YHA Blue Mountains Katoomba

Have stayed in thousands of backpacker hostels around the world, and many HI and YHA hostels, but YHA Blue Mountains, what a place! The dorm rooms were large, big lockers to put your own lock on, that take not just your daypack, but your main pack fits inside as well. Beds were really comfortable, even the upper bunk. The bathrooms were always clean, great shower pressure, plenty of places to keep your clothes and toiletries dry while in the cubicle too. I'm not into baths but if you are there is one in the disabled toilet to the right of the luggage storage room. But what makes this so good, is there are so many common areas, and stuff to use for free in them, so backpackers interact. Something a lot of backpacker hostels are missing these days. They even put on a movie each night. Lots of kitchen space and fridges to store food. An Aldi is almost next door, Woolworths across the road from it (flocks of Sulpher Crested Cockatoos like to hang out in front), Big W next to that. Next to Big W is a K Hub. Yeah I had no idea what that was either, it's a combo Kmart and Target product store. If you go onto the next block north of K Hub you'll find a small shopping center with Coles. So you've got options for food and any clothing you've forgotten to bring close by. Local bus stops are nearby in either Katoomba St or next to Woolworths, as is stop 2 on the hop on hop off Big Red Bus. Although I used that I'd recommend just using the local buses, much more frequent, they go everywhere the red bus does and are much cheaper. But if you are using the red bus, you can ask their office to extend the pass for up to three days if you tell them you are staying at the YHA. Unfortunately there used to be a lot more discounts available for food, activities, tours, transport with your YHA card at all destinations across Australia and even overseas. Someone in YHA has dropped the ball over the last decade or so. If you're coming from or going to Sydney Central YHA, it's an easy straight (no transfers) about 1hr 45 minutes city train journey between Katoomba and Central Station (Sydney Central YHA is right opposite the main concourse when you arrive on track 6, not as good as Katoomba YHA but you can't beat the location). If coming the other way from Katoomba station just use the pedestrian crossing next to Hop on Hop Off bus office, then head downhill on Katoomba Street (main street of Katoomba). When you see Aldi, it's just past that. I will definitely stay here again! By the way if you want your 10c deposit back from any plastic/glass bottles you bought in town or anywhere in Australia for that matter, the only place where there is a machine for you to put them in and either get your money back if you've set up an account or a Woolworths voucher instead, is next to the cinema. To get there go under the tracks at Katoomba train station. cross the main road, walk past the local council building (on your left) and then the Katoomba courthouse (on your right), the road dips down and goes around a corner to the left, and the bottles for cash machine is there.