Leura specials start with timing. At 985 metres, this Blue Mountains village has four distinct seasons, and the months you pick shape both the weather and the crowds. Cheaper trips are mostly about choosing well, and a few of the best things here cost nothing.
We have pulled together the quieter months, the free and low-cost sights, and the lower-priced tours and caravan parks on this site. Prices are listed as "from" figures, so check current prices with the operator before you commit. For the wider picture, see our Leura travel guide.
Quieter months for Leura specials
Leura sits about 100 kilometres west of Sydney's central business district, and the climate figures below are for the Blue Mountains area, about 4 km away. Winter is the coolest and, on average, among the drier stretches of the year. July has a mean maximum of 9.8 and a minimum of 1.3 degrees, with around 37 mm of rain over 6 days. Occasional snowfall is possible at this elevation.
Late summer is the wettest. February averages 145 mm of rain over 15 days, and January and March are also wet. If you want fewer showers, winter and early spring look better on paper, and August has the most sunny days, at 28.3 on average.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.5 | 12.6 | 123.2 | 15.0 | 27.2 |
| February | 22.1 | 12.4 | 145.2 | 15.3 | 24.4 |
| March | 19.7 | 10.5 | 106.9 | 15.0 | 27.0 |
| April | 16.7 | 7.4 | 56.4 | 9.0 | 26.6 |
| May | 13.1 | 4.4 | 48.0 | 6.7 | 26.8 |
| June | 10.2 | 2.4 | 63.6 | 7.7 | 24.5 |
| July | 9.8 | 1.3 | 36.8 | 6.3 | 27.2 |
| August | 11.3 | 1.6 | 45.9 | 6.7 | 28.3 |
| September | 14.9 | 4.0 | 53.0 | 8.3 | 27.8 |
| October | 17.9 | 6.4 | 74.5 | 10.4 | 27.6 |
| November | 20.0 | 8.7 | 104.2 | 13.5 | 26.4 |
| December | 21.9 | 10.8 | 118.7 | 13.3 | 27.7 |
When it gets busy
October is the busiest month for events. The Leura Gardens Festival runs every October, and the popular Leura Village Fair is held at the same time. The festival opens private gardens to the public and raises money for the Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital in Katoomba. It is a lovely time, but if you are chasing a quiet, cheaper visit, we would reckon on avoiding it. Our Leura events page has more.
Free and low-cost sights in Leura
Much of Leura's appeal is outdoors. Sublime Point to the south and the Gordon Falls park both offer panoramic views of the Jamison Valley, and Leura Cascades lies in the southwest. These are natural attractions rather than ticketed ones.
Walkers can join a network of tracks that includes parts of the Prince Henry walk and the Grand Cliff Top Walk. That route runs from Wentworth Falls Railway Station to Echo Point, passing the Pool of Siloam, Elysian Lookout, Olympian Lookout, Leura Cascades, Leura Falls, Jamison Lookout, Linda Falls and the Dardanelles Pass, before climbing to Echo Point by the Giant Stairway. It is a full day of scenery for the price of your boots. More ideas are on our Leura activities page.
Leura Mall
Leura Mall is the heart of the village, divided by a wide grassy median planted with flowering cherry trees by Danish-born landscape gardener Paul Sorenson. Most of its commercial buildings date from 1900 to the 1920s, so simply strolling the streetscape costs nothing. The historic post office still operates and also houses two cafes.
Gardens and heritage
The Everglades Gardens, administered by the National Trust, include Henri van de Velde's Moderne-style home and 5 hectares of gardens designed by Paul Sorensen. The outdoor theatre there often hosts productions such as Cirquinox and the Leura Shakespeare festival.
Lower-priced tours to Leura
The tours we list for Leura are guided trips, mostly private or small group, so none is truly cheap. The lowest prices are the two 11-hour options, each from $305. The Ultimate Blue Mountains and Wildlife Tour is timed to catch sunset over the escarpment, with wallabies and kangaroos at dusk and lunch in Leura. The Unforgettable Blue Mountains Day Tour is a small-group trip in a luxury 4WD with no more than five people, including morning and afternoon tea and a lunch stop in Leura.
Next up is the Private Blue Mountains Tour from $543.75, an eight-to-nine-hour outing with your own guide. The Blue Mountains Private Tour is from $640 for 10 hours, and Scenic World is at extra cost. Browse the full range under Leura tours and rentals.
| Tour | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Blue Mountains and Wildlife Tour | 11 hours | from $305 |
| Unforgettable Blue Mountains Day Tour | 11 hours | from $305 |
| Private Blue Mountains Tour | 8 to 9 hours | from $543.75 |
| Blue Mountains Private Tour | 10 hours | from $640 |
| Beauty of the Blue Mountains Private Tour | 9 to 10 hours | from $851.67 |
The dearer options include the Sydney private wildlife and cruise tour from $934, the Highlights, Wildlife Park and Scenic World tour from $1029.1, and the High Country day trip from $1042.14. They add wildlife parks and Scenic World, so the extra cost buys more stops.
Caravan parks near Leura
Two caravan parks are listed in the area. Blue Mountains National Park offers powered sites and cabins. Katoomba Falls, in neighbouring Katoomba, also has powered sites and cabins. Katoomba adjoins Leura along its western edge, so both are close. Contact the park for current rates and availability before booking.
Getting there and planning the budget
The Blue Mountains are 104 km from Sydney by road, about 104 minutes. Orange is 158 km away, Wollongong 161 km and Mudgee 168 km. Leura is one of the small towns along the Main Western railway line and Great Western Highway, so a day trip from Sydney is realistic. For official state information, visit Visit NSW. Further background on the village is on Wikipedia: Leura. If you want help with the trip itself, see our Leura transfers page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to visit Leura?
June to August are the coolest months, and October is busiest because of the Leura Gardens Festival and Village Fair, so the quieter months fall outside October.
What can you do in Leura for free?
Walk Leura Mall, visit the lookouts at Sublime Point and Gordon Falls park, and follow tracks to Leura Cascades and the Pool of Siloam.
What is the lowest-priced tour listed?
The Ultimate Blue Mountains and Wildlife Tour and the Unforgettable Blue Mountains Day Tour, each from $305 for 11 hours.
