There is no shortage of accommodation in the Blue Mountains, with every option available from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. If you are looking for good value Blue Mountains accommodation with personality and in a convenient location, then No. 14 Lovel St in Katoomba is an excellent choice. Read on to find out why it is my favourite place to stay in the Blue Mountains!
I had a complimentary stay at No. 14 Lovel St, all opinions are my own and this is my honest review.
Why Visit the Blue Mountains?
The Blue Mountains National Park is part of the UNESCO-protected Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, in the New South Wales region of Australia to the west of Sydney. The park covers more than 260,000 hectares and is the most visited national park in New South Wales.
Why You Should NOT Take a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains National Park is a beautiful place to visit, with stunning views, miles of hiking trails and lots of cool things to do. While a Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney might be useful for people without much time to spare, there are far too many amazing things to do in the Blue Mountains that it is impossible to do everything in one day.
You really need several days in the region to explore, whether you enjoy hiking or walking in nature, beautiful viewpoints, fabulous street art, delicious food or an art class there is something for everyone to enjoy in the Blue Mountains.
I spent 4 nights here and it wasn’t enough, so at an absolute minimum I would say you need to spend at least two days in the Blue Mountains, with three or more days being even better. This will give you more time to see and do everything you want to, as well as to relax and enjoy the experience instead of rushing around and just following the crowds.
Where to Stay in the Blue Mountains
As you’ll be staying in the Blue Mountains for a few days, before I get into specifics of my favourite accommodation in the Blue Mountains, here’s why I recommend staying in Katoomba, especially if you are travelling to the Blue Mountains by train.
- Katoomba is a great base for exploring the region. The train from Sydney to Katoomba takes around 2 hours and the station is at the top of the high street so convenient for getting around Katoomba.
- There are buses which run from outside the train station to take you to the main attractions and other places to visit in the Blue Mountains like Leura and Wentworth Falls.
- The Blue Mountains Hop on Hop off Explorer Bus service is also based here, and if you’re staying for several days you can extend the Blue Mountains Explorer bus ticket for free.
- Katoomba has lots of great restaurants and bars, and there are a variety of shops from supermarkets to quaint boutiques and some fabulous street art to explore.
You can read more about the best things to do in the Blue Mountains in this article.
Why Stay at No. 14 Lovel St
No. 14 Lovel St is a lovely eco-friendly guesthouse in Katoomba with a mix of private rooms and shared dorms. It is a great choice if you are looking for unique accommodation in the Blue Mountains or are visiting the Blue Mountains on a budget – I loved my stay here and definitely recommend it.
It’s about 10 minutes’ walk from Katoomba train station, located at number 14 Lovel Street in case you hadn’t guessed! You can choose to book a dorm bed, a private room or even the whole house for a fabulous stay in the Blue Mountains.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NO 14
The Team at No. 14 Lovel Street
No. 14 is run by Annette and Gavin, who I met at a hostel conference back in 2019, and they invited me to stay for a few days and made me feel right at home. From chatting with other guests I wasn’t the only one getting the “family” treatment, as Annette would offer to drive people to the train station or into town, as well as sharing her wealth of knowledge about the area.
Annette clearly knows her stuff, so much so that she actually wrote a book about the Blue Mountains called OUT OF THE BLUE, which you can buy at the guesthouse, online or at various outlets around the Blue Mountains to properly prepare for your trip.
OUT OF THE BLUE is all about sharing more about what there is to do in the Blue Mountains and contains information about more than 250 local businesses. If you don’t believe me when I say there are too many things to do in the Blue Mountains, a read of that book will blow your mind! Read more about OUT OF THE BLUE here.
I love how passionate Annette and Gavin are about creating a wonderful and welcoming place to stay, and being part of the community in Katoomba. Originally from Sydney, they moved here in 2017 when they bought No 14 Lovel St and began their adventure as caretakers of this historic guesthouse.
They launched themselves with gusto into the project, and despite floods, fire and a pandemic, they are still here and still as enthusiastic as ever about encouraging people to explore the Blue Mountains for more than just a day!
Planning Your Visit to the Blue Mountains
As well as OUT OF THE BLUE, No. 14 Lovel St also have their own app which you can use to help plan your trip. The app is available in 107 languages and is accessible offline so you can see it wherever you are, including on the plane or anywhere without Wi-Fi.
It includes useful information about how to get to the guesthouse, arrival information and details of all the facilities available, as well as recommendations for things to do in the Blue Mountains, the best lookouts, weather forecasts and more. It was very handy having this on my phone to check things when I was out and about!
The Design & Décor at No. 14 Lovel St
No. 14 Lovel St was first built in 1913 and has been welcoming guests since the very beginning. It is an old building so has a lot of character, including some original features, and is painted bright yellow to welcome you home with a smile on your face!
The guesthouse felt like home to me, it was colourful and clean, cosy and interesting, with a mix of photos, paintings and murals adorning the walls. There is also a large information board with maps and flyers for cool activities in the Blue Mountains.
As it is an old building, sound can carry easily around the house so the owners Annette and Gavin ask for quiet between 10pm and 7am, and provide free earplugs for light sleepers like me. Everyone followed the rules for quiet time during my stay and I slept like a log every night!
The Bedrooms
There are 10 bedrooms at No.14 Lovel St, including two 5-bed dorms and a mix of private rooms. There are twin rooms or double beds available so it works well for couples or friends as well as solo travellers. The bedrooms are on two levels, with shared bathrooms on the ground floor. The house is also available for private rental for groups or families too.
I was in a double room on the top floor, which had a table and chairs in the window alcove and a view over the rooftops and out towards the valley. My bed was very comfy, and the room was cosy and well decorated to make it cute and welcoming.
There was heating in the room through a vent which I could open and close as I wanted, as well as a fan for hot days. The Blue Mountains weather wasn’t great while I was in town so I was glad of the heating! A towel, linen and pillows are provided in every room and hairdryers are available to borrow.
In the room there was also a copy of Annette’s book INTO THE BLUE to borrow during my stay so I had a good read of that in the evening.
Facilities at No. 14 Lovel St
There is a fully equipped kitchen where you can rustle up some food yourself if you don’t want to eat out. There is even an oven and pizza trays which are very rare in any accommodation kitchen these days!
The kitchen was spotlessly clean, with storage tubs for each room on a shelf and in the fridge. In the morning there are cereals and milk available for a light breakfast, as well as tea and coffee available all day. I also loved that there were some cakes and biscuits with an honesty box that is donated to charity.
Once you’ve cooked up a storm in the kitchen you can sit in the group dining area which has a large table and chairs on one side and comfy sofas on the other.
If you want somewhere quieter there is a cosy library with books and games as well as a computer to use, and an outdoor terrace for chilling out and getting to know fellow guests.
The shared bathrooms are on the ground floor, with separate toilets and showers and two sinks. I usually prefer to have my own bathroom, but the shared facilities were kept so clean and tidy that it didn’t bother me at all. If you want to do some laundry there is a washing machine and a tumble dryer available here for a small charge.
Eco-Friendly Accommodation in the Blue Mountains
As well as my experience at No. 14 Lovel St, I also appreciated the extra effort Annette and Gavin go to in making the guesthouse more environmentally friendly.
As well as the usual recycling bins in the kitchen, they have tanks to capture rainwater and use a UV filtration system to make it safe to drink, reducing the average guest’s mains water consumption from 209 litres to 73 litres, saving a huge amount of water.
They have also installed 28 solo panels on the roof that provide up to 10,000 Watts of power, reducing carbon emissions and investing in the future of our planet.
Final Thoughts
I love staying in independent and family-run hotels and guesthouses, they feel much more like home than bigger hotels. There is so much character in the building too that you can’t help but smile when you see it. It isn’t a luxury hotel but I fell in love with the personality and vibe of the place – and I’m sure you will too!
What’s more, Annette and Gavin actually care about their community, and about the traditional custodians of the land where the Blue Mountains National Park is located. They are always keen to help guests to find authentic Aboriginal experiences during their stays and encourage them to learn about the history and culture of this place, long before it became a tourist attraction.
I loved my stay and No.14 Lovel St, and definitely recommend it for couples, friends or solo travellers. Annette and Gavin are all round wonderful people and whether you’re on a weekend break, travelling or backpacking here, No. 14 Lovel St is a fabulous place to stay in the Blue Mountains. Book direct on their website to get a 10% discount on your stay.