When temperatures soar and your home heats up, tempers can easily become frayed and your health can take a hit. Not everyone has the benefit of air-conditioning, and all-day running costs are prohibitive for many people. In this guide we’ve provided some tips to help you cool down, and a sample of lower Blue Mountains free and low-cost places to visit to escape the heat.
You can also visit or call the Blue Mountains Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook or Katoomba for more ideas on where to go and what to do when the weather heats up or you’re not sure about the conditions.
Health and Safety in the heat
If you are sweltering at home or venturing out and about in the heat, the NSW Department of Health’s “Keep cool, stay hydrated” online guide is a good starting point to help you, your family and friends stay safe during high temperatures.
The Department advises you should drink plenty of water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If your doctor has asked that you limit your fluid intake, ask how much water you should drink during hot weather. Do not replace your water intake with alcoholic or sugary drinks and carry water with you if you are spending time outdoors.
If you prefer to stay at home, the Department provides the following tips, especially helpful if you don’t have air-conditioning and/or your fans aren’t making a big impact:
Wear light, loose-fitting clothes.
Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day as much as possible. If you have to go outside, seek shade or shelter.
Close curtains and blinds to block out the sun.
Spend time in the coolest area of your home.
Limit physical activity e.g. household chores or exercise to early in the morning when it is coolest.
Use stoves and ovens as little as possible as these can heat up the home.
Wet your skin with cool water using a spray bottle or a damp sponge or cloth.
Place cool packs or crushed ice in a damp towel loosely over your neck and shoulders.
Take cool showers or baths or sit for a while with your feet in cool water.
When it becomes cooler outside, open your windows and doors to allow the warm air out and the cool air in.
The Department recommends people seek out cool places or air-conditioned public facilities you can safely travel to without getting too hot. When outdoors, you should protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen and wearing sun-protective clothing, sunglasses and a wide brim hat.
The following guide provides ideas for places you can visit in the lower Blue Mountains to cool down, in air-conditioning and outdoors.
Note – pet-friendly sites don’t necessarily mean it is an off-leash area. Check with the venue before letting your dog off leash
Community Spaces
Belong Blue Mountains Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre
Relax in the Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre (photo supplied)
You can drop into the Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre at Blaxland from Tuesday to Friday for a cuppa and chat or simply to relax. There is a community laptop available. Centre representative Sharise says: “It is a safe and comfortable place for people to come. Whether it’s to escape the heat or whatever the situation is, everyone is welcome”. Check out the wide range of activities and groups you can also get involved with.
The library is located next door to the Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre. It is open every day except Sunday. You can relax and read a book, newspaper or magazine in air-conditioned comfort or check out the What’s On calendar for events. It’s a quiet space so conversations, including on the phone, are best taken outside.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday: 10.00am-5.30pm Saturday: 9am-4.00pm
There are three different-sized swimming pools to enjoy in a relaxed setting: a toddler pool, an enclosed heated program pool with ramp access, and a 50m pool. Blue Mountains City Council provides free entry to the aquatic facilities for children 3 years and younger and those aged 75 years+.
OPENING HOURS:
Program pool – Year round, Monday to Friday 6am-9am (Additional times may be available subject to programs)
50m pool – Summer (October to March): Mon to Fri 5.30am-7pm; Sat & Sun 8am-7pm;
A tranquil spot surrounded by sandstone cliffs and featuring a small sandy beach. Cool off in the calm waters or seek shade under a gum tree.
Important safety information from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service:
The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you’re visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.
Swimming at Jellybean Pool? Check with staff at Glenbrook Information Centre before swimming and ask about bacteria levels on the day. Swimming can be dangerous at Jellybean pool after heavy rain.
More safety information regarding bushwalking and emergencies is available on the NPWS site here >
OPENING HOURS:
8.30am-7pm during daylight savings; 8.30am-6pm the rest of the year.
LOCATION:
Bruce Rd, Glenbrook. You can choose to park your car in the paid car park on Bruce Rd before the National Park tollgate or you can drive into the National Park and park at the designated Jellybean Pool car park at the Glenbrook Information Centre. This is situated 200m after the tollgate on the left. This option results in a shorter, 10-minute downhill walk to the pool itself.
COST:
Both the paid car park and National Park entry fee are $8 per vehicle, per day. You can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
PHONE:
1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call excluding mobiles.
Enjoy respite from the heat at Glenbrook Cinema (photo supplied)
There is something soothing about spending time at this charming, family-run independent cinema. Relax in the air-conditioning and watch a movie or two. There’s an interesting mix of mainstream releases, arthouse films and old classics. In addition to choc tops, popcorn and other treats on offer, you can take tea or coffee into the cinema in a cup and saucer.
There is a hearing loop active every session, and the Cinema offers Open Captions for selected features and sessions (text with sound description displayed on the screen to allow all patrons to enjoy movies together).
OPENING HOURS:
Session times vary – see website or phone details below.
LOCATION:
2 Ross St, Glenbrook
COST:
$15 general admission; $25 double feature (2 movies same day); $10 Online VIP tickets + $2 booking fee ($10 annual membership)
Lounge area at Glenbrook Panthers Bowling Club (photo supplied)
The Club has a lounge area where you can relax from 10.30am and watch the large TV or bring a laptop or other device to make use of the free Wi-Fi. Manager Kathy Borich says: “People can come in and make themselves comfortable and simply drink water if they don’t want to buy anything. We are a low-cost facility and everyone is welcome.”
If you live within 5km of the Club you need to be a member ($5 per year), however, reception can organise for a member to sign you in at no cost. Children under the age of 18 need to be supervised by an adult at all times. There is also the Flavours Café with a range of snacks and meals to choose from. Check out the “What’s On” page for special events.
OPENING HOURS:
Open at 10.30am seven days per week.
Closes 9pm Sunday, Monday & Tuesday; 11pm Wed & Fri; and 12.30am Fri and Sat
You can have a hot beverage at Flavours Café from 10.30am with cooked food available from 11.30am.
Bartender Matthew Williams says you are welcome to relax in the lounge area and use the free Wi-Fi, with no pressure to buy a drink or food from the bistro open from 11am to 9pm. “Often people come in here and work on their laptops to escape the heat and enjoy the air-conditioning. People have also been known to sit and read books.”
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
The KTOWN pickers - Katoombans Taking On Waste Now - are clearing litter from local tracks and streets and stopping it from entering our waterways and eventually our water supply. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/ktown-katoombans-taking-on-waste-now/
This Saturday will be the first meeting of the Upper Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening Group at the Planetary Health Centre, starting at 10am. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3LalNFy
It will be followed by the Planetary Health Bushcare group at 1.30pm. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo
Global poisoning by a tsunami of toxins that are flooding the planet is fast becoming the biggest threat to life on earth. Extreme weather events like fire and flood accelerate this chemical pollution. To address this the Planetary Health Centre`s Full Cycle 2025 conference from 20-22 Nov is bringing together leading experts in managing extreme weather events as well as those who are working on reducing the risk of hazardous materials like asbestos and PFAS. According to keynote speaker Julian Cribb:
"The poisoning of our planet through human chemical emissions is arguably the largest human impact of all upon the Earth. In volume, it is four to five times greater than our climate emissions (which are a part of it), and three times more lethal than the estimated climate death-toll. It is the mega-threat least understood by society, monitored by science or regulated by government. It has mainly occurred over the last 50 years, due to a massive global surge in chemical use and materials extraction.
Scientific assessment has identified more than 350,000 man-made chemicals. The US Department of Health estimates 2000 new chemicals go on the market every year and the Smithsonian says 1000 new compounds are now being synthesised every hour. The UN Environment Program warns about a third of these “are persistent, able to accumulate in humans and animals and are toxic”.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 13.7 million people — one in every four — die each year from diseases caused by “air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change and ultraviolet radiation”, caused by human activity.
Human chemical emissions are thus responsible for the largest mass killing in history.
Learn more and register for the conference here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
There will be a free community expo on Saturday 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba.
Conference volunteers receive free registration. Email planetaryhealthevents@bmcc.nsw.gov.au if you’d like to volunteer at this critically important event.
T`ai-chi and Qigong routines can increase mobility and strength, improve immunity and help build an inner calm. To get the greatest health impact you need to practice them on a regular basis, so we`re thrilled to now be offering a 6-week block of classes to take you into summer starting 9am this Saturday 1 November and running until Sat 6 December. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4qrw4Nx This Saturday, 1 November, the activity is also the first in a full day of Skill Share activities at the Centre that includes Seed Saving and Gardening from 10am, and Planetary Health Bushcare from 1.30pm. You can book in for Bushcare here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo Contact Lis on 0407 437 553 for more information.
Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be meeting again at the Planetary Health Centre at 6pm on Monday 27 October. Register at this link if you`d like to attend! (link in profile) https://events.humanitix.com/rotarians-4-planetary-health-l7bb4qhr?
Thank you to everyone who popped by for the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains today! It was a great day discussing gardens, ponds, frogs, seeds, composting seats, wicking beds and how to restore the hydrological cycle! Next Saturday will be our Skill Share Saturday. We`ll be kickstarting a 6-week block of Tai Chi & Qigong at 9am, launching our Seed Saving and Gardening Group at 10am and running our monthly Bushcare Group at 1.30pm. You can book in for Tai Chi here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/tai-chi-and-qigong-six-week-block-spring-2025-qaw2ts2v and to Bushcare here (link also in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-bushcare-spring-summer-2025
The Planetary Health Centre is on the Edible Garden Trail today! Last week we launched the Upper Mountains Seed Savers and Gardening Group. Come along to learn more, enjoy a coffee in our garden, and pick up a free Vegetable and Flower Sowing Guide. We`re open from 10am. You can find us at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Tickets for the Edible Garden Trail available here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-edible-garden-trail-2025
The Planetary Health newsletter is now out. Read about three days of innovation at the upcoming Full Cycle Conference in Nov, the Edible Garden Trail this weekend, and a six week block of Tai Chi and Qigong classes at the Planetary Health Centre (link in profile): https://bit.ly/47jbFBz
Today is an Extreme Bushfire Danger Day! Have you heard about the extraordinary fire resistant paint developed by Professor Yeoh and his team at UNSW? Professor Yeoh will be presenting at our Full Cycle Conference on Thurs 20 November. He is world renowned in the field of fire safety and his innovations are helping to keep people and property safe. Importantly among these innovations has been the development and commercialisation of FSA FIRECOAT paint (sold at Bunnings), which creates a protective insulating ‘char’ on a building when it’s exposed to flames. It is water based and non toxic. Watch it in action in this video (link in profile): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkA1RlxMjWQ
Join us at the Conference to learn more about Professor Yeoh’s work during three days of innovation and exploration in which leading speakers from around Australia will share how we can reduce the risks of natural hazards and hazardous materials. Places are limited so register here now (link in profile): https://www.fullcycleconference.com.au/
With new modelling suggesting a hot summer with increasing fire risk it`s worth making time now to learn more about how we can reduce the risk of disaster by registering to attend the Full Cycle Conference that`s bringing together the Bushfire Building and Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Management Conferences in Katoomba on 20-22nd Nov. Group discounts apply if you register now here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
• Emma Whale from the NSW Reconstruction Authority will discuss how state-wide and place-based disaster adaptation planning is helping reduce risk;
• David Sanderson, the inaugural Judith Neilson Chair in Architecture at UNSW, will share the results of a landmark enquiry on how our response to disasters requires a change in housing policy and local government empowerment;
• Owen Price, Director of The Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at UOW will compare the patterns of housing loss in the NSW and Californian wildfires;
• Guan Heng Yeoh from UNSW will share how he developed the award winning FIRECOAT fire resistant paint;
• Everson Kandare from RMIT University will discuss the development of fireproof cladding made from molasses-cultured mycelium - a fungal biomass;
• Alan Green from the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre UOW will introduce Heatwave and Multi-Hazard Resilience Star Rating Tools for retrofitting houses;
• Emma Bacon from Sweltering Cities and Dr Kim Loo from Doctors for the Environment will discuss heat waves and social justice;
• Andrew Bovis from Integrated Water Solutions will discuss the potential use of treated blackwater as an independent water source for landscape hydration and fire fighting;
• Sara Jane Wilkinson from UTS will launch the Bushfire Retrofitting Toolkit for older Australians and do a session on green roofs and walls to reduce disaster risk and increase biodiversity;
• Melissa Knothe Tate will discuss research on tackling PFAS contamination;
Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair today. It was an inspiring and thought provoking day with lots learnt, many connections made, amazing food consumed and stunning weather! We look forward to doing it again next year!
The inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair kicks off at 9am today at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Pop in to listen to a talk, watch a demo, grab a coffee and sweet treat from Good Fat Pastry, a delicious lunch from Bibi`s Kitchen, fresh mushrooms from EarthRising Mushroom Farm, locally acclimatised vegetable seeds from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers, and edible native plants from Muru Mittigar Ltd You can view the full program here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nOSJle The Planetary Health Centre is at 33-39 Acacia St (former Katoomba Golf Course).
The Fair is a World Animal Day event and has been supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association of Environmental Educators.
Julie Nance is a community storyteller with the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. In her coverage of the Lower Mountains area, she brings 30 years’ experience in communications, publishing and journalism.
After specialising in health and social issues as a journalist, Julie led creative teams in the government and not-for-profit sectors including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, YMCA NSW, Cancer Council NSW and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Julie is passionate about empowering people with quality information to help them make informed choices.
Julie Nance invited her 82-year-old mum to join her on outings in Lower Mountains parks, after months of being confined to home due to sickness. With fond memories of family picnics growing up, their quality time together in nature gave them both a much-needed lift.
