Blue Mountains Observatory

"We had such a wonderful time - beautiful cottage, set in the bush - birds and flowers to explore!! And the Astronomy tour was so wonderful - we are planning to go again and also book son and his wife as a gift!!! Lars, the Astronomy Tour provider, spent some time cleaning up our inherited telescope, the laptop presentation (while we waited for it to get dark enough) was a 'leaning forward on the edge of your seat' time - then a break for half an hour or so while we all ate dinner. Then came the planet viewing - wow, we are now really committed to joining a society and learning more! That Lars has a lot to answer for!!!"

"Cozy and comfortable cottage in a peaceful bush setting. We stayed there during a particularly cold few days. The reverse cycle air conditioning was wonderful and super warm. Pillows were the most comfortable I've come across in holiday accommodation. We fed cockatoos and parrots that came to visit on the front verandah. Highly recommend this relaxing, beautiful place."

"Great cottage and experience! The cottage is very cosy and homey, and has everything you need. The fireplace, electric blankets and multiple heaters kept us warm. Perfect getaway for the weekend with the family or for a romantic getaway as well The astronomy tour was incredible! We unfortunately had rain on the first night, however Dr Hasen went above and beyond to keep us entertained on the first night by showing us his equipment that he uses to observe the night sky and the various programs he is involved with, as well as showing some incredible photos of the night sky. This allowed us to not feel like we missed out on observing the universe, however on the second night Dr Hasen stepped up again and managed to give us a viewing of the night sky which was incredible! I would highly recommend coming here to anyone who is interested in a local getaway and wants to view the wonders of our universe. I would also ignore the reviews from people complaining about the astronomer and the rules that are in place. It is obvious they didn't follow the instructions, and naturally caution needs to be taken around equipment that cost thousands of dollars."

"No toiletries. No tea or coffee. You need to bring your own. Not a value for money. The astronomer/caretaker that 'comes with the place' is your typical annoying scientist. He lives in a tin shed behind the house and pops out at times to tell you NOT to: 1. Light a bonfire in what clearly looks like a dedicated bonfire place. 2. Use a light torch for too long at night outside of the house as it disturbs his telescopes in the tin shed. 3. Dry your tent for 10 minutes in front of the house as the wind may take it and damage the expensive sensors mounted on the roof of the house. He is also not too happy that you block his parked car on the narrow driveway, however there is no other place to park. Also, he prefers to spend time in his home in Sydney, so staying in Leura to check on guests (video surveillance outside of the house) is just as an annoying for him as his presence is to the guests. Spacious bedroom and living room."

"Had a great weekend at the blue mountains observatory. The cottage is really nice with 3 big bedrooms (enough to house 7 of us for 2 nights comfortably). The tour part of the weekend was awesome. An enthusiastic guide (Dr Hasen) took us on a telescopic guide through space, looking at planets, star clusters and nebulas. Looking forward to checking it all out again. The sky really opens up and gives you a good chance to sit down and take in the sky and gives you a good chance to sit and wait for shooting stars/meteorites. Would recommend the visit+tour."