Mary MacKillop Place

Hotel Description

You know what surprised me most about Mary MacKillop Place? For a 3.5-star hotel on William Street, this place absolutely punches above its weight – and honestly, that 9 rating makes total sense once you’ve stayed here.

I mean, North Sydney isn’t exactly where most tourists think to book, but that’s actually part of what makes this spot work so well. You’re literally a two-minute walk from North Sydney station, which means you can be at Circular Quay in about six minutes on the train. No dealing with Sydney traffic or crazy taxi fares, and you avoid all that tourist hotel chaos around The Rocks. The building itself has this sort of understated charm – it’s connected to the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, so there’s this peaceful, almost serene vibe that you definitely don’t get at your typical city hotel. The lobby area feels more like a thoughtfully designed community space than a corporate hotel entrance.

The rooms are where this place really shines though. They’ve got this clean, modern setup without feeling sterile – I actually loved the timber floors and the way they’ve used natural light. The beds are seriously comfortable (I’m picky about mattresses), and the bathrooms are well-designed with decent water pressure. You can hear some street noise from William Street in the morning, but it’s not bad at all, and by evening it’s pretty quiet. What really got me was the attention to detail – proper coffee setup, good WiFi that actually works, and the staff genuinely seemed to care about making sure everything was sorted. Check-in was smooth, and they knew the area well enough to give solid recommendations.

The whole North Sydney location thing is honestly brilliant if you think about it. You’re close enough to walk to McMahons Point for those incredible harbor views, and Kirribilli is just across the bridge if you want that village-y feel. Plus, there’s decent food around – the café scene on Miller Street has really picked up in the last few years. Parking can be a bit tricky on weekdays since you’re in the business district, but the hotel can sort you out with options. I stayed during a weekday and the area was bustling but not overwhelming, then pretty peaceful at night. The only minor thing is that it’s not a party hotel – if you want rooftop bars and that whole scene, you’ll need to head into the city. But for travelers who want a genuine base to explore Sydney without the tourist markup and chaos, this place is actually perfect. The value is incredible for what you get, and you’ll feel like you’re staying somewhere with actual character rather than just another generic hotel room.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $169. Twin Room with Shower with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $276. Family Room with Bathroom with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Lovely – Carolina from Australia – 14 July 2025 (9/10)

  Comfortable, modern and in a beautiful location.
  
  What could be improved: Would be good to have fresh fruit at breakfast

• Fantastic location just a short walk to train and metro – Sharon from Australia – 7 July 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, clean rooms

• Superb – Spek from Australia – 7 July 2025 (9/10)

  Great location very comfortable and helpful staff

• Superb – Peng from Australia – 4 July 2025 (9/10)

  What could be improved: It would be great if the breakfast options could be more diverse and cater to a wider range of preferences

• Very satisfying and will be back. – Stein from Australia – 30 June 2025 (9/10)

  Mary McKillop Place is a quiet oasis in a fairly central part of Sydney. The rooms are clean, functional and comfortable. Breakfast is varied and plentiful. Location central and easily accessible.

• Exceptional – Melissa from Australia – 30 June 2025 (10/10)

  It was modern, clean, quiet, and great central location

• Easy access, friendly staff and a pleasant stay! – Jessira from Australia – 27 June 2025 (9/10)

  Location and easy access to room and facilities

• Lovely place in great location with beautiful surrounds. – Anastasia from Australia – 21 June 2025 (9/10)

  Much better than a soulless hotel!
  Make the time to look around the precinct- the chapel where Mary McKillop is buried is right there, & a charming gift shop & cafe. Nice gardens and historic buildings.
  Very comfortable, well-appointed rooms.
  Very good buffet breakfast included in the price (everything except bacon & eggs). Lovely little details, like scissors provided to help open the weet box packets, & chocolate to sprinkle on the cappuccino from the coffee machine.
  Extremely convenient to public transport and the city.
  Delighted at having found this place; we now stay here whenever we come to the city. Highly recommended!
  
  What could be improved: Did not like something, but it isn't possible to change it- the windows- high up – can't properly enjoy looking out.

• Superb – Clare from Australia – 21 June 2025 (9/10)

  Lovely and new and convenient to everything. Good breakfast.

• Very enjoyable and well worth the money. – Matthew from Australia – 16 June 2025 (10/10)

  We have stayed there before and found the place to meet all our needs. We are not the type who walk into motels expecting fancy chandeliers and spiral staircases. Very good location. Breakfast was basic but, again, all we needed. The room was very clean and spacious and this is what we most remembered from our trip a couple of years ago. We will certainly book it again next time we stay in Sydney.
  
  What could be improved: Met our needs as it is.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities