"Berkana Cottage"

On the edge of a World Heritage National Park

"Berkana" is situated in the world famous Blue Mountains just 120km west of Sydney surrounded by a lovely mountain style garden of azaleas and rhododendrons as well as other wonderful European and native plants including Banksia, Callistemon (Bottle Brush) and Waratah (official flower of NSW). There are neighbours nearby but not on top of you. So the feel is one of not being hemmed in, yet close enough to people if isolation is not your thing. Wake to the freshest of fresh air tinged with a gentle aroma from the giant pine and gum trees that pervade the area. And listen to the native birds singing their dawn chorus.

"Berkana" was built in 2000 by and for an electric wheelchair user, using a universal design philosophy. Lots of windows and light are crowned by a rich wood lined vaulted ceiling and there is high quality timber flooring throughout. The atmosphere is uniquely Blue Mountains with a modern and extremely comfortable feel about it. The 130 sq m cottage is fully accessible through the ramp in the garage or from the ramp in back garden, without appearing to be a specialised single purpose accommodation.

Wheelchair accessible cottage

The house is an 18 minute wheelchair trip into the village with at least 5 top restaurants one of which, Vulcans, has a 2 Chefs Hat Award and level access. There are 2 pubs, numerous cafés, a bustling village life with bakeries, butcher, vegetable shop, small village supermarket, art galleries, craft and clothing shops. And if you want to leave for the day there is an accessible railway station with hourly trains into Sydney or Katoomba.

The cottage is also only a 15 minutes reasonably level stroll to the beginning of a purpose built, world class wheelchair accessible bushwalk which meanders through the bush ending at the famous Govett's Leap lookout.

Berkana has 2 bedrooms - 1 with a high Queen sized bed. The other has 2 standard height single beds (sofa bed also available) There is a large open plan living, dining, kitchen (normal bench heights), wide doors throughout 920mm, 1 full accessible bathroom with roll in shower and side transfer toilet. The second is an en-suite bathroom with a small roll-in shower and heaps of grab-rails for standing people.

Click on the thumbnail images below to expand for more detail.

Main Bedroom

The main bedroom is extremely spacious and very wheelchair friendly.

• Floor surface: polished timber
• Manoeuvrability: plenty of room for turning a wheelchair
• Mattress style: Queen size and firm.
• Bed height: 670 mm standard - adjustable using bed blocks (available on request).
• Clearance under bed: A hoist can easlity be manoeuvred along side and under the bed
• Wheelchair access beside bed: The bed and side tables are moveable and there is plenty of room either side of the bed for transfers
• Clothes hanging space: Walk in roll-in wardrobe with standard height hanging rails, lower shoe racks and chest of drawers.
• Door opening: sliding to ensuite and easy to hold lever handles on hung doors.
• Reading lights accessible from bed: Yes
• Phone accessible from bed: Yes
• Linen, sheets and towels supplied

Equipment

We will provide the following equipment at no extra cost, upon request.

• Invacare 420 electric hoist (200kg lifting capacity)
• Toilet/shower commode (100kg max)

Second Bedroom

The second bedroom is also wheelchair friendly.

• Floor surface: polished timber
• Manoeuvrability: room for wheelchair to move backwards and forwards between 2 single beds
• Bed height: 520 mm standard - adjustable using bed blocks (available on request)
• Clothes hanging space: built in wardrobe with standard height hanging rails and high storage shelf.
• Reading lights accessible from bed: Yes
• Phone accessible from bed: Yes as a portable hand set
• Linen, sheets and towels supplied

Bathroom/Toilet

• Wide door opens inwards, still plenty of space to manoeuvre
• Door opening 920 mm with lever style door handle
• Manoeuvrability: sufficient room to turn a wheelchair inside bathroom area
• Open shower area with roll-in access and curtain for privacy
• Shower commode with footplates available on request
• Horizontal grab rails
• Hand held shower nozzle also fixed and height adjustable
• Easy to grip tap handles.
• Computer controlled water temperature, max 55c
• Vanity basin allows room for knees when seated
• Toilet height 420 mm with small grab rail
• View close up of roll-in shower access

Living and Dining Room

The open plan lounge/dining/kitchen area is vast, being 10m x 7m with vaulted ceilings. There is over sized space for wheelchairs to manoeuvre. The dining table is 2.4m long and can seat 8 easily and with a central leg pedestal so it is very easy to get your knees under in a wheelchair.

Furnishings include a comfortable 3 seater lounge (sofa bed) and 2 single seat armchairs. There is also a beautiful polished wood drop front writing desk. All this is centred around a slow combustion wood burning fire that easily heats the whole house on the coldest days and nights. And when it is less cold there is natural gas heater. There is also digital cable television connected, a DVD and CD player and a video player.

Kitchen

You'll find cutlery, crockery, cooking implements and a range of electrical appliances.

• Dishwasher
• Drawers/cupboards are at standard height with small easy to use "D" handles but cooktop bench and sink bench allows for wheelchair user legs to roll under
• Most utensils and crockery stored in wheelchair height drawers not high wall shelves
• Roll-in double doored pantry with some accessible shelves
• Full size fridge/freezer
• Low level wall oven for easy wheelchair access
• Bench height: 890 mm

Outdoor living

Berkana has two accessible gravel pathed garden areas, a front undercover verandah and a rear open deck with purpose built ramp that provides access to the rear garden. There is also a mobile gas barbeque which can be used on the deck, undercover in the carport or in the garden.

Parking

An undercover carport provides for safe, dry roomy transfers. The garage door is automatic and remotely operated.

Other Features and Amenities

• Portable telephone with twin hand sets and local calls included
• Fax/modem connection available
• Most light switches are at wheelchair height
• External security lighting
• Front loading washing machine and dryer in an internal laundry

Areas that are not accessible

The highest kitchen cupboards and some shelves in the laundry, wardrobes, pantry and kitchen.

Tariffs:

Daily rate for maximum of 4 adults

Monday to Thursday:

$110 pn for 3 or 4 nights

$130 pn for 2 night minimum

Friday and Saturday - during normal weekends

$130 pn for 2 night minimum

Friday, Saturday and Sunday - on holiday weekends

including Christmas, New Year, Easter, long weekends and school holidays

$180 pn for 3 night minimum

Extras:

Up to 2 additional guests (using the sofa bed): $35 per night

Welcome breakfast basket available

Continental $7.50 pp, Cooked $12.50 pp

please advise your requirements when booking

Ask about our discount rates for longer stays.

So what will you do?

Laze in or around the garden in summer, early autumn and late spring. And in front of a roaring fire in the winter. Explore the village of Blackheath or go on easy walks including the (previously mentioned) wheelchair accessible bush walk. Drive or catch a train to Katoomba also an accessible station and explore the scenic sites (some world class wheelchair accessible attractions, myriad shops, restaurants and galleries in this major mountain town. There is also a cinema and some live theatre, jazz and folk music venues.

Blackheath is a creative and vibrant mountain village, home to less than 3000 people. There is plenty to do and see and easy access to other mountain centres and to Sydney, which is 2 hours by accessible train.

Booking & Contact Details

For more information please contact the owner:

• Phone: + 61 2 9419 6675 (international)
• Phone: 02 9419 6675 (Australia)
• Email: wecare@hermes.net.au
• Web: www.wheelchairs.sydney.net/cottage