Harbourside #32

Hotel Description

I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Harbourside #32 on Henry Lawson Avenue, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The building itself is pretty unassuming from the street, but once you get inside and see those harbour views… well, that’s when you realize why this place has an 8.7 rating. You’re literally looking across the water at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and I mean *literally* – not some distant glimpse you need to crane your neck for.

The apartment-style setup is actually perfect if you’re planning to stay more than a couple nights. There’s a proper kitchen (not just a mini-fridge and microwave situation), which honestly saved me a fortune since eating out in Sydney every meal gets expensive fast. The McMahons Point location is sort of this perfect sweet spot – you’re close enough to walk to the North Sydney train station in about 10 minutes, but far enough from the CBD chaos that you can actually sleep at night. I mean, the only sounds I heard were the occasional ferry horn, which is kind of charming after a while. Speaking of ferries, there’s a wharf literally at the bottom of the hill – you can catch the ferry straight to Circular Quay, which beats dealing with Sydney traffic any day.

What really impressed me was how the place feels lived-in rather than hotel-sterile. The furnishings are modern but comfortable (that couch was dangerous – I almost missed a dinner reservation because I fell asleep watching the harbour traffic), and there’s actually decent water pressure in the shower, which… you know what, that matters more than people admit. The 4-star rating feels about right – it’s not trying to be the Park Hyatt, but it doesn’t need to be. Parking was surprisingly easy too, which anyone who’s driven in Sydney will tell you is basically a miracle. The check-in process was smooth, though I’d recommend confirming your arrival time since it’s not a traditional hotel front desk situation. One small thing – the Wi-Fi was a bit spotty in the bedroom, but perfect in the living area, so just something to keep in mind if you’re planning to work from bed. Overall, if you want to feel like you’re living in Sydney rather than just visiting, and you don’t mind being a ferry ride away from the main action, this place delivers exactly what it promises.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $341. Apartment with 1 double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• A comfortable place to spend a few nights exploring Sydney in a great location with amazing views – Hayley from Australia – 2 October 2023 (8/10)

  Great location, comfortable facilities, easy walk to the ferry terminal to get you around the city area
  
  What could be improved: It would be great if they did have air cons, though there were some small fan heaters as at night it got a little chilly but overall not too bad really

• Exceptional – Kerrie from Australia – 26 January 2023 (10/10)

• Exceptional – Zhou from Australia – 20 October 2024 (10/10)

• Good – Anonymous from Switzerland – 15 May 2023 (7/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities