Where to find accommodation under $100 around Australia

Affordable Australia – AT‘s best ten hotels, motels and backpackers under $100

1. Hotel Northbridge, WA

The inner city Perth suburb of Northbridge is a pocket of pure urbanity in the wild west, its streets paved with bronzed beauties leaving lipstick marks on latte glasses outside trendy restaurants. Surely any half-decent hotel will come with a hefty price tag.

Not true. The Hotel Northbridge has a budget wing, known as the Travel Lodge, where you can grab a double room for just $60. Okay, so they’re a little Spartan and you share facilities with your fellow budget-smugglers, but as obsequious real estate types will insist on chanting, it’s all about location, location, location.

If you’re feeling flash, midweek Luxury Spa Packages go for $149 per night (for two in a standard queen spa room on the ground-floor).

WHERE: 210 Lake St, Northbridge.
PHONE: (08) 9328 5254

Alfresco area at Travellodge Northbridge

2. Bunk. Brisbane

One of the new breed of hostels where the high falutin’ style is emphasised (and advertised) as much as the low tariffs, Bunk is sharp-edged and eye-achingly cool. It sets out to be all things to all people, and within its futuristic walls you’ll find everything the modern traveller craves (from high speed internet to an on-site travel advisory service), all set to an ambient soundtrack.

Outside the door is funky Fortitude Valley buzzing with cafes, bars and nightspots, while inside the rooms are similarly dressed to impress. Doubles start at $75 per night (or for a real treat, take a New York-style loft apartment for $120 per night).

All the rooms (even dorms) are en suite and mercifully air-conditioned. The attached bar, Birdee Num Num, isn’t your standard hotel boozer. It features a swimming pool and is the scene of all sorts of backpacker-style promotions and high jinx.

WHERE: 11–21 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
PHONE: 1800 682 865

3. The Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay

Ever dreamed of being joined for breakfast by wild dolphins or accompanied throughout the grounds of your resort by an inquisitive six-foot emu? If so, perhaps you should eat less cheese before bed.

Or you could try shacking up at the Dolphin Resort in Shark Bay’s famous beach resort, Monkey Mia. There’s a big choice of sleeping arrangements here, but for our porpoises the shared en suite rooms offer the best quality for your dollar.

For $74 per night, couples get their own double room, and will share bathroom facilities with just one other neighbouring room (and only if that’s occupied). Not bad. And where else can you climb out of bed, wander to the beach and hand-feed the local sea life.

WHERE: Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
PHONE: 1800 653 611 or (08) 9948 1320

6. Blue Mountains YHA, Katoomba

In the ephemeral haze of Sydney’s World Heritage back garden is a hostel with a difference . For starters it has its very own ballroom, complete with a roaring open fire. The art deco building (a former cabaret hall) is listed by the National Trust, and the set-up has bagged numerous awards.

To feel like a king, while trying to hide your innate nerdy tendencies, give the giant chess set in the garden a run. The positioning is its crowning glory though: it’s perfectly poised to project you into the hilly blue yonder, where you can arrange such adventures as abseiling, canyoning, mountain biking and Jenolan cave tours.

Doubles and twins start at a very tasty $72 per room (family en suites are $116), and you can save more by taking advantage of communal cooking facilities.

WHERE:207 Katoomba St, Katoomba
PHONE: (02) 4782 1416

7. Glenferrie Lodge, Sydney

If you believe the sunny sentiments of this country’s biggest cultural export, Neighbours, everybody needs good ones. Well, how about having the PM as your cobber from across the street? Sure, getting an eyeful of Johnny on his ritual morning strut mightn’t be everyone’s complimentary cup of English breakfast tea, but you can’t deny the allure of Sydney’s sexy north shore.

Recently renovated, Glenferrie offers 3-star budget lodgings in a variety of rooms, with good doubles starting at $99 a night. Shared bathrooms, but there are loads and the place is spotless. The free hot breakfast will provide you with a great foundation for a day of Sydney exploration.

WHERE: 12 Carabella St, Kirribilli, Sydney
PHONE: 1800 121 011 or (02) 9955 1685

8. Nomad, Byron Bay

In Byron, it’s hardly surprising to find a place that’s both hip and hippy-friendly. Formerly a pig slaughterhouse, these days Nomad treats visiting babes far more gently. In between saunas and sipping drinks at the Buddha Bar you can join yoga classes and learn to play the didgeridoo.

Dorms can be loud, but there are better sleeping alternatives – alternative being the operative word. You could discover your inner Pocahontas by sharing a teepee with up to nine other braves, or enjoy a self-contained poolside “Cube" ($249 for three nights), a canvas hut “Island Retreat" on a tea tree lake ($219 for three nights) or cuddle up in the en suite “Love Shack" ($279 for three nights).

WHERE: Skinners Shoot Rd, Byron Bay
PHONE: (02) 6685 7709

9. The Nunnery, Fitzroy

Teasingly positioned between the bright lights of the Melbourne CBD and the dim sultry glow of too-cool-for-school Fitzroy and Brunswick, the Nunnery is a genuine backpackers’ but without the trappings of hectic hedonism that can test people’s patience.

Back in 1888, the Daughters of Charity (an order of nuns) were the wimple-wearing bunk-warmers in this gorgeous Georgian building, which retains its stained-glass windows and rich furnishings. Couples can take a deluxe double room here for $95 a night, or a standard room for $85. Just across the road there’s a lovely little boozer called the Pumphouse.

WHERE: 116 Nicholson St, Fitzroy
PHONE: 1800 032 635 or (03) 9419 8637

10. Base, St Kilda

When the St Kilda branch of Base opened they modestly labelled themselves “the most modern, state-of-the-art hostel ever built." Big claim, but cynics were silenced with one glance at the floor of the RedEye Bar, where live goldfish swam around beneath the feet of people dancing to DJs and live music.

Those fish have been removed, but the place retains its über-trendy feel. Wedged between the Acland and Fitzroy St hotspots, double en suite rooms cost from $95 per night. Girl-only lodgings are available in “the Sanctuary", which boasts such cunning get-them-in extras as hairdryers.

WHERE: 17 Carlisle St, St Kilda
PHONE: (03) 8598 6200

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.