Crown on Darby

The key collection after check-in hours worked fine for us, though another couple seemed to be struggling and there were no staff around to help. Parking came to $50 for two days, which felt steep, though I suppose that’s the cost of a city location. We stayed two nights at the Crown on Darby, a great base for exploring Newcastle, and Cooks Hill is a lovely suburb to spend time in. The apartment was worn but had what we needed, including a good spa bath. The mattress was very soft and not the best. I’m a light sleeper, and the window between the bathroom and main room had no blind, so the room got bright very early.

I was there for a conference for a couple of nights. The room was quiet and spacious, and the location made it easy to get to restaurants and transport. I found a stain on the sheets after reception had closed, since its hours are limited. Staff sorted it promptly the next morning. I’d stay again.

For the price in Newcastle, Crown on Darby is hard to beat for location, comfort and lovely staff. It’s surrounded by little cafes, bookstores and thrift shops I didn’t even get to visit. Lola’s Cafe is just a quick walk to the left for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Queen’s Wharf Ferry to Stockton is about 1-1.5 km away, and the Newcastle Memorial Walk Bridge is roughly 1 km in the other direction. The rooms for solo travellers or couples are spacious and clean, and the bed is the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. There’s manual heating and AC, a huge TV, a spacious shower with two shower heads, a mini fridge, hairdryer and microwave, plus two small bottles of cold water on arrival. It’s a simple, no-fuss place, and I loved it.

The rooms were spacious and clean, and the bathroom stood out, especially the rain shower head and spa bath. I also want to give the staff a big thank you. Regina noticed I’d accidentally booked the same night twice instead of adding another night, then went out of her way to contact me and fix it without any extra cost.