Melbourne
Quest Carlton on Finlay, 2-9 Finlay Place, Carlton, Vic, 3053, Tel: 03-8341 4777. http://www.questapartments.com.au
Tucked away in a little lane off Carlton’s Lygon Street, the very comfortable Quest Carlton on Finlay is easily accessible to many great restaurants and cafes, retail outlets and bookshops. Just a short walk to the north-eastern part of Melbourne’s CBD and the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and Museum, the hotel has easy tram access to the National Gallery of Victoria, the State Library, Federation Square and other attractions. The area is a favourite for sports tourists, the colours of competing Australian Rules and rugby teams being prominent throughout winter. The hotel has secure on-site parking.
Quality Hotel Downtowner on Lygon, 66 Lygon Street, Carlton, Vic, 3053, Tel: 03-9663 5555. http://www.downtowner.com.au
The Downtowner is ideal for a vacation or work visit and is accessible to many of Melbourne’s attractions around the CBD area. The hotel offers various rooms at moderate prices. Some rooms can be noisy (especially if an Italian team has just won the Melbourne Grand Prix), so it pays to get a room at the back.
Citadines Apart’Hotel, 131-135 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic, 3000, Tel: 03-9039 8888. http://www.citadines.com/en/australia/melbourne/bourke.html
This moderately-priced hotel is located on a busy tramline through the city’s Bourke Street with one of the central ‘loop’ train stations (Parliament) and city shopping precincts and myriad cafes and restaurants are nearby, including in Chinatown. The adjacent streets in the opposite direction (south) contain one of Melbourne’s more expensive quarters around Little Collins Street (the “Paris end”). The hotel’s staff are always very welcoming irrespective of how busy they are. As one regular guest notes: “You know exactly what you get every time – except when they surprise you with an upgrade!”
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1-5 Spencer Street, Docklands, Melbourne, Vic, 3008, Tel: 03-9648 2777. http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/Melbourne/melfs/hoteldetail
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is very comfortable and its attributes include the helpful and efficient staff, and its close proximity to wonderful restaurants and eateries such as the famous Rockpool along the boardwalk leading to the Prince’s Bridge across the Yarra River, the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria. The Crowne Plaza is the preferred accommodation for people attending the popular Melbourne Convention Centre complex and is only a short tram ride to Melbourne’s busiest train stations – the iconic Flinders Street and the Southern Cross stations.
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Brisbane
Heal House, 72 Heal Street, New Farm, Qld, 4005, Tel: 07-3358 3350. http://www.healhouse.com.au
It doesn’t get any better than Heal House where proprietors Bryce Williams and Lindsay Bennett run this delightful guesthouse in a charming and beautifully-decorated old Queenslander in Brisbane’s New Farm. On a wet, stormy afternoon, Lindsay was a welcome sight as he greeted this guest at the front gate, later serving a delicious afternoon tea and then pre-dinner cheese, nibblies and chardonnay. Lindsay and Bryce are generous hosts. We enjoyed chatting (and laughing) about many subjects including the vicissitudes of renovating and transforming an old run-down house to this very comfortable and tasteful guesthouse. The breakfasts of poached or scrambled eggs, cereals, fruit, juices, yoghurt, croissants, toast and freshly-brewed tea and coffee, are more than generous. The guesthouse is close to boutiques, eateries and retail outlets, and many other parts of Brisbane are easily accessed, including via ferries from nearby New Farm Park.
Brisbane City Council City Cat and ferry services information:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/citycat-ferry-services
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Sydney
101 Addison Road Bed and Breakfast, Manly, NSW, 2095, Tel: 02-9977 6216. Email: jillcaskey@bb-manly.com
http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-north/manly/accommodation/101-addison-road-bed-and-breakfast.
Located in a quiet, tree-lined street on Manly’s eastern hill with views of St Patrick’s Hospitality College (stunning when lit up at night), the circa 1880 dwelling, 101 Addison Road, is close to beaches, restaurants, cafes, shops, and the ferry terminal. The cottage has classic masonry walls, wide original timber floors and architraves and lofty ceilings, with French doors opening to the verandah. The B&B is well stocked with books, games and music and has good heating, electric blankets and tea and coffee-making facilities. The B&B’s delightful host, Jill Caskey, ensures that guests have all they need and her generous, sumptuous breakfasts of fruit, choices of cereals and breads and freshly-brewed coffee and tea, are more than enough.
Avonmore On The Park Boutique Hotel, 34 The Avenue, Randwick, NSW, 2031.
Tel: 02-9399 9388. Toll free: 1800 333 583. http://www.avonmoreonthepark.com.au/accommodation-randwick
With stained glass, pressed metal and wood carvings, the very comfortable heritage-listed Avonmore on The Park boutique hotel dates back to 1888 when builder John Walsh constructed this Victorian mansion. The rooms are well appointed with tasteful soft furnishings and small kitchens for self catering though a wide range of eating and shopping options are very close by as are places such as the University of NSW, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick Racecourse, Sydney Cricket and Football Stadiums, Centennial Park and various beaches. Avonmore management and staff are very helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble for them.
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Perth
Durack House, Mt Lawley, Perth, WA, 6050, Tel: 08-9370 4305. http://www.durackhouse.com.au
Set in quiet leafy Mt Lawley, three kms from Perth’s CBD, Durack House is an elegant Edwardian home, epitomising taste and comfort. Guests are treated to sumptuous breakfasts served in a glassed-in nook off the lounge room. With tastefully-furnished rooms, magnificent leadlighting and antique furniture, the B&B has easy access to buses and train services and is within walking distance of Beaufort Street cafes, restaurants, wine bars, pubs, clothing shops and supermarkets. The East Perth Station (for travel on the Indian Pacific Train) and the beautiful Swan River and Kings Park precinct are easily accessed. Durack House is the perfect haven for a weekend or longer time to explore Perth and surrounds.
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Adelaide
Sebel Playford Hotel, 120 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Tel: 08-8213 8888. http://www.theplayford.com.au
Set in Adelaide’s CBD, the Sebel Playford’s rooms are comfortable and spacious and all that a weary traveller or business person would need. The hotel’s bars and eatery and various functions rooms as well as its accessibility to many cultural venues and other attractions, add to its charm. Adelaide’s Casino is just across the road in the historic Railway Station building.
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Hobart
Watch this space for accommodation suggestions.
Jackman and Mcross Bakery, 57 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tas, 7004, Tel: 03-6223 3186. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jackman-and-McRoss
Set in one of Hobart’s old maritime village of Battery Point, Jackman and Mcross Bakery offers delicious breads, cakes, pastries, pies and sausage rolls, for breakfasts and other meals. Its staff are very efficient and helpful and while there, one is likely to spy some famous actor or local artist or writer.
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