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

Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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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)

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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)

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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

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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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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.