Located less than two hours from Sydney is the Blue Mountains, a stunning World-Heritage listed region attracting millions of visitors each year. Not only is it a firm favourite with international visitors but it’s a popular weekend retreat for local Aussie travellers.
With spectacular natural attractions, sights and a relaxed atmosphere – the Blue Mountains is a breath of fresh air after being consumed by Sydney’s hustle bustle lifestyle. Recently I was fortunate to escape to the Mountains for a weekend full of adventure and nature gazing.
Here are my top highlights and recommended things to experience in the Blue Mountains:
Three Sisters
One of the most famous landmarks in the Blue Mountains is the Three Sisters, an unusual rock formation towering high above the Jamison Valley. Standing over 900 metres tall, the Three Sisters is a spectacular sight and offers some beautiful and intense walking tracks. There is one trail ‘The Giant Stairway’ that takes you up close to the Three Sisters and then down to the valley floor via more than 800 steps. Learn from my mistake – be prepared and go early in the day to avoid missing out of the Scenic Railway that takes you back to the top, otherwise it’s a long thigh-burning climb.
Jenolan Caves
Now this will take your breath away. The Jenolan Caves is renowned for its spectacular limestone cave formations. Dating back to at least 340 million years, the Jenolan Caves is the world’s oldest known open cave system. Fascinating thing is the cave network is so vast – it has over 40kms of multi-level passages and it’s still undergoing active exploration today. Over 250,000 tourists visit each year to get a glimpse at the cave’s magnificent limestone formations and underground rivers. There are a number of guided tours running day or night and they even have ghost tours and adventure caving for those thrill-seekers.
Wentworth Falls
A great spot for outdoor exploring and waterfall chasing is Wentworth Falls. Suitable for all fitness levels, one of my favourite walking tacks is Fletchers Lookout– this easy graded track takes around an hour to complete (including return) and offers spanning views of Mount Solitary, Kings Tableland and Jamison Valley. During this walk you’ll comes across a lovely spot at the top of Wentworth Falls called Queen’s Cascade Falls. It’s a perfect scenic area to rest, take some photos and soak up the calming sounds of the rainforest and cascading water.
Yellow Deli, Katoomba
For a dining experience that makes you feel like you’re on the set of The Hobbit is the Yellow Deli. This venue is perfect for a winter’s lunch serving up hearty soups, burgers, sandwiches, herbal teas and delectable desserts. Inside its extremely cosy decorated with log-carved booths, a stone fireplace, hanging vines and dim lighting. It’s definitely a quirky place packed with diners. Overall my experience was good – the food was delicious and affordable however only downside was the service. It was a little slow but at the same point it was nice not to feel rushed as it was so cosy and relaxed inside.
Only thing to be aware of before visiting is to understand that the Yellow Deli is a religiously run venue. At the time I didn’t even realise it until doing research afterwards. I suppose my ignorance illustrates that it’s not in your face. If you can get past the religious factor then it’s a pretty cool spot to eat in the Blue Mountains.
Have you visited the Blue Mountains? Let us know your favourite attractions?
About the author
Danielle Muller (@stuffitgotravel) is a Sydney-based travel blogger and communications professional. Follow her travel adventures, stories and recommendations at www.stuffitgotravelling.com.
Beth England, Content Assistant at beautyheaven has a passion for writing and all things health and well being. Here, Beth shares her five ways to relax and recharge, following her recent chat with stress management expert, Carolyne Gowen.
5 simple ways to reduce your stress levels
We all experience stress at some time in our lives. According to meditation and stress management expert, Carolyne Gowen, a small amount is actually healthy as it keeps you alert and more motivated to get what you want. But there’s a limit. “If you live in a constant state of stress, it has a negative effect – physically, emotionally and mentally,” she says.
How do you know when your anxiety levels are getting out of control? Chronic stress can have serious physical consequences including, according to Carolyne, weakened immunity and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Whether you have five minutes or five days, here are our top tips for reducing your stress levels.
5 minutes: concentrate on your breathing
It doesn’t sound like much, but five minutes is often all the time you need to let go of stress. Breathing exercises are a great way to activate your body’s relaxation response, restoring calm in between meetings or after a busy day. Whenever you feel anxious, try doing a mini meditation by closing your eyes and focusing on taking deep breaths until you feel composed again.
30 mins: make time to eat well
It’s worth taking as much time as you can afford to eat your meal, as chewing slowly will aid your digestion. Eating healthily is also key to keeping your stress levels at a minimum. Where possible, choose low-GI foods such as whole grains, which will help even out your blood sugar levels and stabilise your mood.
1 hour: get active
For the ultimate stress relief, you can’t go past exercise. According to Carolyn, any form of exercise, “From a simple walk to working out in a gym” is worthwhile and effective at reducing fatigue and increasing concentration. Prefer to indulge in a more sedentary activity? A relaxation massage is another great way to release both physical and mental tension.
1 day: give yourself a day off
Taking a day off mid-week is not something many of us usually consider, but it’s actually a great way to relax, recharge and dedicate some time to yourself. Spend an afternoon watching your favourite old movies, or at the park with a good book. For the ultimate stress-buster, ensure you finish up with a good night sleep. Pillow mists, such as The Body Shop Wellbeing Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow and Body Mist, are great for relaxing the senses as you drift off.
2 days +: take a break from the routine
For a stress-free weekend, Carolyne recommends clearing your schedule of activities. Where possible, turn off the computer and, as the expert puts it, “just do what you love”. This could be reading, sleeping, gardening, cooking… the list goes on. Still feeling tense? You may wish to consider taking a holiday. It doesn’t have to be big one – a few days away may be all you need to relax and refocus.
This ‘city by the bay’, known for its famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and cable cars offers an abundance of attractions, dining, shopping, and night life that’s are certainly less pretentious than its Los Angeles counterpart but no less indulgent or exciting. Voted the ‘Best US City by Conde Nast Traveler for 16 years running, the city has recently been named the home of the upcoming Super Bowl 50 in February 2016 for the USA‘s National Football League (NFL).
Whether you’re just passing through heading to the Napa/Sonoma wine country or staying longer in this travel hotspot, here are a few suggestions for keeping yourself entertained while enjoying the ‘fog city’ even if you’re short on time.
48 hours in San Francisco – what to do
Dining and drink
San Francisco has no shortage of culinary treats to please every palate. From slow food to street food, farm-to-fork or caviar to champagne; no matter what your taste, this city has something to match it.
The modern Urban Tavern offers fresh, seasonal produce where 80 per cent of the ingredients are sourced within 100 miles of the Bay Area. Classic items that have previously been featured on the Urban Tavern menu have included spicy beer sausage and house made pretzel, crawfish and wild mushroom turnovers, five spice braised baby back ribs; and more.
The restaurant’s wine list is focused on selections that are organic, bio dynamic and/or made from sustainably farmed grapes. The domestic list includes more than 100 local vintages and even the table water being served is filtered in-house, not obtained from a commercial source.
Step back in timewith thistribute to old San Fran glamour as John’s Grill is an iconic restaurant located near Union Square. Featuring a wall full of photo of the famous diners who’ve enjoyed this eatery over the years, this particular restaurant’s atmosphere was also once made famous by Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. The menu features a wide variety of steak, seafood and pasta options as well as a heavy serving of nostalgia.
If it’s a tasty drop you’re after, Bluxome Street Winery is the first San Franciscan winery in over a decade. While the city was once long ago full-to-the-brim with wine-makers, unfortunately, most of the wine-making facilities were destroyed due to the 1906 earthquake and its ensuing fires.
Now the Winery offers enthusiasts a way to experience some of what makes the California wine region a favourite without leaving the city. The Winery crushes and ferment its grapes on site to produce small quantities of high quality pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc.
Often the site of special epicurean dinners, tastings and more, it’s well worth the visit.
Things to do
Geographically speaking, the city is small enough to get around in a short period of time which makes it easy to see and do a number of things in just two days, particularly if you take the iconic cable cars.
Among the quintessential San Francisco icons, the Golden Gate Bridge is said to be one of the most photographed structures in the world and still manages to impress visitors with its expansive span over the Bay. Also in the San Francisco Bay is the notorious Alcatraz prison, former home to some of the most famed ‘baddies’ in US history including Al Capone. This prison was closed in the 1960’s and remains a fascinating tour and attraction for exploration.
Fisherman’s Wharf is also home to Pier 39, an area bursting with waterfront shopping, dining and night life options. It’s also home to a large and highly photogenic community of seas lions who have taken up residence on the floats to the west of the pier.
Serious shoppers will adore Union Square with its multiple department stores, designer boutiques any so much more all within a short stroll.
Lastly, and certainly one of the city’s most underrated attractions, Beach Blanket Babylon, is a quirky comedic musical revue that’s stood the test of time for 40 years. The outrageous and elaborate costumes, irreverent humour and high calibre performances are enough to even make the toughest crowds chuckle. While much of the humour is based in American pop culture, even international guests will connect with the jokes. Performances are held at Club Fugazi in the North Beach district and are well worth booking for something out of the box.
Where we stayed
The Taj Campton Place is centrally located in Union Square and offers easy access to most anything in the city. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and in 2010, its restaurant earned one Michelin Star.
For more inspiration on this destination visit The San Francisco Travel Association at www.sanfrancisco.travel
About the author Gwen O’Toole is an accomplished writer focussing on travel, events management and food and wine. She also published a fiction novel while spending the past eight years as a magazine editor and travelling the globe before launching The Ideas Library, a creative services and event management company. She is regularly featured in a variety of travel and leisure publications and blogs.
Have you visited San Francisco recently? Do you have any extraordinary experiences you can share with us in the comments below? We’d love to hear from you!
Pretty palm trees arched across an elegant driveway signified we had arrived at a special tropical location. As we pulled to a stop outside The Elandra Resort, we tried to overcome feeling frazzled; we had only fifteen minutes to spare before we were due to attend a cocktail party. You see, it had been one of “those days”. Instead of enjoying the scenic Friday afternoon drive to Mission Beach, I desperately attempted to tick off unaccounted-for items on my to-do list, computer and mobi Wi-Fi working hard on my lap in the car; Cooper, sitting behind the wheel, grew increasingly impatient with the time-consuming road-works which we’d not factored into our schedule. We jumped out of the car at our final destination however, and caught sight of the breathtaking pool deck (voted “sexiest in Australia” by avid travellers), Dunk and other islands of the Great Barrier Reef through the foyer.
Stunning, and instantly therapeutic.
Then, resort manager, Sharon Muir, appeared − a breath of vibrant fresh air. She guessed who we were and welcomed us as if we were life-long friends, buggied us to our villa, handed over the keys and said, “Enjoy our beautiful beach house”.
And that’s how they roll at this exclusive little piece of paradise, generally only an hour and a half drive from Cairns, and about two and a half from Townsville. The Elandra Resort Mission Beach is up-market, rainforest-meets-the-sea heaven, with a warm side of family-style hospitality. Even owners, Katrina Knowles and Adam Karras’ dog, Willis, sauntered over to us on our arrival. He didn’t need coaxing for cuddles − fine by us as we’re always happy to adopt a dog when away from home.
Also fine was room 404, which aside from being oversized, welcoming, plush and comfy, boasts dramatic sea, island and coastal beach views as far as the appreciative eye can gaze. There really is nothing more soothing than spending time by the ocean, and perched above a setting like this is exactly what I needed to recharge my drained batteries.
Crisp, stylish, yet emanating a calm northern Queensland vibe, Elandra − meaning “safari or home by the sea” − isn’t your average resort. Core business here revolves around weddings, special events, conferences and corporate incentive escapes. Sharon insists there are to be “no worries” when you turn up to The Elandra for an event, whether you’re a guest, bride, groom, CEO or group facilitator. “You tell us what you need, what you do and/or don’t want as part of your experience, how many people are coming, and we will design a bespoke itinerary and package to suit your requirements and budget, utilising our own exceptional team as well as hand-chosen, trusted quality service providers from around the region,” she explains.
Cooper and I were lucky enough to experience the Elandra events expertise first-hand during the resort’s wonderful Tastes of the Tropics weekend, an event designed to “give back” to the local community and supporters who the Elandra team hold dear. “Our community spirit has always been alive and well, but it’s really been since Cyclone Yasi in 2011 that everyone treasures local relationships more closely. The eye of the storm came in directly over us. Elandra was actually an evacuation point for South Mission Beach because the areas below us are really low-lying and a damaging king tide was expected. We had hundreds of people bunkered up across the 40 rooms on the property, and provided safe haven for pets − cats, dogs, snakes − you name it! We’ve got the only helipad in the area too, so a couple of hundred army personnel from Townsville were also based here during the emergency so they could service the hard-hit areas between Cardwell and Innisfail. Because we’re not open to the general public anymore, we try to host various local events every year or two, so that our friends from the region can come back to enjoy the Elandra experience,” Sharon tells us.
This was no ordinary meal with mates though; Tastes of the Tropics was a gourmet getaway like no other, brimming with indulgence, sampling, demonstrations and degustation. The weekend included a cocktail dinner boasting divine canapés utilising only the freshest local seafood and produce, and a gala dinner, both catered for by none other than acclaimed celebrity chef from Channel Ten’s The Living Room, Miguel Maestre. Stuffed mussels, tigres style with brava sauce; lobster sliders, freshly shucked oysters; sesame crusted yellow fin tuna and seaweed salad as well as suckling pig with celeriac remoulade were just a few of Miguel’s delicacies featured on the weekend menu. Set to a theme of Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing as a nod to special guests, Miguel and his family’s heritage, the entire spectrum of events we were privileged to attend really showcased the experience and pride that the team here injects into anything that happens on their land. I should add also, that when Miguel wasn’t in charge of the kitchen, the treats rustled up by The Elandra Mission Beach’s chef, Tomasz Kornacki, were just as delicious.
I relished in the energy of this place. It’s not hard to fall in love with The Elandra when you’re lounging around on an oversized daybed overlooking the Coral Sea, or meandering through the lush gardens, enjoying the overall beauty and serenity that we have on offer in our backyard, Queensland. Whether you’re planning to host your own celebrity-studded event, idyllic tropical wedding, extraordinary bucks or hens extravaganza including cocktails, manis, pedis or even a night-time game of laser tag in the rainforest; you want to indulge in secluded island day trips and beach picnics, or you wish to do as we did − eat, drink, sleep, repeat (and make some new friends along the way), consider this spot for your special get-together. Sublime, sexy, easy, exceptional − Elandra (elandraresorts.com).
If you’re in the southern hemisphere and coming down with a case of the winter blues, forget rugging up in beanies and scarves and swap winter for Hong Kong’s summer. It’s the best season for a shopping spree, getting your toes sandy at one of the popular beaches, feasting at local food stalls and being dazzled by the city’s Hong Kong Summer Fun Festival.
Travel website Wotif.com has shared eight reasons with us to tempt you to pack for a second summer and explore the lively city of Hong Kong.
Summer in Hong Kong
1. Food so good you’ll be floating
Satisfy your appetite after a day of sightseeing and exploring with fine dining at one of the world’s largest floating restaurants, the Jumbo Kingdom. Overlooking the traditional junks and modern sky scrapers at Aberdeen Harbour, you can feast on authentic Cantonese cuisine and fresh seafood at the Dragon Court and Jumbo Chinese Restaurant.
Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
2. Cheers to partying with the locals
Watch the Victoria Harbour come to life with masses of colour, the sound of beating drums and cheering at the International Dragon Boat Races. This ancient Chinese tradition is part of one of the world’s best parties, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, where travellers are entertained with live music and performances while cooling down with a cold beer at the San Miguel BeerFest from 6 – 8 June.
3. Hot summer sales
It’s the season for sales, so leave room in your suitcase or buy another one to fill up. With plenty of boutique shops and large shopping malls to explore, you’ll find everything from designer clothes and handbags to antiques and the latest high-tech gadgets marked down. Retail lovers should add Hong Kong’s largest mall, Harbour City, to their daily itinerary, as well as Times Square, Pacific Place, iSquare and The Landmark sprawled across the city.
4. Spectacularly ‘cruisy’
Watch the impressive Symphony of Lights display while cruising along Victoria Harbour on board the Aqua Luna junk boat with a glass of champagne in hand. Take a 7.30pm cruise to see the world’s largest permanent light and sound show which illuminates both sides of the harbour with laser beams sychronised to music and narration.
Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
5.Sky high summer cocktails
Take your cocktail sipping to the next level at the highest bar in the world, Ozone. On the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, step out of the lift into the trendy and modern surrounds and feel on top of the city with sweeping views. Cool down and finish the day with a Dragontini or one of the champagne cocktails on the innovative menu before taking in the city scenery out on the breezy, open roof terrace.
6. Buzzing after dark
You can easily spend hours haggling over clothes and handbags, finding trinkets and antiques and sampling local street food at the popular open air Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon. Take in the atmosphere and entertainment as you wander through hundreds of colourful and eclectic stalls stretching from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking St in the south.
Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
7. Life’s a beach
There are plenty of sandy beaches great for sun soaking or just cooling off in between shopping trips. A short bus ride from Central District will get you to Repulse Bay where you can stroll by the brightly coloured statues of the deities Kwun Yam and Tin Hau and the gardens that lead to the popular beach. For a laid back summer BBQ, head to Hung Shing Yeh Beach on Lamma Island or go windsurfing at Wave Bay Beach at the eastern end of Hong Kong Island.
Shutterstock image: Repulse Bay
8. Lounge around with rooftop views
Take your swimmers up to the 76th floor of the W Hong Kong hotel and plunge into one of the world’s highest rooftop pools. Glide through the water of the pool with a panorama view of the skyline, 211 meters above Victoria Harbour. The trendy outdoor setting featuring an artistic, mosaic wall is the ideal place to pass the hours by. Kick back and recline on a lounge chair while soaking up the sun with a refreshing cocktail from the pool bar.
We love Hong Kong! What’s your favourite Hong Kong experience? Let us know in the comments below.
Whilst keeping in touch with family and friends via social media on an overseas trip recently, I spotted a reoccurring picture with a quote throughout my Facebook news feed, it reads:
“You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it”
And while the ‘likes’ were adding up, I thought about how frequently people tolerate being treating poorly by those they care about without speaking up.
Let’s focus on the first line in that statement only. Surely the way somebody treats you is something you can influence or at least have a say in? In fact, I would argue to a point that a person will only treat you in a way that you allow or deem appropriate – and it’s that opinion which I want to emphasise with you.
Has there ever been a time where you have allowed yourself to be:
Spoken to in a derogatory way?
Embarrassed or humiliated by colleagues/family/friends because you were too scared to speak up?
Done something that went against your wishes to keep the peace?
Made to feel guilty due to being spoken to in a passive aggressive tone?
Chances are that you replied with yes for one (if not all) of the above scenarios. This might be due to a number of reasons, all of which are completely personal/confidential to you, however it should always be your priority to be treated in a respectful and honest way.
How can you change how people treat you?
Value yourself – This is about making sure people are treating you and speaking to you with a level of respect at all times, address yourself internally on how you want to be spoken to and treated in ALL situations in life and ensure that you stick to your guns. Remember, you deserve respect and to be treated with it.
Speak up – When your boss/friends/family members are not treating you how you wish, let them know. You don’t need to be rude or nasty in how you do this and it may be understandably uncomfortable/confronting for you to do so, however if someone isn’t aware of what they are doing and you’re keeping quiet about it, you may be contributing to the problem. Simply say ‘When you speak to me/treat me like that it makes me upset/annoyed/embarrassed/frustrated/feel belittled/feel inferior/feel bad etc’…. and end the sentence with ‘I would appreciate it if you didn’t do that anymore/stopped doing it”
Don’t allow people to walk all over you but also remember that you don’t get to walk over anyone either. Respect is a two way street and as my sister always said to me during my teenage years:
“Treat people how you want to be treated yourself”
About the author Megan Luscombe is a professional life and wellness coach at Starting Today Coaching. Melbourne based, Megan assists her clients in making positive transformations in their personal life, relationships and careers. Follow her on Facebook.
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Whilst keeping in touch with family and friends via social media on an overseas trip recently, I spotted a reoccurring picture with a quote throughout my Facebook news feed, it reads: