Best family hotels in Sydney with kids
Written October 2026
Where to stay in Sydney with kids, which hotels have a kitchen, a washing machine or a pool, and which end of the city centre suits which trip.
For a kitchen and a washing machine, Meriton Suites Campbell Street, Meriton Suites Kent Street and Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites. For a pool you can see from the street, Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour. For a train home that's a few minutes away, Mercure Sydney.
All nine are in the middle of the city, within a short walk of Darling Harbour, Central Station or Hyde Park. That's the point. Sydney is easy to cover from here on foot and by train, light rail and ferry, and you'll want to be able to get a tired kid back to bed in a few minutes. Distances below are straight line, so allow extra for crossing roads and getting up and down hills.
Short on time? A two-bedroom with laundry: Meriton Suites Kent Street. A pool and a playground next door: Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour. An old wool store with an indoor lap pool: Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites.
How we picked
We kept to hotels with something real for a family to use: a kitchen, a separate bedroom, a pool or connecting rooms. Luxury harbour hotels with nothing built for kids, and Parramatta, which is a train ride from the sights, are out.
Apartments with a kitchen and laundry
The answer for a stay of more than a couple of nights. You cook breakfast, wash the swimsuits and don't live out of a suitcase. Here are five, from the Haymarket end of town to Pyrmont.
Meriton Suites Kent Street
Sydney CBD
Why we picked it: The two-bedroom pick: separate bedrooms, a full kitchen and its own washer and dryer, with an indoor pool in the building.
The two-bedroom suites at Meriton Suites Kent Street have two separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, a balcony and their own washer and dryer. There's an indoor pool and spa, and cribs are on request.
It's about 600 meters straight line from the Darling Quarter playground and about the same from Hyde Park. Not for anyone who wants a hotel with a lobby bar and a kids' club: this is an apartment tower, and you run the stay yourself.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor
Meriton Suites Campbell Street
Haymarket
Why we picked it: The easiest base for day trips by train: a kitchen and laundry in every suite, about 450 meters from Central Station.
Every suite at Meriton Suites Campbell Street has a full kitchen with a big fridge and a laundry. Downstairs there's an indoor pool, and cots are on request.
Central Station is about 450 meters away, straight line, which makes this the easiest base here for day trips by train. Darling Harbour is farther, about a kilometer to the aquarium, so it suits you less if the harbour is the whole plan.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor
Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites
Pyrmont
Why we picked it: The closest hotel here to the Darling Quarter playground, in an old wool store with kitchens and a 25-meter indoor pool.
Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites is in an old wool store, and every suite has a kitchen. The apartments have their own laundry, and there's a 25-meter indoor pool, and the two-bedroom apartments are the ones for a family.
The Darling Quarter playground is about 200 meters away, straight line, the closest of any hotel here. It's a long walk from Central Station (over a kilometer), so it suits you if the harbour and Pyrmont are your days, and less if you want trains.
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor
- Laundry
- Yes
Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall
Sydney CBD
Why we picked it: The one a couple of minutes from Town Hall station, with connecting rooms, cribs and two-bedroom apartments that have their own washer and dryer.
Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall has apartments with a kitchen and a fridge, connecting rooms and cribs. The pool is heated and semi-outdoor. The two-bedroom apartments are the family size, with a separate living area.
Town Hall station is a couple of minutes' walk, and Darling Harbour is about 600 meters away, straight line. Not the one for a pool day: the pool is for a swim, not an afternoon.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, heated
Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel
Darling Square
Why we picked it: The pick for a family of five: the superior two-bedroom apartment sleeps five, near the Darling Quarter playground.
Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel has one and two-bedroom apartments, with a kitchenette and a pool. The superior two-bedroom sleeps five, which makes it the one to look at for a family of five.
It's about 500 meters from the Darling Quarter playground, straight line. The rooms have no washing machine, so it doesn't suit a long stay where laundry matters. Take one of the Meriton or Oaks apartments for that.
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
Pools by Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is where the kids' Sydney is: the aquarium, the wildlife park, the playground and the water by Cockle Bay. Both Novotels are a short walk from it.
Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour
Why we picked it: The Darling Harbour hotel with a terrace pool, a short walk to the playground and aquarium, and interconnecting family rooms.
The pool at Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour is outdoors, up on a terrace. The hotel has family rooms and interconnecting rooms, a kids' corner in the lobby and seasonal movie nights.
The playground at Darling Quarter is about 230 meters away, straight line, and the aquarium about 500. Because the pool is outdoors, it's a summer hotel more than a winter one. Not for anyone who needs a kitchen: this is a hotel room.
- Pool
- Yes
Novotel Sydney Darling Square
Darling Square
Why we picked it: The Darling Square option for bad weather: an indoor pool and a games room for kids, with interconnecting rooms.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square has an indoor pool, so it works in any weather. It has family rooms and interconnecting rooms, and a games room for kids.
Darling Quarter is about 500 meters away, straight line, and the Chinese Garden is next door. It's a hotel room without a kitchen, so it suits a short stay.
- Pool
- Yes, indoor
Near a train station or the park
For a stay that runs on trains and the city's green middle. A hotel with a roof pool is a good answer when the weather turns.
Mercure Sydney
George Street, near Central
Why we picked it: The train-first hotel by Central Station, with connecting rooms, cots, a guest laundry and a heated roof pool.
Mercure Sydney has connecting rooms, cots on request, a guest laundry and a heated pool up on the roof. Family rooms with two double beds are the setup to ask for.
Central Station is about 330 meters away, straight line, so it's an easy base for the trains. It's about a kilometer and a half from the aquarium, straight line, which is a tram ride or a long walk with small legs. Not the hotel for a trip built around the harbour.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor, heated
- Laundry
- Yes
Pullman Sydney Hyde Park
Hyde Park
Why we picked it: The Hyde Park pick: a rooftop pool, suites and connecting rooms, with a fridge in the room and cribs.
Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has a rooftop pool, suites, connecting rooms, cribs and a fridge in the room. The hotel faces Hyde Park, about 350 meters away, straight line.
It's about 1.2 kilometers from Darling Quarter, straight line. Not for a kitchen: there's a fridge and a microwave, no more.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
Pools
Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour's pool is outdoors. Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites, Meriton Suites Campbell Street, Meriton Suites Kent Street and Novotel Sydney Darling Square have indoor ones. Mercure Sydney has a heated pool on the roof under cover, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has one on its roof, and Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall's is heated and semi-outdoor.
Washing machine in the room
Meriton Suites Kent Street's two-bedroom suites and Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall's two-bedroom apartments have their own washer and dryer. Meriton Suites Campbell Street has a laundry in every suite, and the apartments at Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites have their own laundry too. Mercure Sydney has a guest laundry. Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel has none in the room.
Questions
What is the best area to stay in Sydney with kids?
Darling Harbour and Pyrmont, for the aquarium, the playground and the water. Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour and Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites are the closest. Haymarket and Central are better if you plan to travel by train.
Should we book an apartment or a hotel room in Sydney?
An apartment, if you're staying more than a couple of nights. Meriton Suites Kent Street, Meriton Suites Campbell Street and Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites have a kitchen and laundry. A hotel room is simpler for one or two nights, and the Novotels and Mercure Sydney have pools.
Where should we stay in Sydney with a toddler?
Somewhere with a kitchen, a fridge and a nap-friendly bedroom door. Meriton Suites Campbell Street and Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall have cots or cribs and a fridge. Ask for the cot when you book, because it's on request.
Which Sydney hotels suit a family of five?
Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel's superior two-bedroom apartment sleeps five. Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall's two-bedroom apartments sleep four to five. Connecting rooms at Mercure Sydney, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park and the Novotels are the other way to do it.
Which Sydney hotels have connecting rooms?
Mercure Sydney, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall and both Novotels have them. Ask for them when you book, as they're on request.
Which Sydney hotels have an indoor pool?
Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites, Meriton Suites Campbell Street, Meriton Suites Kent Street and Novotel Sydney Darling Square. Mercure Sydney's heated pool is on the roof.
Photos
Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall: Nick-D (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour: Andy Mitchell (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Mercure Sydney: John Robert McPherson (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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