CAR PARKING INFORMATION

Since the festival last year, paid parking has been introduced for the majority of Katoomba town centre, so we have compiled the following information to assist festival-goers in planning ahead for the weekend. We’ve highlighted where free parking is available, approximate number of spaces and also indicated time restrictions where applicable. Please see the ‘Accessible Parking’ section below for further details.

TAFE Katoomba campus - enter via Parke street

Whilst relatively few spaces on offer, this is our pick of the bunch, with free parking and no time restrictions!

Upper level - 20 spaces + 2 accessible
Lower level - 31 spaces + 2 accessible

The Carrington hotel carpark - enter via Parke street

Festival-goers are most welcome to use the Carrington Hotel carpark, with free parking and no time restrictions.

35 spaces + 2 accessible

There are also 4 additional accessible parking spaces available that offer direct access to the Carrington Hotel. You can find these by entering the Carrington Hotel driveway via Katoomba Street, driving up past the entrance to the hotel, looping around to the right and then taking a sharp left just before the entrance to the Baroque Room.

coles carpark - enter via Parke street

There’s free parking aplenty at Coles, however please note the 2 hour time limit, as it’s quite the hub for mountain folk needing to access the supermarket.

Both upper and lower levels - just over 200 spaces each, with the upper level also providing an additional 8 accessible spaces.

There is good access to the festival from here, as noted below in the ‘Accessible Parking’ section, with lifts and travelators up to street level and the Cultural Centre.

Woolworths carpark - enter via Parke street

Similar to Coles, Woolworths has lots of free parking on offer, with a 3 hour time limit that again, we request is observed. There’s a lift to street level, however from here there’s a short walk to the festival, including a steep incline.

Almost 350 spaces + 4 accessible, and 6 spaces specifically allocated for Seniors.

woolworths street level parking - enter via waratah street

Here, more or less, endth the free parking in Katoomba town centre, but with quite a lot of spaces on offer, not too far from the festival hub. Please note there is a short but steep walk from here to the festival and parking is metered between 8:30am and 6pm, with a 2 hour time limit.

120 spaces + 3 accessible

pioneer place - enter via katoomba street or Parke street

The parking here is quite close to the festival hub but again, involves a short, steep incline to all the action. Parking is metered between 8:30am and 6pm, with a 2 hour time limit.

45 spaces + 3 accessible

carpark outside petbarn/ opposite kmart - enter via Parke street or katoomba street

Near to Pioneer Place and Woolworths street level parking you’ll find additional parking (with the same short, steep walk to the festival), metered between 8:30am and 6pm, with a 2 hour time limit.

100 spaces + 1 accessible.

There are an additional 25 spaces that are also metered, but have a 12 hour time limit, between 8am and 8pm.

studleigh place parking - enter via katoomba street, near saint canice’s primary school

Another little (almost) hidden gem, with 2 hour metered parking between 8:30am and 6pm.

Upper level 17 spaces + 2 accessible

And on the lower level, there’s 31 spaces + 2 accessible that are free and untimed.

the gearin hotel/ katoomba train station carpark - enter via the goldsmith place off the great western highway

For those of you who don’t mind a little walk to the festival (and it’s only about 10 - 15 minutes) there is free, unmetered parking just off the Great Western Highway, with pedestrian tunnel access to the top of Katoomba Street.

70 spaces, with a further 40 or so along Goldsmith Place.

Untimed Free Parking

If you’d prefer the peace of mind to park all day with only a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Festival, Bathurst Rd, accessed from the Parke St roundabout as you cross from the Great Western Highway into Katoomba, has free all-day street parking. The free parking zone starts from MyCar onwards. Additionally, there will be some parking on Cascade St.

Accessible Parking

There are accessible parking spaces at the following locations:

  • In the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre car park (accessed via Parke Street), underneath Coles. There is lift access to the Cultural Centre from both parking levels.

  • At the TAFE car park, directly opposite the Parke Street entrance of The Carrington Hotel. Please note that crossing Parke Street safely from this car park requires crossing the road at the traffic island (30 metres further downhill).

  • In the top car park at The Carrington Hotel.

  • At the Megalong Valley, accessible parking is available immediately adjacent to the venue.

For wheelchair users, three spaces are available in the underground car park located to the right of The Carrington Hotel. These spaces provide access to the ramp and side entry of the hotel. To reserve a wheelchair car park spot, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.

Note that ticket holders requiring wheelchair access to The Carrington Hotel will need to enter via the undercover car park on the right of The Carrington Hotel, where there is a small ramp to an entrance that provides flat access to The Grand Dining Room and Ballroom.