Blackheath is a beautiful village wth lovely streetscapes, parks and gardens. We have a wealth of fine dining restaurants, coffee shops and cafes. There are three large art galleries, two great jewellery shops, several large antiques and second hand centres, boutique clothing shops and shoe shops, and more! These are all within ten to fifteen minutes walk from the Guesthouse, and they bring guests back time and time again.

There are bushwalks in the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park to suit everyone, varying from pleasant strolls with beautiful views to demanding adventures in spectacular surroundings. All bushwalks are close by and some start virtually from the Guesthouse door. The bushwalking is excellent all year round. In summer we choose something shady and cool like Grand Canyon, and in winter we choose something shorter like Braeside to Govett's Leap and enjoy a long soak in the spa afterwards. Autumn is perfect walking, and of course in spring and summer the wildflowers have me stopping every few metres for a photo or three.

Blackheath boasts a beautiful 18 hole golf course on the edge of the National Park, while the golf courses of Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls are ten to twenty minutes drive away.

The Blackheath Rhododendron Gardens were a bit of a local secret until the Sydney Morning Herald let the cat out of the bag and named them a National Treasure in the Traveller Australia 2011 magazine (Thursday, February 10th 2011). We visit the Rhodo gardens regularly throughout the year, and once or twice a week from late August to early December. They're the perfect spot for a picnic lunch on a sunny day, or a wander with my camera, or a sit and read under a flowering fruit tree in spring.

A Sunday drive down to Megalong Valley to taste the local wine, olive oil and beef is another great option - the Sydney Morning Herald compared the Valley to King Island in their March 2010 writeup.

One of our favourite Blackheath activities is to get some cheese and biccies from the local deli, and a nice bottle of bubbly, pack a picnic rug, and head out to one of the many local lookouts at sunset - the perfect way to end a day in Blackheath. Our special favourites are Hargreaves Lookout and Anvil Rock.

All of the iconic Blue Mountains Tourist Attractions are also close by, including the Zig Zag Railway (pictured above), Jenolan Caves, the Three Sisters, the Scenic Railway and the Skyway.

Or you can spend leisurely days at the Guesthouse, reading in a shady spot in the gardens during the day and playing Scrabble in front of the open fire at night.