St Raphael Leura
Highlights
- Explore the historic charm of St Raphael, a former convent set in a lush 6000 square metre estate.
- Stroll just 300 metres to Leura Mall, where cafes, boutiques, and galleries await your discovery.
- Relax in luxurious accommodations featuring modern comforts and stunning views to Sydney.
- Unwind in the cosy Priest's Cottage, perfect for a romantic escape or peaceful retreat.
Over a century ago, Leura was the site of several large residences built by various orders of nuns on prime sights on the crest of Leura hill. One of these, St Raphael (circa 1902) remains. It is a former convent and local landmark. Today it boasts three elegant, self-contained holiday accommodations set in a 6000 square metre private estate with a rambling Sorenson garden and views to Sydney.
St Raphael is only a leisurely five-minute stroll (300 metres) from Leura Mall, the railway station, taxis and tourist hop-on-hop-off buses. Leura Mall has an outstanding selection of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and grand gardens.
St Raphael Leura looks forward to greeting you.
Images and Video
Accreditations
- Accommodation Association of Australia
- New South Wales Business Chamber
- Regional Tourist/Tourism Association/Organisation
Features
Tags
Available experiences
The Convent
The reconfigured and refurbished Convent is a luxurious residence in the east wing of the main building, with European style central heating and an open gas fire to create a cosy atmosphere on cold winter nights.
It boasts two extra large bedrooms, two stunning bathrooms, a huge open plan eat-in kitchen, tasteful lounge and dining area (with an extension table) and two separate delightfully warm winter sunrooms. French doors lead from the main living rooms onto your own north facing patio sitting area overlooking some of the many rambling old Sorenson gardens.
The Convent is very spacious. It can accommodate two couples or a family of four, or just one couple by using all the facilities but without the second bedroom and bathroom.
The Old Chapel
The renovated and refurbished Old Chapel is a large and luxurious space which was formerly the convent chapel. It forms the north wing of the main convent building.
It has two sleeping areas in separate rooms, both with en suited bathrooms (one with generous sized spa bath), a modern eat-in kitchen, a large living and dining space, and its own furnished outdoor patio area overlooking the gardens. European-style central heating is perfect for those cold winter nights. Your parking is adjacent to the private chapel entry.
The Old Chapel can accommodate two couples or family of four or just one couple by using all the spacious comfortable living area, but without the extra bedroom and bathroom.
The Priest's Cottage
The charming, sunny Priest’s Cottage sits in the leafy St Raphael grounds. It sleeps one couple (queen bed) and is ideal for a romantic escape. It also makes a cosy and peaceful retreat for one.
The cottage has been refurbished for style and comfort with quality furniture and fittings, eat-in kitchenette / dining room, bed-sitting room and bath room. Parking is conveniently close to the private front entrance.
Heating is generous and under guest’s control.
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Employs people with disabilities.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on their website (can be emailed on request).
- Asks all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met.
- Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
- Assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Staff are trained in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges.
Vision
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- Braille and tactile signage on all information and paths of travel are available.
- Staff are trained in customer service for people with vision loss (training would incorporate way finding and communicating with people with vision loss).
- An appropriate area for toileting an assistance dog is available.
- Handrails on all stairways
Physical – Mobility
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Physical – Wheelchair
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
- Step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
- A step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
- Step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
- Step free access to the conference or function room
- Lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around to use the lift buttons. Buttons are at accessible height.
- Doorways which are easy to open and have lever handles (doorways 850mm or wider when open and not heavy).
- An accessible public toilet which is unlocked.
- At least one wheelchair accessible parking space with wheelchair accessible signage clearly displayed (International standards are 3200mm wide x 2500 mm high).
- Grabrails in shower recess (can be removable and height adjustable).
- Grabrails provided adjacent to the toilet.
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