BLUE MOUNTAINS TIME MACHINE Nowhere does “retro” quite like our own Blue Mountains

BY: ROD EIME

Riding the Blue Mountains is a well-known weekend excursion for most Sydney-based road riders. We know these roads like the back of our calloused hands, but each time I head up the Great Western Highway, I vow to uncover something I didn’t know about or had habitually missed. So with a brand-new Harley-Davidson Low Rider S in the driveway and nothing better to do on a glorious spring weekend, I gleefully leapt aboard the 114ci Milwaukee-Eight-powered Softail for a re-examination. Accommodation can sometimes be hard to find on the weekends, but I did discover this hidden gem, hiding in plain view in the heart of Katoomba.

SWEET DREAMS AT PALAIS ROYAL HOTEL, KATOOMBA This classic 100-year-old hotel has had several personas over the years, yet retains an authentic 1920s aura amid the tasteful renovations.

You could call it a solid 3.5- 4-star offering with modern ensuite bathrooms now in every room. Mine even had a massive bathtub for soaking those weary, ageing bones. There’s plenty of safe off-street parking, although not undercover unfortunately. Breakfast is included in typical buffet style, with generous hot breakfasts cooked to order. palaisroyale.com.au

OLD-SCHOOL TOURING IN VINTAGE CADILLACS This could be a fun diversion if you had a free hour or two. Donald has utilised his father’s 1929 Cadillac LaSalle V8 as a day tourer, running fun excursions around Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls in the gorgeous old girl, christened “Flora”.

“I like to show folks parts of the Blue Mountains few visitors ever see,” he tells me as we chug around Cliff Drive, past the old swimming pool.

Donald has also restored two other LaSalles of similar vintage, so you could take your whole club for a convoy outing. bluemountainsvintagecadillacs.com.au

HOT TUCKER AT BOILER HOUSE The historic Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath has always captured my imagination and been a point of fascination for many of us over the years. New owners have lifted the place entirely, so much so you could call it a rebirth, and one new addition is the Boiler House Restaurant built into the old machinery shop and steam generator building. This is where NSW’s first electricity was generated — four days before Sydney itself!

Remote from the main building, with heaps of parking, it’s the ideal spot for a flying lunch en route to wherever or even a turnaround point. Think hearty meat dishes like braised beef cheeks, Sicilian chicken, salads, pasta and gourmet pizzas. The tiramisu is right up there too! hydromajestic.com.au/dining/boiler-house-cafe

GETTING HAMMERED AT HARTLEY: THE TALISMAN GALLERY Metal artist Ron Fitzpatrick is really an old-school blacksmith with a penchant for hot metal sculptures. He forges these in the old woolshed in the historic village of Hartley on the old highway down the slope past Mt Victoria. Ron has revived the art of bashing hot iron into wacky sculptures, all of which can be purchased on the spot — or you can create your own under his tutelage. Fancy a new gothic-inspired fire poker or wall hook? Knock yourself out! talismangallery.com.au

"…THE ART OF BASHING HOT IRON INTO WACKY SCULPTURES…"

ROUTE TIPS The conventional wisdom for day riders is a loop up or back along the Bells Line of Road, which offers you more options like the funky Hillbilly Cider stop at Bilpin. Ask for a non-alcoholic “rider cider” and stash a six-pack for later. If you’ve not been for a while, just watch the changed speed limits up and down the highway as well as the cameras at the top near Mt Victoria. Remember the shortcut from Springwood via Winmalee to Agnes Banks (near Richmond) for a bit of relief from the weekend highway traffic. ARR