Medusa Hotel is a colourful accommodation in Darlinghurst that celebrates bold design and family hospitality.
Sydney has no shortage of fabulous accommodations. Big hotel chains dominate the city, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover some more charming, intimate stays. Medusa Hotel, just east of Sydney’s CBD, is one such gem, and it stands out for its bold design and family-run hospitality.
When I arrive at Medusa Hotel, I’m greeted by its bold pink heritage facade. The boutique hotel is housed within a restored 1800s terrace, reimagined in August 2025 by Sydney-based design firm Kahlo Collective. It feels quintessentially Sydney – only more fun – with Olivia Dean’s music playing gently outside.
The pink townhouse sits in the inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst.
Bold design meets contemporary charm.
A cosy nook with velvet curtains.
Inside, I find richly layered interiors that blend heritage charm with playful modern design – a tapestry of colours, textures and statement furnishings. I’m delighted to find that 15 different wallpapers have been used to elevate the property. Staff are friendly and whisk me away down a brightly-lit hallway with a vintage-style carpet in pinks, pale blue and yellow. There are just 18 rooms, all of them are unique and invite guests to “choose a room to match their mood."
The hotel features 15 different wallpapers.
I was lucky enough to experience two different room types: The Daydream and The Grand Velvet. On the first night, I stay in The Daydream, a small but beautifully appointed space swathed in pale pink. It’s decorated with four-leaf clover–shaped sconces and carpeting that echoes the hotel’s logo, while sleek, modern joinery adds a contemporary touch. A sculptural chandelier composed of scalloped glass shells brings a final note of glamour.
The bathroom is comparatively generous. There’s a luxe bath, burgundy marble basin, glossy green subway tiles, fluted glass, pink and beige chequered tiles and an adorably quirky side table with an ostrich base. Even though housed in a terrace home, there was thankfully plenty of natural light which flooded the room and a view overlooking the courtyard.
The spacious and character-filled Grand Velvet suite.
Bathrooms are as richly decorate as the rooms.
On the second night, I move into one of the more opulent The Grand Velvet suites. It’s romantic, washed in varying shades of pink and green, with a materials palette of velvet and marble, elevated by gold accents. A dramatic ceiling height, large stone fireplace and an antler horn chandelier add to the grandness, while a separate seating area, which can be closed off with velvet curtains, creates a comfortable nook to write this article.
All of the hotel’s bathrooms are stocked with Aesop handwash, shampoo and conditioner and Dyson hairdryers, and all rooms are equipped with kitchenettes (microwave, bar fridge, sink, tea/coffee facilities and utensils for light dining).
The Courtyard Cove rooms channel minimal, Mediterranean vibes.
I peeked inside one of the Courtyard Cove rooms and these take on a more relaxed, Mediterranean style, swathed in neutral tones.
There’s no restaurant on-site, but the hotel’s positioning in Darlinghurst means it really doesn’t need one. Some of my favourite bars and restaurants are within walking distance, including The Waratah, Love Tilly Devine, Caravin and Joe’s Table.
Medusa Hotel feels like the antidote to large, business-centric stays. It was refreshing to stay somewhere completely unlike any other accommodation I’ve experienced in Sydney, staying true to its dedicated hashtag: #AnythingButOrdinary.
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AI Prompt
Guests can take complimentary Zooper Dooper's from the ice-cream stand.
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. 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 and Bed Threads. 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.
From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.
Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.
Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.
The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.
The Riverina
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.
The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.
North Coast
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.
Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.
Golden West
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.
Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.
Special event journeys
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.
For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.
