Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains: Why visit the Hydro Majestic Hotel?

Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains has a few walking trails overlooking the Megalong Valley. But the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, the first European-style Australian spa hotel, is the star attraction.

The small village of Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains is sandwiched between much bigger Katoomba and Blackheath. At 1,050 metres above sea level, Medlow Bath is close to the highest point of the Blue Mountains.

7 Blue Mountains experiences you should pre-book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

Scenic World tickets – combine dramatic train rides, cable cars & forest walks.
The Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus – get around Katoomba and Leura’s top sites hassle-free.
Guided stargazing with an astrophysicist – learn how to read the clear night skies.
Give canyoning a try – jumping, climbing and sliding through Empress Canyon.
Take a half day abseiling adventure – in the Blue Mountains National Park.
Indulge in a local produce tasting experience – with beers, wines & meats.
Get adventurous – on a 4WD tour to the world’s second largest canyon.

Medlow Bath walks

Medlow Bath is on the Great Western Highway from Sydney to Bathurst, and you might decide to stop there for the walking trails. There are several tracks between the Hydro Majestic Hotel and the cliffs overlooking the Megalong Valley. Bushfires and lack of maintenance mean these tracks aren’t really the best walking trails in the Blue Mountains, however. You’ve got better options in Katoomba and Blackheath.

Other than walking there aren’t many things to do in Medlow Bath. But that’s because the village is almost entirely dominated by the Hydro Majestic Hotel.

Hydro Majestic Hotel history

This legendary Blue Mountains spa hotel is built on the cliff edge, and opened in 1904. It was based on European spa hotels and was the first hotel in Australia to follow the model. The Hydro Majestic had its own water supply and sewerage treatment works.

The Hydro Majestic Spa Hotel in Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Since 1904, the Hydro Majestic Hotel has repeatedly had buildings burned down by bushfires. It was also where Australia’s first prime minister, Edmund Barton, died in 1920.

But this Blue Mountains spa hotel is famed not just for its chequered history. The events spaces are a bit special, too. The domed roof of the casino lobby, the ballroom and the Hydro Majestic Pavilion are all exercises in grandeur.

5 fab ways to explore: Which Blue Mountains tour should I book?

There are dozens of Blue Mountains day tours leaving Sydney every day. The best choice will come down to personal preference and what’s included. Almost all include Echo Point and the Three Sisters – it’s just the rest of the itinerary that varies. These tours are the best bets.

Good value tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World & Parramatta River cruise.
Similar itinerary, but with small group and lunch included.
Wildlife-focused tour including Calmsley Hill City Farm, Govetts Leap lookout & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Small group tour including bushwalks, Featherdale, Glenbrook lookouts and Govetts Leap.
Crowd-avoiding sunset tour including Euroka campground kangaroos & Wentworth Falls bushwalk.

Hydro Majestic Hotel tours in Medlow Bath

Even if you’re not planning to stay at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, you can take a tour of it.

The daily tours take place at 11am and 3pm, covering the hotel’s public spaces and history. They cost $10 and advance bookings are essential.

Other attractions worth visiting in the Blue Mountains include Breenhold Gardens, Empress Falls, the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens and the Jenolan Caves. The Blue Mountains National Park – find kangaroos at the Euroka campground here – and the Wollemi National Park pretty much envelop the region.