For some, Summer holidays equate to daiquiris by the pool and a sea breeze through the hair. But for many others (and I do mean many!), there isn’t anything else quite like an escape from the crowds and into the mountains for Valentines Day.
For ions, the Blue Mountains was seen as a Winter holiday destination, synonymous with port by a log fire and cosy lounges smothered in blanket throws and cushions. But in recent years, we have seen a change in how many loved-up Australian’s choose to spend their special day, with many couples opting for relaxation and adventure minus the sunburn.
The Blue Mountains is particularly picturesque in the Summer months, with Australian natives in full bloom and the surrounding bushland offering its healthy show for tourists. And whether you are the adventurous type, a full-on foodie or a hopeless romantic, the Blue Mountain community has a limitless list of things to do with your other half.
I’ve put together a little checklist of my must-see Valentine’s holiday destinations in the mountains, to cover a multitude of getaway dreams and desires, because if making the most of your time away is top of your list, then you’ll want to tick each of these great ideas off during your stay at Mountain Whispers.
For the Adventurous Couple
If you want to get up and get out during your stay, to take in as much as you can of the Blue Mountains, then you’ll want to connect with TCP Day Tours. Whether cycling across the stunning valleys or horse riding through lush bushland does it for you, or if you are more inclined to study up and coming art installations at one of our gorgeous galleries, TCP has a tour that will be right for you.
Choose from sight-seeing tours which will see you experiencing a spectacular part of the world and connecting with nature through stunning views and extensive gardens or tempt yourself on a culinary journey, sampling fresh produce and enjoying great food and award winning Blue Mountains wines. Make the most of the great outdoors and explore the gorgeous surrounds, one tour at a time.
For the Foodie Lovers
If simply reading about a good grain-fed scotch fillet steak, seared salmon fillet and ten hour slow-cooked spiced pulled pork is enough to get your mouth watering, then you won’t want to miss a long lunch at Leura Garage this Summer.
Internationally acclaimed Executive Chef Regan Porteous is the mastermind behind the creation of latest dishes at Leura Garage. Based on the brief from the owner James Howarth, dishes should include produce that is sourced within 100 miles wherever possible. “Fresh, local, organic and expressive of the Mountains” is how James would describe it. A good example would be pork knuckle from Mudgee, free-range chicken wings from Dubbo, lamb from Lithgow Valley, beef from Kanimbla Valley or bacon from Orange, all complemented by seasonal greens from First Farm Organics in the Kanimbla valley.
Enjoy a crisp glass of white and a tasting plate with your loved one, a scrumptious a la cate dinner with a group of couples or simply stop by for a coffee pit stop and refuel between naps – whatever your hunger calls for, Leura Garage will be sure to delight your taste buds.
For Pure Romance
The opportunities to ‘show you care’ are abundant in the Blue Mountains ~ gorgeous champagne picnics under a secluded shady tree, a couples’ massage at a local beauty spa, or a shared hammock on a sunny balcony to read a favourite old book and drink in the fresh, country air.
But by far the most romantic option in my mind, and in the eyes of many, many Trip Advisor reviewers, is the Mountain Whispers option to have an in-home chef prepare your lovers very favourite meal, followed by a stress-releasing aromatherapy massage in the comfort of your very own property. You don’t have to do much – let me know what your plans and ideas are, and we can orchestrate the rest, right down to the very finest details. Preferred music playing wistfully through the house, candles offering familiar scents of yesteryear and a wine cabinet bursting, your desired tipple already on ice – we can create the most romantic experience for you and your loved one, minus the stress of organizing everything discreetly by yourself.
No matter what you are looking for in a holiday, the Blue Mountains has so much to offer this Summer. Whether you are adventurous, looking for the best meal of your life or searching for the ideal romantic treat to celebrate your love and spoil that special someone – the Blue Mountains, and Mountain Whispers has just about all you could possibly hope for.
