Lilianfels Blue Mountains

Perched at the cliff's edge above the Jamison Valley with the Three Sisters looming next door, this country house hotel outside Katoomba earns its views the old-fashioned way: picture windows in nearly every room. The 85-room property feels considerably smaller and more personal than that number suggests, with a spa and pool setup that punches well above the hotel's size, plus a library and billiards room for those allergic to wellness.