Back Cottage Check-In Information
Thank you for booking with Careel Cottages. Here’s some information to help your stay go smoothly. Also if you have made your booking via AIRBNB or STAYZ please feel free to contact me to find out how much you can save by changing it to a direct booking. With cost of living and inflation any savings could be a real help.
To find out what you could save and how to do it just contact me…
Steve Johnson
M: 0433778050
E: careelcottage@gmail.com
Before you arrive:
Self-check in and check out
Check in is from 2pm and check out is by 10am.
We ask you to please keep to these arrival and departure times so we can clean and prepare the cottages for you and the next guests. However, if the cottage is ready for you any earlier on your arrival day, we’ll send you a message and let you know.
Beds and linen
Important: if you have booked for 2 guests we will supply linen for 2 people sharing one bed only. If you require linen for both beds please let us know in advance so we can get them ready for you before you arrive, as we cannot guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate any changes after arrival.
There is a queen bed in the main bedroom with a slide out storage drawer at the end of it for your use, and a double bed in the second bedroom. In the lounge we have a Queen Sofa Bed which we will leave linen for you if your booking is 5-6 people. We hope you sleep comfortably.
Address
Careel Cottages
34 Gates Avenue
Katoomba
NSW 2780
Getting here by car
If you’re driving into Gates Avenue from the town centre side, we are the second to last house on the left-hand side, approximately 100 metres before the road takes a sharp left-hand turn, then go through the gate.
Getting here by train
If you are arriving by train, you can take a taxi from the taxi rank right outside Katoomba train station on the main street. It’s just a 2-minute ride and will cost no more than $10. If you prefer to walk it will take 10-15 mins from the station.
When you arrive:
Parking
Go through the front gate and follow the driveway down the right-hand side of the property. Go through the next set of gates and you have arrived.
Key safe code
You’ll find the key safe on the wall on the left-hand side of the sliding doors.
The code for your stay will be the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to make your booking.
Just a tip - we recommend you keep the key in the key safe when you go out, to avoid losing it, as we might not be around to help you get back in at midnight!
WiFi
- WiFi Name: TELSTRA FBD3B
- WiFi Password: rht5234xf6m7zdvn
TV and Entertainment:
All TV programmes are through FOXTEL including APPS such as NETFLIX, STAN & OPTUS SPORT etc.
How to use:
- Use the TV remote to power on then use the Foxtel Remote to navigate from there. Happy viewing !!
- If the previous guests have viewed APPS using the TV Remote then you will have to get back into Foxtel by pressing the "Input" button on the top right of the TV Remote. Choose "HDMI1". You should now be back into Foxtel and navigate by using the Foxtel Remote.
PLEASE DO NOT LOG OUT OF ANY OF OUR FOXTEL APPS 🙏🙏
MUSIC
We also have a record player and a collection of vinyl LPs for you to enjoy. They originate from our growing years…without giving away our ages! Some are from our parents, and some are far from perfect but if you are in the mood for some music then please enjoy. Please set the turntable speed to 33 for the larger vinyl LP's. If it is on "0" it is OFF and wont turn.
Self-catering and refreshments:
Coffee machine
Both cottages now have Espresso machines and pods supplied for you. If you need any more pods you can purchase them from ALDI supermarket in Katoomba town centre.
Cooktop
The new kitchen is equipped with a Miele Induction cooktop. Here is a quick https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=i2_fSM-3k7w on how to operate it.
Please, please do not put hot pots directly on the bench top!
BBQ
Both cottages have natural gas BBQs with commercial grade stainless steel hot plates for you to use.
There is a yellow regulator on both that turns the gas supply on and off. Turn this to “on” to use and back to the “off” position when finished.
A great tip for cooking on the BBQ and to save the effort of cleaning it before and after is to use baking paper. Just place the paper directly on the hot plate, put your oil on it and cook, it works a treat!
Please clean the BBQ after use.
Dishwasher
Operating instructions are in the kitchen drawer, to the left underneath the sink.
Essentials
Although this is a self-catering holiday, we do provide a few essentials including tea bags, coffee, milk, olive oil, salt and pepper and dishwashing liquid. In the bathrooms we supply body and hand wash.
If there’s anything else you need you can visit either the Woolworths or the ALDI supermarkets, close by in the centre of Katoomba.
Temperature control:
Heating
In the Blue Mountains we can experience extremely cold temperatures at any time of the year, so we have a whole host of ways to keep you snug.
The bedrooms have plug in radiators and fitted electric blankets to keep you warm when temperatures drop, but please remember to turn them off when you leave.
In the kitchen/dining area we have an LED flat glass heater which is easy to set and will heat the whole kitchen and dining area.
In the lounge we have a real flame gas fire, which really pumps out the heat and creates a cosy atmosphere too.
The "On/Off" switch for the fire is on the top left-hand side of the facia of the fire (on the side, not the face).
Important - there is a double power point on the wall in the right-hand corner of the room. It has 3 switches, the middle one must be in the "on" position as this supplies the power for the ignition to light the fire. If it's off the fire will not light.
Cooling
There can be spells of hot weather here, in the summer months, so we have a Dyson bladeless fan in the lounge and in each bedroom to keep you cool. These are top-of-the range fans which cool the air to ensure you’re comfortable even in the height of summer.
Leisure and things to do:
We are located directly opposite Frank Walford Park, a dog-friendly area where you can enjoy a lovely walk around the duck pond. Beyond the pond is the old racing track which is another nice walk.
If you feel like a swim, sauna or work-out then another 200 metres further down Gates Avenue is the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic centre with a heated indoor pool as well as an open outdoor pool, gym, sauna and spa. This space is also being upgraded to house a new inclusive kids pool, and other features such as accessibility ramps and shade shelters.
If you are here for bush walks or to explore the magical sights found in this beautiful area then enjoy. There are too many to list here, but you can have a look at our things to do section for some ideas while you’re here.
Whichever cottage you are in we ask that you please respect our other guests.
We hope you have a great time in the Blue Mountains and hope to see you again.
Before you leave:
- Please make sure that all heaters, fans, ovens and electric blankets are turned off.
- Please leave any extra blankets you used on the bed for us to launder.
- Please be kind enough to wash your dishes before you leave and please put your rubbish in the bins provided. Red is for general and yellow is for recyclables, such as bottles and paper.
Thank you,
Steve and Sharon Johnson
Owners of Careel Cottages, Katoomba
0433 778050
PS: Just one last thing!
You will receive an email a day or two after you leave asking you to rate your stay. If you enjoyed your stay we would really appreciate a few nice words on our guest review and hopefully a five star rating if you would like to.
If there were things that were not up to standard or that you think we can improve upon please email us on careelcottage@gmail.com
Again, thank you for choosing to stay with us.