A few wheelchair accessible lodging options are located in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia. I have stayed at all three of these locations and provided my knowledge of the properties. If you have additional or specific questions it is best to contact the places individually.  

Berkana Cottage, Blackheath

I read about Berkana Cottage and asked about wheelchair accessibility.  This house was previously owned by a man with quadriplegia so the design and layout are very wheelchair friendly. There is an undercover parking space right next to entry into the house. The cottage is spacious with easy maneuverability for a wheelchair while maintaining warmth throughout.  Polished board floors, high ceilings, and a slow-combustion fire made for a very cozy weekend getaway for my family.

The cottage has 3 bedrooms.  The spacious master suite has a queen bed with plenty of room around the bed to transfer from a wheelchair.  In the wardrobe of the master suite, there is a hoist, commode chair, and shower stool for guests to use if needed. I have never stayed anywhere with these facilities so I was most impressed that this option was available. This room also has a large roll-in shower and roll-up sink that can be accessed with a wheelchair. Another room has a twin bed and the other is a double bed. The double bedroom would not be suitable for someone using a wheelchair as there is not sufficient space around the bed for the chair to fit.

Lilianfels

Lilianfels Blue Mountain Resort & Spa is a beautiful boutique hotel that is within walking distance of the Three Sisters and Echo Point.  This hotel oozes charm and quality.  They have wheelchair accessible rooms which are on the ground level of the property.  The rooms are queen-bedded and spacious.  The bathroom has a roll-in shower with a flip-down shower seat.

Fairmont, Leura

The Fairmont is an all-inclusive resort. I stayed here on a recent trip to the Blue Mountains and loved it. Set amongst beautiful gardens I fell asleep at night to the sounds of frogs and woke each morning to Kookaburras and Cockatoos. It’s quiet at the Fairmont â€“ wonderfully quiet (well apart from nature!)  The rooms have opening windows so you can even choose if you want to hear nature.

The hotel has wooden beams and valley views giving it the feel of a ski chalet.  Although it seems traditional in one sense there are quirky elements like the beautiful Gasparini French Fairground Organ, indoor mini carousel (kids can ride it for a small donation to the local volunteer bushfire brigade), and colorful artworks hanging over Embers Bar.  

When you walk around the hotel and see the Mountain’s Valley views you are reminded that you’re in the mountains and that’s the reason for the trip.  Once ensconced at The Fairmont it is easy to forget that!  The advantage of the hotel’s location is that you can enjoy both.  Morning sightseeing and afternoon swimming and relaxing is my suggestion.

ROOMS: The Fairmont has three accessible rooms on the ground floor—all with tasteful and modern décor.  The queen-size beds are lower to make transferring easier, the shower has a flip-down shower seat and there are rails in the bathroom.  These rooms have a veranda with tables and chairs that look out over the gardens which I particularly liked. Booking early would be advisable as I was told lots of older people book these rooms, preferring not to have a bath/shower combination.

PROPERTY AMENITIES: For starters, the hotel has an outdoor and indoor pool and spa. Both face the gardens making for a lovely ambiance.

There is a playroom (for 4 years and under) which would be fantastic to wear out the little ones.  Getting them to leave the room is more likely going to be the problem.  There is a ball pit, indoor climbing playground, ride-in cars, and more.

For teenagers, there is a large games room with Wii, an air hockey table, arcade games, and billiards.  All of these are coin-operated BUT on a wet day in the mountains, there would be something to keep everyone happy.  Outside there are tennis courts and plenty of areas to explore. 

There is a billiards table for adults near reception, just to ensure a peaceful game.

My parents stayed at the hotel in July 2012 and extended their stay they enjoyed it so much.  They didn’t use any of the recreational facilities but loved the gardens and the central location of the hotel to Leura.

DINING: On both nights of my stay I dined in Embers Bar which has a lift for wheelchair access.  It has a great atmosphere with beautiful views, a log fireplace, and casual dining.  The food was delicious.  

Disabled toilet facilities are located in the lobby area (behind reception) and are easily accessed from the restaurant.

Avatar photo Julie Jones (2 Posts)

Julie Jones created Have Wheelchair Will Travel to share positive stories of places her family find accessible. Julie worked as a Travel Consultant for over 15 years and travelled widely in her role and as a child with her adventurous parents. Julie has a son who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. She is interested in accessible tourism and bringing awareness to the industry about the needs of people travelling with a disability.


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