special place in Leura...

This beautiful place at Leura in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney
is probably my all-time favourite place to stay...
It is so atmospheric...
Some may say parts are a little dated...but I like it that way...


It is set in beautiful gardens (inspired by the painter Monet) with close by bushland...
The wake-up call of birds in the morning sure beats any alarm clock...
The first image is a front view of the resort...facing a golf course...
and behind there's views of mountain bushland..
An upstairs room is the best because it has the front walkway for viewing
+ a little balcony out back...

The property dates back to 1929...
Lady Fairfax was one of the owners...

Over time, the property has had a few names...
When I first visited in the late 20th century,
it was called Leura Gardens Resort/Hotel
then the Ibis Resort
then, in more recent years, in the 21st century,
first the Waldorf Leura Gardens Resort 
and currently
Nesuto Leura Gardens Hotel
Nesuto Leura Gardens Hotel operates under the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) (which began at Leura in 1991) at Torrens University Australia.


*MORE details of the history (all I could find, but mostly garden orientated) are HERE
The oldest part of the garden dates from 1927 and was established by Lady Mabel Fairfax
and her gardener Hector Hood.
There is also the remnants of a garden established in 1966 by Margaret Stevens.
Lady Mabel asked her gardener to make her a garden “in the English style” while Margaret Stevens was influenced by Japanese gardening after a trip she and her mother made to that country in 1959.
*MORE on the Rock Pool Garden HERE
*MORE details of the current operation as a training venue are HERE


MEMORIES
It was a wild night in the Blue Mountains...1990's
A vicious storm...
We were staying at the Leura Gardens Resort
and booked into the Jasmine Restaurant for dinner...
I remember being struck by the romantic atmosphere of the restaurant...
all the woods...the candle glows
and a magnificent, central glass dome in the ceiling...great for lightning watch...
But then...a rush of water...
It seems that the glass dome leaked...
We were hastily ushered out and told to make our way to the resort's
Olive Tree Restaurant...usually reserved for breakfast...
(overlooking the beautiful gardens with bird feeders hanging just beyond the windows...)
We were surrounded by 'busy ness'...
A hastily assembled menu was offered...pizza or pasta...
We chose pizza...
And o wow...
Never ever have I tasted such a beautiful pizza...light and delicious...
Yes... it was the old ham and pineapple standby but with prawns added...
I couldn't believe that my usual slim eating habits took a dive that night and I asked for seconds...

And there was more...
It was 'NO CHARGE' ...all you can eat...
Only drinks attracted a price...reduced...

Sadly, the Jasmine Restaurant is currently closed...it seems for refurbishment...so no images...