Name: Rydges Newcastle
Address: Cnr Merewether St & Wharf Rd, Honeysuckle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, Newcastle, Newcastle City Council, AU
Price range: $141–$938 per night
Rating: 8.35

What guests think

Across reviews of Rydges Newcastle, travellers praise the waterfront location and walkable access to dining, often noting spacious suites with harbour views and friendly staff, while feedback frequently mentions dated rooms and bathrooms alongside occasional cleanliness lapses.

Families like the outdoor pool and slide, but the gym is off site, opening hours can be limited, and parking is valet-only at an added cost. Dining feedback is mixed: some enjoyed the restaurant and bar happy hour, while others found breakfast basic or overpriced and coffee options limited. Several reviews cite maintenance and comfort issues such as uncomfortable sofa beds, shower-over-bath setups, slow Wi-Fi or TV, and occasional noise from the street or waterfront. Overall, it suits travellers who prioritise a prime waterfront base over ultra-modern finishes.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Outdoor pool with waterslide is popular with families, though hours can be limited and it can be cold. Parking is valet-only with a daily fee, the gym is off site with limited access, and the bar's happy hour is praised.

Related guest reviews

6

Fitz

Apr 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The location of the hotel was the best part. Its really not ideal for families and seeems to be catered towards business people travelling. There is very little in the room, no microwave, cutlery or toaster The pool slide could have stayed open longer, closing at 5pm on a hot day Parking is paid for, lucky there is a couple of good parking station within a short distance The bathrooms could use some uodating. No exhaust fan, paint peeling from the skirting We had to use the sofa bed for the kids and were told the bed was made but just folded away, this was not the case and there was no sheets for it in the room, so at 9pm im getting reception to bring me sheets so i can then make the bed. This easnt the greatest stay, but we were limited with options

8

LAUREN

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was moatly clean. 45 minute wait for a soft drink at the pool and given 1/2 roll of toilet paper for 3 people, had to ask for more. Waterslide is good.

8

Stephen

Feb 27, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Rydges is great accommodation, walking distance to most things & and in house dining if you want. A particular bonus is that is right on the harbor, so you see a lot of boats (large & small) going right past your window! Gym arrangements were awesome. Car parking was an unexpected additional cost and inconvenience.

10

Michael

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really great; room was excellent but staff were extra amazing and lovely. We loved the pool and also the restaurant (and margaritas). Concierge and valet parking were on point. Thank you!

6

Megan

Feb 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Over all a nice stay. Room was clean and pleasant, staff was lovely. I was disappointed with the misleading information about gym and pool- the gym is off site and is only available to guests between the hours of 7-4, the pool closes early as well at 6pm. These were two selling points for me to book at this location so that was disappointing. My other critique would be that there is only valet parking. Guests who did not wish to pay for valet could street park which is free overnight, but then metered after 9am. With an 11 o’clock check out, this left you paying for parking (if you could locate street parking) in either case.

8

Ash

Oct 16, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great Pool and Slide for the Kids.

10

Kathryn

Jun 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Rydges Newscasts is a beautiful modern hotel, central to everything on the waterfront. I had a free night to use that covered the stay and it was a wonderful treat. Our room was a suite on level 3, beautifully appointed with an outlook over the harbour. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the restaurant with a happy hour between 4 to 6 that had a variety of affordable beer, wine and cocktails to select. in the hotel, valet parking was $35. All hotel staff were professional, helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend for a special occasion.

10

Helen

Jan 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fantastic location close to restaurants and public transport. The room was spacious and the bed was clean and comfortable. We requested a microwave and portacot in advance but neither was in our room when we arrived. The hotel quickly addressed these issues, which is a testament to their good customer service. The only other downside is the lack of on site parking - there is only valet parking at $35/day - but the service was quick and we never had to wait more than 5 minutes to get our car. Overall, we still had a pleasant stay at Rydges Newcastle and would recommend it to other travellers.

8

Jenetta

May 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were friendly and helpful but the pool is outdoors and it was cold. The gym is next door and closed at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. The 'business centre' is one computer and a desk with lolly machines in there. I didn't like having no parking and having to use the valet parking. Bit of a rip off. I should be able to park my own car at parking facilities at the hotel not down the road. The bedrooms were great though and comfortable beds. Loved the bed. The restaurant was a bit overpriced but the food was good. Thanks,

8

Daniel

Sep 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Good property, staff were good. Parking is easy via valet. Only weird thing is no change room area or bathroom for the pool. Other than that I will be back.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness feedback is mixed: many found rooms clean and well presented, but several reported dusty or musty rooms, stained or unmade sofa beds, and bathrooms or windows not properly cleaned.

Related guest reviews

2

Jan 25, 2023

·

The cleaness of this hotel is terrible, you can see the spider web around the window and the glass of the window is full of the stain. Cracking is everywhere inside the room. We have booked this property for the location and the bay view but for those stain and spider web on the window, you can hardly enjoy the view. The air condition is also making the noise during the night, the room is lack of the maintenance, the pillow is smelly, this is the worst hotel I have ever lived in Australia.

10

Maria

Oct 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

No complaints here. Excellent! We had a renovated suite, it was clean, fresh and new. Staff great! Housekeeping great! Beds and pillows very comfortable. Great location.

4

Stefanie

Jan 6, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The fold out lounge had no sheets, mattress was stained and dirt. The blankets in cupboard were dirty, smelly and covered in dust. Rooms need to be updated and modernised.

4

Charles

Feb 7, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is run down and in need of improvement. The room was not sufficiently clean on arrival. The floor was not vacuumed, the mirrors dirty.

10

Alex

Nov 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Large clean rooms, friendly staff

6

Lisa

Oct 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

There was black hair throughout the bathroom

10

Sayuri

Jun 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, clean room and friendly staff.

6

Gurpreet

Jan 22, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was not cleaned properly and bed sheets were dirty. I can see dust everywhere in the room.

10

Melissa

Feb 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel was very clean, staff were friendly, the location was perfect for my trip.

10

John

Sep 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was clean and well presented

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Rooms

Suites are generally spacious with comfortable beds and great harbour views, and some have been recently renovated. However, many note dated decor and bathrooms with shower-over-bath setups, uncomfortable sofa beds, occasional noise from street or waterfront, and slow or limited in-room tech or Wi-Fi.

Related guest reviews

8

Brett

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Sound from Esplanade pedestrian traffic carried to room, a little disturbing.

6

Richard

Dec 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Booked for 3 and the lounge pull out was bloody awful.

4

Lachlan

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The city view rooms, or at least the one I stayed in was very noisy. The traffic noise made it hard to sleep. For the price I had expected double glazed windows

8

Douglas E

Mar 12, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a king harbourside suite. Very spacious, good climate control, quiet. Close to a nice set of harbourside restaurants with lots of dining choice. Room WiFi (3 device max.) more or less OK for single device streaming (12-18mps). Room had bar fridge mostly stocked with for sale products but with small amount of room left. Check out time 11am is generous (by Australian standards). One block from tram (2 stops along tram from train station at Newcastle Interchange). Harbour view was pleasant. Nice outdoor pool.

6

ANDREW

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Sofa bed (for child) felt very old, mattress lumpy, not a good night sleep. Kitchen closed before 8pm (seems early to me for a hotel) and room service only had 1 food item available, not great when you not getting back to hotel until that time. Overall, expected more and a little bit disappointed with the stay overall, it’s not inexpensive. Think I would look for another option if staying in Newcastle again. This is no reflection on the staff who were all friendly and welcoming, and helpful if able.

10

Deborah

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room had recently been renovated, new furniture, curtains, new bathroom and freshly painted. Great views from the balconies. We would have like more options in the In-Room dining menu.

10

Leonie

Oct 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was lovely and modern with a great kitchenette. The bathroom is spacious and clean and the bed was extremely comfortable.

8

Jay

Nov 21, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff was helpful. Location at the waterfront. Couple of decent restaurants close. Huge room with adjoining anteroom. 2 televisions in each room. Sink and refrigerator in room.

6

Liam

Jun 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The location was fantastic. Overall, the room was clean & presented well with everything you needed in it. We did, however, have to change rooms because our first room had an LED light in the bathroom that needed replacing as it was flickering constantly (Room 030). It was also disappointing that our bathroom did not have a walk in shower. When we inquired as to how many of the rooms had walk in showers, we were told that only 6 out of about 170 rooms had a walk in shower. We own a Central Coast coach company & were interested in bringing a group of up to 28 people up to Newcastle for a 2-3 night tour. However, as our clientele are Seniors, we would not be able to stay at Rydges Newcastle due to their bathrooms being dated & unsafe for our clientele. We are hoping that they spend the money to update their bathrooms so that they are more accessible for everyone in the near future.

8

Michael

Mar 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location, "most" staff great, the TV is annoyingly slow and no ability to log in to streaming services.

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Service

Staff are frequently praised as friendly and helpful across reception, valet and bar, with smooth check-in and quick valet for many stays. Some guests, however, encountered slow or unresponsive service and occasional rudeness, especially around breakfast or maintenance requests.

Related guest reviews

10

George

Jan 10, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Rooms were clean and the hotel staff were extremely helpful & courteous

10

Adam

Apr 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Love staying here. Adam was very welcoming and did all he could to ensure our stay started just as needed. Ruby was brilliant in the morning and made a great coffee. A great hotel with an amazing staff culture, we always enjoy our stay here!

10

Michael

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really great; room was excellent but staff were extra amazing and lovely. We loved the pool and also the restaurant (and margaritas). Concierge and valet parking were on point. Thank you!

4

Kelly

Dec 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The restaurant is nice and the buffet breakfast was very good, though only the standard things you would find anywhere, with nothing unique. The parking is bad - most of the immediate street frontage bordering the drop-off area is no parking, then paid parking beyond that. The actual drop-off zone, described on their web site as their "driveway", is actually just the street. There is no driveway and you just have to drive around and around the block until you are lucky enough to get one of the five spaces (or four, if others have parked spaciously). The various staff members we saw at valet parking, reception and the restaurant breakfast intake were either rude, disinterested, condescending or bored. The more junior service staff were very polite and welcoming.

10

Cherie

Oct 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly and helpful staff

2

Raul

Jan 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel location was great and the little ones enjoyed the pool and slide very much. Breakfast was good in the morning. However, our room was not as clean as we would have expected, not a deal breaker, but the reason for the one star was a non working air conditioning in our room. Despite asking assistance in the front counter and ringing later when still was not working, we never got a solution and had to the spend the night it what it felt like a sauna. This is a basic expectation and it was not met.

6

Sheldon

Nov 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

View from room was excellent. Spent some time in pool area which was strewn with wet towels everywhere left by lazy guests, but no staff collected for hours. QR code went down by pool so had to walk in to bar and proceeded to be chastised by bar manager for not having shoes on. When questioned on the no QR was told “ not my responsibility “. No apology and made to feel like I was committing a crime. This is single reason why we holiday overseas.

2

niall

Oct 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Every morning the breakfast buffet was cold even after we informed them. The phone in room didn’t work and after we informed them they didn’t attempt to fix it. Concierge didn’t help us trolly our bags to our room. Just stood there . We had to bring trolly back to reception.

10

iain

Feb 17, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent property. Really enjoyed my stay. The concierge gents are very helpful and the front desk staff are lovely. The staff at breakfast in the restaurant need to up their game a bit by watching for things that aren't filled up like milk, teabags and bakery items. Not very friendly either.

10

Tarek

Dec 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great service, the reception staff are all very professional, efficient and friendly. The valet team are great with the vehicle parking and do their job with a smile and professional manner. The room was very clean and functional, good quality screens and two of them, bar fridge, iron board and iron which is all handy. Very close to good restaurants and short walk to the closest beach. Good walking along the water all the way to the beach and an ezymart across the road.

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Location

Waterfront setting with harbour views and easy walking to restaurants, light rail and attractions is a major draw. Some street-facing rooms report nighttime noise.

Related guest reviews

10

david

Sep 12, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Superb location. Very comfortable

4

Lachlan

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The city view rooms, or at least the one I stayed in was very noisy. The traffic noise made it hard to sleep. For the price I had expected double glazed windows

10

Mark

Dec 11, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location and easy walk to things of interest

8

Lauren

Oct 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location close to town. Noisy on street side overnight.

10

Reidun

Jan 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location on the harbour. Friendly staff

10

ROSANNA

Feb 4, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

the hotel was in a perfect place on the water.

10

Karen

Feb 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent location

10

Jenny

Sep 11, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A really great, centrally located base for a weekend escape in Newcastle.

8

John

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great view of the harbour from our room and has close proximity to restaurants and other attractions.

10

Tarek

Dec 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great service, the reception staff are all very professional, efficient and friendly. The valet team are great with the vehicle parking and do their job with a smile and professional manner. The room was very clean and functional, good quality screens and two of them, bar fridge, iron board and iron which is all handy. Very close to good restaurants and short walk to the closest beach. Good walking along the water all the way to the beach and an ezymart across the road.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Dining is inconsistent: the bar's happy hour and some restaurant meals are praised, but breakfast is often described as basic, cold or overpriced, with limited coffee options and occasional room service or menu limitations.

Related guest reviews

10

Tracey

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Rydges has been renovated and it was so nice to have a newly renovated suite. Love the location, excellent restaurant and bar. Staff were lovely. Could not fault a thing!

8

Brian

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Breakfast over priced for what you get, especially having to pay for coffees on top.

10

Thomas

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, food was beautiful

2

Gregory

Oct 25, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Service in the restaurant was terrible

10

Peter

Jan 4, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff were great. Bar has great happy hour and beers.

8

Robert

Jun 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel experience was FAQ with efficient check -in and valet parking. The big let down was breakfast. Strictly nursing home standard. It should be much better and lets the rest of hotel down badly.Managers should do a "mystery shopper" test to see for themselves

6

ANDREW

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Sofa bed (for child) felt very old, mattress lumpy, not a good night sleep. Kitchen closed before 8pm (seems early to me for a hotel) and room service only had 1 food item available, not great when you not getting back to hotel until that time. Overall, expected more and a little bit disappointed with the stay overall, it’s not inexpensive. Think I would look for another option if staying in Newcastle again. This is no reflection on the staff who were all friendly and welcoming, and helpful if able.

2

niall

Oct 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Every morning the breakfast buffet was cold even after we informed them. The phone in room didn’t work and after we informed them they didn’t attempt to fix it. Concierge didn’t help us trolly our bags to our room. Just stood there . We had to bring trolly back to reception.

10

Anthony

Aug 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great position on the Newcastle foreshore and also a very quiet position. Excellent dinner options around and in the hotel restaurant, breakfast buffer a little underwhelming as the only downside. Rooms are spacious, clean and in good repair.

8

Jenetta

May 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were friendly and helpful but the pool is outdoors and it was cold. The gym is next door and closed at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. The 'business centre' is one computer and a desk with lolly machines in there. I didn't like having no parking and having to use the valet parking. Bit of a rip off. I should be able to park my own car at parking facilities at the hotel not down the road. The bedrooms were great though and comfortable beds. Loved the bed. The restaurant was a bit overpriced but the food was good. Thanks,

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Month	Average price
January	$181
February	$178
March	$185
April	$174
May	$167
June	$155
July	$175
August	$149
September	$156
October	$193
November	$197
December	$208

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $306	2 $866	3 $785
4 $347	5 $178	6 $190	7 $174	8 $189	9 $253	10 $368
11 $168	12 $174	13 $230	14 $226	15 $224	16 $938	17 $674
18 $192	19 $190	20 $534	21 $264	22 $218	23 $216	24 $349
25 $210	26 $204	27 $793	28	29	30	31 $345

Rydges Newcastle

Prices for Rydges Newcastle

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

King Harbourside Balcony Suite

King Spa Harbourside Balcony Suite

King Harbourside Suite

King Accessible Suite

King Spa Harbourside Suite

King Cityside Balcony Suite

Two Bedroom Family Room

Twin Harbourside Suite

King Cityside Suite

Guest reviews of Rydges Newcastle

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Rydges Newcastle

Considering this hotel for your Newcastle trip?

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20 $144	21 $177	22 $174	23 $170	24 $170	25 $224	26 $327
27 $141	28 $180	29 $182	30 $182