Leura, NSW

The "Need to Knows"

Where: Leura is located 100km West of Sydney, in the upper Blue Mountains.

Points of Interest: Leura Cascades, Sublime Lookout, The Everglades Garden and House, Leuralla Toy and Rail Museum, Leura Mall

Kid friendly? Yes, but better suited for school age and above.

Nearby: Katoomba, Lithgow, Lower Blue Moutains, Wascoe Siding

Website: Leura

Leura is arguably the the prettiest (and most upmarket) town of the upper blue mountains. It has a distinct air of old time charm that transforms it into a a magical haven, drawing day trippers and tourists from Sydney.

Our adventure in Leura included our beloved Aunty Toni, who lives in adjacent Katoomba, but let us drag her around like a tourist. We also scored a brilliantly sunny and warm autumn day, making our brief stop even more enjoyable.

We included Leura as part of our roadtrip to Bathurst and Blayney- check out the itinerary here.

We started our day with coffee in one of the quaint cafes that line the main street, Leura Mall. There are plenty of cosy stores to check out, including the well known Leura Toy Store and Josophan's Chocolates.

After I had consumed my 'Mum fuel', we headed to Leuralla Heritage Toy and Train Museum. Housed in an early 20th Century mansion, set on 5 acres, the museum has a vast and varied collection of toys and rail memorabilia that span the eras. Popeye collections, Tin Tin and Madeline all brought back memories, and there was plenty to look at. Even the kids were happy to browse, spotting references to familiar stories and tales such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter.

Outside in the gardens we were met with train memorabilia, as well as electric train displays, including the large Matterhorn (don’t forget your coins for these to work). The gardens were also lovely to walk through, and can be accessed without visiting the toy museum for a smaller cost, and the view from the front porch of Leuralla is also impressive.

Our next stop was the Everglades House and Garden. We ate lunch in the beautiful gardens before venturing down to check out the Grotto Pool- man made, but you would never guess. A wander through the gardens with some scenic view points reminded us of the natural beauty that is indeed the Blue Mountains.

A trip to Leura would not be complete without checking out at least one view point (or all of them). The best vantage points are Sublime point and Elysian Rock. Sublime Point overlooks the Jamison Valley and is easily accessible. Elysian Rock is found on Olympian Parade, opposite Leuralla, and although only a very short walk, it is both rocky and not overly safe for small children. The lookout does however offer a stunning outlook. Elyssian is also accessible via Gordon Falls Lookout.

There are also plenty of walks in the area. Elysian Rock, Gordon Falls and Olympian Rock Lookout are all connected and also form part of the larger Prince Henry Cliff Walk which connects Sublime Point to Echo Point and Scenic World in Katoomba. If a short walk is more your fancy, and a child friendly one at that, the Pool of Siloam can be accessed from Olympian Parade. There is also a walk to Leura Cascades that begins at the Cascades Picnic Area. Car access to this area is limited, due to a previous landslide, so you may need to walk in from either Katoomba or Leura. Whatever you choose, you will be met with stunning outlooks and gorgeous scenery.

Leura is easily accessed from the Great Western Highway and also has a train station at the top of Leura Mall. The wester edge of the suburb shares a border with the heart of the Blue Mountains, Katoomba, making it easy to combine sightseeing in Leura with the larger attractions of Scenic World, the Three Sisters and Echo Point.

Leuralla Heritage Toy and Train Museum