Wonga Hut Blue Mountains

Wonga Hut is located on southern side of Hazelbrook in the lower Blue Mountains. Perched on a ridge looking out over the rolling hills that stretch onto infinity, it is perfectly harmonised in its outlook, with both the sublime, natural outlook of the Blue Mountains National Park as well as the beautifully designed cottage garden, which is planted with enchanting fruit trees mixed in with natives and continentals. It is both introspective and expansive. IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Wonga Hut will remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are implementing all the necessary sanitisation practices recommended by the NSW State Health Department prior to accomodation during the clean. The income generated by the guest house not only helps us, the hosts, during times of economic hardship, but is also ideal for guests who are looking to self-isolate and get out of the Sydney basin. We offer a pleasant and safe space for people either looking for respite from the city, or who need to relocate because of overcrowding in their primary residences that they share with high-risk family or friends. We look forward to your custom and stay safe. Note regarding Wifi: Please note that due to the distance from the hut to the main house, and the frequent changes in weather, our Wifi connection can be slow, and at times may not be available. Please be prepared to use your own data for internet access. We find Telstra to have the best reception at the location of the hut. -- The property itself is unique in that it is bordered, to the west, by national park, where there are no neighbours to be seen. Whilst to the east, our lovely neighbours are Sydney siders, and frequent the property irregularly. This creates a serene and peaceful stay for guests. The southerly aspect looks out onto the Blue Mountains National Park, presenting an uninterrupted march of Eucalypts and other natives heading out toward the horizon. The interior is decorated with art, craft objects and soft furnishings made by local Blue Mountains, Sydney and Melbourne based practitioners, including the likes of, Julie Bee (Melbourne), Emily Hunt (Sydney/Berlin), Hana Shimada (Sydney), Comfy (Sydney), Kylie Gonder (Sydney), Jana Hawkins-Andersen (Sydney), Rafaela Pandolfini (Sydney), Simonne Goran (Sydney) and Catherine Flora Murray (Sydney). Thanks to their generosity, and in some cases the generosity of their galleries, the works will be displayed in situ within Wonga Hut's interior. Subject to agreement by the craft makers and artists (and/or their galleries) works will be available for purchase. (However, it should be noted that the works in the hut are display only and contact with said makers/galleries will need to be made by guests and orders will need to placed to purchase works or objects.) Details on how to do this will be included in a pamphlet provided on arrival and unlike the art and craft objects, are not for demonstration only. Guests will also be able to enjoy fixing a meal on our stove-top cooker, and will also have the use of a toaster and a kettle for tea and snacks, which can be enjoyed on the beautiful verandah that has an old church pew and a spectacular vista. The kitchen has been custom built and designed using local birch plywood and local cabinet makers Andrew's cabinets in Lawson. (Compost bins outside the hut will make for easy and sustainable disposal of food scraps.) The bathroom provides guests with shower (with excellent water pressure and extra hot water) and a toilet, and a small shelf for amenities. Fruit and citrus are available in the surrounding veggie garden and a chicken coop is being designed by Costa Georgiadis, to be set up in the coming months, which will provide guests with fresh eggs. The guest house and the entire garden. Hosts will be available if necessary, although both work and may not be on the property at all times. We will endeavour to respond to your requests as soon as possible. Feel free to get in touch via phone or Airbnb chat and we will respond to any questions you have as soon as we can. We have a great community in Hazelbrook that is mutually supportive, friendly and generous in their hospitality. The local shops are a great place to go for coffee, and whilst being a modest township with approximately a dozen stores, they still manage to supply everything you could ask for. Wikileaks cafe is run by two amazing young women in the community, whose mother makes the best lasagna this side of the Divide. They have Campos coffee as good as any cafe down in the Sydney Basin. The local fruit and veg. depot 'Toderellos' is a great spot to pick up any ingredients you need for a cook-off. A few minutes further by car, or train, is Lawson, which is host to the excellent Lyttleton Stores, a co-operative that is leading the way community farming practices which its unflinching support for local farmers and their produce. It also provides a wide range of workshops on a weekly basis and is a great place for guests to not only go shopping for fresh food products but also participate in a class and pick up some new skills. Also in Lawson is Black Cockatoo Bakery, a wholesale and retail bakery that specialises in sourdough, but excels in cinnamon scrolls ; ) People looking to dine out can't go past Messa Bario in Lawson. Make a booking though, by my lights it's the best little eatery in the mountains. It specialises in Mediterranean style dishes, caters equally well to vegetarians and meat eaters, and its produce is second to none. Those who enjoy a craft beer also won't be disappointed. As for bush walks, well the Blue Mountains isn't short of them. Whether its advanced or beginner, scenic or adventurous, you'll be able to find one that piques your interest. Just five minutes drive from Wonga Hut is Terrace falls, a deep canyon with magnificent tall acacia trees reaches up out of its depths. One can chose to do a small loop, without a descent, if you're only interested in a scenic moment, or for more avid walkers plunge into the depths for a wander in the ravines. If you’re keen for some culture on your stay Steep Street in Katoomba is an interesting little art space masquerading as a retail store. They sell loose leaf tea, ancient remedies, modular synths, indoor plants, art books and more. They also host great live music events, with bands, musicians and noise artists. Check out there website at: (Website hidden by Airbnb) For more cultural offerings a little further up the mountains there’s Mt. Vic Flicks, which is located in heritage-listed Mount Victoria, one of the highest towns in the Blue Mountains. It’s a much loved and treasured icon of the Upper Blue Mountains. Built in 1934, the cinema is a window into the golden age of Australian country picture theatre culture. It’s a family run independent cinema and shows an eclectic mix of quality films from Australia and abroad, arthouse to kids, new releases to classics. They also screen HD broadcasts of the National Theatre Live and MET Opera series and host various local and international film festivals, special events and fundraisers. And, too add to an already wide variety of genre films and live screening, they have regular classic film screenings with many sessions played in by our resident theatre organist Wendy Hambly. For more see there website at (Website hidden by Airbnb) Hazelbrook town is ten minutes away at a steady pace, and fifteen-to-twenty at a leisurely stroll. The train station is only about five-to-ten minutes walk to Wonga Hut. A walk from the station to the Hut is easy for those with light luggage or backpacks who enjoy the exercise, but for those with heavy gear or who want to put their feet up for the entire duration of the stay, it is best to get a cab in town. If you have a car Wonga Hut is about minutes out of Hazelbrook township.