sockboy

Hello

We will be arriving in Katoomba by train at 11:00am from Sydney. We leave the next day at 9:00 am to head back.

I read on one thread that the Echo point motel is very close to the sights, would this be the best place to stay for such a short trip? How far is it from the motel to the train station? Would we have to take a taxi in the morning back to the station? Are taxis readily available??

I was also looking at the Carrington, which I understand is RIGHT in town easy walking distance to the train. The rate for B&B is only $10 more than for the Echo point motel (but we would have to share a bathroom). This way I guess we would have a treck to see the sites, but it would be close to get our bags to and from the train. Our only luggage will have backpacks which we can easily carry a short distance (10-15min walk).

Any suggestions for what sites, hikes we should do on our one day there? Have I been considering two good places to stay? Which one would you recommend?

Thanks!!

tropo

Sockboy, Echo Point Motel is "central" to Echo Point. Its a bit of a walk back into Katoomba, but one good thing about Echo Point, is that your close to some of the walking trails above & below the escarpment.
The Carrington Hotel in Katoomba, is an old Hotel, which was recently restored. We ate in their dining room about 12 months ago - very nice!
I feel that with only 22 hrs in the Blue Mountains, you will have to decide on what you want to see....the major tourist attractions, or would you like to do bushwalking?
Once I know what your preferences are, then I could perhaps advise in that direction.

sockboy

Well, with our limited time, I guess we want to see the main tourist attractions. However, I figured that one of the attractions are the walks . . . Lets put it this way, we want to see the "natural" tourist attractions, and would like to do so on foot.

Alan

sockboy, you are correctly informed about both the Echo Point motel and the Carrington. But this is an easy question to answer.... because you are going by train. From the Carrington, on your second day, you will step outside at 8:55 a.m., bags in hand, and be on the platform before the 9 a.m. train comes round the bend. This, surely, is the most important thing... you don't want to miss that train. The Echo Point Motel would have been great for you had you driven up from Sydney (I recall this was discussed at one time), because you would sleep right near the sights, but when you have the train factored in, surely the idea is to get rid of your luggage as soon as possible after you arrive, and that would mean the Carrington.

You are also in good company staying at the Carrington. James Mason stayed there when he was in Sydney making the movie "Age of Consent". Peter O'Toole stayed there when he was here with a play he was trying out for the West End (it never made it, if I recall, as the reviews said he spent the entire evening wandering around the stage muttering incoherently), travelling between Katoomba and Sydney for each performance. Just near the Carringtoon is the Niagara Cafe, which has quite a history also... photographs on the walls of the many celebrities who have stopped in for their specially-packaged chocolates.

Go for the Carrington, and either walk to the sights (forty minutes) or catch a bus from Katoomba Station.

sockboy

Thanks Alan. Yes, I have chickened out and decided to take the train. We are not in a huge rush, and think it is just one less thing to worry about. Besides, the train will give us lots of time to chatch up on our guide book reading! You have helped me make yet another decision!

Alan

Hi, again, sockboy!

I consider myself very lucky -- I posted the above at least three hours ago and in the meantime nobody has posted back to pull me up over my errors of fact. I don't think I had my mind on the job when I wrote the original, so here's hoping this will make it up to you.

A couple of blatant errors: the cafe is the Paragon, NOT the Niagara. The Niagara is indeed close by, but no one more celebrated than myself has ever walked through the door. The Paragon is the one with the chocolates -- and a list of past celebrities that include Robert Taylor, Shirley MacLaine, Kay Kendall and Dudley Moore.

The trolleys are not ALL open to the elements... just the side windows of some of them.... and I noticed today that in winter they are weather-protected by clear plastic sheets with zippers.

Now for some additional facts: the trolley costs $12 all day. The bus costs $25, unlimited for seven days. The full train fare is $22.80 return. Off-peak is $14. The combined fare from Sydney does not give any discount (inded you just get given two tickets, for which you pay full price) and the station master says that the best idea is to buy when you arrive. Will have some more to say about this later, but right now.... must fly!

Alan

OK, sorry for the delay, but here's the rest of my answer from yesterday.
The information about costs (above) I obtained by asking the station master at Katoomba Station. He is a particularly helpful person and very eager to make sure that tourists get the best out of their day, so I think I will answer your last question first: if you want to know what the weather is like in Katoomba, ring Katoomba Railway Station from Sydney before you start. The number is 02-4782 1902.

As useful as his information was, I think he may be just a little wrong on one point: he said that if you buy the combined bus/rail ticket from Sydney, there is no discount, you pay exactly the same as if you bought them separately. I think, in fact, there might be a slight cost advantage, because the amount I have seen occasionally on posters doesn't quite seem to tally with the $22.80 + $25 which the individual tickets cost. However, his next point is most interesting and worth remembering. He said that if you buy that combined ticket you are issued with two tickets (train and bus), but almost every day he has people who arrive there, having bought the combined ticket, but having only been issued with ONE ticket because the agents in Sydney don't know the rules. Of course, these people get turned away from the bus, and then they head back into the railway station and start abusing him (since the bought their ticket at another railway station). This, he said, is an oft-occurring "nightmare". Nothing is as angry as a tourist who feels he has been ripped-off... he acts like his whole country has been made a fool of. His earnest advice: that I should tell you good people at Fodors that the best way is to buy each ticket at point of departure. Anyway, that way seems to be by far the cheapest option, as the trolley is only half the price of the bus (however, the bus gives concession rates of $22 for seniors and YHA members, $12.50 for children, and $62.50 for a family). The trolley is a single-day pass, whereas the bus can be used over 7 days, but this is not really a relevant point for most of the people reading this forum. Also, the bus includes a "32-page guide book with maps and information". There are plenty of those free, however, from the local tourist offices.

Finally, I asked what the new info is about lockers at Katoomba Station. There are none, nowadays (thanks to Osama Bin Laden), but there is a baggage check-in room which charges $1.50 per bag. It closes promptly at 5 p.m., he pointed out. When does it open, I asked. His reply is, I think, VERY Australian...."Oh, any time... maybe about 7 in the morning". Aussies aren't too fussy about when they START work, but they sure know when it's knock-off time!

Well, now I have answered with the facts, so I feel a bit better!

sockboy

Wow, thank's for the wealth of info, as usual Alan. I think the trolly sounds perfect for our uses (unless we end up walking everywhere - very possible).

Neil_Oz

Alan, recently I walked past a bookshop in a suburban Canberra shopping centre and noted that the business hours were advertised as "10-ish to 5:00". That's laid-back. Almost as good as a roadside cafe I saw in NZ with a sign advertising "Fairly fast food".

Alan

Neil, those are two great stories, and made me smile just when a smile is what I needed most. Thanks a lot, and may I, like Oliver twist, ask for more?

BlueGum

When will you be here... did I miss this bit of info??
If after the end of October then you will have daylight savings time and a longer day, if not your day will be much shorter.

Is there a specific reason for leaving Katoomba so early the next morning... there is a lot to see, tracks to walk etc. and you will only be here for one afternoon if your leaving so early the next day.

With such a short stay and wanting to do nature hikes your best bet is with the Echo Point Motor Inn. You will be close to the bushwalks and attractions you want to do/see (BTW the Scenic Skyway will not be available until Nov as they are replacing the old one) and a taxi to the train station in the morning will be easy.

If you do go to the Paragon go for the chocolates only and eat at the Niagra! Don't get me wrong the food at the Paragon is fine but it is basic and overpriced for what you get. There are lots of bakeries and cafes in the main street for lunches and plenty to choose from for Dinner also.

Since you'll only have one afternoon, do the walk down the giant staircase at the Three Sisters. There are different walks at the bottom, the most popular is the one around to the Sceniscender or train, and then get the Skyway back (but only after Nov 04). Try this site to get an idea of what bushwalks are available and their gradings, Katoomba is about half way down the page. I'm sure you will find something to suit you.
http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/th...s.asp#Katoomba

Happy Trails..

Neil_Oz

Bluegum, if the days seem longer after daylight saving time kicks in, all that proves is that you sleep in!

Alan, I'd love to oblige - maybe I'll have to pay a return visit to NZ? Perhaps we could start a "funniest signs" thread.

sockboy

We will be there Nov 8th, so I guess we will benefit from that extra hour of daylight in the evening. What date does the time actually change?? AND it sounds like we might be able to take the skyway, so long as the work is completed on time. We are leaving that early in the morning as we have a connecting train to catch later in the day.

BlueGum

Daylight savings starts 31 Oct 2004 which will mean you will have a longer afternoon/evening for bushwalking and seeing the sights.

You can always get up early next morning to catch the sunrise over the valley... great for picture taking and another reason to stay at Echo Point!