Find unrivaled beauty in the form of geological wonders, roaring waterfalls, and wandering trails in the Blue Mountains. Best of all? This UNESCO World Heritage is just a short train ride from Sydney.
While it’s possible to visit the Blue Mountains for the day, you’re going to want to spend the night under the stars. Read on for the best places to stay in the Blue Mountains.
The best places to stay around the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains encompasses over one million hectares of eucalypt forests. The famously friendly town of Katoomba hosts a range of accommodation options with sights like the Three Sisters, Echo Point Lookout, Wentworth Falls, and Scenic World at its doorstep. For a home base that’s effortlessly cool, check out Blackheath. When you’re not exploring the Blue Mountains, Blackheath’s cafes, markets, and art shops beckon. Leura, another town on the mountains’ outskirts, embodies NSW small town hospitality and is known for its gamut of gardens.
Top 10 Hotels in the Blue Mountains
From luxurious wellness retreats to cosy cottages to hostels where you’ll find hiking mates, here’s where to stay in the Blue Mountains.
Carrington Hotel
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Built in 1883, the Carrington Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the region and has appealed to travellers seeking a bit of luxury-meets-natural-beauty since its opening. The resort offers a nice change from the ultra-modern trend sweeping through Sydney—no two of the 65 rooms and suites are quite alike, and décor is heavily influenced by its Victorian era origins. Suites sleep up to five people and have plenty of lounge space, making it an ideal pick for families and groups. If you’re booking a room (which sleep up to three people), opt for one with a balcony overlooking Katoomba. Your stay includes breakfast and internet access.
Mountain Heritage Hotel
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Request a top floor room and look out over Jamison Valley from Mountain Heritage Hotel, a hotel that’s been welcoming guests for over a century. Accommodation options range from rooms to suites, with the best hosting mountain views, a spa, and wood-log fireplace (making this hotel one of the coziest during a winter escape). Once you’re done exploring for the day, head to the hotel’s lounge areas and play a game of billiards, dive into a good book in the library, or dine at the onsite restaurant overlooking the NSW wilderness.
Hotel Blue and Cottages Katoomba
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Reminiscent of a bygone era, Hotel Blue and Cottages Katoomba is a nod to the 1920s—speakeasy and all. This Blue Mountains accommodation in Katoomba has 25 comfortable rooms and three cozy cottages. Everyone meets at the fireplace in the lounge. Room options accommodate up to five people; wifi and breakfast included. Three multi-bedroom cottages equipped with a full kitchen and a lounge room are great for families and larger groups wondering where to stay in the Blue Mountains.
3 Sisters Motel
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
A short walk to Scenic World, the 3 Sisters Motel is a perfect pick for travellers who want to be just footsteps away from Australian wilderness. Rooms are clean and spacious, with options sleeping from two to five people. Each room has wifi, air conditioning, and a smart TV. All guests have a parking space in front of their room. If you’re looking for a clean place to rest after a full day out bushwalking, 3 Sisters Motel is an ideal base.
YHA Blue Mountains Katoomba
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Gather around the barbeque or log fireplace and meet adventure mates at YHA Blue Mountains Katoomba, an affordable place to stay with private rooms and dorms. Each room has wifi access and linen provided. Dorms have personal lockers. Book canyoning and rock climbing trips, find a trekking partner, join in on a board game or foosball match in the lounge, and cook up a meal in the communal kitchen. YHAs across Australia are known for drawing a friendly crowd, and this spot is no exception.
The Metropole Guest House Katoomba
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Art Deco elements take you back in time at The Metropole Katoomba, a central stay in Katoomba. Rooms are bright and comfortable, ranging from single rooms to two-queen suites. The best of the bunch, like the Juliet room, have stained glass windows and a lounge nook where you can get lost in the pages of a book.
Parklands Country Garden and Lodges Blue Mountains
Blackheath: 114km west of Sydney International Airport
Set on 28 acres of flowerbeds and forest, Parklands Country Gardens and Lodges feels like an escape within an escape. It’s just a few minutes away from Grose Valley and the Govetts Leap Lookout. The property hosts a range of rooms and suites, all with large windows opening to the green surroundings. All have wifi access and a gas fireplace to warm up during the winter months. If you’ve hiked one kilometre too many and are returning with sore legs or just want to unwind, enjoy a massage treatment or herbal bath at the onsite day spa.
Kyah
Blackheath: 114km west of Sydney International Airport
Recently renovated Kyah Hotel is an Instagram-worthy stay in Blackheath. The Kyah itself is nestled in a eucalypt forest, a prime place to explore with one of the property’s complimentary e-bikes. Spend the rest of your time warming up in the sauna or wood-fired hot tub, playing tennis or basketball at the onsite court, or wandering down an untouched trail. Enjoy a meal at Blaq, the onsite restaurant serving modern fare with locally-sourced ingredients. Room options range from single stays to two-bedroom rooms and suites.
Eagle View Escape
Lithgow: 154km west of Sydney International Airport
If it’s romance you seek, you’ll find it at Eagle View Escape. This adults only retreat is set on 100 acres and hosts self-contained cabins and suites, some with spacious spa bathtubs and large balconies. Gas log fireplaces keep each room warm and cosy, making it a great place to venture to if you’re wondering where to stay in the Blue Mountains during the winter months. When hunger strikes, order a self-cook meal hamper, where all the ingredients for a decadent meal will be dropped at your doorstep. The communal lounge overlooks the beauty of Lake Lyell and hosts a pool table, board games, and tea and coffee station.
Echoes Boutique Hotel and Restaurant
Katoomba: 103km west of Sydney International Airport
Perched on the top of Jamison Valley, Echoes Boutique Hotel and Restaurant offers some of the best views of the Blue Mountains. You don’t even have to leave the property to soak in the scenery. Sip a hot cuppa while birdwatching in the garden or indulge in a cold drink at the rooftop bar. Many of the rooms have views of the Blue Mountains, and large windows bring the outdoors inside. The best ones have balconies with outdoor seating.
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Image credits: Carrington Hotel/Mountain Heritage Hotel/Hotel Blue and Cottages Katoomba/3 Sister Motel/YHA Blue Mountains Katoomba/The Metropole Guest House Katoomba/Parklands Country Garden and Lodges Blue Mountains/Kyah/Eagle View Escape /Echoes Boutique Hotel and Restaurant
