and partly for work. My neighbour Macca took me out one afternoon to show me his favourite fishing spots, and I used the opportunity to scout for summer swimming holes and picnic spots; and I was also invited on a media trip to ... drumroll ... The Blue Mountains, part of a much-needed push to bring tourists back to the area after the recent bush fires. And I figured why not take the opportunity to stay in some exquisite heritage B&Bs, dine in some of the best restaurants in the mountains and to explore the amazing shopping strip at Leura? All within distance of zipping home to feed my cat, which suited me down to the ground. 

Here are some of the gems I discovered: 

MOUNTAIN WHISPERS 
For inspiration for home decoration and styling, look no further than the four properties gracing the luxurious Mountain Whispers collection. Lovingly restored and decorated by the irrepressible Lorraine Allanson, each of these gorgeous heritage mountains homes reflects the 'golden era' of the Blue Mountains, with no detail overlooked. 

What started out a personal project has now taken over Lorraine's life, with her vision - to create unique, self-contained accommodation where travellers can enjoy hotel pampering in a homely environment - rewarded with a plethora of hospitality gongs. 

Lorraine's original renovation project was the grand old dame, Varenna, situated opposite the railway line on Station Street, Leura. This stately Edwardian home was built in 1906 and features a formal lounge/dining room, a fully functional kitchen, two bathrooms and three generous-sized bedrooms that can accommodate six. Each room is a treasure-trove of period furniture, with elaborate chandeliers, flocked wallpaper, oriental rugs and heavy drapes all adding to the olde-worlde ambience. 

Varenna at Leura

The glorious main bedroom at Varenna

Unlike other bed and breakfasts where guests are at the mercy of their hosts, Lorraine rents out the entire house, giving her guests the utmost of privacy whilst having every luxury - from soft fluffy robes and Egyptian cotton sheets, to a fridge stocked with bacon, eggs and vine-ripened tomatoes - on hand. 

A recent addition to Varenna's charms is a day spa located inside a converted garage; but trust me, this is no ordinary man cave! With a feature gas fire, glorious chandelier, sexy red tones and dim lighting, it's a oestregen-filled haven for massages, facials and makeup sessions - the perfect place to enjoy a girl's weekend, hen's night or a romantic break with a special someone. 


Varenna's day spa

While Varenna is the most elaborate of Lorraine's cottages, the others all have their charms which appeal to different tastes. Leura Rose is an inviting, classic Blue Mountains weatherboard house with a killer verandah for outdoor work and play; the popular Strawberry Patch is cute and intimate, best suited to couples; while The Gatsby near Echo Point is decorated in Art Deco style. 

While all the houses are self-contained, Lorraine is happy to arrange an in-house chef to whip up a special meal for a special occasion. We were fortunate enough to to be treated to the culinary talents of local boy Martin Wrighton of Matunga's Personal Chef Services, for a night of delicious indulgences served up in the most charming of locations. 

www.mountainwhispers.com.au 

LEURA GARAGE 
There's another converted garage in Leura that's causing a buzz - Leura Garage, a Darlinghurst-style casual dining restaurant that has brought a slice of city cool to the mountains. 

As the name suggests, this was once a filthy working motor mechanics workshop; and some features from these days have been retained such as the rough-hewn walls, wooden tresses and the car hoist (now a very impressive wine holder). Spanners and tools have been embedded into the concrete floor, tyres sit atop cupboards, while rusting mufflers are a feature of the bar. 


The old hoist is now a wine cellar!

The food is as fresh as the decor is grungy, with pots of herbs and garden greens gracing the shelves. Other produce is bought from a Kanimbla Valley farmer, local organic meat breeders or from the local Blackheath Grower's Markets (my favourites) - so you know it's gonna be tasty! 


Totally yummy!

Hugely popular with locals and visitors, Leura Garage doesn't take reservations (except on the communal table) - on weekends you might have to sit it out at the bar while you wait for a table to become available. Which isn't such a bad thing, with yummy cocktails and locals wines from Mudgee and Orange on offer. However, if I have one bugbear with this place, it's that it's not open in the mornings - if you require a coffee fix, you'll have to go elsewhere!

www.leuragarage.com.au 

JOSOPHAN'S FINE CHOCOLATES 
It didn't take me long to discover that Leura is a one-stop shopping strip, particularly when it comes to quirky gifts, antiques, retro clothing and homewares. 

But not being a chocoholic, I'd never called into Josophan's Fine Chocolate shop ... until this particular visit. Now, unfortunately, I've become a chocoholic, and it's become a staple on my shopping trips. 

That's how good this chocolate is - it's even made a convert of these savoury-preferring taste buds. 

The handmade - nay, hand-crafted - chocolates here are simply to die for, with amazing, mouth-watering concoctions such as Mango and chilli (my favourite), Mayan chilli (a blast from hell!), peanut butter cups, honey and saffron and basil and lime. 


Josophan's handcrafted chocolates melt in your mouth

Each delicious mouthful is made from luscious fair trade dark Belgian chocolate, with fresh herbs and flavours, no preservatives and creamy ganache fillings. 


Josophan's master chocolatier Nick Hardwidge enjoys his job - clearly!

Oh my ... so damn delicious, I can't begin to tell you! Unfortunately, the hand-made chocs only have a 7-day shelf life, so you really need to consume them in one fell swoop... 

www.josophans.com.au 

THE EVERGLADES 
This glorious National Trust property is one of Leura's hidden secrets and an absolute treasure that encapsulates the grandeur and majesty of the Upper Blue Mountains. Overlooking Jamieson Valley and boasting its own private waterfall and 12.5 acres of mature mountain gardens, this is a place to wander, explore, have a picnic lunch and get lost in time. 

The rambling house was designed and built in the 1930s as a weekend retreat for businessman Henri Van de Velde, and although it's been neglected in the past, the Trust is currently restoring this Art Deco gem. 


Cherry tree garden

But its the garden that inspires me - designed by master landscaper Paul Sorensen, it's like a larger, slightly better-tended version of my own Enchanted Garden, with nooks and crannies revealing many moods, seasonal colour and pure floral poetry. 


Everglade's own waterfall

I can't wait until the annual Shakespeare festival held in the grounds during January - looking up ticket information as we speak ... 


The garden stage at Everglades

www.everglades.org.au