Park Hyatt Sydney in Australia [In-depth Hotel Review]

Park Hyatt is Hyatt’s most exclusive brand, and the majority of the brand’s properties are traditionally found only in major cities, including New York, Tokyo, and Chicago to name a few. The hotels are refined and luxurious and represent the best Hyatt has to offer.

Park Hyatt has a property in Sydney, Australia, and it’s one of the finest hotels in the city. It’s also cited regularly as one of Hyatt’s most aspirational properties.

This hotel is so popular that it recently moved up a category in the World of Hyatt award chart — from Category 7 to Category 8.

While this property is incredibly expensive — whether you pay with cash or points — it is one of the best in all of Australia and has a simply unbeatable view.

Read on to see what it’s like to stay at this sought-after property!

Hotel Location

The Park Hyatt Sydney‘s location is very interesting — you’ll either love it or hate it.

The hotel is not located within Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) — it’s about a 15-minute walk away. But, that minor inconvenience is superseded by the fact that the hotel provides jaw-dropping views of both the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

The hotel is located just off the base of the Sydney Harbour bridge in an area known as “The Rocks,” which was the center of the city when Sydney was founded in the colonial area. The Rocks neighborhood is home to small restaurants, cafes, and shops, and is a great place to walk around.

To get to the hotel from the airport, you can take the Airport Link train (it runs every few minutes) from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to the Circular Quay stop. It’s located right by the ferry terminal that can take you all over the Sydney metropolitan area.

Once you exit the train, it’s about a 15-minute walk past a few museums, along the cruise terminal, and finally into The Rocks where the hotel is located.

Some people, especially those with a lot of luggage, will think the walk is inconvenient. As a carry-on-only person, I’ve never had a problem walking from the train station to the Park Hyatt. It’s a flat walk along paved or designated walkways and only takes a few minutes.

If you’re staying at this hotel and have more luggage, there are a few things you can do. The most expensive option is to take a taxi or a rideshare from the airport directly to the hotel. Or you could take the Airport Link into the city and then grab a vehicle from Circular Quay station.

If you’re visiting Sydney, you need to be prepared to walk, but the Park Hyatt is within walking distance of many of the city’s attractions. While you can see the Sydney Opera House front and center from the hotel, you have to walk around the harbor to reach it, which takes about 15 minutes.

To the CBD, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how quickly you walk, and you can reach Darling Harbour on foot in about 30 minutes.

There are hotels with more central locations, but the views will not be nearly as good as those from the Park Hyatt. And this hotel is located in a relatively quiet part of the city, so you can retreat to your oasis after long days of sightseeing.

Booking

As I mentioned above, the Park Hyatt Sydney recently moved up a category in the World of Hyatt chart and is now a top-tier Category 8 property, which means a free night will cost 35,000 points per night on off-peak dates, 40,000 points on standard nights, and 45,000 points on peak dates.

It also means that you are not able to use any free night certificates here, unfortunately.

For comparison’s sake, the Hyatt Regency Sydney, located in Darling Harbour, is a Category 4 hotel, requiring 12,000 points per night on off-peak dates, 15,000 points a night on standard dates, and 18,000 points on peak dates, though the hotels are vastly different.

If you prefer to pay cash for a stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney, prepare to pay dearly for it. Cash rates regularly soar north of $800 per night. If you are paying cash, your best bet is to use The World of Hyatt Credit Card through which you’ll earn up to 9x points for Hyatt hotel stays (4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member).

This is an easy way to pick up some extra World of Hyatt points that you can then use for a free night at this hotel or any other Hyatt property worldwide.

I booked this property using 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night before the hotel moved up a category. It’s worth noting that when you book using points here, you are booking into a standard 1 King Bed room, which does not have any views of the Sydney Opera House or the harbor.

While the vast majority of rooms have a view, there are a few rooms on each floor that have a view of the backside of the hotel facing the street, and an even smaller subset of those rooms have a view of the Harbour Bridge — though there is no balcony and no outside seating area.

If you want to receive an upgraded room, you’re going to have to utilize your World of Hyatt elite status (if you have it) to do so.

Checking In

There are 2 entrances to the property. One is off of the boardwalk walking path in front of the hotel along the water (the most convenient way to enter if you’re on foot). The other is the main entrance if arriving by car off Hickson Road. Both entrances will lead you right to the front desk.

There was no one in line, so I was helped by an associate very quickly. I booked with points and the hotel was sold out because of an event called Vivid Sydney, so I was given the exact room I booked, a 1 King Bed room.

However, due to my Globalist status, the associate noted that a much better room was available for the rest of my stay after the first night — a Harbour View King — and she kindly offered to move me the following day, a gesture I greatly appreciated.

She didn’t have to do this, though I’ve visited this property many, many times and am well-versed in the upgrade procedures. This is a perfect time to briefly discuss what the upgrade options at this property are, which is important here because of the amazing views that are possible.

First, you cannot receive a complimentary upgrade to a suite at this property, either using points or a Globalist Suite Upgrade Award. Each suite at the property is considered “premium” and there’s no way to confirm an upgrade for this in advance.

The highest room category you can upgrade into as an elite member is the Opera View Deluxe, which is a larger guest room with a sitting area that has direct views of the Sydney Opera House. There’s a similar room, the Harbour View Deluxe, that’s the same size but has views of Sydney Harbour. If you’re not able to get a Deluxe room, there are both Harbour View and Opera House view rooms, each with an outward-facing balcony.

It will be near impossible to get a Deluxe room if you’re not a Globalist member, as these rooms tend to be extraordinarily popular. You can think of them like you would a suite at any other hotel. Sometimes you can use points to book a base room and then pay a cash copay to upgrade to one of these Deluxe rooms in advance, though you’d need to contact the hotel for those options.

Bottom Line: This hotel does not participate in the World of Hyatt suite upgrade program due to the limited amount of suites on site. The highest possible category room for a complimentary upgrade is the Opera View Deluxe. 

Lobby

The lobby doesn’t have traditional seating areas like at other hotels as it opens directly into a restaurant and bar. The finishes on the walls and floors are refined and everything is kept super clean. You’ll notice the walls throughout the hotel are all a sandstone color, channeling The Rocks area where the hotel is situated.

Elite Benefits

I am a World of Hyatt Globalist member, which means I’m entitled to the following perks during Hyatt stays:

• 4 p.m. late checkout, which I did not need due to an early flight
• Room upgrade: I started in a traditional King and moved to a Harbour View King, with a balcony
• Complimentary breakfast for 2, valued at more than $80 per person daily for the buffet in The Dining Room
• Complimentary in-room water bottles (with no maximum limit)
• Complimentary parking on award nights (a value of ~$60 per night)
• Complimentary premium internet

The most valuable elite benefit at this hotel is the ability to get a better room since these rooms sell for far more than the base-level rooms. Aside from that, breakfast is also an incredible value as it is taken in The Dining Room, with pristine views of the Sydney Opera House each morning (and it’s only open for in-house guests).

Hot Tip: Learn how to earn Globalist status with World of Hyatt card spend!

Early Check-in and Late Checkout

While I rarely request a late checkout at this hotel due to flight departure times, the hotel has never denied any request when I have.

Keep in mind that if your flight from the U.S. arrives early in the morning, your room may not be ready for check-in, though the hotel will take down your phone number to call you when it becomes ready.

Amenities

Here’s a look at what you can expect in terms of amenities at the Park Hyatt Sydney.

Valet Parking

Valet parking is the only option at this hotel, and it costs AU$90 (~$61) per night, which is very expensive.

It’s not necessary to have a car while in Sydney — unless you’re a Sydneysider or from Australia, I wouldn’t recommend having a car while you’re visiting. Australians drive on the opposite side of the road as the U.S. — combine that with busy city streets and having a car is likely much more hassle than it’s worth.

Spa

The Spa at Park Hyatt Sydney is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s located on the second floor of the hotel and as you’d expect at a hotel of this caliber, you can receive a variety of indulgent treatments, including facials, massages, and oil treatments.

Fitness Center

The fitness center overlooks Dawes Point Park, just under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll find a variety of typical gym equipment inside, including treadmills, weights, and cardio machines. This facility is open 24/7.

The Guest House

Located just off of The Dining Room, with great views of the Sydney Opera House and harbor, is The Guest House, a private event space. While you’re not likely to use this during an ordinary stay, it’s worth pointing out simply because of the views.

For a destination wedding or corporate event, this unique location at the end of the hotel provides a stunning overlook of Sydney’s most famous sites.

Rooftop Swimming Pool

The Park Hyatt Sydney has 1 swimming pool with a separate Jacuzzi, which is located on the top of the hotel. On a day with perfect weather, it is the place to be — you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind you, the Sydney Opera House in front of you, and nearly all of the city to your right.

Even if you’re not a swimmer, several lounge chairs are scattered throughout the area where you can sunbathe or simply relax and watch all of the ferries come in and out of Circular Quay.

Concierge

The concierge is one of the highlights of this property. You can find the desk immediately in front of the guest elevators and adjacent to the front desk. The concierge desk is staffed from morning until evening and can provide great recommendations for food, local tours, museums, and other things you’ll want to do in Sydney.

Once a week, the concierge puts on a guided tour of The Rocks area. Speak with the desk to learn the exact times. You’ll join a small group of hotel guests on a tour throughout The Rocks where you’ll explore art, historically significant sights, and cultural spots. You can also expect the concierge to point out all of the favorite dining establishments in the area. If you’re looking for an introduction to this historic neighborhood, I highly recommend this tour.

Hot Tip: The concierge can look into getting you restaurant reservations, even at sold-out places. I was able to book my favorite Cantonese restaurant, Mr. Wong, through the concierge even though it was otherwise booked solid.

The Room

I’ve been to Sydney dozens of times and have stayed at the Park Hyatt on many of those occasions. Because I’ve stayed at the hotel so much, I’m going to provide an overview of several different room types, as this hotel is all about those views and therefore which room you receive for your stay.

Standard King Room

As noted above, the 1 King Bed room is the standard room here. This is the room type you’ll reserve if you book your reservation with World of Hyatt points. These rooms do not have balconies, face the rear of the hotel, and have the least desirable views.

One thing to note about this standard room is that it felt considerably larger than the rooms with views I’ve received in the past, and I think it’s because the square footage that would be dedicated to a balcony is incorporated into the room itself. That is a plus, in my opinion, as it grants you some extra space at no additional cost.

I was greeted by a wet bar separating the bathroom and closet area from the main bedroom. All rooms at the Park Hyatt Sydney offer this bar area — there was a selection of liquors and snacks available for purchase, a Nespresso machine with complimentary teas and coffee, and a complimentary chocolate bar that’s intended to be paired with wine.

It’s worth noting that cups and glasses were replaced daily, so don’t feel ashamed to use what you see.

The hotel provided 2 water bottles in each room, however, more were gladly brought when I asked for them. And during evening turndown service, the attendant left more bottles next to the bed.

The bedroom area featured a bed (obviously), a chair, a sofa, and a large table suitable for working and dining in the corner.

I found the bed to be very comfortable, and I came back daily to crisp sheets in the evening thanks to the daily turndown service.

A panel next to the bed operated the light switches for the entire room and also included switches that operated the window shades. I really appreciated this one-stop shop for lighting controls. There were a few outlets by the bed, but the majority of the outlets were situated next to the television.

There was a sofa next to the bed for relaxing, as well as a generously-sized dining table with seating for 2. This table was great for both working and dining; I found it to be preferable to a cramped desk shoved against the wall.

The bathroom was located right next to the entrance and, in my opinion, is one of the drawbacks of this room type when compared to others.

The bathrooms in the standard rooms are closed off and do not have any views of the outside, unlike the view rooms. While the bathroom was nicely sized, the shower and sink area seem a little dated when compared to the rest of the room.

There was a single vanity with toiletries, a shower, a toilet, and a separate soaking tub. Bergamote bath amenities by Le Labo were replaced daily, and they’re of very high quality, so you’ll certainly want to use them as often as possible!

Harbour View King

The Harbour View King Room is the lowest-level room type that features a view. Moving up from here, you can have an Sydney Opera House view, which is more desirable, though the Harbour View rooms are impressive nevertheless.

In general, this room type is more updated than the 1 King Bed rooms. The bathroom was located immediately inside and could be closed off for privacy.

There was a small closet area that contained a safe, supplies for shoe cleaning, and laundry bags.

The shower area was far larger than the 1 King Bed room — there was plenty of room to move about.

This bathroom had a double vanity, an area to place luggage or sit, and a separate toilet room. This is different than the 1 King Bed room where everything was located in a single space.

Bergamote toiletries by Le Labo were in every room, and they smelled wonderful. These are the same toiletries in all Park Hyatt hotels.

Elsewhere, there was a large king bed flanked by 2 nightstands. Similar to the 1 King Bed room, there were controls to lower and raise the window shades. There was also a sitting area, and long cabinetry housing the television.

Outside was one of the best features of this room: the balcony! It featured 2 chairs and unobstructed views of the city. The Sydney Opera House was to the left, but I had to angle my head to see the famous landmark.

Hot Tip: During the high seasons at this hotel, particularly over New Year’s and Vivid Sydney, you should book the room you want to stay in and not expect an upgrade. This hotel can and does sell out due to its unique view of the harbor and the Sydney Opera House.

Food and Beverage

Breakfast at The Dining Room

Breakfast was served each morning in The Dining Room by James Viles, the hotel’s main restaurant. I gave the staff member my name and room number and was seated after that.

Breakfast is exclusively for guests staying at the hotel, so it’s not possible to come in off of the street.

The staff consistently tried to put me at the best possible table without me asking, which I appreciated. While the entire restaurant overlooks the Sydney Opera House, some of the tables are directly against the window and offer the best views.

If you’re a Globalist member, you’re allowed to choose 1 entrée and also take full advantage of the buffet. In my experience, the staff doesn’t seem to place a limit on what you can order, so if you would like multiple entrées, it’s likely they’ll be included in your breakfast.

The entrée menu featured most breakfast classics, including pancakes, omelets, fresh fruit, and much more.

The nearby buffet included an array of fresh fruits, cereals, cheeses, pastries, meats, and more.

The Dining Room is open for breakfast (exclusive to hotel guests) from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday.

For lunch, it’s open from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

And for dinner, it’s open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

The Living Room

The Living Room is the all-day dining concept at the Park Hyatt and is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Here you’ll find an array of salads, sandwiches, main courses, and more, with wonderful views of the city.

The Bar

Next to The Dining Room and The Living Room is the bar. It’s a relatively small space with just a few tables at which you can grab a drink. Interestingly, I never saw this bar super busy during my stay, and I suspect many people opt to head to other locations throughout Sydney or order a drink in The Living Room which has fantastic views of the harbor.

Service

Service at the Park Hyatt Sydney is impeccable and is one of the best experiences I’ve had at any hotel worldwide.

A few things that make this hotel stand out include:

• The concierge staff knows your name as you step off of the elevator, and the front desk staff warmly greets each customer by name as they walk by.
• The staff in The Dining Room for breakfast was very attentive.
• The housekeeping staff pays attention to detail (for example, they folded clothes that were left out!).

This hotel is one of the finest in Sydney and is one of the flagships in Hyatt’s portfolio. It has a reputation to maintain and certainly does so with its wonderful levels of service.

Final Thoughts

The Park Hyatt Sydney is my go-to hotel when visiting Sydney, and it’s one of my favorite hotels in the world. The location is unbeatable and provides outstanding views of the Sydney Opera House.

While it can be pricey whether paying cash or points, it’s one of those hotels that certainly feels worth the cost.