No 14

We originally booked two nights, then extended our stay twice because I honestly didn’t want to leave. The whole place feels like home, cosy, quiet, and full of character. Annette is the kindest host you could meet. No.14 Lovel St is about a 10-minute walk from the train station, with easy access to the iconic Katoomba bushwalks, grocery stores, bars, cafes, and outdoor retailers.

The owner was exceptionally friendly and helpful, with great advice about local routes and their current conditions. I loved having the terrace to enjoy the breakfast items provided by the hostel. It’s also in a great spot, just a five-minute walk from the station. This was the best hostel I’ve stayed in. Everything was incredibly clean, and it felt like a peaceful, cosy place to relax and recharge in the middle of my trip. I highly recommend it.

Annette looked after me really well and knows the area so thoroughly that she literally “wrote the book on it” (see picture). Her advice was great, and the maps she’d made for the communal board were really helpful. I highly recommend No. 14 Lovel and can’t wait to return. I’m a 36-year-old solo traveler and stayed in a dorm for one night in October 2025, after one night in the dorm at Flying Fox. I’m glad I switched. No. 14 Lovel St felt better suited to people wanting clean comfort at a lower cost than the rougher backpacker crowd I experienced at Flying Fox. It had a larger shared bathroom with more toilets and showers, plus more room overall. The kitchen, laundry, and indoor and outdoor seating were also nicer and worked for different weather. Noise carries easily through the walls, and the floorboards creak, which adds character to the home. Fortunately, my neighbors went to bed at a reasonable time, so it didn’t bother me too much.

Annette was accommodating and very helpful throughout, always reachable by call or text. We appreciated her focus on creating a safe, respectful place and on sustainability. We’d happily recommend 14 Lovel St for groups and plan to return. We booked the whole house for four nights as a writers’ retreat during the Blue Mountains Writers' Festival, and it worked beautifully. The house was clean, bright, spacious, well-equipped, and had a good feel. The living area suited our workshop of 8-10 people, and several of us could cook in the spacious kitchen at once.