R&H Suburb Profile KATOOMBA

Katoomba is located in the City of Blue Mountains, NSW and is the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. It has an elevation 1030m, located 110km west of Sydney and 39km south-east of Lithgow.

The Blue Mountains look blue because the eucalyptus trees covering them disperse eucalyptus oil into the atmosphere and make the blue light rays of the sun more prominent. Katoomba is well known for spectacular views and extensive bush and nature walks. The main industry is tourism.

The rock formation known as the Three Sisters is viewable from Echo Point about 2km south of the main town. According to Aboriginal legend, they were once three sisters, turned to stone by a medicine man who sought to protect them.

Other attractions include Scenic World, a tourist complex home to the world’s steepest funicular railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railway and the Scenic Skyway cable car, which travels over an arm of the Jamison Valley and offers views of Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock.

Katoomba is well-served by hotels and guest-houses. The busy town centre, on Katoomba Street, features dozens of cafes and restaurants, including the Paragon which dates the early 1900s, as well as several second-hand book and antique stores.

Katoomba’s summer daytime temperatures are usually in the 20s with a few days extending into the 30s (Celsius). Night temperatures are usually in the teens. In winter daytime temperatures are typically about 10 °C, with 0 °C or so on clear nights and 3 to 4 °C on cloudy nights. There are two to three snowfalls per year. Katoomba is quite wet all year round, with many misty days.