Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat

Name: Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat
Address: Fifth Avenue, Katoomba, NSW, 2780, AU
Telephone: +61414654904

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Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat

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Our place sits on a 1600 sqm block with views of the Blue Mountains National Reserve. Our focus is on creating a Mediterranean oasis in the heart of Katoomba.

Making it the perfect location for our Italian cooking class experiences. Accomodation available A touch of southern Italy in the Blue Mountains NSW

Our three bedroom house (plus converted garage living space) has everything you need to feel at home when all you want to do is escape the rat race for awhile. So much more personal than a motel, shared accommodation or large hotel. Lots of room to spread out with outdoor eating area plus a huge backyard for kids to explore. Set on 1020 sqm, overlooking Blue Mountains National Park and down the road from Minni HaHa Falls, this self-contained mountain retreat offers a relaxing backdrop to your stay. Air conditioning and free wifi. BEDROOMS:

One Queen, one Double and two Singles which can be joined on request. Plus our converted garage with double sofa bed, rug, curtains and wall mounted TV). All beds (apart from double sofa) are set up on arrival. Carpeted. Included in the price: sheets, blankets, doona, pillows. Cot set up in one of the rooms, with mattress protector. Cot linen is not provided. No charge for use of cot. BATHROOM:

Continuous hot water. Three way bathroom with shower, tub, toilet and vanity areas. Plus a second toilet in laundry. Heat lamp and floor towels. Included in the price: bath sheet, face washer, hand towel, body wash, hand soap, first aid. KITCHEN:

Goodies supplied in the pantry inc coffee, range of teas, Milo, honey, Vegemite, cereal, oatmeal, salt, vinegar, oil. Microwave containers. Take away containers. Fully stocked with crockery, pots and pans, glassware, cutlery etc. Electric oven and cooktop. Microwave, toaster, kettle, portable electric BBQ. Italian caffettiera for a good coffee. Dishwasher. DINING AREAS:

Large dinner table seating 10. Tablecloths provided. Outdoor chairs and ottomans. Two large gorgeous cane chairs nearby to lounge about in. Cushions provided. Overlooks our lovely large backyard with fruit trees, mini vineyard and seasonal veggie patch. Views to Blue Mountains National Park. Outdoor eating area under the deck: large table with room for 8. LOUNGE:

Flat screen wall mounted TV with internal DVD player. Video player provided. Two sofas with room for 8. Throws provided to rug up into. Large range of coffee table books and magazines to browse through. Movies for young and old provided. Music CDs provided. Family friendly - lots of games, puzzles and toys provided for some great family time. LAUNDRY:

Large washing machine and sink. Laundry powder, clothes basket and pegs provided. Outdoor clothes line. Indoor airer. Second toilet. BABIES / TODDLERS:

(Due to Covid, ask us at booking for any of the following which we will provide on request, cleaned and sanitised.) We provide a large range of items you won't have to pack including traditional cot, change mat, high chair, bouncer, stroller, pram, baby bath, potty and child toilet seat. Plus lots of toys, puzzles and books suitable for young children. WHY STAY WITH US? Read our reviews on Google or .citrus.flour.katoomba
We offer late check out when available. Impeccably cleaned by the owners after every booking. Public bus runs through our street, with nearest bus stop at Minni HaHa Road taking you into the town centre. So you can leave your car at home if you don't feel like driving. The bus driver may drop you off right outside our house on your return - they're good that way. Accessible by car from the Great Western Highway from Sydney. By train, Katoomba train station and town centre is a 5 minute drive away. The Edge Cinema is just around the corner. Huge backyard for your children to explore and let out some energy. NB ground level varies. Ask about our Italian home made meals all you need do is reheat. Some require a short cooking time. See our website (Accommodation Amenities) for details. ITALIAN COOKING CLASSES

Why not organise a group of 4 to 6 foodies with a passion for learning how to cook and eat traditional Italian home made meals? Nonna Maria will demonstrate how to make the pasta dough, set up and use the pasta machine, and how to make a basic but scrumptious tomato based sauce. To name just one of our classes. All participants will take part in a hands-on way, and the best part is, the class is followed by a long lunch of Italian foods. Class includes a three course meal and espresso after lunch. A day spent in great company you'll be ready to show off your pasta-making skills at home. These days make fantastic bonding sessions or a gift with thought. Check our www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/classes-and-products page for details.

02/11/2026

Do you have a compost area or bin? It’s been on my To Do list for years. Now I just dig a hole near a tree or plant and bury our food scraps straight into the dirt.

It’s helping to feed the soil too. And to help suppress grass I plant edibles such as nasturtiums or strawberries etc.

Btw some young fruit trees will be available for sale on Sunday 15 Nov. Like this apple tree. We have avocado, cherry, mulberry, fig and lemon. Possibly mandato too.

See you then!

01/11/2026

Working away at maintaining this garden, not only in readiness for Blue Mountains Edible Garden Trail on the 15th Nov, but because timing is everything.

For years I struggled with the idea of spraying our fruit trees for things like leaf curl and shot hole. Which meant we got very little edible fruit.

Thankfully there are a few organic copper fungicides on the market. When used at the right time, these diseases that affect the leaves can be controlled. If not, the quantity and quality of the fruit is impacted.

And after a full year of TLC, you want good fruit!

Each year, I get a little better at this stuff, slightly more organised too. And the trees are looking great! There are a few leaves here and there which got missed (see the scrunched up leaves in the first photo).

One of the best natural treatments for fruit trees is lime washing - builders’ lime dissolved in water and painted onto the trunks. My dad would do this every winter. It’s like a facial for trees ☺️

Come and see what’s growing at our place.
From mighty chestnuts (2nd photo) to teeny tiny strawberries (3rd photo).

Sunday 15th November.

31/10/2026

Leeks may just be related to rabbits. They produce so many offspring it’s hard to keep up! I love how Nature ensures we never run out of food. Those tiny little shoots some no bigger than a grain of rice can all be reported to give a never ending supply.

These will be thoroughly washed, diced and added to my mushroom sauce - perfect to add to a pasta or rice dish, or as a side with your favourite protein (and I don’t mean the new “protein” Cocoa Pops in supermarkets 🤨.

Bonus: don’t throw the roots away. Replant them!

See you on Sunday 15 November.

30/10/2026

Did you miss this one? The best way to stay tuned is to follow both businesses or subscribe to my newsletter. Plus the What’s On section on La Botte D’Oro website.

Since April we have collaborated to bring these Italian cooking classes to Leichhardt. Kind of appropriate in Sydney’s original Little Italy!

Tell us what you’d love to make at these classes.

25/10/2026

Slow food. There’s nothing like it. Especially after a 6 week trip o/s when we ate out every day and night (it’s a hard life but someone has to do it).

In all seriousness, our trip to Italy was amazing. We were there last in 2009. So we made sure we visited places we’d not been to before.

The food was great. But I did yearn for home cooking. We are blessed to have family in a few parts of Italy so those meals were definitely the best!! Here are some photos of our family cooked meals. And some of mine.

Back home now, we’re back to slow cooked meals. Lots of preparation using the freshest ingredients we can find. Again, I’m extremely fortunate to have a mother who grows lots of leafy greens and vegetables in her backyard.

The added bonus of taking the time to cook at home is the act of slowing down. Of not rushing. Of sitting down to eat together. So good for the soul, not just the tummy!

Tip: minestrone always tastes better the following day. So make it a day ahead!

24/10/2026

Here’s a tip:
Use extra long parsley stalks as you would chives. It will give you more of a peppery taste rather than an onion flavour. But waste not want not. Especially when mum’s parsley has grown so profusely and extra tall under dad’s olive trees.

What’s your favourite herb?

18/10/2026

There’s a reason why some dishes taste so good. They take time. And in this instance I’m lucky enough to have homegrown zucchini flowers from mum’s garden.

Best to pick them in the morning and fill immediately, once you’ve rinsed any dirt off. So much easier to fill when they are open. They can be fiddly little things otherwise.

We don’t deep fry in batter. Our version is more like stuffed vegetables. Filled with cooked rice, mushrooms, capers, tomatoes and onions. A little Parmesan cheese if preferred. With lots of fresh herbs. And don’t forget to season.

These will be oven baked with some olive oil. I like them crispy but mum tends to serve them with ragu sauce.

And see those little green stems? Waste not want not. They are stripped of their fine outer skin and added to a pasta dish, instead of say, broccolini.

Will you try these at home?

🌱

17/10/2026

Had to pick this fruit today from my dad’s kaffir lime tree. At least I think that’s what it is. Happy to be enlightened.

Photographed next to my foot and a lemon from the garden for comparison.

It weighs 1.4K - and carrying it felt like I was carrying a baby. That’s my weight bearing exercise for the day!

🌱

16/10/2026

Put 12 people in a room.
Give them flour and eggs.
Watch what happens.

World Pasta Day is something to celebrate when it’s this much fun.

Sunday 25 October
12 noon til 3pm
Only 8 spots remaining.

Book via https://www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/event-details/celebrate-world-pasta-day-with-a-hands-on-clsss
La Botte D'oro
Gabriele Franco

😍 🇮🇹

Address

Fifth Avenue
Katoomba, NSW
2780

Telephone

+61414654904

Website

http://www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/, https://www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/event-details/cook-and-eat-like-an-ital

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