The Sydney hotel offering guests free airport parking for 5 days

If you’ve ever felt the sting of paying eye-watering airport parking fees, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Moxy Sydney Airport has just unveiled a travel deal that’s turning heads across the city: park for five nights free when you stay one night at the hotel, then pay only $15 per extra day or $100 per week if you need more time. Best of all, this new package includes a complimentary shuttle to both domestic and international terminals, making Moxy Sydney Airport the only hotel in the area offering airport transfers at no extra cost.

Located just minutes from Sydney Airport, Moxy Sydney Airport is already known for shaking up the traditional notion of an “airport hotel." With its trendy, vibrant décor, retro-style arcade games and craft cocktails at Bar Moxy, it’s a far cry from the tired, minimalist accommodation most travellers expect when they have an early flight. Now, its new parking deal and free shuttle service aim to ease the headaches of getting to and from the airport – especially if you’ve got bags, kids or an early-morning check-in.

MOXY Sydney Airport Lobby — Moxy Sydney Airport is already known for shaking up the traditional notion of an “airport hotel."

This offer is a real game-changer for travellers departing from Sydney, especially if you live regionally in Australia. But let’s break down the costs.

An overnight stay at the hotel starts at $166 per night. The cheapest parking rate for five days at Sydney Airport starts at $131.70 for the Blu Emu car park that connects to terminals 2 and 3 via an airport shuttle and this goes up to $439 for premium valet parking. Additional days range from $19.30 to $83 per day. You will potentially pay $34.30 more to spend the night at the hotel with inclusive free parking compared to five days of parking at $131.70. But when you add to this the value of skipping the usual scramble of finding reliable (and affordable) parking before a flight or eliminating the worry of train delays or Ubers that don’t show up, you’ve automatically removed 90 per cent of the stress associated with flying. It just makes a lot of sense!

The free shuttle itself also saves guests money. Airport trains can cost upwards of $17.34 per adult each way from Mascot Station, and a taxi or rideshare trip often sets you back even more. Moxy’s shuttle runs a continuous 20-minute loop, starting from 4.45am to 10.50pm for the domestic terminal and 5am to 10.50pm for the international terminal.

There’s also a convenient stop at Mascot Train Station, letting you reach downtown Sydney in just minutes – without facing the pricey station gate fee. Once you’ve booked your room, you’ll receive a link to reserve your preferred shuttle time and you can track its movements via a real-time “Uber-like" tracker on your phone or via digital displays in the hotel.

MOXY Sydney Airport shuttle bus — Moxy’s shuttle runs a continuous 20-minute loop.

The parking option, meanwhile, offers significant peace of mind. No one wants to worry about leaving their car in an expensive, uncovered lot while travelling. At Moxy Sydney Airport, your vehicle will be safely parked in a secure, undercover garage with 24/7 CCTV surveillance. If you’re flying out for a quick five-day trip, you won’t pay a cent beyond your room rate. If your travels take you away for longer, each extra day is just $15, and a full week of parking is capped at $100 – far cheaper than most standalone airport parking facilities.

While the cost savings are substantial, Moxy also delivers on fun. As part of the Marriott Bonvoy family, the hotel boasts stylish rooms with runway or city skyline views, plus a vibrant lobby that features playful touches like Skee-Ball and table tennis.

MOXY Sydney Airport Bar Moxy — Enjoy cocktails at Bar Moxy before your flight.

Finally, a pre-flight solution that lets you spend less time stressing about logistics – and more time getting excited about your upcoming adventure.

The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

1. Check in

aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter — Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

2. Hunt for treasure

couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral — Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum — Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

4. A taste of France

table spread at Lucette bowral — Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

5. Indulge in a tipple

Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter — Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

6. Blend your own gin

Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

7. Go for a walk at dawn

Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

8. Cosy up by the fireplace

A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.

Sydney hotel offering guests free airport parking for 5 days

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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway