Note: 3 is average
Value for money: 3.5/5 – Slightly on the pricey side, but reasonable given its prime beachfront location and range of amenities.
Services: 3.5/5 – Warm and courteous staff with generous welcome gifts; however, housekeeping was occasionally delayed until late afternoon, and the corridors could benefit from more frequent vacuuming.
Bedroom: 4/5 – Spacious and comfortable with partial ocean views; beds were comfortable, though the air conditioning was noticeably noisy.
Sleeping quality: 2.5/5 – Sleep was sometimes disrupted by external hooning noises and occasional disturbances from neighbouring rooms.
Bathroom: 4/5 – Clean, well-maintained, and reasonably spacious.
Breakfast: 4/5 – Good variety and quality, though the dining area was crowded most mornings, likely due to the festive season.
Facilities and amenities: 4.5/5 – Excellent selection, including direct beach access, a well-equipped gym, a pool, and a large children’s playroom with engaging activities such as the daily ‘Find the Elf’ challenge.
Pros
- Outstanding beachfront location
- Comprehensive facilities and family-friendly amenities
Cons
- Occasional loud noises from outside and neighbouring rooms
We recently spent six nights at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach as a family, and overall, it was a memorable stay with only a few minor drawbacks. The location is exceptional, sitting right on North Wollongong Beach, so you can walk out the back and be on the sand within minutes. There are several restaurants and cafés nearby, which makes dining out easy if you want a change from hotel meals. We arrived by car and enjoyed complimentary parking thanks to my Accor Platinum status, which was a convenient perk.
The lobby was impressively spacious and tastefully adorned, particularly with festive Christmas decorations during our stay, creating a warm and inviting ambience. Check-in was smooth, and the staff were friendly and professional throughout our visit. For families, the hotel offers thoughtful touches such as a dedicated children’s room with excellent amenities and a daily “Find the Elf” activity, with a small reward provided for youngsters who managed to spot the elf.
Our ocean-view room with two queen beds was located on the 10th floor, the highest level of the hotel. It was spacious, clean, and comfortable, with partial but pleasing views of the beach and ocean. We also appreciated the generous welcome gifts, comprising a cheese platter and a bottle of sparkling wine. The air conditioning was quite noisy, though not enough to spoil the experience. Housekeeping occasionally arrived late in the afternoon, which was inconvenient when we wanted to relax after returning from outings earlier in the day.
At night, we occasionally heard loud noises from outside due to hooning activities, such as car revving, but these were not continuous and didn’t significantly disturb our sleep. There were also some loud voices from neighbouring guests on a couple of occasions, but again, nothing persistent.
The bathroom was clean and reasonably spacious, and we appreciated that pool and beach towels were thoughtfully provided, allowing us to head straight to the beach or pool without any extra hassle.
Breakfast was another strong point and was served at Palisade Kitchen and Bar. The buffet offered a wide variety of options, including a classic Australian breakfast with scrambled, sunny-side-up, and poached eggs, a cold bar, and an excellent selection of pastries. The quality was consistently high, although the breakfast area was crowded almost every day, likely due to the festive season. Arriving early is advisable if you prefer a quieter experience.
The hotel’s facilities added to the enjoyment of our stay. The pool was perhaps on the small side, with sun loungers and a poolside bar that created a relaxed atmosphere, although the water was uncomfortably cold for swimming. The fitness centre was compact but well-equipped with modern cardio and weight machines, making it perfectly adequate for a holiday workout.
Overall, Novotel Wollongong Northbeach delivers a memorable, family-friendly experience. Its prime beachfront location, spacious rooms, festive atmosphere, and thoughtful extras for children make it a standout choice. Please watch the video below for more.
