Song Hotel Sydney Is A Force For Good

The Song, Australia’s first profit-for-purpose hotel, has reopened after a $10.5 million nip-and-tuck. Guests who bed down here help support thousands of women experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Song Hotel has reopened after an extensive head-to-toe makeover, taking Sydney’s favourite budget hotel from a comfy three-star lodging to an elegant, four-star haven in the centre of the CBD. The Song has garnered a reputation as a go-to among budget-conscious travellers, with rooms starting at just $200 per night. But best of all, 25 cents of every dollar goes towards helping women experiencing homelessness through women’s charity, YWCA Australia .

So far, guests who have bedded down at The Song have helped YWCA to provide 130,000 nights of safe accommodation to women, homes for 529 people and support for thousands more through its vital programs (in tandem with other sources of income). Leaving a positive impact is becoming an increasingly important factor for travellers. And staying at a profit-for-purpose hotel such as Song is a surefire way to do that. Here’s what to know before you book.

Song hotel renovated rooms — The Song Hotel has been renovated with an elegant, earthy palette.

Location

The Song Hotel is located in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, making it an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers. It’s located just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and within walking distance of many of Sydney’s main attractions such as museums, the Botanic Gardens and the Opera House. The Song is also close to buzzy Oxford Street, perfect for travellers looking for something that’s centrally located and still incorporates a bit of local colour.

Public transport is easily accessible, with several bus stops just around the corner. Museum Station is just a four-minute walk away, too. Essentially, the location of the hotel offers the best of Sydney right at your fingertips.

Style and Character

The overall style of the hotel is relatively minimal yet refined. However, the Song brings unique and whimsical flair with nine themed rooms, each centred around a different trailblazing Australian Woman. For instance, the Bindi Irwin Room is a resplendent mini-jungle of indoor plants, decorated with paintings of wildlife, an echidna stool and an Australia Zoo uniform hanging in the wardrobe. Another highlight is the Lee Lin Chin room, which pays homage to the Indonesian-Australian broadcaster, journalist and fashionista with a dress on display donated by Chin herself, as well as a copy of her book, Iced Beer and Other Tantalising Tips for Life. Fans of Aussie songstress Sia can stay in the room dedicated to the Grammy-nominated musician, and rest up beneath a ceiling fitted out with a giant chandelier.

Song Hotel Bindi Irwin Room — The Song Hotel has themed rooms centred around trailblazing Aussie women, such as Bindi Irwin.

Rooms

For a budget hotel, the rooms at Song certainly punch above their weight. Thanks to the recent refresh, the 156-room hotel now boasts a modern, earthy colour palette, and crisp white linen with soothing olive accents. The rooms are relatively small yet comfortable, beautiful yet practically furnished with desks and ironing boards even in the most affordable room categories. Balcony rooms offer vistas of the city and Oxford Street, where you can soak up the buzz of one of the city’s most vibrant precincts (don’t worry, the soundproofing completely blocks out noise when the door is shut!). Some rooms even encompass views of Hyde Park, while others look out into the hotel’s luscious courtyard, a quiet oasis that makes you feel miles away from the CBD. The best part of bedding down at the Song is that by sleeping there, you can rest easy knowing your dollar is helping provide a bed for someone else, too.

The Song Hotel Room — Bedding down at The Song helps someone in need find a bed, with all profits going to women’s charity, YWCA.

Facilities

Being a budget hotel, facilities are relatively minimal. But all the basics are definitely covered, with complimentary Wi-Fi in all the rooms, as well as smart TVs for entertainment. The front desk is open 24 hours and housekeeping is daily.

Food and Drink

The hotel’s bar and dining concept, Song Kitchen, has also reopened as a sleek, ambient hang-out spot, perfect for hotel guests, travellers and Sydney locals alike. The menu boasts international cuisine and native Australian ingredients, such as watteseed brule and lamb roasted with saltbush. The wine list also champions women in winemaking, with items thoughtfully denoted where the winemaker/estate owner is female. Just like the hotel, all profits from Song restaurant go towards helping women experiencing homelessness. It’s the perfect spot to grab a drink or enjoy Aussie flavours, all while knowing your dollar is making a difference.

Go for

A convenient, comfortable stay full of personality and flair, that will also help provide a bed for someone else in need.

Accessibility?

Song Hotel has wheelchair accessibility throughout its grounds.

Family-friendly?

Most rooms have a max capacity of two, but there are family rooms that sleep up to four.

Details

Address: 5/11 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000

Best for: Tourists, couples and families

Price: From $200

Check out Sydney’s other accommodation offerings.

NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.

Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.

Winter on the NSW South Coast

Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.

Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.

two people standing in front of kiama blowhole — See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)

Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.

Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the new south wales south coast — Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery . Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.

Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda , and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey ‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.

End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines .

The Sebel Kiama exterior — Sleep by the harbour.

Winter on the Mid-North Coast

A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.

First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.

Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, winter on the New South Wales coast — Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)

Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk , one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.

Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines , where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.

port macquarie koala hospital — Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala . Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.

Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.

At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie , right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.

bed at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie — Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

Winter on the Central Coast

On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.

The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk , an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.

Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.

a humpback whale breaching on the central coast — Spot migrating humpback whales. (Image: Destination NSW)

Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park . Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast , a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery , where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.

Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm . Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.

woman holding a pearl at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)

As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal , which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.

Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores , between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.

restaurant at Pullman Magenta Shores central coast — Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

Winter in Wollongong

Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.

If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.

Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.

monk teaching tai chi at Nan Tien Temple — Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch . Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.

The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong . A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery , which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.

monkey at Symbio Wildlife Park — Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)

As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen . It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.

Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach , right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.

Winter on the New South Wales coast starts with a cosy place to stay. Start planning your adventure at all.com.

Song Hotel is Sydney’s best budget hotel and a force for good