Eastern suburbs couple visiting the Blue Mountains embark on gruelling hike along Leura’s main shopping strip

INTO THE WILD: A Paddington couple have today set off on a daring feat of bravery and endurance.

Samantha and James Wentworth-Tyson have begun a 700 metre hike along the main shopping strip of Leura in the Blue Mountains, 60 kilometres west of Sydney.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful out here in the wilderness,” Samantha told DBT, as she walked past a boutique gift store, selling $80 tea towels.

“It’s so good to reconnect with nature.”

The pair began their day with a full English breakfast at Lilianfels Resort and Spa, where they’ve spent the last two nights.

“We came here a bit early to acclimatise for the high altitude walk,” says James.

“We’ve got large backpacks with waterproof jackets and a few outfit changes, so we are pretty much ready for anything.”

Disaster struck halfway through the trek when Samantha’s $900 sneakers made contact with an unexpected hazard: a small puddle outside a tea emporium.

“It was touch and go for a moment,” Samantha said. “But James reminded me that these challenges only make us stronger.”

As a reward for their efforts, the pair is now planning their next adventure: a road trip to Byron Bay to “totally unplug” while staying in a five-star eco-resort.