Why I Book a Serviced Apartment in Sydney (and Which Area to Choose)

I was at an event in Darling Harbour for three days not long ago and by the evening I was knackered. Standing around all day will do that. I didn’t want to come back to a hotel room, and I really didn’t fancy a big buffet breakfast every morning either. My daughter was with me too, so a normal hotel room would have been tight, and being close to transport mattered as well. I booked a serviced apartment, Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites, and it sorted all of it.

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Honestly, if I’m staying longer than a night or two, a serviced apartment is where I look first for Sydney accommodation. Below is what I liked about this one, plus a quick rundown of the four Sydney locations so you can work out which one suits you.

Why bother with an apartment in Sydney

Sydney costs a lot. Food and bigger hotel rooms are where most visitors’ money goes, and an apartment helps with both.

You control what you spend on food

Eating out for every meal in Sydney gets expensive quick. With a kitchen you can sort breakfast before you leave, maybe make a packed lunch for the day, and spend a bit more on a good dinner. I picked up the basics at a small supermarket near the hotel. If you want a bigger shop, there are full-size supermarkets around the city centre, so it’s no big deal.

I don’t mind a hotel buffet now and then, but I find it a lot most of the time. Breakfast at the apartment was quiet and easy, and I still had money for a cafe treat later in the day.

Sharing the space

Three days in one hotel room with someone gets old. In a one-bedroom apartment one of us could stay up in the lounge if the other wanted an early night. Nobody is creeping around in the dark.

Longer stays

The longer you’re there, the more this matters. By night three in a hotel my suitcase is open on the floor and the room feels tiny. In an apartment I unpack once and that’s that. You can buy milk and snacks for the week instead of every day, and put a wash on halfway through so you pack less. After a big day out there’s a couch to sit on too, so you’re not stuck going straight to bed.

Choose the right location for your Sydney trip

Sydney is spread out and getting across it takes longer than you’d think, so pick the area first. Oaks has three places in and around the city centre and a fourth out at North Ryde, and they suit different kinds of trips. If you’re still undecided, my guide on where to stay in Sydney covers the main neighbourhoods.

Darling Harbour: Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites

I’ve stayed here a few times. ICC Sydney is right next door and you can walk to every Darling Harbour venue. The Convention light rail stop is two minutes away and goes to Central, so the airport line is easy to reach.

Our one-bedroom had a full kitchen and lots of room for two. The 25-metre indoor pool was busy with families most of the day, but when I went for an early swim it was usually empty. There’s a gym and a sauna as well, and a coffee shop downstairs.

I’d book it again for anything at ICC Sydney. It also works for a family trip, as Darling Harbour has plenty of family-friendly places to eat and a fabulous playground. One thing if you’re driving. Parking is in a separate garage about five minutes’ walk away, and it costs extra.

CBD and Haymarket: Oaks Sydney Castlereagh Suites

Castlereagh Suites is at the southern end of the city. The Capitol Theatre is a few minutes on foot and Chinatown is close. Central, the light rail and Museum Station are all about seven minutes’ walk, which makes it a handy spot for a first visit.

It has the biggest apartments of the three, up to three bedrooms, so look at this one for a large family or a group of friends. There’s a heated indoor pool and a gym. Onsite parking is limited, so book a space ahead if you’re bringing a car.

Hyde Park: Oaks Sydney Hyde Park Suites

Hyde Park Suites is on College Street, facing the park. It’s a quieter location than the other two properies but you can still walk into the city in a few minutes. Museum Station is about two minutes away. The Australian Museum and St Mary’s Cathedral are less than five.

The studios have a kitchenette, and the one and two-bedroom apartments have full kitchens. There’s a rooftop lap pool and laundry facilities onsite.

I love this location for getting around on foot. Darlinghurst and Oxford Street are close by and full of interesting restaurants and bars.

North Ryde: Oaks Sydney North Ryde Suites

North Ryde is about 15 kilometres north-west of the city, so you wouldn’t stay here for sightseeing. It works well for business, because the hotel is in the Macquarie Park business area. The Triniti Business Park and Riverside Corporate Park are both a 10 to 15 minute walk away. It’s handy too if you’re visiting a son or daughter at Macquarie University. You’re a couple of Metro stops from campus, not an hour across town.

North Ryde Metro Station is 8 to 10 minutes on foot. The Metro goes straight to Macquarie University one way. The other way it runs through Chatswood and North Sydney into the CBD, which takes around 25 to 30 minutes. Coming from the airport, take the train into the city and change to the Metro.

There’s an outdoor pool, a spa, a gym and a BBQ area. Driving is easier here than in the city, and undercover parking onsite is $20 a night.

Lane Cove National Park is a short drive away if you want a walk after a day of meetings. For a first trip to Sydney though, where you want to be near the harbour, I’d stay at one of the city properties.

Before you book

Start with room size. A studio is basically a hotel room with a kitchenette, so if you want somewhere to sit that isn’t your bed, go for a one-bedroom.

Check the laundry too. Some apartments have their own washing machine, but some properties only have a paid service or shared machines.

I wouldn’t bother with a car. All three city properties are near trains or light rail, and parking in the city costs extra every day. North Ryde is the exception if your workis around Macquarie Park. If you’re flying in, my guide to the Sydney Airport train shows how to get into town without one.

Timing matters as well. Prices jump and rooms go fast around Vivid Sydney, New Year’s Eve and big conferences, so if your dates fall then, book as early as you can.

Last thing. Check how often the apartment is serviced. It’s not daily like a hotel. Most are every 3 or 4 days (or weekly), but you can get more regular cleaning at an extra cost.

When a hotel is better

Apartments aren’t right for every trip. If it’s one night you won’t touch the kitchen, and a hotel room usually costs less. Same if you want a bar downstairs and a concierge to book your dinner.

For anything over two nights, I’d book an apartment again.

My take

I’d stay at Goldsbrough again for an event at ICC Sydney. I could walk to the venue and have a quiet breakfast in the apartment first, and at night there was room for both of us to spread out. You can compare the other properties on the Sydney accommodation page.

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This post is sponsored by Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites.I paid for my stay myself, and the views and experiences are my own.