Sydney is beautiful in winter. The weather is mild, the skies are blue and the city crowds are not as crazy as in summer. With so much for a young family to do in the city, stopping off for a night or two in a fancy hotel is a whole lot of fun.
But choose your accommodation wisely. A convenient location and an indoor pool will go a long way to making your trip a success whether you’re a local or a visitor.
My top tips for choosing your city hotel in Sydney
- Location – Stay as close as you can afford to the places that you want to visit. Staying at the southern end of the Sydney CBD will save you money, but how far are those little legs prepared to walk?
- Bedding configuration – Will your little ones share a bed or do they need a bed each? Many hotel rooms have a maximum occupancy of 3 and those that take 4 will generally do it in 2 double beds (or queen if you’re lucky!). Apartments will cost more, but might be worth it for sleep quality!
- Pool – My kids could have spent the whole weekend in the pool when we recently had a city hotel stay in Melbourne. It makes them so happy that I think in winter an indoor pool is essential.
David and Alannah having a ball at the Crown Metropol pool in Melbourne
Top 8 kid-friendly city hotels for a winter weekend in Sydney
Based on the above criteria these are my top 8 hotel recommendations. They are all centrally located, from The Rocks and Circular Quay in the north, down to Chinatown and the Darling Harbour precinct in the south. They will all sleep 2 adults and 2 children, with some accommodating more. And they all have an indoor pool for family splash time!
Pricing is based on a July or August weekend stay.
Hotels are listed in order of their Trip Advisor rating.
1. Pullman Quay Grand Sydney
It’s hard to beat this location. Right on Circular Quay, you will be hopping on ferries to Luna Park/Taronga Zoo/Manly, checking out the Opera House and having a wander around The Rocks Market.
It has a lovely indoor pool, is rated 5 star and will cost approximately $449 per night for a One Bedroom Suite. This will give you heaps of space, a fully equipped kitchen, separate bedroom with king bed and lounge with sofa bed for the kids.
Website
2. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
Radisson Blu is very central. It’s amongst office buildings which are pretty quiet on the weekend, but the coffee shops are still open! Try the White Rabbit across the road. Very cool! This is the location you choose when you’re not really sure what you’ll do. You could go east to the Art Gallery (the Archibald Prize is on 18 July – 27 Sep), north to Circular Quay, west to King St Wharf and Darling Harbour or just a short stroll south to my favourite – the shops of Pitt St Mall and the Queen Victoria Building!
There is an indoor pool, is rated 5 star and will cost approximately $261 per night for hotel room style accommodation with 2 double beds.
Website
3. Quay West Suites
Quay West is a beautiful location for The Rocks, one of my very favourite parts of the city. Wander around The Rocks Market, climb a Bridge Pylon and explore the cobbled streets and historic buildings. If you’re partial to a Devonshire tea like myself, pop into The Tea Cosy for a delicious scone or two.
The pool here is stunning! If the weather is horrible, just stay in! It is 5 star all the way and will cost approximately $330 for a One Bedroom Suite with kitchen, separate bedroom with queen bed and lounge with sofa bed. This is the one you need if you have more than 2 kids. It advertises that their apartments accommodate up to 4 kids.
Website
4. Amora Jamison Sydney
Towards the northern end of the city, the Amora Jamison is particularly central for Circular Quay, The Rocks and the restaurants of King Street Wharf. It’s not too far from the Aquarium too, which should be high on your list of awesome Sydney attractions.
The indoor pool looks inviting, it is 5 star and will cost about $330 per night for hotel room style accommodation with 2 double beds.
Website
The Tea Cosy in The Rocks
5. The Westin Sydney
With Martin Place Mall downstairs, this could be handy if you just want to catch the lift down and let the little ones race around to burn some energy off. And just a block away from all the posh shops like Tiffany’s on Castlereagh St. Get the family over to Sydney Tower too. It’s only a couple of blocks away and my kids love going up to the top and then spotting it any time we’re anywhere near the city.
There is an indoor lap pool, is seriously plush 5 star and will cost approximately $306 per night for hotel room style accommodation with 2 double beds.
Website
6. Marriott Sydney Harbour
The Circular Quay area is really iconic Sydney and would be my first choice of area to stay. The Marriott is a good option, super close to all that this end of town offers.
It’s always worth trying to get a package that includes breakfast, especially if it’s a buffet and this hotel has a $1 breakfast offer! Great value there I say! The pool area is one of the very best, it is 5 star and will cost about $304 per night for hotel room style accommodation with 2 double beds.
Website
7. Grace Hotel Sydney
Midway between the shops and the Darling Harbour precinct, there’s always something going on around here. It’s a bit more lively on the weekend than the office building precinct further north and is just a short walk down to all the restaurants of Cockle Bay Wharf.
The big attraction here is the Family Getaway Package. You will get a Premium Family Room with a king bed and 2 singles in the one room. Plus family tickets to two attractions like the Aquarium or Madame Tussaud’s, breakfast and soft toys for the kids. This is great value at $269 per night. There is an indoor lap pool and is rated 4.5 stars.
Website
8. Radisson Hotel and Suites
This is the furthest south of the 8 and is absolutely ideal for Darling Harbour. Especially the playground area of Darling Quarter. It is right in the heart of Chinatown and the George St cinemas are nearby in case the weather is really ordinary.
There is an indoor pool, it’s rated 4.5 stars and a Family Studio with 2 queen size beds and a kitchenette will cost about $210 per night, while a 2 bedroom suite (king & 2 singles) is $413 per night.
We had a wonderful stay here recently. Read my full review here – Radisson Hotel and Suites Sydney
If it’s a Melbourne hotel that you’re after, then visit Top 8 Kid-Friendly City Hotels for a Winter Weekend in Melbourne.
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