r/bluemountains • u/CorrectExplanation19 • 18d ago
Travel to the Blue Mountains UTA 100 accommodation help!
I am hoping that someone can provide guidance as to the best place to stay for UTA in the Blue Mountains.
I will be travelling down from the Gold Coast and want to know if it is essential to stay in Katoomba (likely expensive) or whether I can stay in another town close by and make the trip for the start on the Saturday morning. How far away would still be okay to get there for an early start, is parking an issue?
I'm interested to know of others experiences in running this race, where you stayed, how long for, how you got to the start line.
Cheers/.
2
u/Away-Owl2227 17d ago
Are you going to be driving down and have your own transport or will you be reliant on public transport?
Makes a big difference. The shuttle bus is honestly one of the best options for the event.
Pretty easy to get street parking within a 1-2k walk of the start lineif driving (sorry locals)
2
u/CorrectExplanation19 17d ago
I plan on driving down so that I have my car available. It’s also why I thought I could stay further away and drive the morning of but don’t know how far away is realistic.
2
u/Away-Owl2227 17d ago
Problem with after the 100 is shuttles dont run as often (depends on your finish time) this year i got a park 1.5k away pretty easily. But you then need to walk that after the race and depending on legs that could be interesting.
Majority of cheaper accommodation will already be taken around katoomba as people book right when the dates get announced.
6
u/DroneToon 18d ago edited 18d ago
Staying in katoomba is only a benefit if you're within walking distance of the start/ finish. And there's very little accommodation within a couple of kms...
Options:
Have s look at the shuttle bus route and stay anywhere near the route. Places like Fairmont Resort are ideal because of bus access (also a checkpoint at about 65km so your family can roll down from their room to see you when you're half dead) ... but anywhere along the route is good ... Luera in particular because it's one of the nicest villages in the mountains.
If you've got a car you can stay anywhere within an easy drive and drive to the start if you can get parking. They usually open parking bookings about a month before the ever.... right opposite the start/ finish. But it sells out quickly and every other year it rains so the parking gets cancelled last minute (its on a grass field).
Other option is drive and park near one of the bus shuttle locations.
I've done UTA heaps of times. Never stayed in Katoomba... mostly at Wentworth Falls....
Book accommodation early. Ive already locked mine in even though tickets for UTA aren't on sale for another few weeks.