InterContinental Sydney Is A Stylish City Sanctuary

Historic beauty meets modern luxury at the InterContinental Sydney, a stylish sanctuary for the most discerning of travellers.

The InterContinental Group is renowned for creating some of the world’s sleekest hotels, and their Sydney outpost lives up to the hype. Poised by Sydney Harbour, this five-star hotel offers respite from the outside bustle with its serene interiors, luxurious amenities and breathtaking vistas.

Location

InterContinental Sydney is a 20-minute drive from Sydney Airport. Centrally located on Macquarie Street in the iconic Circular Quay, the hotel is within close proximity of Sydney’s icons including the neighbouring Royal Botanic Garden and Sydney Opera House which is a short 10-minute walk away. Circular Quay Station is a four-minute walk away and Wynyard Station is an eight-minute walk away for those who are keen to explore other areas of Sydney.

Style and character

Residing in part of the former Treasury Building that dates back to 1851 as well as a 32-level tower, the InterContinental Sydney exudes heritage meets modern charm in spades.

Revered architecture studio Woods Bagot was called upon to sensitively refurbish the hotel in 2019 as part of the $120 million transformation where guestrooms and suites, public spaces, wellness areas, the club lounge and the dining venues were updated. This extensive re-imagination saw the space retain its heritage features while bringing it into the 21st century, drawing inspiration from the Australian landscape, Sydney Harbour and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the revamp was the creation of the contemporary rooftop bar.

The heart of the hotel is the light-filled atrium, which serves as a gathering space and thoughtful meeting point between the two buildings’ architectural styles. Here you’ll find a large curved marble bar and seating that mimic the arched balconies above, lush palm trees and plush seating. A palette of calming greens and oceanic blues carries throughout the entirety of the hotel in the form of marble, furnishings and wallpaper.

Facilities

The InterContinental Sydney has wellness and leisure facilities including a premium gym and an indoor heated pool that overlooks the harbour and Opera House. On the ground level, there’s also a Vera Wang bridal boutique providing personalised service to find the perfect wedding gown.

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Rooms

The 509 light-filled guestrooms and 28 luxe suites are generously sized, calm and quiet. All accommodations feature comfortable window-side chaises, InterContinental Cloud Beds, marble-clad bathrooms with covetable Byredo bathroom amenities, and outlooks of either the city skyline, Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Harbour Bridge or Sydney Opera House.

Ultimate luxury can be experienced in one of the Signature Harbour Suites and Elite Suites which boast the best outlooks. The palatial Presidential Suite is a roomy 245 square metres and features a separate lounge room, a 14-person dining room, a butler’s pantry, a workspace and a grand piano.

Food and drink

There are four dining venues to work your way through during your stay: The Conservatory Restaurant, The Treasury, Pont Dining Room and Aster.

The buffet breakfast at The Conservatory Restaurant gives other hotels a run for their money. The elevated spread offers a bounty of breakfast options from continental classics to steamed dim sims and mouth-watering pastries.

Feeling peckish during the day? The Treasury bar on the ground level presents an all-day dining menu. Park yourself under the antique domed atrium at the curved central feature bar or plush banquette seat and treat yourself to dishes such as saltbush and pepper squid with lemon myrtle aioli or lamb shoulder with heirloom carrots, eggplant puree and braised figs. Quench your thirst with a glass of Australian wine or cocktail like the ‘Harvest Punch’ with Los Arcos tequila, BarSol Pisco, strawberry, mango, verjuice and condensed milk.

InterContinental Sydney The Treasury Bar — The Treasury Bar is clad in green marble.

Come nightfall, step into the intimate Pont Dining Room – a celebration of the diversity of Australia’s culturally rich landscape. Helmed by Chef de Cuisine Kanishka Amunugama, enjoy dishes such as Skull Island prawns with red curry butter and lime, Bangalow pork belly with chorizo jam, and pineapple aniseed myrtle with coconut cream, ginger crumb and candied desert lime.

Our tip? Don’t skip the kimchi-fermented potato fries with gruyère sauce.

InterContinental Sydney Pont Dining Room — Pont Dining Room features a whisky bar.

Aster Bar is a must-visit for those staying at the hotel as it arguably has the best views of any venue in Sydney and is one of Australia’s best rooftop bars. Head up to level 32 and sit on the terrace marvelling at the 270-degree vistas of the city.

InterContinental Sydney Aster — Sit on the terrace and admire the panorama.

Sip on classics with a twist like the ‘Tropical Old Fashion’, a delicious concoction of Plantation dark rum, Woodford Rye, coconut, banana and bitters, or bespoke tipples like the ‘Renaisance 60’ with Michter’s 10-Year bourbon, Mancino Bianco, Ruby Port and Grand Marnier. The drinks menu is to be enjoyed alongside modern Australian bites such as half-shell Hervey Bay scallop ceviche with finger lime and seaweed and Hasselback potatoes with sour cream, Yarra Valley salmon caviar and chives.

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Does InterContinental Sydney have access for guests with disabilities?

All rooms are accessed via a lift, and easy-access rooms are available.

Is InterContinental Sydney family-friendly?

InterContinental Sydney offers a Family Getaway Package which includes: A spacious four-person room, buffet breakfast for two adults and two children under 12 years old, parking for one car, $100 restaurant and bar credit and late check out.

Details

Best for: Business travellers, families, and design-savvy travellers.

Address: 117 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW

Phone: (02) 9253 9000

Cost: From $457 per night.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

InterContinental Sydney boasts the city’s most spectacular views

Historic beauty meets modern luxury at the InterContinental Sydney, a stylish sanctuary for the most discerning of travellers.

Location

Style and character

Facilities

Rooms

Food and drink

Does InterContinental Sydney have access for guests with disabilities?

Is InterContinental Sydney family-friendly?

Details

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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.