Must-see hotels in New South Wales

  • Blackbird Byron

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    Gaze at Cape Byron and the Pacific Ocean over the hinterland from one of three individual and specifically designed boltholes set high up above…

  • Halcyon House

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    This former surfers' motel has kept its vintage curves to become one of east-coast Australia's most lauded boutique hotel and spas. The location is…

  • 28° Byron Bay

    Byron Bay

    There's not a TV in sight at this stunning homestyle hotel. From the paleo granola in the in-room breakfast provisions, to the filtered water system that…

  • QT Sydney

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Fun, sexy and relaxed, this ultra-theatrical, effortlessly cool hotel is located in the historic State Theatre complex. Art deco eccentricity is…

  • Anchors Aweigh

    South Coast NSW

    Rooms at this family-run B&B are furnished like a well-off aunt's bedroom, with heavy wooden dressers and floral decor; a couple of rooms (from $193) have…

  • Depot Beach Cabins & Camping

    South Coast NSW

    This enchanting campground, among spotted-gum trees and peopled by curious kangaroos, is opposite an idyllic sandy beach. There are 60 sites and one- and…

  • Cockatoo Island

    Sydney

    Waking up on an island in the middle of the harbour is an extraordinary Sydney experience. Bring a tent (or just sleeping bags) or 'glamp' in a two-person…

  • Lighthouse Keepers' Cottages

    South Coast NSW

    For oneness with nature, elegantly renovated cottages on Montague Island offer a uniquely beautiful retreat. Cottages sleep up to eight or 12. Rooms are…

  • Mandelbaum House

    Newtown & the Inner West

    One of the University of Sydney's residential colleges, this sweet spot makes a great place to stay in summer. It's a small, genuinely friendly place with…

  • Boogie Woogie Beach House

    Mid-North Coast

    Six fabulous rooms take over this historic building that's been a holiday and entertainment hub for almost a century. Each room is decorated with a…

  • Sydney Harbour YHA

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Any qualms about the unhostel-like prices will be shelved the moment you head up to the ample rooftop space of this sprawling, modern hostel and see the…

  • Paramount House Hotel

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    When reception has a rack of shirts for sale and a beer tap it's not a standard hotel. Rooms are striking, with distressed walls, quirky features and…

  • Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel

    Sydney

    Often filled with wedding parties, or Watsons Bay locals who are renovating, this personable hotel is a great place to slip into the barefoot-millionaire…

  • Bombah Point Eco Cottages

    Mid-North Coast

    In the heart of the national park, these architect-designed glass-fronted cottages sleep up to six guests. The 'eco' in the name is well deserved: sewage…

  • Anchorage

    Mid-North Coast

    Facing an expansive sweep of bay, this marina-fronted resort is Port Stephens' most stylish place to stay. Rooms have a crisp, coastal charm, with super…

  • ADGE Boutique Apartment Hotel

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Modern, catchy and bold, ADGE puts a clever, upbeat twist on the ubiquitous serviced apartment experience. The idiosyncratic but extremely comfortable two…

  • Ovolo Hotel Woolloomooloo

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    Superbly set in Woolloomooloo Wharf, this excellent smart-casual hotel has extremely friendly young staff and very likeable features. 'Superoo' rooms are…

  • Sydney Central YHA

    City Centre & Haymarket

    By Central Station, this 565-bed mega-hostel has brilliant facilities, including a travel agent, help with organising working holidays, workspaces for…

  • Beachhaven

    Sydney Region

    Right on gorgeous Hordens Beach, this classy B&B is run by a welcoming couple who offer two fabulous rooms. Both have kitchenettes, king beds with plush…

  • Bannisters Pavilion

    South Coast NSW

    Set back from Mollymook Beach, this visually striking hotel operates with breezy style. There's space to spare, with wide hallways, plush, light rooms…

  • QT Bondi

    Sydney

    Colourful, chic and appropriately beachy, this apartment hotel is steps from the sand and offers a very appealing combination of facilities, location and…

  • Ingelden Park

    Southern NSW & The Murray

    Around 18km from Griffith, Ingelden Park features two cosy cottages, both with a relaxed, rural outlook. Rose Cottage – complete with its own rose garden …

  • Promised Land Retreat

    Mid-North Coast

    A 10-minute drive from town over the evocatively named Never Never River, these three stylish and private cottages feature spa baths and open-plan living…

  • Baxley Bondi

    Sydney

    Halfway between the beach and Bondi Junction train station (10 to 15 minutes' walk to either) this pleasantly scented guesthouse is great value. Rooms are…

  • Armana Resort

    Mid-North Coast

    Not for those on a budget, this boutique collection of fully self-contained, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses in an absolute…

  • Post & Telegraph B&B

    South Coast NSW

    This 19th-century post and telegraph office is now an enchanting four-room B&B with great historical character. High ceilings, marble fireplaces and the…

  • Paperbark Camp

    South Coast NSW

    Glamp in ecofriendly style in these 12 safari tents with en suites, wrap-around decks and billowing mosquito nets. It’s set in dense bush 4km from…

  • Laurels B&B

    South Coast NSW

    Situated within a former dairy farmer's residence 4km north of Hampden Bridge, Laurel's is arguably the finest B&B on the South Coast. Walls lined with…

  • Spicers

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    This expert conversion of three Victorian-era terraces adds a touch of class to leafy Victoria Street. The charming front rooms have original features and…

  • Lucky Hotel

    Newcastle

    A slick but sympathetic revamp of this grand old 1880s dame means it's an upbeat, modern place to stay above a great pub. The 28 light-filled rooms are…

  • Tonic

    Hunter Valley

    The polished concrete floors and urban minimalist style of this handsome complex work a treat in the vivid Hunter light. There's a lovely outlook over a…

  • Byron Springs Guesthouse

    Byron Bay

    With a mineral pool set by a Palm Springs–vibe open plan, shared, modern kitchen and chill-out-worthy verandah, a lot of thought has gone into keeping…

  • Kidman's Camp

    Outback NSW

    An excellent place to base yourself, on river frontage about 8km out of Bourke. The PV Jandra cruise departs from here, and Poetry on a Plate is staged in…

  • Little Albion

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    This boutique hotel combines an attractive heritage building with a more modern development to great design success. Rooms range from compact 'crash pads'…

  • Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour

    Darling Harbour & Pyrmont

    In a heritage-listed wool store, this stylish gem combines industrial minimalism with the warmth of ironbark-wood beams, luxury appointments and engaged…

  • Railway Square YHA

    City Centre & Haymarket

    A lovely piece of industrial renovation has converted Central Station's former parcel shed into a really appealing and relaxing hostel, in a great…

  • Snug Cove

    South Coast NSW

    Is it baroque, Balinese or pirate themed? It might be all three. Snug Cove's eclectic decor succeeds in its mission to make guests smile. Between the…

  • Greens of Leura

    Blue Mountains

    On a quiet street parallel to the Mall, this pretty centenarian house set in a fountain-filled garden offers genuine hospitality and five rooms named…

  • Broomelea

    Blue Mountains

    A consummately romantic Blue Mountains B&B, this fine Edwardian house offers a cheery welcome, four-poster beds, lovely gardens, a great verandah, in-room…

  • Bower

    Byron Bay

    The NYC-inspired Bower is a former motel that's undergone a luxury makeover straight from the pages of an interior-design magazine (and now features in…