Rooms

All rooms are decked out in elegant Victorian style (think canopied beds and pretty florals), combined with five-star comforts like crisp sheets, feather down duvets, thick fluffy towels and wonderfully spacious marble bathrooms. They're arranged across the ground floor and over the top two floors - all have been recently refurbished.

Most Deluxe Rooms overlook the English style gardens. These have rich, sumptuous fabrics and wall coverings. The marble ensuite bathrooms have deep bathtubs.

Return guests usually request the more expensive Deluxe View Rooms for the breath-taking vistas across Jamison Valley. These are individually decorated with marble bathrooms and plush towelling bathrobes.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Minibar
• Safe box

Eating

Lilianfels is known for the fine cuisine at upscale Darley’s Restaurant with Sydneysiders regularly making the 1½ hour trek for Sunday lunch. Overnight guests can take their time over a degustation dinner or go a la carte in the original homestead of Sir Frederick Darley, that now overlooks the rose garden and outdoor swimming pool.

The cuisine - modern Australian with a French influence - is in the award-winning hands of executive chef Hugh Whitehouse, who earned a "chef's hat" in the prestigious Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide two years in a row (2006 and 2007), and for five consecutive years before that at his restaurant Milsons in Sydney’s Kirribilli. The seasonal menu offers a variety of choices, but may include delights such as premium rock oysters with champagne vinegar sorbet, followed by mandagery creek venison - rare roasted, celeriac cream, salsify, horseradish jus.

It’s all very olde worlde with stained glass, open fires and superb balcony views over the Blue Mountains. Ingredients are organic where possible and dishes are traditionally slow cooked. Fresh seafood and Australian beef and lamb feature on the menu, with locally produced cheeses and an impressive international wine list. Book at least a week ahead.

More casual dining is available at Tre Sorelle (Three Sisters in Italian after the neighbouring rock formations, but soon to be relaunched as The Grill), where the surroundings are Italian bistro in style: ceramic floor tiles, textured wooden chairs and colourful red and blue clothed table tops. Think gnocchi, think olive oil, think fresh herbs and hearty country comfort food.

The lounge area offers high tea daily; there's also a mahogany bar serving cocktails and other alcoholic drinks. House guests have access to 24-hour room service.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Explore the wonderful Blue Mountains - named for the blue haze caused by the fine droplets of oil which rise from the eucalyptus covering the area. This is real Jurassic Park landscape, older then the Grand Canyon, and criss-crossed by bush-walking and mountain-biking trails (there are complimentary bikes at the hotel). Don't miss the Katoomba Falls, the sandstone crevice of Devils Hole, and the endless vistas of the Jamison Valley
  
  
• Gawp at the spectacular Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point, a short walk away. Abseiling and rock climbing can be arranged locally; the amazing limestone formations of the Jenolan Caves are an hour’s drive away
  
  
• The World Heritage Listed bushland boasts excellent birdlife; the hotel can arrange guided walks
  
  
• Golf - there are four 18-hole courses in the area
  
  
• The nearby Scenic World has 4 fun rides for the family: the 'cableway' (an aerial gondola above the jungle), a railway (the steepest incline in the world) which takes you down to a lush valley, a wooden walkway which links the two, passing through ancient rainforest, and a new glass-floored 'Skyway' which soars 250m above ravines and waterfalls
  
  
• If that's too tame, try a 4WD safari, or take a back seat on a Harley Davidson mountain cruise
  
  
• Give your body a break at the highly-rated spa, with its indoor pool and 4 treatment rooms; there are all-day pampering packages, super stress-buster massages, four-handed poultice massages, even mens' grooming treatments - but do book at least a week before arrival
  
  
• There are several local art galleries nearby
  
  
• Keep fit in the health club, play tennis on the hotel's court set in the pine forest, relax by the outdoor pool, or book a yoga lesson
  
  
• If you're interested in themed team building events, there are opportunities for abseiling, rock climbing, horse riding, golf and canyoning

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Plantlife / flora
• Tennis
• Trekking
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, though it's really more suited for older, well-behaved kids. Besides the hotel pool and billiard table, they will love the mountains and their family-orientated attractions (including Scenic World).

Family friendly accommodation:

There are no family rooms as such, but families of 4 can request two interconnecting Deluxe rooms (one double and one twin).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Lilianfels is in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, 1.5 hours' drive to the west of Sydney. The Blue Mountains are an ancient escarpment weathered into valleys, which now boast lovely waterfalls and great walks.

By Air:
Sydney (80km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
Lilianfels offers an airport transfer which takes 1.5 hours. See Rates for details.

By Car:
It's worth hiring a car so you can tour around the spectacular Blue Mountains' region. See our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
Trains depart hourly from Sydney's Central Station and the journey to Katoomba Rail Station takes 2 hours. Lilianfels offer a complimentary transfer service from the railway.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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