Sydney is the place to be in autumn (that's spring to you all in the Northern Hemisphere!). The weather has cooled down and leaves are falling but the sun is still shining. Most importantly, the event of the season begins - the autumn racing carnival. This means fifty days of trackside fun, with world-class racing action to be seen and amazing events to attend. There are four Sydney race tracks that are part of the carnival: Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Warwick Farm and Canterbury Park, So it's time you find an outfit for the races and a place to stay. Whether you’re a Sydneysider looking for a staycation or you’re flying in for a mini-break, you want to stay somewhere where you can be a part of all the fun and also enjoy everything Sydney has to offer. Here are the top places to stay for autumn racing in Sydney.
Avonmore On The Park Boutique Hotel, Randwick
Less than a five-minute drive and an easy stroll away from the Royal Randwick Racecourse, Avonmore on the Park is the place to be if you don’t want to spend any time travelling to your destination. The hotel is in a restored Victorian terrace featuring stained glass windows and wood carvings. All rooms are fitted with air conditioning so you can cool down after a day in the autumn sunshine and there are secure parking spots for guests should you have driven to Sydney. It is conveniently located near restaurants, cafes, Randwick shopping centre and Alison Park. The area is well serviced by buses if you want to spend some time exploring Sydney and you’re only a 5-minute drive from Coogee Beach.
William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm
Warwick Farm is home to a new equine-themed M Gallery boutique hotel. The William Inglis Hotel at Riverside Stables celebrates Australia's racing history and the thoroughbred industry making it the perfect place to stay if you’re really looking to immerse yourself in the racing culture. Not only can you enjoy the close proximity to the racecourse, you can learn a little something too. With plenty of fine-dining options, sweeping views of the Georges River and the racecourse, and a wellness centre, you’ll find everything you didn’t know you needed here. Best of all, there’s a rooftop pool and bar which means that you can enjoy the last of the summer sunshine before winter well and truly hits. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you can take a tour of the racecourse and watch the horses in their element before the races begin.
Skye Hotel Suites, Parramatta
Parramatta is fast developing as Sydney’s second CBD and it’s easy to see why. A vibrant and lively area, there is plenty happening to keep you entertained when you’re not watching those horses gallop down the track. Only a short walk from Parramatta Park and the riverside, Skye Hotel Suites offer luxury serviced apartments and a range of facilities, like a resort pool and access to the gym. Their restaurant, Husk & Vine Kitchen and Bar, combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours with fresh Australian produce, so you can enjoy a tasty dinner after a day of standing on the grass. Just a ten-minute drive from Rosehill Gardens and only half an hour from Warwick Farm, it’s the most convenient location for a weekend of autumn racing. And if you party a little too hard, every room is fitted with blackout blinds, so you can get the rest you need the next day.
Admiral Collingwood Lodge, Drummoyne
The perfect halfway point between Rosehill and Randwick racecourses, Drummoyne gives you the best of both worlds being close to the water and a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in a charming back street of the harbourside suburb, Admiral Collingwood Lodge is a heritage-listed, country-style mansion built in 1888 and repurposed into a beautiful boutique hotel. It was originally owned by millionaire Duncan Mcmaster who came from a wealthy grazing family. Many of the original features of the house have been retained such as the high ceilings, the kauri timber floors, gorgeous marble fireplaces and the skirting boards. With a communal kitchen, a dining room, garden and outside patio area, this is the perfect place to wind down after a weekend of racing events.
The Hughenden Boutique Hotel, Woollahra
One of Sydney’s inner-city, eastern suburbs Woollahra allows you to be close to the coast, the city and parkland as well as being in a convenient location for racing at Randwick. A 140-year old property, the Hughenden Boutique Hotel is a stunning Victorian residence originally built by Dr Frederick Quaife. The grand, historic hotel is pet-friendly and has an intimate speakeasy bar, a terrace, a rooftop sundeck, a cafe open to residents and the public and function rooms. This is an elegant alternative to a chain hotel and gives you the chance to enjoy the leafiness of this charming area of Sydney without being too far away from the city’s centre.
The Urban, Newtown
Sydney’s trendy Newtown is the place to be if you want to be amongst the buzz and excitement of inner-city life. With bars, cafes and restaurants to try and vintage shops and markets galore there is no shortage of things to do when you’re not getting ready for a day at the races. Plus if you haven’t sorted out your outfit yet, you won’t have any problems finding something to wear. With a train station and plenty of metro buses, staying in Newtown makes travelling around Sydney easy and convenient. You’re just a 15-minute drive from Canterbury Park, 20 minutes from Royal Randwick and 30 minutes from Rosehill Gardens. The urban offers boutique studio rooms, complete with a kitchen and espresso machine, so it’s the perfect spot for a mini-break racing getaway. They also offer regular wine tastings and local beer sampling so you can try out your sommelier skills before you hit the track.
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