New South Wales - Australia 2004 - page 185

(US$120), Fri-Sat A$300 (US$195); premier rooms Mon-Thurs A$225 (US$146), Fri-Sat A$350 (US$228);
suites Mon-Thurs A$265-A$450 (US$172-US$293), Fri-Sat A$410-A$630 (US$267-US$409). Ask about
weekend packages. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; snooker room.
Inroom: TV, coffeemaker, iron.
Echo Point Holiday Villas These are the closest self-contained accom-
modations to the Three Sisters Lookout. The two front-facing villas are the best
because of their beautiful mountain views. Some villas have one double and two
single beds, plus a foldout double bed in the lounge room. Bathrooms contain
a shower, with no tub. There are barbecue facilities in the backyard. The two
cottages are also fully self-contained, sleeping up to eight, and have a tub, cen-
tral heating, and access to nice gardens.
36 Echo Point Rd., Katoomba, NSW 2780. & 02/4782 3275. Fax [phone]. www.echopointvillas.com.
au. 5 villas, 2 cottages (all with shower only). Fri-Sat and public holidays A$140 (US$91) villa; Sun-Thurs
A$105 (US$68) villa; A$150 (US$98) cottage for 2. Minimum 2-night stay required. Extra person A$12
(US$7.80). AE, DC, MC, V. In room:TV, kitchen, fridge, hair dryer, iron.
Inexpensive
Katoomba Mountain Lodge This two-star property is quite cozy, with
rooms looking out across the mountains. Dorm rooms are clean and come with
three to six beds. Doubles are basic and lack a TV, but adequate for a couple of
nights. All share bathrooms. On the premises you'll find a TV lounge with a log
fire, a BYO dining room, and a game room. The staff can arrange tour packages.
Breakfast costs an additional A$9 to A$10 (US$5.85-US$6.50) per person, and
dinner and breakfast costs an extra A$30 to A$32 (US$20-US$21) per person.
31 Lurline St., Katoomba, NSW 2780. & and fax [phone] units, none with bathroom. Sun-Thurs
A$58 (US$38) double; Fri-Sat A$78 (US$50) double; A$11-A$15 (US$7.15-US$9.75) dorm bed. Ask about
packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Tour desk; coin-op laundry. In room:No phone.
WHERE TO DINE
Katoomba Street has many ethnic dining choices, whether you're hungry for
Greek, Chinese, or Thai. Restaurants in the Blue Mountains are generally more
expensive than equivalent places in Sydney.
Expensive
Lindsay's INTERNATIONAL Swiss chef Beat Ettlin has been making
waves in Katoomba ever since he left some of the best European restaurants
behind to try his hand at dishes such as pan-fried crocodile nibbles on pumpkin
scones with a ginger dipping sauce. The food in this upscale, New York-style
speakeasy is as glorious as its decor—Tiffany lamps, sketches by Australian artist
Norman Lindsay, and booths lining the walls. The three-level restaurant is
warmed by a cozy fire surrounded by an antique lounge stage and resounds every
night to piano, classical music, or a jazz band. The menu changes every few
weeks, but a recent popular dish was grilled veal medallions topped with Bal-
main bugs (small, saltwater crayfish), with potato and béarnaise sauce.
122 Katoomba St., Katoomba. & 02/4782 2753. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$14-A$24
(US$9.10-US$16). AE, MC, V. Dinner Wed-Sun 6pm-midnight.
TrisElies GREEK Perhaps it's the belly dancers and the plate smashing, or the
smell of moussaka, but as soon as you walk through the door of this lively eatery
you feel like you've been transported to an authentic Athenian taberna. The
restaurant folds out onto three tiers of tables, all with a good view of the stage
where every night Greek or international performances take place. The food is
solid Greek fare—souvlaki, traditional dips, fried haloumi cheese, Greek salads,
casseroles like Mother could have made, whitebait (tiny fried fish), and sausages