From Wikitravel

Katoomba is the largest and best-known town in the Blue Mountains region of the Australian state of New South Wales. Katoomba is located 106 km (66 miles) to the west of Sydney and lies 1,017 m (3,337 ft) above sea level.

[edit] Understand

Katoomba developed as a popular mountain resort town in the early part of the 20th century, a process aided by the advent of regular train services along the current line. The town reached an early heyday in the period between the wars, attested to today by the numerous examples of art deco architecture and shop fronts along the main street of the town.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Katoomba is located just off the Great Western Highway between Sydney and Bathurst.

[edit] By train

Frequent direct CityRail services run from Sydney and its western suburbs. From Sydney Central the cost of the adult train fare is $12.20 single peak, $16.80 off-peak day return [1] and the one way trip time is about two hours. The train gets you to the centre of Katoomba.

[edit] Get around

From the train station you can take a hop on/hop off bus or trolley/tram around the sights for between $12 and $27 depending on which company you choose to go with.

[edit][add listing] See

• Echo Point lookout has spectacular views of the Three Sisters
• The Edge IMAX Cinema [2], 225 Great Western Highway, tel 02 4782 8900. The Edge shows a widescreen movie about the Blue Mountains. This is an amazing show, about the stunning scenery and the rainforest, filmed from an "adventure sports" and "conservation" viewpoint.. and not at all tacky or "touristy". This IMAX also screen other IMAX films and standard movies, so check the schedule before making the trip, because it really is "The Edge" film that you want to see. The other IMAX films can be seen at any IMAX worldwide.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Scenic World, Corner of Violet Street & Cliff Drive, ☎ 02 4782 2699 (info@scenicworld.com.au, fax: 02 4782 5675), [3]. Scenic Skyway/Scenic Railway/Scenic Cableways. These give you scenic views, but tend to be very crowded $10 each way.  edit

• Bushwalking in the valleys, including longer walks to the Ruined Castle (an eroded mountain) and Mt Solitary. Watch out for large, noisy lyrebirds scratching up food on the ground.
• Lots of short and Long bushwalks

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Avalon, 8 Katoomba St, 02 4782 5532. W-Su. A stylish restaurant in the dress circle of the old Savoy theatre with beautiful views down the valley. It is moderately expensive, but they have generous servings and huge desserts. Friendly yet unobtrusive staff and a classy atmosphere. Mains cost up to $25.
• Cafe Zuppa, 36 Katoomba St, 02 4782 9247. Daily 7am-11pm. Zuppa has an art deco interior, friendly staff, good food in generous portions at affordable prices.
• Isobar Cafe, 40 Katoomba Street, 02 4782 4063. Has nice food and drinks, friendly staff and a good atmosphere.
• The Paragon, 65 Katoomba St, 02 4782 2928 (fax 02 4782 4744). Lovely food and friendly staff.
• "Mes Amis", Corner of Lurline & Waratah Sts, 02 4782 1558. Has first class food and service, great wine list and wonderful ambiance.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• The Clarendon Guesthouse, 68 Lurline St, [4]. Has a licensed entertainment restaurant which features live music, comedy and theatre.

Traditional pubs, less heavy on live entertainment than the Clarendon, cluster around Katoomba railway station. The nightlife is this area is not fantastic - by 9pm on a Friday night the streets are almost empty - but those looking for a drink should try:

• The Carrington Piano Bar, also known as the Saloon Bar. The most upmarket of the pubs, it contains rather less drunken young people than the others on the average Friday or Saturday night. Sometimes has live piano music. It also has an excellent restaurant upstairs.
• The Carrington Main Bar is the 'default', stock-standard Katoomba pub, generally known as the 'Carrington' or just the 'Carro'. It's located just opposite the train station and taxi stand. Poker machines, beer, pies, more beer. There's a 'nightclub' upstairs with a separate entrance fee which opens at midnight Fridays and Saturdays, but it is something of a joke amongst the younger set and is probably not worth the time. It is rubbish.
• The Hotel Gearin, or 'Gearin's', is another beery pub on the opposite side of the railway line to the Carro. It was previously very rough, with the occasional brawl, although it has improved somewhat in recent years (although it's still not exactly the place for a romantic date).

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Splurge

• The Carrington Hotel [5] This historic (built 1880) hotel has friendly staff and exudes charm. It is located right on Katoomba's main street and a short walk from the train station. Some of the rooms have breathtaking views of the valley. The formal dining room has great meals. Unfortunately, it lacks a modern elevator, and has too many steps for guests arriving with luggage. Still, a great choice if you like old-world charm and a choice location over modern convenience.

[edit] Budget

• Blue Mountains YHA, 207 Katoomba St, 02 4782 1416 (bluemountains@yhansw.org.au, fax 02 4782 6203), [6]. Reception open 7 am to 10 pm.
• The 3 Explorers Motel, 197 Lurline Street, 02 4782 1733 or 1300 721 733 (reservations) (fax 02 4782 1146), [7]. All rooms in this small motel have queen sized beds, private bathrooms, and televisions. There are also a small number of "spa suites" with two or three private rooms and a two person spa. Rates for two people per night are $96 Sunday night to Thursday night, $106 Friday night and $136 Saturday night for a double room; and $155 Sunday night to Thursday night, $175 Friday night and $205 Saturday night for a spa suite. Call the reservations number for special deals if staying both Friday and Saturday nights.
• No. 14 Budget Accommodation, 14 Lovel Street, phone 02 4782 7104 [8]. A relaxed, homely hostel with polished floors, cosy fires, clean and tidy, with a leafy veranda with valley views. It is family -run and the friendly staff will gladly provide you with all necessary information about the blue mountains. Free internet, tea and coffee. Only 10 minutes walk from town center, 5 minutes from the railway station. There are four-bed-dorms, twin and double rooms, all are centrally heated for those chilly mountain nights! $59 for doubles and twins, $22 for dorms.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!