Hello,

What are choices for staying a short ferry ride away from Circular Quay at a location with view back toward the skyline at a more reasonable price than in the Rocks? When we lived in the San Francisco Bay area our view of San Francisco from Berkeley was more interesting and less expensive than the view from San Francisco of Berkeley. Any suggestions w/approx. ferry travel times.
Thanks
AndrewDavid

AD
Alan often recommends Harbourview, at North Sydney. Hopefully, he'll come by with some suggestions.

IF you don't mind the 40 minute ferry trip - look at Manly!

Darling Harbor is also nice. I always stay at the Novotel there. Can't recall the price but it wasn't cheap. But the view of the city skyline is very nice. You can't see Sydney Harbor but you are a short water taxi ride to Circular Quay from Darling Harbor.
Carol

You might try a google search for hotel or apartments north sydney and I'm sure you'll find a good selection.

I don't know how much cheaper they will be than the Rocks but it is worth the try. Let us know what you decide.

The Waldorf Apartments (you know those that don't always honor their prepaid commitments as per another poster) do have apartments in North Sydney with fantastic views.

I think there is a B & B in Mosman or Cremorne that has been mentioned on the Forum too - I did a quick search but could not find it. I think it might have been one of Alan's ideas.

cremorne point manor is a short ferry ride away BUT despite what the web site claims, there really is no view from the property. it's also about a 2 star. nothing wrong with it, just not a full service hotel by any stretch of the imagination. just a comfortable, convenient place to lay your head at night.

Hi, AndrewDavid!

There are, indeed, several nice "traditional" B&Bs on the "other side" of the harbour, and they provide a quiet, elegant way to stay in Sydney, as they are in suburban streets rather than tourist areas, and, in some cases, you travel in to the main part of the city by leisurely ferries, quite the nicest way to see Sydney Harbour. The one at Cremorne Point looks quite beautiful in the tourist brochures (although, as a previous poster said, the beautiful view only unfolds after you leave the hotel; you won't get a great view from your room), and I recall another at Neutral Bay, near the ferry wharf, that looks promising.

However, I really don't think you are going to save a great deal of money at these establishments; I recommended the Cremorne Point establishment to a recent Fodorite based on the prices I saw in a brochure; when they contacted the hotel, the REAL prices were actually on a par with hotel accommodation in the main part of Sydney. The point is, you pay, nowadays, for elegance and old-worldliness, which is the main selling point of these B&Bs.

So, the question becomes: how much do you want to spend? There ARE hotels in the Rocks area that don't overcharge; the Lord Nelson Brewery, for instance, is the oldest hotel in Sydney, but because it hasn't been snapped up by an international chain, it can still let you have a room for under $AUD200 a night. Nearby, the Palisade is only about $AUD120 a night, and there are views from the rooms looking to Darling Harbour on one side and the Bridge on the other. But, when you see it, you'll know why it's only $120 a night. I doubt if you'd better those rates at any of the northside B&Bs; what's more, being "in the heart of things" would allow you to save money both on transport and food (lots of basement eateries reducing their prices just before the shops above them close).

Anyway, if you still want a B&B, but as an experience rather than to save money, write back and I'll look up a couple of addresses for you.

Sounds like a good idea but if you can do any better on price is a moot point.

Try an accommodation/serviced apartment search for east balmain/mcmahons point/milsons point/kirribilli/cremorne.These are all 10 minute or less ferry ride to the quay.

Check out the cremorne point manor to see if it's of interest.

Also there are lots of rooms on the west side of darling harbour with a city skyline view and a 20 minute ferry ride to the quay.(if you want to take a ferry)

The Duxton hotel at milsons point meets your criteria.The harbourview has a train line beneath it.Others like the boutique Maclaren hotel are getting a good walk away from the ferry.

You are here at easter, right??
The duxton is a business hotel...you might get a good price in the easter holiday period.

If you are here at easter i know of an apartment in the north sydney area that will be vacant.Smallish,certainly no harbour view but the price could be very right..if you are interested e-mail me.