Hotel Review: Abode Hotel Canberra - Australian Traveller

Abode Hotels is one of the brand’s apartment-style stays shining a spotlight on Canberra’s suburban spirit.

Abode means a place of residence, a house or home – and this is embodied at each of Abode Hotels’ self-contained stays across the nation’s capital.

Stay in one of the brand’s stylish iterations and you will learn a lot about Canberrans and how they like to roll, from laid-back brunch spots to happening bars and everything in between. And after exploring the delights of Canberra all day, it’s only natural that you’ll want somewhere comfortable to rest your head. This is where Abode steps in.

Location

Abode Hotels’ eight properties are located in regional and residential areas, including Canberra suburbs such as Phillip, Belconnen, Malua Bay, Kingston, Gungahlin, Woden, Tuggeranong, Murrumbatemen and Narrabundah. And while all the Abode offerings in Canberra are different, they are all designed for those who enjoy creature comforts.

an aerial view of Abode Malua Bay near the beach — The beach is just a few steps away from Abode Malua Bay. (Image: PewPew Studios)

In-room digital guide Your Abode further encourages self-exploration and local immersion, serving as a modern-day guidebook of each hotel and its surrounding area. The hotel brand is bucking the trend of city-centric stays, inviting travellers to instead engage with regional communities across Canberra. So, while I booked into the 63-room Abode Kingston , I’d be happy at any of the brand’s locations.

the property exterior of Abode Murrumbateman — Abode Hotel’s Murrumbateman location is undeniably homely.

For my stay, I was just a five-minute drive to the Parliamentary Triangle, which is one of the most popular places to visit in Canberra.

Want to check out some of the city’s best boutiques? It’s a 10-minute drive to the CBD. Fancy a paddle around Lake Burley Griffin? Love Boats is just over a one-kilometre walk away. Make sure you factor in time to see some of the world-class museums and galleries, too.

Style and character

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling right at home within minutes of checking in to an Abode Hotel. This is not your standard, cut-and-paste hotel experience. In fact, the brand’s focus is built around providing a sense of homely comfort.

Abode Hotels Canberra — Expect all the creature comforts plus a ton of local flavour.

The staff remember my name and instantly make me feel welcome from the moment I check in at the marble reception desk with terracotta-toned pendant lighting.

Although each hotel has unique design touches that nod to its individual surrounds, they all have a similar look and feel. Abode Kingston guests can expect a lot of wood, rattan and eucalypt greys and greens; my room reflects the colours of Canberra’s countryside.

Abode Hotels Canberra in Kingston — Guests at Abode Kingston can expect colours inspired by the countryside.

Facilities

Each Abode location varies when it comes to facilities. If you’re not tied to a specific location, use the website to filter through the hotels based on what you’d like to have access to. If a pool is a non-negotiable, book Abode Belconnen. Want an onsite restaurant? Abode Woden, with No.10 Restaurant + Bar on its ground floor, is the one for you. All locations feature Your Abode.

Abode Belconnen in Canberra — With amenities like a 25-metre outdoor pool, Abode Belconnen is perfect for a summer stay.

Where I’m stationed at Abode Kingston, guests have access to complimentary Wi-fi and room service.

The hotel also has bikes that you can borrow to do a hot lap of nearby Lake Burley Griffin. It’s nothing out of the ordinary to see a fellow hotel guest cycling into the horizon, map of the region in hand. They’re likely bound for a tour of the local markets or one of the many cute local coffee nooks.

bikes parked inside the lobby at Abode Hotel Canberra — Borrow a bike at the hotel’s lobby to cycle around the city.

What’s more, you can forget about organising a pet sitter. Most Abode Hotels offer a Pet Package which includes animal-friendly rooms so the whole clan can come on holiday.

two dogs sitting outside a unit at Abode Hotel Canberra — Stay with your furry friends at Abode Narrabundah.

Rooms

A stay at the Abode Kingston is the antithesis of staying in a big city hotel, and the only challenge presented is finding the motivation to leave. The serviced apartment-style rooms offer everything you’ll need, like unlimited free wi-fi, air conditioning, a rainfall shower, Google STAYCAST streaming, bar fridge and plenty of space to spread out.

You can book a regular hotel room, king studio, courtyard studio, balcony studio or executive studio. Guests should note that the hotel room and king studio do not offer kitchenette or washer/dryer facilities.

The rooms are clean and quite minimal, and the hotel itself feels like the kind of apartment living we all long for. There’s much to be thankful when ensconced in these rooms, where it feels like Marie Kondo has had a say in the clean lines and minimalist approach.

Food and drink

Abode Kingston is located just a short stroll away from Kingston Foreshore, one of Canberra’s dining hotspots. Guests are encouraged to wander down to the string of acclaimed restaurants, bars and cafes to experience fresh local flavours.

If you’d rather stay in, use the hotel’s handy Abode Pantry. Located in the lobby, it is stocked with a variety of food and beverage items (plus other travel essentials) that you can take back up to your room. From healthy frozen meals to midnight snack treats, the Abode Pantry has something for every guest. Or, treat yourself and order take-out via Your Abode.

the dining at Abode Murrumbateman — Adobe Pantry is a great option for guests who want to stay in.

Do Abode Hotels have access for guests with disabilities?

Abode Hotels have rooms at each location designed for the mobility impaired. At Abode Kingston, guests with accessibility needs can book the wheelchair-friendly acccessible room, which features an ultra-spacious layout, one queen-sized bed, an ensuite with walk-in shower and multiple accessible fixtures.

Are Abode Hotels family-friendly?

All Abode Hotels are family friendly, with children four anmd under staying for free (using existing bedding). Portable cots are available in select room types at an additional charge of $20 per night. Interconnecting rooms can also be arranged for larger families.

Details:

Best for: Those looking for a stay that will connect them with the local Canberra community.

Address: 14 Kennedy St, Kingston ACT

Phone: (02) 6108 4760

Cost: From $198 per night.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

Abode Hotels Canberra: a stay for every type of traveller