Cosy Leura Cafes To Start The Day At

For Leura-based explorations of the Blue Mountains, these seven cafes will top up your caffeine levels and fortify your day with delicious food.

It’s easy to while away a day cafe-hopping in lovely Leura. Go from latte to lunch at these eateries that serve beautiful, locally focused fare with laidback mountain vibes. From a long-time favourite tucked behind a red door, to a deli counter loaded with incredible cheeses and meats, there are plenty of Leura cafes to fuel a day hiking, shopping or simply relaxing in town.

1. Red Door Café

Best for: Relaxed sipping and snacking.

On a cherry blossom-lined street sits Red Door Cafe , a Leura local favourite. Stop by for breakfast, lunch or just to cradle a latte and have a chat in the courtyard. It’s not fancy or fussy, but you’ll find all the classics made well, from eggs however you like them to salads and sandwiches. Bigger meals may include bistro-style plates the likes of Tuscan-style sausages or a confit duck Maryland. Cosy and much adored in the community, a visit here offers a wedge of mountain life.

the Red Door Cafe in Leura — Stop by for brunch at Red Door Cafe. (Image: James Horan; Destination NSW)

Address: 134 Leura Mall, Leura

2. Leura Gourmet Cafe and Deli

Best for: Gathering provisions for your Leura staycation.

Swing by Leura Gourmet Cafe and Deli for smoothies and juices, coffee and a range of tempting morsels under the deli counter, from salads and sambos to pasta and sugar-dusted cannoli. It’s hard not to shop with your stomach here with a range of beautiful condiments and pickles that promise to level up the excitement in your pantry and everything you could ever need to build the ultimate antipasto platter. If you’re planning a picnic out in the national park, Leura Gourmet is an obligatory stop to gather provisions.

Address: 159 Leura Mall, Leura

3. Sorensen’s Glasshouse

Best for: The stunning, sun-lit location.

This beautifully designed, glass-walled cafe lets you feel as though you’re dining under the trees. Bright and light-filled, it’s a stunning spot for breakfast or lunch any time of the year, but autumn is particularly magical with the orange-hued leaves providing a vibrant backdrop.

plants and flowers inside Sorensen's Glasshouse — This beautiful glass-walled cafe immerses you in nature.

There is Devonshire tea as well as more substantial eats of mushroom fettuccine for lunch or a garden breakfast to help push the day into gear. Wander the enclosed gardens where little ones can freely roam and pick up a bunch of blooms or a new plant while you’re here.

potted plants on display at Sorensen's Glasshouse, Leura — You’ll find vibrant plants on display at Sorensen’s Glasshouse.

Address: 8 Herbert Street, Leura

4. The Laneway

Best for: Coffee lovers.

Drop into the cosy Laneway coffee shop that has local Cassiopeia beans running through the candy-pink coffee machine from 6.30am through to 2pm on weekdays, and 7am–11am on Saturdays. You’ll have plenty of baked and fresh toasted delights to tempt you into a side order of a little something, such as the roasted pumpkin and gorgonzola toastie or a lemon and blueberry syrup cake.

Address: 146–148 Leura Mall, Leura

5. The Wayzgoose Diner

Best for: Big, diner-style dining.

Meals are made from scratch using locally sourced produce wherever possible at the bright-hued Wayzgoose Diner set in the oldest commercial building in Leura (once home to a printing press). It’s all about big, comforting favourites here, from hot cakes to waffles and hot dogs to burgers.

Breakfast is served until 11.30, but the all-day menu means you can indulge your fish and chip craving at breakfast, too. It’s also home to the original flowerpot scone, which has remained unchanged since the 1980s when it was invented by a former owner.

pastries and teapot at The Wayzgoose Diner — The Wayzgoose Diner is home to the original flowerpot scone.

Address: 174 Leura Mall, Leura

6. The Bunker

Best for: All-day grazing and afternoon drinks.

The Leura outpost of The Bunker can be found in Leura Mall, where burgers are flipped, tea is poured and cocktails are shaken from breakfast to dinner on Friday to Sunday, and lunch to dinner Monday to Thursday.

food at The Bunker, Leura — Make a pitstop for breakfast or lunch at The Bunker.

It’s cafe classics and relaxed ambience that draws diners in for everything from snacks of Cajun cauliflower to plates piled with smoky ribs and spritzy, boozy drinks. The Leura Bunker also has its own drawcard of a private, outdoor Dining Dome, where you can take in the stunning views while you eat and gaze through the transparent walls for a special event or high tea.

The Bunker Leura's Dining Dome in the Blue Mountains — Take in the breathtaking views from the Dining Dome.

Address: 117-121 Leura Mall, Leura

7. Lily’s Pad

Best for: Sweet treats to share.

Humble and homely, Lily’s Pad cafe is an adorable spot for a sweet treat come morning or afternoon tea. If you can overlook the ceramic frogs and the pun and turn your eye to the selection of beautifully baked goods, you’ll be very quickly taken in with this charming spot. Think sugar-crusted doughnuts, mini cheesecakes and all manner of muffins. There is a more savoury side to things, too, with breakfasts of eggs and lunches of salads, sandwiches, and even rice paper rolls.

Address: 19 Grose Street, Leura

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

7 cosy Leura cafes to start the day at