Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels and share what makes them worthy of your wishlist.
Please note: In mid-2026 Manly Pacific Hotel re-launched as Elysium Manly as part of a near $40 million transformation. We’re planning to profile the stunning stay as soon as we get a chance, and we’ll be sure to share our thoughts with you.
For a city with as impressive a coastline as Sydney, it might be surprising to learn that beachfront hotels are thin on the ground, particularly on the luxurious end of the spectrum. In Sydney’s east, you’ll find the newly opened InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. In the south, The Brighton Hotel Sydney. And on the Northern Beaches, Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. It’s the latter that has caught my attention for my next Hotel Addict stay.
The hotel faces Manly Beach.
My sister and my car rolls down the Norfolk pine-lined street, pulling up to the white building. It’s busy – which might deter some – but it feels like the place to be on a Friday evening. The beachfront location and restaurant spilling onto the street explain everything. We hand the car to the valet and walk into the breezy foyer that brings instant holiday vibes with whitewashed walls and coastal-inspired artworks.
Coco Republic transformed the hotel in 2023, infusing it with luxe beachy charm reflective of the surrounding neighbourhood. Natural textures, a light coastal palette and modern furnishings decorate the space, while a signature fragrance derived from Australian botanicals local to the North Head, delicately perfumes the air.
The hotel is awash with light tones. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
The lobby is chic and minimal in style.
213 stylishly appointed rooms ranging from cosy Village Superior Rooms and dog-friendly rooms to Ocean-facing rooms and beachfront villas flank the wide hallways. But the one to book is the Infinity Residence. This is the hotel’s most premium room and it overdelivers in more ways than one. At 60 square metres – plus an 81 square metre terrace – the neutral-toned retreat lives up to the name. There’s a full-size kitchen, a separate living area with a curved bouclé sofa and fireplace, a large bedroom and a bathroom with a freestanding bath and LaGaia beauty products. I check the mini bar as I find this is always a good marker of how much a hotel considers its guests and it becomes evident that this room is made for those who want to entertain. There are two Vintec wine fridges stocked with a dozen Australian and international bottles and a range of spirits – Louis Roederer Cristal Brut and Manly Spirits among them.
The Infinity Residence feels more like a high-end apartment than a hotel room.
I reach for the Maison Saint Aix, AIX Rosé and head to the private terrace that brings the real ‘wow’ factor. I estimate that it could comfortably fit 50 people, and am told it gets used for small weddings. There’s an outdoor dining setting and sun loungers to relax on while taking in the spectacular Manly Beach views. As we languidly sip, part of me regrets our dinner reservation because I want to spend as much time using this ridiculously sized space as possible. But I’ve eaten at onsite restaurant Cibaria Manly a couple of times and know better than to skip a meal there (though room service is available).
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AI Prompt
The mini bars are thoughtfully curated.
The villas boast ocean views.
Popular with locals, this Italian eatery serves reliably tasty food and punchy drinks. Not taking that Euro summer holiday this year? The setting transports you to the Mediterranean thanks to Luchretti Krelle’s richly layered, warm design, which features stucco walls and arches. We kickstart the meal with a Paloma Sea Breeze – a tequila, apricot brandy, lime juice, hibiscus syrup, salt and soda concoction – which goes down a treat alongside kingfish crudo with citrus, fennel, pickled cucumber and garlic flowers and fritto misto. But it’s the main dish I order that I won’t forget anytime soon – Moreton Bay bug pasta with spicy vodka sauce. Dessert is a tiramisu with macadamia mascarpone cream, coffee, savoiardi biscuits and cacao.
The hotel’s bar, 55 North, sits next door in the lobby and serves a selection of bites from Cibaria’s menu while a DJ spins tunes Thursday to Sunday evenings.
Cibaria Manly is a local favourite. (Credit: Steven Woodburn)
Moreton Bay bug pasta with spicy vodka sauce.
The next morning – after a restorative sleep – we’re awakened by the most spectacular sunrise, which backdrops volleyballers and runners as they seize the day. It immediately puts us in the right mood to start ours.
Wellness is central to a stay at the Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. I head to the rooftop for a quick dip in the swimming pool that overlooks the beach. Wellness enthusiasts are also catered for with the infrared sauna and The Beach Club team, who are on-hand to create personalised wellness experiences and packages, from surfing lessons, kayaking, boot camps, beach yoga, facials, massages and cryotherapy.
Sunrise views from the Infinity Residence terrace. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
Breakfast is served in the accommodation’s more casual dining venue, Bistro Manly. The buffet is generous, with all of the usual suspects, plus a fresh juice maker. We pick from the à la carte menu that features elevated breakfast bites such as lobster benedict, house-made granola and French toast with ricotta and bacon.
Those looking to travel closer to home are in for a treat with Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. It offers an idyllic staycation spot that makes you feel like you’ve escaped the city, and my only regret with this stay is that I’m not here another night.
The rooftop features a swimming pool and striped sun loungers.
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Details
Best for: Staycationers, wellness enthusiasts and couples
Address: 55 North Steyne, Manly, New South Wales 2095
Room rate: From $350 per night (at the time of writing)
A rooftop pool. Manly Beach below you. Nothing else to say, really. Manly Pacific Hotel is the Sydney staycation that makes you wonder why you ever booked a flight.
Accessibility: Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney, is an accessibility-friendly hotel. Accessible rooms feature walk-in showers and toilets with handrails, lowered peep holes and light switches. Facilities include lift access to meeting and event spaces, large entry doors, accessible parking spaces near lifts, entry ramps into the hotel lobby and a disabled bathroom with handrails in the hotel lobby, and braille on lift buttons.
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Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.
It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.
Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.
Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.
1. Broken Hill
See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.
2. White Cliffs
Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.
Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?
3. Mungo National Park
Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.
Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.
4. Kinchega National Park
Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.
Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.
5. Griffith
Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)
How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).
6. Mudgee
Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.
Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.
7. Silverton
See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)
A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.
Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.
8. Shear Outback
Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)
If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.
Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.
