This Blue Mountains Bookshop Trail is a bibliophile’s dream come true

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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You won’t need your hiking boots for this Blue Mountains trail.

You’ve heard of the countless incredible nature walks in the Blue Mountains. But what about those of us who prefer to stay inside and exercise our minds rather than our bodies?

There’s a different kind of trail enticing travellers to the region, replacing water bottles with cups of coffee and hiking boots with books. Stopping at 11 bookshops along the way, the Blue Mountains Bookshop Trail is perfect for everyone who loves a good read, from the well-read bibliophile to bookish beginners.

1. Blue Dragon Books, Glenbrook

The trail begins at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Glenbrook, known for its hip cafes and friendly community. Located in an unassuming arcade, Blue Dragon Books is stacked with second-hand tomes. With over 18,000 books lining the walls (and sometimes the floor!), it’s truly a book lover’s paradise.

New stock is added almost every day from donations, which the staff may exchange for store credit if you bring something they’re looking for. Buy as many books as your hands can hold, everything is priced affordably. And before you leave, peruse the handmade bookmarks and trinkets at the front desk.

Blue Dragon Books in Glenbrook, NSW
Blue Dragon Books is brimming with second-hand reads.

2. The Turning Page Bookshop, Springwood

Your next stop is Springwood, home to The Turning Page Bookshop and the recently closed Springwood Book Lounge, which whittled the list down from 12 to 11. Located on the main drag, The Turning Page is bright and homely, with soft music guiding you through the rows of books.

A shelf full of staff favourites and recs greet visitors upon entry, adding to the air of friendliness and familiarity. Many happily fall into the trap at the door; a collection of bookish paraphernalia including bookmarks, pencil cases, tote bags, socks, stationary, cards and notebooks. They make for the perfect addition to a book-filled purchase.

3. Chapters and Leaves, Faulconbridge

Two of a bookworm’s favourite things combine at Chapters and Leaves in Faulconbridge: tea and books! The teahouse has over 150 delicious teas on offer, which you can sip in-store as you read or purchase to take home.

The locally owned space is all about community. Chapters and Leaves sells a range of ‘Mountains made’ gifts and hosts regular book clubs, craft groups and charity events. Whether you opt to sit outside with your favourite brew and a plate of homemade scones or browse the shelves for a good book inside, Chapters and Leaves is sure to delight.

4. RoseyRavelston Books, Lawson

Stepping into RoseyRavelston Books in Lawson is like visiting your favourite grandma. From the classical carpets to mismatched photo frames and a big leather armchair in the corner, it’s comfort at its finest. With an extensive collection of fiction, non-fiction and rare books, it’s a shop any book lover could spend hours in.

It can even be hired out for private groups, meaning you and your friends can have the whole place to yourself for up to two hours. RoseyRavelston isn’t just any old bookstore either, it’s making a difference, one book at a time. As a strong advocate for refugees, 50 per cent of profits made at the shop go to local refugee charities.

RoseyRavelston Books in Lawson, NSW
RoseyRavelston in Lawson is the epitome of cosy.

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5. Good Earth Bookshop, Wentworth Falls

Next on your bookish adventure is Good Earth Bookshop, where the idea for the Blue Mountains Book Trail originated. Good Earth is all about making the world a better place with books. The cosy store is brimming with preloved books, with a small selection of new editions as well.

You can also join one of the many groups hosted here, from a variety of book clubs to zine-making sessions and crafty collabs with a side of tea. Make sure to add a few vintage collectables, games or toys to your cart on the way to the register, too. Located within Renae’s Arcade, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Good Earth Bookshop in Wentworth Falls, NSW
Snuggle up with a good read at Good Earth Bookshop.

6. Wyrd Books, Wentworth Falls

Just down the road, you’ll stumble into Wyrd Books. With a specific focus on fantasy, sci-fi and horror, this bookshop may not have something for everyone, but it’s still worth a visit. And for those who love these three genres, it may just become your new favourite.

The shop also prioritises first-edition hardcovers, meaning your collection just got a whole lot cooler. If you can’t make it to the store, fear not. The prized collection at Wyrd is completely catalogued on their website and available for purchase. Book blurbs online also come with reviews and recommendations!

7. Megalong Books, Leura

Megalong Books is a favourite among locals and tourists alike, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s the quintessential bookstore; soft music, packed wooden shelves and that bookish smell that every reader loves.

Megalong houses almost every genre you can think of. From gardening to cooking, history to politics, poetry to classics and everything in between, all bookworms are catered for here. And if all this book shopping is making you hungry, you’re in luck. There are plenty of cosy cafes in Leura to dine at before you hit the trail again.

Megalong Books in Leura, NSW
Megalong Books is a reader’s paradise. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

8. Mr Pickwick’s Fine Old Books, Katoomba

After fuelling up in Leura, make tracks for Mr Pickwick’s Fine Old Books, just a page-turn away in Katoomba. As the name suggests, this store is a haven for old and rare books. Those visiting the area may be thrown off when they enter the store, as the ground level is adorned with everything vintage. Think clothes, homewares, toys, jewellery, furniture and art.

But downstairs is where the real magic happens: the bookstore. There are plenty of modern novels, but just like upstairs, there’s a whole lot of vintage, too. Collectors will have a field day here, with books dating back to the early 1800s.

Mr Pickwick's Old Fine Books in Katoomba, NSW
Head downstairs to check out the bookshop at Mr Pickwick’s.

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9. The Little Lost Bookshop, Katoomba

Hidden down Hapenny Lane among a selection of small stores perfect for wandering through is The Little Lost Bookshop. The two-story reader’s haven is a peaceful place promising plenty of books. On the first floor, visitors will find a range of fiction and non-fiction reads, as well as a good selection of Blue Mountains-based books.

Upstairs, second-hand books await their new home. You can pick up board games, cards, bookmarks and unique gifts, too. Fitting 12 bookshops into one day may be a challenge for some. With so many great places to stay in Katoomba, spend the night to wake up refreshed and ready to round out the trail the next day.

The Little Lost Bookshop in Katoomba, NSW
The Little Lost Bookshop sits on Hapenny Lane. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

10. Gleebooks, Blackheath

Popular Sydney bookstore Gleebooks has set up shop in Blackheath. Fans of the Dulwich Hill and Glebe locations will know this one is a must. Sitting between an art gallery and an antique store on the main drag, Gleebooks is another one of those bookshops that readers could while the day away in.

Shelves upon shelves of books entice many “just one more" comments from browsing bookworms. Gleebooks Blackheath also hosts community events throughout the year, including author talks, live readings and book launches. All are welcome!

Gleebooks Blackheath in NSW
Gllebooks Blackheath is the 11th stop on the trail. (Image: Seamus Reece)

11. A Reader’s Heaven, Lithgow

If the name doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. Follow the Great Western Highway down the Mt Victoria side of the mountains and you’ll find the cosy town of Lithgow, home to A Reader’s Heaven. This bookshop may be the last on the Blue Mountains Book Trail, but it’s worth the extra bit of travel time.

Home to a vast collection of both new and preloved books, visitors here are sure to get lost among the shelves. The couple who own and run A Reader’s Heaven, Paul and Jo, are very friendly, always offering fantastic book recommendations, and they love their bookstore so much, that they even got married there.

A Reader's Heaven Bookshop in Lithgow, NSW
Get lost among the maze of books at A Reader’s Heaven.
Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.