By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
The Hydro Majestic is the grand old hotel of the Blue Mountains, a long, white clifftop building at Medlow Bath, looking out over the Megalong Valley. Opened in 1904 by the retail magnate Mark Foy as Australia's first hydropathic health retreat, it has restored Art Deco interiors, 84 rooms and suites and the famous Wintergarden, where high tea comes with one of the great views in Australia.
The Hydro Majestic is the grand old hotel of the Blue Mountains, a long, white clifftop building at Medlow Bath, looking out over the Megalong Valley. Opened in 1904 by the retail magnate Mark Foy as Australia's first hydropathic health retreat, it has restored Art Deco interiors, 84 rooms and suites and the famous Wintergarden, where high tea comes with one of the great views in Australia.
Location: Medlow Bath, the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are a vast sandstone plateau cut by deep, forested valleys, their blue haze said to come from the oil of the eucalyptus trees, and they are protected as the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
The Hydro Majestic stands on the escarpment at Medlow Bath, a few minutes from Katoomba, the Three Sisters and the walking tracks of the Jamison Valley, about two hours from Sydney by road or train.
Rooms at the Hydro Majestic
There are 84 rooms and suites, many with views over the Megalong Valley; it is worth paying for a valley-view room. The style mixes the hotel's Art Deco heritage with contemporary comfort.
Facilities at the Hydro Majestic
The Wintergarden Restaurant, famous for its high tea and panoramic windows, is the heart of the hotel, along with the domed Casino Lobby, the Majestic Ballroom, the Salon du Thé and the Boiler House Café, in the old power station. The bushwalks and lookouts of the Blue Mountains are a short drive away.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is high tea in the Wintergarden, as the afternoon light fills the Megalong Valley below, followed by a walk along the escarpment as the cliffs turn gold.
In the morning, the valley is often filled with mist, with the ridges rising above it like islands.
Why the Hydro Majestic is one of the best mountain hotels
The Hydro Majestic earns its place for its history, its views and its value. Few hotels in Australia have such a story, or such a setting.
For Tasmania, see Cradle Mountain Lodge, and for all-inclusive luxury in Queensland, Spicers Peak Lodge.
When to go to the Hydro Majestic
The Blue Mountains are beautiful all year. Autumn, from March to May, brings golden colour to the mountain gardens, and winter, from June to August, brings cold, clear days, cosy evenings and the Yulefest season. Spring brings blossom, and summer is warm, with cooler air than Sydney.
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Questions, answered
- Where is the Hydro Majestic Hotel?
- It is at Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, on an escarpment above the Megalong Valley, about two hours from Sydney.
- When did the Hydro Majestic open?
- Mark Foy opened it in 1904 as Australia's first hydropathic health retreat.
- Is high tea served at the Hydro Majestic?
- Yes. High tea in the Wintergarden Restaurant, with views over the Megalong Valley, is the hotel's most famous experience.
- How many rooms does the Hydro Majestic have?
- There are 84 rooms and suites.
- How far is the Hydro Majestic from Katoomba?
- It is a few minutes' drive from Katoomba and the Three Sisters.
