Things You Need to Know / FAQs
TOP TIP: MAXIMISE YOUR TIME WITH OUR OTHER SERVICES
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Blue Mountains Bag Storage, just a one-minute walk from Katoomba train station, with FREE bag storage for No.14 guests ALL DAY on the day of check in; and until 1pm after check out, then discounted rate until close. See website for current opening hours.
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The most useful guide to everything else the Blue Mountains has to offer except the famous walks, Out of the Blue also more than pays for itself with special offers! There'll be a copy in your room for you to enjoy during your stay.
We also have Out of the Blue - Blue Mountains Experiences offering simple transport from A to B (like from the station to No.14 with your bags, or to free you up to start the Grand Cliff Top Walk at Wentworth Falls station, Grand Canyon walk at Blackheath when the bus times don't suit you), or more involved itineraries created just for YOU to YOUR timetable!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) & OUR TERMS
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Below are the most common questions. When making a booking, you will receive a (quite lengthy but important) email that has our full terms in relation to your booking. By proceeding with the booking, you are agreeing to these terms & conditions. Full house private rentals are sent a separate rental agreement. Any promotional deal that you are using may have different terms, to which you are agreeing when you use the promotion. Please refer to the promotional deal received.
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How to Find Us from Katoomba Railway Station
We are on a residential street 550m (les than 8min walk) from Katoomba station. We have made a video of the walk from the station to help you find us: Click here to see video or go to our website's contact page.
Remember - we also have Blue Mountains Bag Storage, just one minute walk from the station at 7 Katoomba St, Katoomba.
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Parking
If you are driving, there is plenty of free unrestricted street parking. We are on the raised side of the street, and there is no on site parking.
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Accessibility
If you need additional assistance or would like to share anything privately for us to be aware of, please feel free. We will do our very best to accommodate your needs.
Unfortunately, our 110-year-old house, nor the street access, was not designed with accessibility in mind. We have a temporary ramp that can be installed to assist from the front path to the verandah. However, the front gate itself does not have direct flat access, as we are on the raised side of the footpath. There are stairs up from the street parking near 10 Lovel St, or a small ramp rather than a gutter on the very corner of York St and Lovel St, outside 18 Lovel St. Inside the house, stairs lead to four upstairs bedrooms. The downstairs rooms are level entry with inward-opening doors. The bathroom has a step into showers or over a bath. Toilets are not wheelchair accessible.
Mobility scooters cannot be stored, at least not easily. Please check with us first.
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Peace & Quiet
We are a relaxed and quiet place to stay. There are no TVs or radios etc., on purpose. Please don't play your stuff on speaker at any time. Our house is a traditional weatherboard and not soundproofed. We supply free earplugs for this reason. Definitely not a party place - do not stay here if you want to stay up late. All guests being considerate of others is essential, especially during quiet hours 10pm - 7am. The verandah and deck are off completely off limits after 10pm, unless you're silent. This is in respect of nearby rooms and our neighbours. Even inside the house, you may not realise how easily voices from 'normal' conversations carry, so, really, consider 10pm a cut off. The kitchen also has bedrooms either side of it so it is not really practical to use quietly after 10pm.
For full house private bookings, you may bring your own music system. However, noise restrictions still strictly apply for the verandah / noise transfer outside after 10pm, in respect of our neighbours.
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Payment and Cancellation
Any promotional deal that you are using may have different terms, to which you are agreeing when you use the promotion. Please refer to the promotional deal received.
Full house bookings: 30% deposit within 7 days, with the balance due 30 days before check in. 100% cancellation 30 days prior to check in, 50% 14 days prior to check in then non-refundable. Special conditions may apply to peak seasons such as Ultra Trail Australia, long weekends and holiday periods. Enquire for more information regarding your specific dates.
All payments are authorised on your credit card 3 days before check in. This does not affect our refund policy. Non-refundable bookings are charged at time of booking. Please don't stay with us if you are sick. Cold, flu and COVID are known risks; standard cancellation policies apply.
Bookings within 2 Days & Non-Refundable bookings: No refund. No date changes. If you have made a mistake, contact us within 4hrs of booking (not applicable to same day bookings).
Bookings 2 days or more in advance: You may cancel up to 9am two days prior to your check in date for a full refund. After that time there will be no refund.
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Contactless Check In
You do not need to see Reception to check in. We will probably not even be there. We'd love to say hello during your stay, but we also want to give you the flexibility to come and go when it suits you, not tied to reception desk hours. We have an easy contactless self check in system. Check-in is 2pm for individual guesthouse bookings, 3pm for full house private rentals. Late arrival is no problem, although we'd prefer by 10pm for dorms, to be respectful of your room mates. An automatic email goes out at 11am on the day of check-in (the night before for full house private rentals) with instructions & the code for check-in.
You may drop off your bags from 9am at our Katoomba Street shop - "Blue Mountains Bag Storage" - 7 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. Bookings include FREE bag storage ALL DAY on the day of check in and until 1pm after checkout, then discounted rates until close. Open Thursday to Monday.
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Full house Private Rentals 10am checkout
We need access to the house to complete the housekeeping on time.
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Check Out - Bag Storage / Hang Out
By 10am - check out. Return your key and be out of your room. You can store bags at Blue Mountains Bag Storage (7 Katoomba St, Katoomba) until 1pm for FREE, and then at discounted rates until close. You can also hang out at No.14 in the common areas until 1pm.
By 1pm* - Unfortunately, time to leave No.14
Want to store bags longer? Discounted rates for No.14 guests from 1pm to close at Blue Mountains Bag Storage, 7 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. One minute walk from Katoomba train station.
*Why 1pm? Because we think being able to use all shared facilities until 1pm after checkout is more than fair when you haven't booked another night.
No Children <16yrs - unless Full House Private Rental
Children and babies are welcome for private full house bookings only.
For individual guesthouse bookings, teenagers 16 years and over are OK for private room bookings only. Proof may be required. Your booking will be cancelled immediately, and there'll be no refund if you choose to disregard this advice.
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Bathroom & Laundry
We include towels for all guests (per booking not per day, please reuse). Click here for a video of the bathroom and click here for a video of how far it is from the upstairs bedrooms.
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We also have a washer/dryer for guests' use, at additional cost. To maximise use of solar electricity, during the day is best time to use them. Also, they are not to be used during our quiet hours of 10pm-7am so as not to disturb upstairs bedroom with vibrations.
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For full house private bookings, laundry use is also included in your rental.
Breakfast & Kitchen
In respect of other guests, leave the kitchen tidy. Wash, dry and PUT AWAY whatever you use.
We do not say that we include 'breakfast' in our rates, because people got confused. We do have a free simple choice of oats/muesli/cornflakes with milk (including soy), tea & instant coffee to get you started.
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Shared kitchen has gas stovetops, oven, microwave oven, pizza and baking trays, Bialetti type stovetop espresso makers, and a few small cafetieres, if you'd like to buy your own ground coffee. Salt, pepper, canola oil, plastic wrap and aluminium foil are also supplied.
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Supermarkets are about 10-15min walk (2min drive) from us.​
Heating & Cooling
There are fans in each room for the warmer nights. Central heating throughout (ie not individually controlled in the room as far as on/off but you can adjust vent) and our fireplace in the main living room for cooler nights. We also have baskets of 'granny rugs' in the library and main lounge if you'd like some extra bedding. We do not have air conditioning.
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Click here for Blue Mountains weather throughout the year and click here for the current weather forecast for Katoomba... and don't forget to check out our webcam, too!
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Smoking / Vaping
We are transitioning to be a completely smoke free environment for our individual guesthouse bookings. All bookings made from 9 October 2025 will be smoke free. Please be aware that existing bookings may still include smokers, and the same courtesy house rules will apply as always for smoking only in designated area.
Full house private rentals may use outdoor areas only and will need to advise us so that we may provide ashtrays. ​
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Bicycle Storage
We do not have dedicated bike storage. Bicycles can be stored under the outside staircase (not 100% weatherproof but somewhat covered) with your own bike lock/chain. Dedicated storage has been our (long) wishlist for a long time. We'll update here when it happens. ​
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Minimum Night Stays
During peak periods, we have a minimum two-night stay. This may increase to three nights for some special events. Last minute, we may have single-night weekend stays available for example. Our booking page will update automatically if this is the case..and our Insiders list is often given a heads up first of any major advantage. At other times, while we do have single night rates, booking two or more nights will give you the best price. ​
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Maximum Length of Stay
We are very grateful for our regular guests who have returned to us time and time again over the years. They also continue to respect our terms. Loyalty goes both ways.
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We don't do long-term. We have a maximum booking for individuals of up to seven nights bookable at any one time. Full-house private rentals do not have a limit. Separate bookings don't change this policy. If you're doing a course in the Mountains, for example, let us know your plans. However, suppose you're a long-term traveller, looking for residential, a 'nomad', for example, we suggest you try co-living or other larger accommodation options in the area after seven nights. How often between bookings? If you need to ask, it's not for a course, work or events etc, you probably also know that you're more of a long-term traveller, so please try other accommodation options.
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Work for Accommodation
We employ locals only and don't do 'work for accommodation' arrangements.
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Good Vibes Only
Do not mistake our kindness for weakness. We have zero tolerance for anti-social, rude or entitled behaviour. We expect you to treat all other guests and our team with respect and follow house rules. All bookings are subject to our terms and house rules. At management's complete discretion, any booking may be cancelled without refund and with immediate eviction for breaking this agreement.
Security & Privacy
To help keep everyone safe and comfortable, security devices may be in place in our common areas. Rest assured, there are no devices in bedrooms or the shared bathroom! Click here to view our privacy policy. Please note that we reserve the right to ask for photo ID for any guest, at our discretion.