CORONAVIRUS AND TRAVEL TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

What a strange and difficult year 2020 has been! Coronavirus has had a huge impact on the tourism industry in the Blue Mountains (and globally!).

The hospitality and tourism sectors in the Blue Mountains have been particularly hard hit with the double whammy of the bushfires over the summer, which were followed almost immediately by the Coronavirus. Our restaurants, tourist attractions and other services in the Blue Mountains have really felt the impact.

With the exciting announcement overnight that travel within NSW will be re-opening from 1st June, we're excited to start welcoming guests back to Glen Isla again very soon!

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Katoomba Falls

There are so many amazing waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, but one which should be top of your list on your next visit to the area is Katoomba Falls. Katoomba Falls is a part of the Kedumba River which drops almost 150 meters into Jamison Valley in 2 main stages. 

Here are our top tips for visiting Katoomba Falls!

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Blue Mountains Bush Fires 2019 - How to Help

The fires across NSW in 2019 have been devastating for many communities. At the time of writing this article, fires in the Wollemi and Blue Mountains National Parks are still ongoing with no clear end in sight. Lots of local communities - particularly along the Bells Line of Road stretching from Kurrajong Heights to Lithgow - have been devastated by fire with many people losing their homes and businesses.

Many people want to know what they can do to help these communities. It basically all comes down to one simple thing:

Keep on visiting!

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Does it Snow in the Blue Mountains?

Does it snow in the Blue Mountains?This is a question we are often asked when guests book Glen Isla over the popular Winter season. The answer in short is YES! Sometimes. If you are very very lucky. On average, there are about 5 days of snow per year - mostly in June/July. Keep in mind though that some of these are just flurries which melt rather quickly. In this latest blog post we share some tips about snow in the Blue Mountains and the best tips for seeing snow.

Group Accommodation Blue Mountains

If you are looking for group accommodation in the Blue Mountains - look no further! Glen Isla is one of the few homes in the Blue Mountains that can accommodate larger groups of up to 12 in the one property. Glen Isla has 6 large bedrooms, 5 of which have Queen sized beds (2 of these also have permanent Boori cots for infants up to 2 years of age who stay free). In the loft bedroom we have 4 single beds..

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Blue Mountains Markets

The Blue Mountains are world-renowned for more than just the beautiful scenery! We also have amazing local produce, artisans and arts who live locally. What better way to see and buy these local treasures but by visiting one or more Blue Mountains markets while you're enjoying your stay at Glen Isla:

Blackheath Markets

Blackheath Growers Market

When? 2nd Sunday of each Month, 8am - 12pm

Where? Blackheath Community Centre

The Blackheath Growers market has been running since 2003. There you'll find over 60 local stalls with lots of growers offering everything from fruit & veggies to meats, cheeses, local wines, honey, spices and more.

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Tips for a Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney

Located only a couple of hours from Sydney, the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains is the perfect destination for a short day trip.  Imagine breathtaking views, bushwalks, adventure tours, crisp clear air, gorgeous boutique stores, gourmet foodie heaven.  The Blue Mountains really does have something to offer everyone!  Here are our top tips for the perfect day trip at one of the Australia's most popular destinations:

Getting there - reaching the Blue Mountains from Sydney

The easiest (and most environmentally-friendly way) is to travel to the Blue Mountains by train.  Trains depart at least hourly (sometimes more frequent during peak times) from Sydney's Central train station to Katoomba.  

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Winter in the Blue Mountains 2019

Winter is the most popular season in the Blue Mountains and it's not hard to see why!  Think cool crisp air, the chance of a snow fall, warming up next to a cozy log fire, and the famous Yulefest - traditional Christmas celebrations that soak up the Winter atmosphere.

Here are our top picks of things to do this Winter in the Blue Mountains...

1. Explore the natural beauty of Blue Mountains National Park

Winter usually means crisp air, blue skies and great visibility.  It's the perfect time to get out and explore the natural beauty of the local area.

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Blue Mountains Weather

Visitors to the Blue Mountains often ask about the weather. What should I expect and just how cold does it get?

Blue Mountains Weather

THE TEMPERATURE:

The temperature in the Blue Mountains is typically cooler than the temperature in the Sydney area by several degrees. Depending on the season, the temperature level will vary. On average the temperature in the Summer reaches about 19 degrees celsius, and approximately 5 degrees during the Winter.

RAINFALL:

The highest amount of rainfall in the Blue Mountains falls between February & March and November & December. The upper Mountains (such as Wentworth Falls where Glen Isla is located) tends to receive more rainfall on average than the lower Blue Mountains.

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Book Direct for the Best Accommodation Rates in the Blue Mountains

As a family-owned and run small accommodation business in Australia, we can't agree more! When we first started doing holiday rental at our beautiful Blue Mountains property back in the beginning of 2015, the majority of our bookings came directly or via Stayz (at that time an Australian owned company who charged a small are reasonable commission for bookings).

In the past few years however, we have noticed a marked increase in the amount of bookings via foreign-owned websites...

Top Tips & Itinerary for a Blue Mountains Weekends Away

With the clear skies, crisp Mountains air, and so much to see and do, and less than 1.5 hours drive from the Sydney CBD, it’s no surprise that the Blue Mountains is such a popular destination for weekends away from the hustle and bustle of city life. With so much on offer in the local area though, how can you choose where to go, what to see, and where to eat? Growing up in the Mountains, I know a secret or two! Here I’ve put together some of my top tips and itinerary for the perfect Blue Mountains getaway from a local’s perspective.

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Blue Mountains Business Awards Finalists 2016

We are so super excited to announce that we have just received notification that we have made finalist in an amazing FOUR categories in the Blue Mountains Business Awards 2016.

The Blue Mountains Business Awards are held annually to recognise excellence in local businesses. Last year we were thrilled to win the Young Entrepreneur category. We are hoping that this year we can win another award.

The categories we have made finalists for are:

• People’s Choice Award
• Accommodation Award
• Hospitality Award
• Young Entrepreneur Award

The People’s Choice Award is a hotly contested category which is all down to the number of online votes received. This year there were well over 200 businesses who were nominated in this category so we are really happy to be ranked in the top 10 vote getters for this very competitive award. Thank you so very much to all our guests, friends and family who took the time to vote for us. We really do appreciate your support. Thank you also to the Blue Mountains Business Chamber for all their hard work in running the awards each year. It is such a fabulous event that allows local businesses to strive towards excellence.

The winners will be announced at a black tie gala dinner at the Fairmont Resort next month. We are crossing all our fingers that we can take home another trophy to add to our collection. We will be sure to keep you all informed on how we go.

Thank you all so very much for all your support!!

Amy xx

Blue Mountains Business Awards 2016

It’s on again! The Blue Mountains Business Awards 2016 have just opened. This year there are a range of categories for local businesses to enter. Last year we were super thrilled to win one category, as well as be a finalist in the popular People’s Choice Award.

The Blue Mountains Business Awards are a fantastic way to recognise wonderful local businesses in the Blue Mountains. It is also a great way to take time out to analyse your business – your direction, what you do well, and what you can improve on, and your goals for the future.

Please vote for us!

Glen Isla is a very special place in the Blue Mountains. We hope that you agree! We would really appreciate your support by voting for us in the People’s Choice Award!

> Click here to Vote for us in the People’s Choice Award 2016 <<

We are crossing our fingers to be finalists again this year! Thank you so much for all your support!

Blue Mountains Accommodation Availability

In other news, it has been a very busy few weeks at Glen Isla. Yulefest is by far the busiest time of the year in the Blue Mountains. We have lots of back to back bookings during the school holidays at this time of year so the whole team have been working hard to provide our guests with a wonderful experience.

Our dates from September 2016 onwards are also starting to book out so if you would like to book our beautiful self contained accommodation be sure to check our availability calendar and get in touch to secure your dates!

Best wishes!!

Amy

March 24, 2016

Christmas in July Blue Mountains 2016

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Wedding Venue

Christmas in July in the Blue Mountains is almost here for 2016! It’s the most popular time in the year in Blue Mountains – the cool weather and chance of snow brings with it the prospect of Christmas celebrations – log fires, roast dinners, and the many fantastic Yulefest activities on offer in the region.

The History of Christmas in July

Over 20 years ago, some locals decided that they wanted to celebrate Christmas northern hemisphere style! The cozy Winter months in the Mountains became the perfect backdrop for some fantastic celebrations. Word soon spread and now Yulefest is by far the most popular time if year for guests to visit the Blue Mountains and to soak up the wintery Christmas atmosphere.

What’s on – Christmas in July in the Blue Mountains 2016

1. The Goon Show – it’s 4th year at Yulefest in the Mountains. Each year the show features hilarious British comedy classics by Spike Milligan paired with a special Christmas in July menu. This year will be ‘The International Christmas Pudding’ episode.
   WHEN?: Every Saturday in July, 2016 at 6:30pm plus an Afternoon Tea show on Sunday 24th July 2016
   WHERE?: Hotel Blue, Katoomba
   HOW MUCH?:$135 each (incl dinner) or $999 for groups of 8.
   FIND OUT MORE: http://thegoonshow.com.au
   
2. Yulefest at Jenolan Caves – Jenolan Caves are celebrating Christmas in July again this year. On Friday and Saturday nights throughout July, Chisolm’s Restaurant will serve Christmas fare. Adult diners will receive a small Christmas gift and kids will receive the best gift of all – Santa inside one of their famous caves at 5:30pm.

   WHEN?: Every Friday & Saturday evening in July. Santa will be in the cave at 5:30pm.
   WHERE?: Jenolan Caves
   HOW MUCH?:$95 per adult for dinner and gift, $45 per child including Santa visit and gift
   FIND OUT MORE: http://www.jenolancaves.org.au

3. Winter Magic Festival Grand Parade – in it’s 23rd year, the Winter Magic Festival is set to draw record numbers of visitors to the area. Each year, the Grand Parade is held in Katoomba, when the main street is closed to traffic and becomes a performance space for over 500 artists, acrobats, musicians, dancers, choirs and much more. The streets will also be lined with market stalls. Everyone is encouraged to dress in a colourful costume to make the event even more special. The theme this year is ‘where the magic things are’.
   WHEN?: Saturday 18th June 2016
   WHERE?: The parade starts from the intersections of Waratah and Lurline Sts, Katoomba at 11:30am
   HOW MUCH?: Free!
   FIND OUT MORE: http://www.wintermagic.com.au

Award Winning Self Contained Accommodation for Christmas in July

Regardless of the time of year, the Blue Mountains is a special place to visit with friends or family. ‘Glen Isla’ is an award winning historic weatherboard icon which can accommodate up to 12 people. Our availability for the busy Winter months is rapidly booking up so be sure to check our availability calendar and get in touch to secure your chosen dates!

>CHECK OUR WINTER AVAILABILITY
All the best for a wonderful Christmas in July!

Amy xx

March 2, 2016

Blue Mountains National Park

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

Blue Mountains National Park

Blue Mountains National Park is a world famous 662,000 acre national park located 80 kilometres west of Sydney. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000 in recognition of its cultural and geographic significance.

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia. Most tourists visiting Sydney make the journey west to see the park from one of the scenic lookouts between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath.

The most popular destination in the national park is the Three Sisters – a spectacular rock formation of three “sisters”, each being several hundred metres tall.

Things to do in the Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains are also famous for short walks, waterfalls, overnight and longer walks and activities such as canyoning, abseiling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Here is a list of our top recommended things to do in the Blue Mountains

• Get your adrenaline pumping by experiencing some of the great adventure activities on offer in the Blue Mountains National Park. Some of the activities on offer include horseriding, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing. You can do these on your own or as part of a tour.
• Experience all the beauty of the region by going on a short (or long!) bushwalk. There are lots of tracks to explore ranging from easy and accessible paths, to long and difficult treks taking several days. You can also find lots of lakes, swimming holes, waterfalls, caves and much more.
• Scenic World in Katoomba is an historic icon in the region (and one of my most favourite places to visit as a child!). The Scenic Railway (the steepest railway in the world), Cableway, Skyway and Walkway offer wonderful ways to experience the unique beauty of the region.

If you’re visiting Blue Mountains National Park, the best place to stay for groups of up to 12 is Glen Isla! Glen Isla is located in Wentworth Falls, only 200 metres from the escarpment and the beginning of some of the best walking tracks in the region. We are also only a short 10 minute drive from the Three Sisters, Katoomba and Leura. Be sure to check out our availability calendar and book in early as our dates (particularly during the peak Winter months) are very popular!

Best wishes!

Amy x

January 21, 2016

Kid Friendly Blue Mountains Accommodation

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Kid Friendly Blue Mountains Accommodation

Award winning Glen Isla offers some of the best kid friendly Blue Mountains accommodation in the area. We have 6 large bedrooms and can sleep up to 12 people. Being fully self contained, we do our very best to create a beautiful weekend away for family groups to relax and enjoy. We have made Glen Isla very kid friendly:

For young children

Having young children ourselves, we understand how difficult it can be to travel with them. With this in mind have set the house up to make your experience as easy as possible. We have two permanent Boori sleigh cots set up in two of our bedrooms for families travelling with small children. Our private gardens are fully fenced so the kids can safely explore or play in our playhouse. We also have highchairs and an additional portacot if required. Our kitchen is supplied with plastic cutlery and plates for little fingers.

For older children

Our garage has a pool table and dart board. For the gaming fans we have a Playstation and a library of games to choose from. We also have kids puzzles, DVDs and books for rainy days. The loft room (above the garage) is popular with kids as it has 4 single beds.

(Our own daughter, aged 2, having fun throwing autumn leaves in the garden at Glen Isla. Photo by Amy Tong Photography)

Read one of our glowing reviews

Not convinced? Here’s a lovely review from previous guest Justine who stayed at Glen Isla in July 2015 with her family

“I couldn’t recommend Glen Isla highly enough. Amy gave beautiful and friendly service from my very first enquiry right through to my last. Amy was efficient and lovely and I really appreciated all of her help. Glen Isla is a magnificent property and it was the most beautiful house to celebrate my mum’s 70 birthday in. My mum was delighted and loved every second spent in Glen Isla with all of her family. Everything went really well. It was a very special weekend with memories we will all treasure. Our kids ranged in age from 3 to 15 years. They all had a ball. They were climbing up in the trees, playing in the garden, loving the outdoor fire pit, riding scooters, playing pool and more! It was close to Wentworth Falls walk which was beautiful. Totally recommend. Perfect for a large family gathering. We had 5 families.”
Want to find out more? Check out our gallery and availability calendar

December 3, 2015

Blue Mountains Christmas 2015

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

It’s hard to believe that Christmas has almost arrived. This year, as well as every year, the Blue Mountains will be a wonderful place to spend the Christmas holidays. Here are just a few of the fantastic events planned for the Blue Mountains for Christmas 2015:

1. Christmas Twilight Markets – PenrithEnjoy some Christmas shopping at the Christmas Twilight Markets in Penrith. There will be a wide variety of stalls. The markets will run every Friday and Saturday night from Fri 13th November up until Christmas Eve.
   When: Fri/Sat nights (13 Nov – 24 Dec 2015)
   Where: Pop up park, High Street Penrith
2. Springwood Late Night ShoppingSpringwood Village will come alive for some late night shopping. Meet up with friends and soak up some festive Christmas spirit! There will be Christmas stalls, activities for the kids, carol singing and lots of entertainment.
   When: Thurs 10 Dec 2015. 5:00pm – 8:00pm
   Where: Macquarie Rd, Springwood
3. Santa Arrives by Steam Train

   Say hi to Santa and his elf as they arrive aboard the historic Sydney Steam Train. Catch the action at 11am or 2pm on the special open day. The admission fees include unlimited steam train rides and a free gift for the kids.
   When: Saturday 12th December 2015
   Where: Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
   17B Tusculum Road
   Valley Heights
   Cost: Adult $14, Conc. $12, School Student $10 (Children 4 and under are FREE), Family: $45 (2 Adults, 2 Children or 1 Adult, 4 Children).

4. Wentworth Falls Christmas in the ParkJoin in the Christmas celebrations with carols, a puppet show, supper and a sausage sizzle.
   When: Sunday 13 December 2015, 5 – 7pm.
   Where: Holy Trinity Anglican Church Wentworth Falls
   Cost: Free.

Merry Christmas from All of Us at Glen Isla

For me personally, Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Despite the stress that comes with gift-buying and getting organised for the holidays, it’s also an important time to reflect on the year that has come and gone, and the importance of family. 2015 has been an absolutely fantastic year for us at Glen Isla. We have hosted many wonderful groups who we look forward to seeing again soon. One of my favourite things about the house is how many people contact me afterwards and tell me how Glen Isla helped bring families together from all over Australia (and sometimes from overseas too!). Whether it’s for a milestone birthday celebration, a wedding, or just because it’s been a long time, the house is a wonderful location to make memories. Lets face it – life is short – we need to do all those things we want to do while we can, and make sure that those we love know it!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support again this year. Every year the popularity of the house seems to grow which is such a welcome surprise. When we bought the house in early 2013 and set about turning it into an accommodation venue, we never dreamed that we could achieve the amount of success we have. The icing on the cake for us this year was winning our award at the Blue Mountains Business Awards. Thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve this. We look forward to what 2016 has in store!

Very best wishes from our family to yours.

Merry Christmas!!

Amy xx

October 28, 2015

Blue Mountains Business Awards Young Entrepreneur Winner 2015

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

Last Friday I attended the Blue Mountains Business Awards Gala Ball at the Fairmont Resort. It was such a fantastic night celebrating businesses in the local area. I was so super thrilled (and a little shocked!) to win the Blue Mountains Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2015. My first ever trophy! I’m now excitedly looking forward to the NSW Business Chamber State Awards which will be held at Darling Harbour next month.

I am super proud to be able to put these logos on our website.

Congratulations to all my fellow finalists and winners. The Blue Mountains is such a special region in the world and we are all truly blessed to be able to run our businesses in the area. Our fantastic community are essential in keeping the region a strong and prosperous one for the local economy.

I would like to publicly thank our fantastic support staff. Anna and Sophie our cleaners, and Will our amazing gardener and all-round guru. The success of Glen Isla is all down to your hard work.

Thanks again to all our past and future guests. Without you there would be no Glen Isla.

Crossing my fingers for the State Awards!

Best wishes,

Amy xx

September 21, 2015

Blue Mountains Business Awards 2015 Finalist

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

I’m so excited to announce that we are a finalist in the Blue Mountains Business Awards 2015. We are finalists in 2 categories which is such a wonderful honour! I would like to thank everyone for their support in voting for us. We are now nervously awaiting the official gala dinner on October 23 to find out who the winners are. We are crossing our fingers, eyes and toes that we might win at least one category although there are so many wonderful businesses in the area. Fingers crossed!

Follow Us on Instagram

In other news, we’ve recently signed up for Instagram! We would love for you to follow us https://instagram.com/glenislabluemtns/ to keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Glen Isla.

We also invite all our guests to tag us #glenislabluemtns or @glenislabluemtns for the chance to have your images featured on our website.

August 26, 2015

Blue Mountains Business Awards 2015

By glenisla on Uncategorized

We’re excited to be nominated for the Blue Mountains People’s Choice Award for 2015. The Awards are hosted by the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber and have categories celebrating the best businesses in the Blue Mountains. The People’s Choice Award is the only category which is open to voting so we would REALLY appreciate your support. You can find the link to vote for us here:

VOTE FOR GLEN ISLA IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AWARDS 2015 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

You will need to confirm your vote by clicking the link on the email sent to you.

The 10 businesses that receive the most votes will become finalists. Entries close next week so get busy 🙂

We really appreciate your support!

Thanks!

Amy xx

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August 11, 2015

Snow in the Blue Mountains 2015

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

Snow in the Blue Mountains does happen occasionally, but not very often. Although the weather gets quite cold in the Winter, in the 3 years since we’ve owned Glen Isla we had yet to see snow there – until this year! In July, we woke to the news that Wentworth Falls and the Upper Blue Mountains had been blanketed in snow. The roads were closed temporarily but reopened by the afternoon so none of our guests’ plans were interrupted.

Our wonderful cleaner managed to get to the house in her 4×4 and was able to get these photographs for us. The house sure does look beautiful with snow in the garden!

June 9, 2015

Our Feature on ‘Eat, Play & Stay’

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

We were thrilled to host Foxtel travel show ‘Eat, Play & Stay’ back in March. They featured our segment a couple of weeks ago on their program. If you missed it, be sure to check it out here on YouTube. We’ve had a huge influx of interest after the screening of this segment which has been great.

The busy Winter period here in the Blue Mountains is well and truly upon us. The June to August period is by far the most popular time of year for us with our accommodation booking out weeks and sometimes months in advance. There are some great events over the Winter period celebrating the romance of the cooler months, warm fires and toasting marshmallows.

All our weekend dates have now been booked out until September. If you’d like to stay during the school holidays, we only have midweek dates left so please be sure to get in touch with us ASAP to avoid disappointment. We are also starting to receive enquiries and bookings for the Summer holidays so get in early to be able to choose your dates.

Thanks for your ongoing support!

Amy xx

February 21, 2015

Christmas in July Blue Mountains

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation 1

The Blue Mountains is famous for its’ gorgeous natural beauty, but another big drawcard is the annual Christmas in July Yulefest. Our Xmas season, although special in its own way, isn’t what most people think of when they think of Christmas. Being in the hot Australian summer, our traditional holiday season is more about lazy days by the pool or beach, outdoor BBQs, and backyard cricket with the family. If you’re craving a more northern hemisphere style of Christmas celebration, then the Blue Mountains Yulefest Christmas in July celebrations might just be the ticket.

The winter months of June, July and August are peak season here in the Blue Mountains. Many of the local restaurants and establishments hold Christmas celebrations complete with Santa, log fires and if you’re lucky the occasional snow fall. Last year some of our July guests were fortunate enough to experience some snow while staying at Glen Isla. A truly spectacular sight.

Here are a list of our pick of the top events on for the Blue Mountains Yulefest 2015:

Winter Magic Festival – 20th June 2015

When: 20 Jun 2015
Where: Katoomba

Winter Magic is the Blue Mountain’s highest profile and most anticipated annual event. During the event, the main street of Katoomba is closed to cars and opened to pedestrians only allowing it to become a performance space. The streets are lines with market stalls and artists, musicians, dancers, drummers, choirs, stalls and community take over one of Australia’s most famous towns.

More info: www.wintermagic.com.au

The Goon Show Yulefest 2015

January 9, 2015

Happy New Year

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and the holiday season. We have been very busy over the past few weeks taking lots of bookings for the coming year. We often find over the summer holidays, families get together to plan out their big get-togethers for the rest of the year resulting in lots of bookings for us at Glen Isla. Glen Isla is a very popular venue for family groups coming together to celebrate a special occasion such as a parent’s milestone birthday. It’s lovely that the house can host so many unforgettable memories for our guests.

Over the break, our next door neighbour’s tree was struck by lightening. It was apparently a most incredible sight!! The tree has virtually exploded and the trunk twisted around from the energy of the strike. Unfortunately it has resulted in lots of debris and branches being strewn in our garden which our wonderful gardener has been working hard to fix. For the time-being, one corner of the garden has been taped off for our guests safety until the large branches can be cut up and removed from the site. We are sorry to our guests for the inconvenience.

Our vacancies are filling fast for the reminder of the year so to secure your preferred dates, please do get in touch with us ASAP!

Best wishes for 2015 everyone!

Amy x

November 11, 2014

Blue Mountains JinkyArt Photography Workshop Host

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Glen Isla was the host of a wonderful photography retreat for a group of photographers last weekend. As an avid photographer myself I was thrilled to have a request from the amazing Barb Uil to host her JinkyArt workshop at the house last year. A talented group of women who are just as passionate about photography as I am enjoyed a weekend of learning, chatting, and laughing. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to watch Barb in action in our beautiful Glen Isla. We even hosted a little miniature trick pony for some final images in the afternoon. What a thrill!

Almost all our weekends for the remainder of the year are taken, so if you’d like to enjoy the beauty of Glen Isla, please do get in touch very soon to secure your preferred dates. At the moment, we do still have availability for New Years Eve although have had quite a few enquiries so do get in quick if you’d like to ring in the new year at our beautiful Blue Mountains property.

We’ve also taken bookings for the peak Winter season 2015, so if you’re planning a Christmas in July celebration, be sure to send us a booking request!

Best wishes to everyone on the lead up to Christmas and the festive season. Thank you for all your support this year!

Amy xx

July 9, 2014

Family Accommodation Blue Mountains

By glenisla on Blue Mountains Accommodation 1

Many of our guests come to us seeking family accommodation in the Blue Mountains. Often it’s for a parent’s milestone birthday, or sometimes it just for an annual get-together of all the extended family. We love hosting large family groups at Glen Isla. We’ve received some really lovely feedback and testimonials recently from family and friend groups who have enjoyed staying at Glen Isla. Here are just a few things that our guests have had to say about staying with us:

“My extended family and I recently stayed at Glen Isla in wentworth falls and had a wonderful time. We were 8 adults, 4 children and 2 babies and we fit very comfortably in this gorgeous home. We even had a spare room which nobody used. The house is fitted out with the latest technology, a huge DVD library, an amazingly stocked kitchen for all of your cooking, pool table and seriously comfortable beds. This is our second time booking this great house and we hope to be back again!” – Nayana, July 2014 (Stayz)

“We had a wonderful stay at Glen Isla, it was very comfortable like home away from home, child friendly & everything we needed was there. A beautiful setting among the pine trees & close to Leura & Katoomba. Would love to stay again.” – Jan, June 2014 (Stayz)

Virtually all our accommodation dates for the Winter months have been booked out. We have started taking enquiries for Winter next year so if you’d like to experience Glen Isla and the Blue Mountains in the beautiful winter months, please send us a booking request so you can secure your preferred dates. We hate disappointing people who we are unable to accommodate at the last minute so be sure to get in early!

Thanks as always to our wonderful guests for your support in making Glen Isla a very special place for accommodation in the Blue Mountains.

Amy xx

June 5, 2014

Christmas in July Blue Mountains – Yulefest 2014

By glenisla on Uncategorized

Winter time is the most popular time of the year for the Blue Mountains with Christmas in July & Yulefest celebrations attracting a huge amount of tourists to the Blue Mountains. Many of our guests at Glen Isla enjoy celebrating Christmas in July by soaking up the beautiful atmosphere in our gardens and then relaxing with friends and family next to the warm fire with a glass of wine. Although we do have ducted heating throughout the house, there’s nothing quite like having a nice fire going so we’ve kept our old fireplace in the living room for those chilly winter nights. You’ll also enjoy snuggling up in our comfy beds with electric blankets.

All of our weekends for the Winter months have now been booked, however we do have availability for mid-week stays so please contact us via the booking form to enquire about availabilities and rates. If you’re already booked to enjoy Winter with us at Glen Isla, you’ll be glad to hear there are lots of planned local activities for you to enjoy. Here are just a few:

Blue Mountains Christmas in July Events 2014

• 2 – 30 July – Kids can meet Santa inside Jenolan caves. Also on Saturday and Wednesday nights throughout July, Chisolm’s restaurant will service festive fare. Visit www.jenolancaves.org.au for more information
• 1 Jun – 31st Aug – Explore the Winter Wonderland of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden on a self guided trail.
• 21st Jun – Winter Magic Festival. Enjoy a fun festival of local artists, musicians, dancers and dummers. The theme for the grand parade this year is ‘Phoenix Dreaming’.

Whatever you plan to do in the Blue Mountains this Winter, we hope that you enjoy your Christmas in July Yulefest celebrations at Glen Isla!