While at first you might think twice about the cost you have to remember this is fine chocolate which is not only freshly made it is handmade on site. It is not the box chocolate you pick up in the supermarket and once you've tried it you have to agree it is worth the little extra.

Recently while staying in Leura for our honeymoon we decided to take a track into Josophan's Fine Chocolates, we bought a box of 36 chocolates as a special indulgent treat to share as well as a smaller 12 box filled with chocolate orange chocolates.

My only real complaint is there are too many options to choose from! But the staff are very accommodating and will gladly put you together a mixed variety box or special requests.

We took the chocolates back with us and ate about half the first night, only about a dozen managed to make it home with us on our return. We did stop into the shop again before our drive home to pick up a 6 box to give as a thank you for the wonderful Robyn at the Magical Manderley. She was more than happy to accept them as
Josophan's Fine Chocolates as some what a grand reputation around town.

Whether for yourself or for a girft, if you love chocolate than you will love Josophan's Fine Chocolates and for those of you who like me live outside of the blue mountains... they have an online store too!

Approximate cost: $From $2

Wondering down the quaint main street in Leura we come about the equally quaint Megalong Bookshop.

I have to admit this isn't a bookshop to rave about by any means it's just simply a bookshop and serves it's function as such. What is nice is it not a chain store, it is indeed independently owned which offers some charm.

As could be expected the all closest the entrance displays the new releases and from than on it is a case of wondering about the narrow pathways to find the book section which interests you.

While there we did buy a couple of nice books for reasonable prices and dismissed others knowing full well they could be purchased online at a fraction of the cost.

Nice for a look, maybe one for the locals but worth a look in if your in town and want to get lost for a while amongst some books.

On a recent trip through Mount Victoria we pulled into the Mount Victoria General Store and News agency. As you might expect from the name this shop is the one stop everything in the wee town between Katoomba and Lithgow.

Originally looking for a post box to post some post cards we pulled in and noticed a sign for "Milk shakes" being on a long drive we thought why not so I went in to the shop.

It is exactly what you expect from a general store, post office, newsagent and supermarket all into one but the one thing that might surprise you is the sushi bar! We were on our way to Katoomba to have lunch in town so we settled for the milkshake. Which was really nice!

Deciding that we would drive out to Hartley another small town on the way to visit a gallery we decided to pull into the wee store on the way home and pick us up some sushi for lunch on the way back.

Very pleasantly surprised! This sushi is made on site, fresh every morning by the couple who run the store. For just $6 you can pick up a tray of about 12 sushi rolls which are delicious!

The couple whom run the store are very friendly and welcoming not only to the locals who regularly come in but also us tourists just traveling through. It was just a shame this was our last drive through Mount Victoria on our travels as we sure would have like to try some more of that sushi!!

We recently had lunch at Chicane Bar and Grill and it was a very pleasant experience. We were seated at a nice window table for two with a nice view over the Mount Panorama race track.

The staff were very friendly and attentive to our needs. We didn't have to wait long after being seated and the food came out shortly after it was ordered.

The food was very nice, a reasonable size and very fresh. I had a light fish and chips with a nice large bowl of salad. The fish tasted very fresh. We even decided to have a treat with dessert and were surprised to find the quality and presentation was better than a lot of fine dining restaurants we have eaten at.

Being in a bar with option buffet options for large groups it can get a little noisy but all in all it was a lovely experience, a nice view, nice food and good value for money!

Approximate cost: $From $26

I do wish it was possible to post photos to reviews because other than being one of the most awesome experiences to be had in Bathurst it is also one of the most pretty with a nice view over the area at the top of the mountain.

The Mount Panorama race circuit is open on a daily basis unless other wise booked out (you might want to check the website for calendar events or contact [email protected] if you want to book in for your own circuit)

Any V8 super car fan or motor racing enthusiast shouldn't miss this opportunity to "re-inact" at a meer 60/km their Bathurst dream... My husband reluctantly handed the keys over so I could drive around the mount twice while on our recent honeymoon and day trip through Bathurst. It is something I'll never forget!

A great experience and it's free!

Approximate cost: $Free

The Australian Mineral and Fossil Museum at Bathurst boasts the of Australia's biggest collections of minerals and fossils. Perhaps the most disappointing fact is the museum is the home of the "Sommerville Collection" the life time work of Warren Somerville yet only about one quarter of the entire collection is actually on display.

Though your unlikely to be wowed when you first step in the door once you walk around the corner you will be. The museum as some of the best mineral and crystal samples I have ever seen.

Each case as been carefully put together to display the samples at there very best. Some displays have interesting fact sheets for both those with and without mineral knowledge there is something for everyone to learn.

Once you get through the mineral collection you will step foot into the world of fossils, climbing the stairs will have you almost eye to eye with a T-Rex skeleton. The fossil collection contains fossils of some of the oldest known living animals and is very impressive though it's the minerals and crystals I think which steal the show.

The gift shop is a little disappointing, not offering a lot of good quality samples to take home and after walking about the collection you will likely want to take a little piece home.

The entry fee is modest and the collection is well suited to any age!

We really enjoyed ourselves!

Highly Recommended Visit While In Bathurst!!

Approximate cost: $8

We noticed "The Rock Shop" when walking back from dinner one night... we called in on Sunday morning but it wasn't open. It seems most things around Katoomba are open on weekends but they don't open till 10am or later. We went walking up the street came back it was still closed went to leave and it was open... what I found most frustrating was there are no opening hours in to be seen.. We were leaving on Monday morning but didn't want to hang about not knowing if it was open...

As a collector I was a little disappointed by the range they seem to cater more to the tourist trade with stone jewellery and polished tumble stones and carved and in some cases over priced ornaments.

If your looking for something a little different especially as a gift you can't go wrong. You won't mind paying a little bit extra here and there.

But for the serious collectors the mineral samples tend to be small and not the best quality, those which aren't in my option were a little over priced.

It's still worth dropping in and having a look you never know a little something might catch your eye. There just wasn't anything there to make me go WOW! (Unless you count the $7000 quartz orb... but that was just over the price and a little over the size)

The staff seemed pleasant and all in all, I'd go back for another look!

Oh to be a kid in a candy store!! Well the lolly shop pretty well makes that dream come true! We recently dropped into the lolly shop on our way back from Jenolan Caves. It makes a nice little stop to stretch the legs.

We filled up on a load of chocolates to take back to enjoy over the last of our stay on our honeymoon.

The variety was amazing! It is great to see some of the old favorites like pineapples and honey bear or black cats. As well as the old fashioned hard boiled lollies and liquorish and not to mention all that chocolate!

Quality is really good but I did find the value a bit disappointing. It's not hard to spend $50 or even a hundred dollar on just a few bits specially when your buying gifts as well as indulging yourself.

We drove in once on the way to Jenolan and they were closed but they do have an online store (I've just had womo add it to this review) so you can still enjoy all those favorites.

Worth a drop by!

I've only been a member for a short time but I have found the site to be very valuable indeed. I've seen a few reviews particularly for restaurants will definitely be keeping in mind next time we are eating out.

The site is easy to use and most of all it is informative! What a better way is there to find out about new business than by word of mouth!

Bottom Line - Fantastic!

When booking into Jenolan Caves for a night tour it was recommended that we should have a 6pm dinner at
Chisolms Restaurant to be assured we would have dinner before our tour began at 8pm. So while booking the accommodation etc we made a reservation at the restaurant.

When we got to the restaurant it was empty. We were seated at a beautiful table for two next to the window. There was a thunderstorm that night and it made for a wonder view.

The service was excellent, the staff are well trained and friendly. The down side of the restaurant being empty was the staff feeling compelled to come over what seemed every few minutes to check on us... kind of dampening the romantic setting. (When we left there were 2 other tables occupied, it was Wednesday night)

When you are the only place for accommodation and meals in the area you really get the monopoly of it really... At the time we thought Chisolm's Restaurant was the only place to eat other than the bistro which closes at 5pm [the bar also serves meals... GO THERE we didn't know this at the time]

It cost us $88 for 2, one entree, one main, One side and 2 desserts. I was stuck eating an entree for my main with a side of chips because there was nothing on the mains menu I would eat... I am not a fussy eater by any means I don't think and I have always found restaurants to serve a chicken option... not here... Pork, Salmon and Risotto the main options... I opted for the over priced $18 entree consisting of a spring roll, a curry triangle and a dumpling. Add to that an $8 side of chips (for your information the chips served at the bar are cheaper by $1 and come out of the same kitchen... the bowl is also fuller... keep that in mind)

"Ask staff about our specials" apparently there wasn't one or any...

My husband had the pork belly which at $32 was very disappointing... Ok but not worth $32... $25 might be more reasonable...

So hoping for something special we awaited dessert $15 each for a cheese cake no more round than a 50 cent piece and no taller than my thumb...

Hungry still... YES and no where else to eat...

The quality or at least the meal sizes should increase, the price needs to come DOWN... The next night we ate at the bar and were more than happy with our meals...

Bottom line... I'd avoid, eat in the bar!

Approximate cost: $30+