Kid-friendly accomodation in close proximity to Port Jackson

October 18, 2011 8:50 PM

Where to stay in Sydney when the kids are along for the ride?

So the family and I are going to be in and around Sydney in November. That means coming to town with a couple of small kids (3 + 5) in tow, which is going to be a bit different than my trips in the past. What recommendations do you have for places to stay that will make travelling with kids relatively pain-free in Sydney?

The things I'm interested in are:
- good public transport access, easy to get to Circular Quay/Darling Harbour/City and/or on the ferries
- something with a kitchenette (or atleast fridge/microwave) would be nice, dragging a tired 3yo out ot dinner isn't always fun
- relatively quiet
- basic more than high-end, if the days go well we won't be doing much more than sleeping there
- probably a couple of 4-5 night stays

I'm browsing wotif for options but its hard to get more than a price and an address for some listings - any hints on this are welcomed.

posted by N-stoff to Travel & Transportation around Sydney, Australia (5 answers total)

It sounds like you want a serviced apartment rather than a hotel (from your tags). There's heaps of them in Pyrmont and Ultimo which are the suburbs walking distance to the west of Darling Harbour, and at the south end of the CBD near Haymarket, and quite a few across the harbour in North Sydney. Any of those suburbs are very well serviced by public transport.

There's also quite a few in the eastern suburbs and on the Surry Hills side of the city, but as you get closer towards Darlinghurst/Potts Point/Kings Cross they're much less likely to be kid-friendly (to put it that way).
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 9:20 PM on October 18, 2011

There's a YHA Youth Hostel in The Rocks - with private rooms & your own bathroom. If you're not familiar with them, the "Youth" bit is normally redundant; they're open to all.

The website says there's a food store & a BBQ. I'd be surprised if there isn't a kitchen because they normally cater for self-caterers, but it would be wise to check with them.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:14 PM on October 18, 2011

I was just looking on AirBnB for some Sydney accommodation for myself - there are some good value places available with kitchen facilities and almost anywhere you want them.
posted by the fish at 10:30 PM on October 18, 2011

We are a couple who only ever use our accommodation for sleeping and showering. We stayed at http://www.centralrailwayhotel.com.au when we visited Sydney earlier in the year. We paid $100 a night for a studio by booking with one of the online sites.

We had a great studio unit with a decent sized bed, couch, table and chairs. There were basic kitchen facilities and a small bathroom. The complex is on the bus route to the city and just a few hundred metres away from the railway station. There are also some nice cafes and restaurants within walking distance.
posted by chairish at 12:10 AM on October 19, 2011

Perhaps take a look at stayz.com.au, which offers short term holiday rentals, which may give you options somewhere in between a hostel price point and a serviced apartment. I've used it successfully for trips outside Sydney. Bear in mind that because of its proximity to water and the city Pyrmont can be a bit pricey.

Depending on the plans for your trip you could extend the search range to the very inner part of the inner west, as well as Fiasco da Gama's inner east suggestion. That area has a ton of public transport options, and lots of parks and should have easy supermarket and restaurant access as well.
posted by pymsical at 12:31 AM on October 19, 2011