Family accommodation in Sydney that'll set you up for the perfect holiday

Nestled on the edge of Bondi Beach, QT Bondi is for those who want the convenience and comforts of home, but with a luxury twist. This art hotel features 69 generously sized apartments and studios by Australian designer Nick Graham, offering an ideal setup for the whole family. There’s a minibar with complimentary coffee pods and T2 tea for slow mornings when you don’t feel like leaving the room and for relaxing nights in, there’s a fold out bed for the kids and free movies.

Around the neighbourhood, you’ll find the Bondi Skate Park, Biddigal Nature Reserve and the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk; not to forget the iconic Bondi Beach at your doorstep with grassy BBQ spots nearby. Bondi offers consistently great surf for the bigger kids and child-friendly saltwater sea baths at either end of the beach for the little ones to paddle in when the sea gets rough.

QT gives you the best of both worlds, combining homely comforts with service you won’t find at home, like their 24-hour reception service and access to an on-site Speedo Fitness Club for morning workouts. Bondi is the closest beach to the city, so you have the option to relax on the beach all day, or taking the train into the city to explore.

Only a 40-minute train ride from the city centre, Blacktown is a cultural and wildlife hub in its own right. Explore the Chang Lai Yuan Gardens, cycle in beautiful parkland, or take the kids on a waterslide adventure at Wet’N’Wild before retreating to Atura Blacktown for a relaxed evening in your slice of self-contained comfort.

As far as cheap family accommodation in Sydney goes, Atura is affordable, yet high on quality. It offers above-and-beyond convenience, from iMacs with free cloud printing, an on-site gymnasium and a resort-style pool courtyard. There’s even a pantry stocked with essentials you usually would find at home.

This multi-award-winning hotel features design-led, urban and industrial spaces, so you can spend your nights teaching the kids how to play pool, or grab a drink at the heritage-listed Royal Cricketer’s Arms pub after they’re in bed. You’ll also be close to Skypeak Adventures, an aerial playground for adults and kids with over 80 high ropes to climb and zip lines to swing from.

Set in a heritage-listed building on the pier of the Sydney Harbour, Ovolo Woolloomooloo is a short walk to all of Sydney’s must-visit locations. Ovolo’s stylish interior combines heritage and contemporary luxury to create spacious rooms overlooking Sydney’s quintessential harbour.

There are no hidden costs at Ovolo either—everything is free, from self-service laundry, cribs and beds for really little ones, to breakfast, all day snacks and a minibar. There’s also a 24-hour gym and a pool so you can squeeze in a workout or a swim between family adventures.

If you’re planning a date night, you can book in-room childcare at reception, so you can walk into the city for dinner and a show at the Sydney Theatre company, knowing you’re not too far away.

Spectacular by day and sparkling by night, Park Royal looks out onto the impressive Darling Harbour—a place to both relax or seek adventure. Whether it’s ice-creams on the jetty, a sunset cruise on the harbour, or a nostalgic ride on the carousel, there something to keep everyone amused.

This Darling Harbour hotel is centrally located. A ten-minute walk get you to the sharks and dugongs at the Sea Life Aquarium, the native Australian animals at the Wildlife Sydney Zoo or the old ships at the Australian Maritime Museum.

When you return, Park Royal lets kids under 12 eat for free and with the choice of booking two interconnecting rooms, you can unwind knowing they’re occupied with a movie in the other room. Hungry tummies can head to the Abode Bistro and Bar conveniently located on-site. But if you don’t feel like leaving your spacious room after a long day of exploring, you can always order room service.

Situated next to the famous and oldest precinct in Sydney, Four Seasons Hotel sits in the Rocks District, making it perfect for those wanting to combine culture and history with contemporary luxury. Walk to The Australian Museum, or stroll through the cobbled laneways of the weekend markets.

Featuring a spectacular vantage of the Sydney Skyline, The Four Seasons offers a perfect base to explore the city and the surrounding areas. Minutes-walk from the Sydney Opera House and Sydney’s major ferry wharves, easily jump on a ferry to Sydney’s must-dos—from Taronga Zoo, Luna Park and the SEALife Aquarium.

After a busy day venturing throughout the city, return to a contemporary and uncluttered suite with panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House, or treat yourself to a session at the hotel’s Endota spa. If you’re feeling like a night in, dine onsite at Mode Kitchen & Bar for fresh modern Australian cuisine, or choose from one of Australia’s largest whisky menus at Grain—knowing that you have 300-count linen to look forward to back at the hotel room.

Also tucked away in The Rocks, Shangri La is one of Sydney’s premier destination hotels and is a stone’s throw from the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. With 565 rooms and plenty of configurations to suit all families, it’s the perfect stay if you want to sneak in some time to pamper yourself.

While your partner keeps the kids occupied in the pool, spend half a day dedicated to self-care between CHI spa and Health Club, or a gym session and a sauna. If you’re after quality time with the family instead, treat the kids to a colourful and elevated high tea at the Blu High Tea Buffet, created by executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou.

Make sure to plan our at least one date night for the trip. Leave the kids with an in-room babysitter while you enjoy one of three restaurants and a bar on-site. If you can only visit one during your stay, let it be Altitude Restaurant, so you can check out the views on the 30th floor.

If you prefer a little character and culture in your stay, you’ll love The Old Clare Hotel. The 62-room boutique hotel stretches across two heritage-listed buildings in the area of Chippendale.

Surrounded by art galleries, the area is considered a culinary hot spot for global cuisine and the Old Clare Hotel reflects the perfect marriage of old meets new in the neighbourhood. You’ll find a rooftop pool, bike hire (or tandem bike hire), but if your kids haven’t mastered the two-wheelers yet, you can explore Sydney’s famous Glebe Market and nearby cinemas instead.

With spacious room for the kids, hire an in-room babysitter and explore some of Sydney’s best restaurants on your doorstep. Try Automata for a fun take on fine dining and signature dishes like their steamed bass groper with cured roe emulsion and seaweed, or Bazaari for a three-course set menu of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, featuring their slow-cooked lamb shoulder with Harissa and yoghurt tahini.

Possibly the most family-friendly hotel in Sydney, Swissotel is the place to stay to keep the little ones happy, so you can unwind completely, knowing they’ll be well entertained.

The kids will be delighted to find themed bed linen at the hotel, along with complimentary kids movies and toys suitable for their age group. There’s play corners for really little ones and Wii and iPod docking stations for older kids to enjoy. Plus, you have the option to book a dedicated adjoining kids rooms for 50% off, so you can have a relaxing night in after an adventurous day on the town.

You’ll also be close to all of Sydney’s landmarks, including the heritage listed 30 hectares of Royal Botanic Gardens in the CBD to walk around or relax in after exploring the city.

Close to Chinatown and Central Station, Rydges Sydney offers a family-friendly stay in the CBD, right near Hyde Park and several art galleries and museums including The Art Gallery of New South Whales and The Museum of Sydney. The little ones will love The Powerhouse Museum, with life-size Star Wars characters, astronauts and old steam trains—you can also book workshops for them in advance, like the Space Odyssey Tinkertoreum where they learn to build their own moon buggy.

With a 15-meter indoor pool for the kids to play in, enjoy a relaxing day making use of all the hotel amenities at Rydges, or head to the famous Paddington Markets on a Saturday for an artisan NY style rainbow bagel or a bowl of Chin’s Laksa. After a long day, return back to the hotel and grab a drink at the on-site bar and restaurant, The Sydney Brewery Surrey Hills, or unwind in the spa and sauna before returning to your spacious modern family room.