Hyatt Hotel Canberra review

For 100 years, the historic Hyatt Hotel Canberra – A Park Hyatt Hotel has been spoiling guests and luminaries from far and wide in laidback splendour. Here’s a look at what goes on inside this Canberra icon.

As one of the earliest buildings and the very first hotel in Canberra, what’s now known as the Hyatt Hotel Canberra has always made a significant mark on the landscape. It’s accommodated royalty, rock stars and a procession of heads of state through the decades, and still does to this day.

Designed by Commonwealth’s Architect, John Smith Murdoch, the luxe hotel opened in 1924 to accommodate parliamentarians and staff arriving in the fledgling capital, and soon became the social hub of the city. Using a layout in keeping with Canberra’s ‘garden city’ plan, it featured a series of pavilions and courtyards radiating out from the centre, all set in spacious grounds with tennis courts and a croquet lawn. This provided privacy and the feel of a country estate, a feeling that hasn’t been lost a century later.

After more than 50 years as a hotel (and then a short spell housing government offices) the hotel reopened in 1988 with aplomb. With a large seamless extension and a reinvigoration of its original glory, it became the Hyatt Hotel Canberra under the esteemed Park Hyatt brand – the first in Australia.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra exterior — Read on for our Hyatt Hotel Canberra review.

Location

Given the hotel’s original remit to provide parliamentary accommodation, it’s not surprising both the old and the new Parliament Houses are just a stroll away. The National Triangle is also where Canberra’s iconic galleries and national institutions are located so there’s no shortage of things to do around the city nearby.

The shores of Lake Burley Griffin are straight out the back or walk across Commonwealth Bridge and you’re soon into the green oasis of Commonwealth Park, home of the annual Floriade festival of flowers, and the heart of the city.

Parliament House canberra — Take a short stroll to icons like Parliament House. (Image: Marcus Reubenstein)

Style and character

The moment I walk through the brick and stucco portico (porte cochere if you want to get formal) and through timber doors swung open by uniformed doormen, I’m transported to another era.

Perhaps it’s the spacious lobby with its hand-pressed decorated ceilings high above with lead light recesses even higher to let in the light. Maybe it’s the richly-hued original jarrah floorboards, the Art Deco finishes or the soft wafts of classical music floating in the air that carries me back in time. Whatever it is, it’s calm, relaxing and refined.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra lobby — The hotel exudes elegance as soon as you step into the lobby.

Facilities

The Gardens

Acres of gardens surrounding the hotel were always an integral part of the design. The two courtyard gardens are havens: Rose Courtyard the place for lazy lunches, afternoon or evening tipples, and the Lavender Courtyard popular for intimate weddings.

Sipping an afternoon cocktail from the specially created cocktail list on the broad, covered verandah is an excellent choice of location. Though soaking up dappled sun under the shade of a sprawling maple is also recommended.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra garden — Gardens were reconstructed from the original plans.

From either, I can admire the impressive gardens, pleached camellias and box hedges marking out spaces around the lawns. Having been recreated from original plans and sketches, the gardens are close to the originals planned by horticulturist Charles Weston, the man largely responsible for the ‘greening’ of Canberra in the early 1900s to become ‘the Bush Capital’.

Bar and lounges

Inside I’m similarly spoilt for choice with secluded comfy spots to enjoy a quiet moment. There are a number of lounge areas, three of them sporting fireplaces, perfect for winter evenings. The Speakers’ Corner Bar, lined with photographic memorabilia, serves up whiskeys and cocktails while the Griffin room opposite offers lounge chairs and space for contemplation. Formerly the Smoking Room, the Howard Lounge offers yet another quiet alternative.

Luckily the thick smoke that would have filled the room has well and truly disappeared with only the hint of conspiratorial conversations that may have taken place here remaining.

Hyatt Canberra hotel Cheese Plate — Curl up by the fireplace for a cosy evening.

The Clubhouse

I’m not usually one to avail myself of hotel gym facilities, but The Clubhouse here is sorely tempting. With a surprisingly large selection of gym equipment, treadmills, bikes and rowers, a separate weights room and a 15-metre edgeless pool (heated of course), it’s a rather stylish place to get some exercise. Open from 6am to 9pm, there’s a sauna to work up some sweat if you haven’t already done so. A range of gym classes are available, and bikes can be hired too.

The pool at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra ACT — Dip into the pool for a relaxing and refreshing swim.

Rooms

There are 252 guest rooms including 13 spacious suites either in the front heritage section or the award-winning extension in the back section of the hotel. The diplomatic suites offer abundant space with separate lounge and dining areas, kitchenettes and opulent marble bathrooms.

I’m spoilt with a stay in The Scullin Suite, one of six diplomatic suites in the heritage section of the hotel, named for Prime Minister James Scullin who resided in the hotel with his wife during his tenure. Space abounds, which is not surprising as the suites were designed to be larger than the average apartments at the time, each coming in at 240 square metres.

Park Hyatt Canberra Diplomatic suite Bed — Diplomatic Suites were designed to be larger than the average apartments at the time.

With classic decor, an oversized lounge, a separate dining room and kitchenette, two balconies and even a walk-in robe, it feels like a home away from home. The opulent bathroom featuring the hotel’s signature black and white marble is a highlight, the spa bath at the top of three marble steps beckoning me to enter for a long soak, possibly with a movie on the side.

Park Hyatt Canberra Presidential suite Bathroom — Even the bathrooms are gorgeous.

The king-size bed doesn’t disappoint, providing a fabulously comfortable sleep and dreamy pillows. Even the powder room is something to behold. With a broad selection of historic and eclectic reading material scattered in the lounge and in the bookcase, you hardly need to leave the suite. Though with so many other inviting spaces to explore in the hotel, that would be rather a pity.

The Diplomatic Suite at Hotel Hyatt Canberra ACT — Book the Diplomatic Suite for a very stylish stay.

Smaller heritage rooms are available, as well as modern suites and rooms in the newer section of the hotel, combining modern luxuries with the classic style and elegance evident throughout the hotel.

Food and drink

The Tea Lounge is the convivial heart of the hotel. Here, under the sparkle of oversized rectangular chandeliers in the comfort of traditional club lounge seating, guests and visitors gather for coffee, drinks or to take part in the all-day dining options. It’s not just travellers who fill the lounges. It’s a spot beloved by locals for celebrating special occasions.

I’m here for high tea, served as it has been since the 1920s, a tiered feast of hot and cold, sweet and savoury treats. In elegant surrounds, I’m sipping bubbles and my chosen tea blend while working my way through an array of gorgeous little edible things displayed before me. I’m in my happy place.

high tea at Hyatt Hotel Canberra — High Tea has been served since the 1920s.

The stool behind the shiny grand piano sits empty today, but I’m told if I were here on a Sunday afternoon, the piano player would be too. Clearly, a man dedicated to his work, Stuart has been tickling the ivories here for 35 years.

While Stuart is usually in charge of the live entertainment, I hear of an evening long ago during the late Supper Club hours when a guest took command of the piano and entertained the crowd for over two hours. It turns out that guest was the late, legendary Barry Humphries. Apparently, a lot of faces you might recognise often wander by.

Hyatt Canberra hotel stuart on piano — Stuart has been serenading guests with the piano for 35 years.

The Tea Lounge offers traditional dining in the evening too. A solid selection of local and Australian wines (with some international selections) is available by the glass. There are spirits and cocktails if you prefer, with a more elite spirit selection by the bottle.

If unrestricted dining is more your thing, The Promenade Cafe down the corridor offers buffet dining – aka The Grazing Table – from Tuesday to Thursday nights. It’s proving popular with locals, a fact I confirm while chatting to one who tells me she comes here every week for the buffet.

Along with a wide-ranging spread of hot and cold choices to suit any palate, the live pasta station adds a little theatre. Choose the alfredo sauce and you can opt to have your pasta whisked around the 40-kilogram parmesan block for even more cheese. Of course, I take that option. An indulgent seafood buffet with prawns and oysters galore is available on Friday and Saturday nights.

bartender maing smokey cocktail at Hyatt Hotel Canberra — Try the delicious curated cocktails.

I’m back at the buffet the next morning; a generous affair covering all breakfast options and preferences. The pasta station now whips up eggs and omelettes ‘a la minute’, fresh and just how you like them. It’s a welcome addition to any breakfast setting. A selection of four different poached fruits, all spiced differently, is the early morning highlight for me, and a cappuccino to finish.

Does Hyatt Hotel Canberra have access for guests with disabilities?

The hotel offers specifically equipped accessible rooms.

Is Hyatt Hotel Canberra family-friendly?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome to stay and are well catered for.

Details

Best for: Those seeking a relaxing, luxurious and ultimately unforgetable stay.

Address: 120 Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla ACT

Phone: (02) 6270 1234

Cost: From $695 per night.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra: a gem in the nation’s capital