Embrace a Palm Springs-inspired retro stay at Kyah Boutique Hotel

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In the bohemian village of Blackheath lies Kyah, a sleek and stylish hotel that is just as ideal for families as it is for cool and young travellers.

Australia’s iconic Blue Mountains region isn’t known for contemporary and chic accommodation. Stately and elegant? Yes. Traditional and heritage? Certainly. But hip and cool? Not so much. The Kyah Boutique Hotel in Blackheath, however, has turned that idea on its head. The former 1970s motel was given an astonishing makeover making it the Blue Mountain’s coolest hotel, fit for travellers of all kinds. Here is all you need to know about this stylish Blackheath accommodation.

Pastel pink hallways at Kyah Boutique Hotel
Pastel pink hallways greet you on arrival. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Location

Kyah Boutique Hotel  is located on the edge of the Blue Mountains’ town of Blackheath, a charming hub with many cafes, restaurants and stores located less than 20 minutes’ from the Three Sisters and Scenic World. Blackheath has some of the best bushwalking in the Blue Mountains, with the towering Cliff Top walking track from Evans Lookout to Govetts Leap and the Grand Canyon Track accessed just down the road from the Kyah.

Kyah Boutique Hotel Blackheath
Find Kyah in the bohemian village of Blackheath. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Style and character

The Kyah Boutique Hotel was transformed from a run-down 1970s motel that was completely gutted and renovated to ultra-chic Palm Springs-inspired accommodation. The building was reimagined by Sydney-based design firm MKD Architects with a fresh monochrome facade with potted cactus at its entry, accentuated curves and arches, and a colour palette of pastels and earthy tones. The Art Deco detailing add “twist of Hollywood glamour".

Room details feature a chair and lamp
Pops of colour against a pastel palette make for a charming combination. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

The large property on which Kyah resides is beautifully landscaped allowing guests ample opportunity to breathe in the alpine air, with (allegedly) one of the oldest Japanese cherry blossom trees in the Southern Hemisphere. There is also a vegetable garden from which produce is used in the restaurant.

the room at Kyah Boutique Hotel, Blackheath
Accentuated curves and arches add to the ultra-chic style of the hotel. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Facilities

The hotel features a restaurant open for breakfast daily, lunch on weekends and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday. There is also an outdoor hot tub and firepit, a sauna, tennis/basketball court and complimentary e-bikes for guests.

Hot tub outside at Kyah
Ease yourself into holiday mode with a soak in the hot tub. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

There is free on-site parking for guests and a ‘mini market’, a cart stocked with local goodies such as chocolate, olive and soaps to purchase.

Firepit at Kyah Boutique Hotel
Cool mountain nights call for time around the firepit. (Image: Steven Woodburn)
The hotel sauna and shower
Take advantage of the onsite sauna. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Rooms

The Blackheath hotel has 46 rooms in three wings, each named after one of the Three Sisters, that cater to a range of travellers from families to couples.

Queen-plus-one sized room at Kyah
Sunlight-drenched rooms make for a peaceful stay. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

There’s a King Room for two; a more spacious King Suite; a Queen Plus One, which features a queen and single bed, perfect for three guests; and a Family Suite and Two Bedroom Suite that both sleep five people.

Inside the rooms at Kyah
The rooms are decked out in stylish details and spacious in size. (Image: Steven Woodburn)
Minibar inside Kyah
The minibar is stocked with local products and treats. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

All rooms feature a mini bar, tea and coffee-making facilities, free wi-fi, and bathrooms are stocked with locally and ethically made amenities. The Two Bedroom Suite has a bath.

Two bedroom suite at Kyah in the Blue Mountains
The stylish two-bedroom suite is perfect for larger groups or families. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

 

Food and Drink

Blaq is Kyah’s restaurant, bar and terrace helmed by Mate Herceg (former Hydro Majestic chef). The menu focuses on modern Australian cuisine created using hyper-local Blue Mountains produce and ingredients sourced from the onsite garden, from beetroot and kale to herbs and edible flowers.

Chickens and onsite kitchen garden at Kyah
The restaurant uses hyper-local Blue Mountains produce and ingredients sourced from the onsite garden. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

The restaurant is open daily for breakfast and serves a seasonal grazing table as well as hot breakfast dishes on the weekends. Lunch and dinner are served from an a la carte menu, accompanied by signature cocktails and wine hand-picked by award-winning sommelier Andres Aragon. The restaurant also hosts a regular calendar of events such as gin masterclasses to festive lunches.

a close-up shot of a dessert on a plate at Blaq Restaurant in Kyah Boutique Hotel
Blaq’s dessert menu will satisfy your sweet tooth. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Experiences

The Kyah hotel offers the use of its six e-bikes for free, which is the ideal way to head into Blackheath for a coffee or to browse the village stores or to explore the surrounding area without having to drive.

ebikes sit out front of Kyah Boutique Hotel in Blackheath
There are e-bikes available to use during your stay. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

The hotel is a short distance from the beginning of many hiking tracks in the Blue Mountains National Park, such as the Grand Canyon hike through lush green rainforest to see waterfalls.

a couple enjoying a walk along the Wentworth Falls Track in the Blue Mountains National Park
Be rewarded with views overlooking Wentworth Falls Track. (Image: Destination NSW)

There are a few accommodation packages available including a Kyah Stay with Dryridge Estate Wine Experience and a Tee-rific Golf Play and Stay, which includes 18 holes at Blackheath Golf Course.

Access for guests with disabilities?

The King Room has an accessible option with ramp access, while the restaurant is located on the ground floor and is suitable for guests with disabilities. Call the hotel to enquire.

Family-friendly?

The Kyah is very family-friendly, with rooms specially designed for travellers with kids, such as the Family Suite, which features a king bed and triple bunk and the Two Bedroom options that also sleep four and five. Families will love the multi-purpose basketball and tennis court, and the large property with gardens to explore.

Family suite bunk beds at Kyah
Families are well taken care of at Kyah.(Image: Steven Woodburn)

Details

Address: 13-17 Brightlands Ave, Blackheath

Cost: Rates start from $240 per room

Megan Arkinstall
Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.
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Harbour views and seasonal luxuries: this Sydney hotel is elevating Christmas

Luxury meets hyper-local hospitality with an exclusive Christmas stay package and menu you’ll want to be present for.

An Aussie Christmas is like no other. December signals the start of summer, celebrations and festive cheer. While Mariah Carey might not have defrosted just yet, we’ve got less than 100 days left of the year. So it’s time to start planning. Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney is reimagined with a luxurious festive stay package. Celebrate with a curated summer tote, a special seasonal menu that captures the flavours of a Sydney summer and cocktails crafted to capture the spirit of a harbourside Christmas.

This is your sign to skip the end-of-year chaos and let Christmas be taken care of for you.

A stay at Park Hyatt

couple with champagne on the balcony of their park hyatt sydney room
Gaze out from your balcony to see Sydney’s icons.

If you love a room with a view, imagine waking up on Christmas Day to the sound of waves and a sunrise over the iconic Sydney Opera House. Step out to your private balcony to soak in the sun, and you’ll find you’re on the doorstep to the coastal cobblestone charm of Sydney’s very own Christmas boulevard, The Rocks.

Enter Park Hyatt Sydney, a 155-room harbour-side hotel, centered in the beating heart of a historic neighbourhood, seamlessly blending life’s little luxuries with living like a local. Spend long, summer days lounging by the rooftop pool with 360-degree views of this harbour city or indulge in tailored treatments at The Spa.

aerial of park hyatt sydney rooftop pool
Spend summer days by the rooftop pool.

Be seated in The Dining Room, overlooking sparkling waters, to taste the vibrancy of an Australian summer. Led by Executive Chef Tyson Gee, discover a lunch and dinner menu that heroes coastal ingredients.

The festive stay package

Park Hyatt Sydney has introduced a festive stay package to up the Christmas spirit. Guests will enjoy an overnight stay in a guest room or suite with uninterrupted views, valet parking and a full breakfast for two in The Dining Room.

The Summer Kit

branded tote bag of park hyatt sydney with the sydney opera house in background
Take home a branded tote bag.

Because it’s an Aussie Christmas, guests booking the package will also receive a curated, limited-edition Summer Christmas kit stocked with seasonal luxuries, including the hotel’s first-ever branded merch.

Think a signature Park Hyatt Sydney sun cap and Aesop sunscreen valued at $300, all in a branded luxury tote bag. This kit will also be available for purchase throughout December, if you’re in need of any gift ideas.

The details

The festive stay package applies to stays from 1 – 27 December, with a limited number of suites available. Guests can book using the exclusive offer code XMAS25 on parkhyattsydney.com . They can also call +61 2 9256 1234 or email sydney.park.accommodation@hyatt.com.

Christmas dining

christmas menu at the dining room restaurant in park hyatt sydney
Taste a special Christmas menu at The Dining Room.

For the gourmands who want to participate in the festivities but are unable to stay as an overnight guest, Park Hyatt Sydney can still be your Christmas go-to. Taste Chef Tyson Gee’s themed culinary creations throughout December .

From 1 – 24 December, diners can book a Christmas Afternoon Tea from $95 pp. Prepare for Christmas flavours like braised turkey pie with cranberry gel, plus gingerbread and salted vanilla bûche de Noël and a chocolate hazelnut bauble for dessert.

On Christmas Day, The Dining Room and The Living Room will both offer a five-course menu from $425 per person. Start with a glass of NV Taittinger Champagne on arrival – accompanied by Sydney’s finest seafood – and end with a reimagined mango pavlova, with rice pudding and pink peppercorn.

“Our vision was to capture the flavours of a harbourside Australian Christmas,” says Gee. “Guests will enjoy seafood at its best, from fresh oysters to cured ocean trout, paired with tropical fruit accents and festive touches like glazed Berkshire ham and roast duck. Every dish has been imagined for a harbourside Christmas celebration.”

Guests can also enjoy a range of seasonal cocktails crafted by Head Mixologist Kevin Botte, including the Christmas Negroni, Christmas Mulled Wine and a Christmas Cocktail/Mocktail.

Exploring Sydney

woman drinking festive cocktail in the dining room restaurant of park hyatt sydney
The best of Sydney is right on your doorstep.

For those planning a visit, Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney means you’re perfectly situated to explore the best of Sydney.

The hotel is mere steps away from the icons, from Sydney Opera House to the Harbour Bridge, along with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Add open-air galleries full of murals and explore the nearby cobblestone streets.

Head to the charming Rocks Markets, where the streets transform with seasonal Christmas creations, of the artisan and foodie variety. Then head over to Dawes Point Park for a picnic under the bridge.

Find more 360-degree rooftop views at the Glenmore, or listen to live music at Brewhouse at Squire’s Landing from Wednesday to Sunday (times vary). There’s something for everyone.

For more details on Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney, visit parkhyattsydney.com or call +61 2 9256 1234.