Blue Mountains National Park Hotels

BLACKHEATH CARAVAN PARK: IN A GOOD POSITION

This Caravan Park is located in a side street in Blackheath, directly opposite a beaut playground if you have children, and a public swimming pool (normally open between the end of November and the end of March each year) There is a Duck Pond in the valley area where the Ducks are delighted to be fed!

The park was all nice lawns, plenty of shade Trees, a good amenities block which has a door code to get in and out, BBQ area, Laundry, Kiosk, Communal Refrigerator and a Dump point if you have a Caravan.
The area was quiet, and in a good position for visiting the sights of the Blue Mountains.

Our stay here was good, and we would return again.
We had a powered Caravan site, which cost $31.20 for 2 people a night. (2009)

There are Cabins here, which they call onsite vans, prices vary for different peak periods, so best to check the website for more details.

To give you an idea, prices for normal times are
NO ENSUITE......start from $39.50
WITH ENSUITE.........$64.65

You need to fetch your own linen or hire for these.

Bookings are essential during Peak periods, and surcharges do apply in these periods.

Office hours are from 8 - 8pm

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Camping
• Written November 14, 2009

Cabins at the Caravan park

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Palais Royale Katoomba Blue Mountains: wait and see

Moments Bed n Breakfast: Great Moments @ Moments!

Nice, quiet and cosy B n B. Unlike other B n B, breakfast is served at a cafe down the road, which is also open to the public. Great views of the mountain. Try to grab a seat outside if the weather permits. In good old Australian fashion, the view is "lovely"!!!

Great views of the Blue Mountains from your bed!

Hydro Majestic Hotel: Grand Old Lady of the Blue Mountains

Opened in 1904 as a Hydropathic Spa, the Hydro is the grand old lady of hotels in the Blue Mountains. Perched on the cliff edge in Medlow Bath, the hotel offers spectacular views over the Megalong Valley (or so it appears - we were there when the clouds were so low we could barely see the first tree outside our room less than 5 metres away! :)).

It's grand, it's historic - it's huge. The reception area sets the scene - open fireplace, over-stuffed armchairs, fabrics with floral motiffs or heavy velvets, mahogany woods and the reception itself no more than two antique desks (at least the booking system is computerised though!). From the reception (located approximately in the centre of the hotel), the wings and styles of the hotel spread. A fire in the 1920s and recent rennovation have resulted in a hotch-potch of architectural styles.

Edwardian is dominant in the areas open to non-residents - fabulous long corridors lined with over stuffed armchairs and velvet clad banquettes overlooking the valley below, b/w and sepia tinted photographs of the days when the spa was at its grandest. The resident lounge again with those floral motiffed armchairs, ticking clocks, shelves lined with books a perfect spot to read the newspaper or, on a wet afternoon, read an Agatha Christie book (keeping an eye on fellow residents - Miss Marple could easily be sitting in the corner chair).

Art Deco kicks in on the other wing - the grand bar and where most of the cheaper rooms are to found. This is the wing where the domed former Casino is to be found (which was sadly locked up when we were there but peering through gaps in net curtains revealed an extraordinary muralled room.

The rooms whilst small are functional and comfortable. Note that the cheapest rooms on offer through the various websites (c$110 ) gives you a room overlooking the front of the building - the road, car park etc. The next price up (approx $!50) will give you a valley view and considerably more privacy. There are also other higher priced rooms to be had.

The Hydro Electric is a grand hotel indeed. But like so many such places, its needs a fortune to be spent upon it to restore it to a true luxury hotel. Grand Mercure recently purchased the place and did indeed spend a great deal of money. Some of well, some of it less well.

The bedrooms are fine (although we did go for an upgrade for the valley view) and many of the public rooms ooze atmosphere. It was the ideal place to stay considering the weather - we spent time exploring the hotel and grounds, thus breaking up the time.

Downside was some of the corporate introductions and the 'edges' that needed refining. The dining room for breakfast (as well as over-priced dinner which we did not try) is a depressing place to start the day - it is THE place that emphasises what the place once was and what it is now. A grand room but shabby.
The outdoor swimming pool is something of a joke - added a number of years ago (so no fault of Grand Mercure) to one side of the car park at the front. Safety regulations have resulted in a picket fence being built round the pool - all of one metre from the edge, thus not encouraging much family use.
But talking to some of the locals, one of the saddest things is what is now the conference rooms - a conversion of a former bar and lounge with huge picture windows that overlook the valley. This was a local focal point - roaring fires in the winter, comfy chairs and a drink in hand, or the place for fabulous sunsets.

Generally, the hotel is a good place to stay - many of the criticisms are based on what it could be/what is was.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Written January 12, 2006

4 more images

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Parklands Country Garden and Lodges: If you can afford it

You won't starve. The breakfast basket has an array of goodies from fruit to cereal to those who fancy something more substantial.
All 12 rooms have private facilities and the decore is auch that you feel pampered (proper baths even!) just by being there amongst the plush sofas and king size beds.
Though they don't serve dinner here you are within reasonable walking distance of a selection of restaurants.

This place oozes class. Even driving past you can tell there's something special about it with the 100-year-old plus heritage listed gardens tempting your eye.
Hidden though are the small lake frequented by waterfowl and beautifully manicured lawns.
All of the above smells of money of course, yours!
The cheapest room comes at $225 and that's midweek while you won't get a lot of change out of $1,000 for the best room on a long weekend (three nights).

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Eco-Tourism, Spa and Resort
• Written June 14, 2005

And that's not all of it!

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Naini Tal B&B: A touch of class

We courted the internet to find this one and we weren't disappointed.
This is not for backpackers, this is for old farts who enjoy a certain ambience combined with a satisfying breakfast accompanied by soft classical and opera music in the background.
This is when you want to indulge a little and be able to boast to your friends that you stayed somewhere a bit up market. Well, that applies to those on my social level anyway!
Our only complaint was the narrow staircase whose steps were not quite big enough and proved difficult when carrying one's luggage, though it must be added that Peter, the owner, did offer to carry it up for us.
The name, incidentally, comed from the Himalayas where Peter was born. The word "tal" means lake.
Jenny, the wife who he met in Italy, actually runs the place like clockwork though.

It's a purpose built establishment, as it so happens by the owners themselves and the fake concrete sandstone and column-supported verandah give an indication of the quality within.
The sumptuous carpets and stylish interior add more to the overall impression of class which is why it rates four and a half stars.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Seniors, Luxury Travel
• Written June 13, 2005

The column supported verandah.

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Hydro Majestic: Room with a view

There's something about this place that keeps drawing me back. Perhaps I'm trying to relive my youth because this is the type of place my father brought me to when I was just a wee lad in the 60's.
The Blue Mountains was starting to decline in popularity then. Ever slowly, as roads improved, people spread their wings further until the late '80s when it kicked back again.
Now there's a steady stream of tourists and you can still see how it used to be at some establishments. This is one.

This place is one of the original Guest Houses of the Blue Mountains and, despite a couple of recent refurbishments, it still retains some of the grand old atmosphere with its art deco a-la-Miami. The painted concrete walls, the creaking floorboards (don't you just love them!), the old theatre that just reeks of history, pictures of 30's sailing boats on Sydney Harbour. One thing it will never lose is the view. We're talking vistas here, genuine 180 degree stuff over the Megalong Valley while you're perched on the cliff edge sipping a hot chocolate.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Luxury Travel, Museum Visits, Trains
• Written February 1, 2005

Something about the Hydro that's different

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Blue Mountains YHA: Katoomba`s best YHA hostel

This hostel is one of the bests of Australia. Its personal and a lot of equipments!
Large community room, kitchen, clean rooms, huge outside area.

You can play games, rent a guitar and so much more.

Blackheath Caravan Park: Caravan Park

I stayed at the Blackheath Caravan Park in the early 1990's and it was a nice place to stay...they are still open these days so they must be doing something right. :)

The facilities were good and the cabins were clean.