8 Best Hotels in North Coast, New South Wales

The most stylish digs in Port Macquarie are just a short walk across leafy parkland to the city's main beach. This luxe complex has a mix of ocean-view rooms and balcony apartments along with two swish penthouses with expansive terraces. Apartments have full kitchens, while the on-site restaurants—Scampis (for lunch, takeout, and seafood dinners) and Milkbar (for lunch and breakfast)—are consistently good. Sheltered barbecue facilities, on which you can throw a shrimp or two and cook your own steak, are a bonus for those wanting to relax with a beer on a balmy summer night. There's also a heated indoor swimming pool for those days when the sun doesn't come out. A day spa, free Wi-Fi, and free undercover parking round out the options.

A chic boutique accommodation renowned for its luxurious rooms and suites, each uniquely styled with modern amenities, a freestanding bathtub, high-end linen, and vintage art. Bower at Byron is one of the most sophisticated hotels in the region, with its serene spa and heated mineral pool with poolside bar being a huge drawcard. Guests can unwind with massages, facials, and wellness treatments amid the natural beauty of the region. The service is to an incredibly high standard, with airport transfers included. There's also a private cottage for honeymooners. 

Set about a kilometer from Newcastle's downtown, the Ibis is a value-priced chain hotel with parking and a restaurant. Queen rooms also have a rollaway trundle bed (there are also rooms with twin beds). All units have LCD TV, broadband, and tea and coffee facilities. At the western end of the Honeysuckle precinct, the hotel is convenient for leisurely strolls along the waterfront esplanade.

Although the building dates from the late 1960s—when its sawtooth shape was considered very stylish—it's filled with up-to-the-minute amenities: designer furnishings, luxurious linens, marble bathrooms, and private balconies with ocean and river views. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with free movie channels. The hotel is a five-minute walk to the Hastings River and town. Town Beach is opposite the property.

Just a few minutes' walk from the east end of the beach, Novotel has sweeping views of the ocean and of the city. The rooms are spacious, with large lounge areas, which make up for the lack of balcony, and come with free Wi-Fi. There’s an on-site restaurant that gets buzzy in the summer months, offering cocktails and share plates. Join the locals and get up at dawn, grab a coffee downstairs, and hit the coastal path, a perfect way to start the day and work up some hunger before an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast.

If you want to get the low-down on Lord Howe Island history, take a room at this apartment complex owned and operated by fifth- and sixth-generation descendants of the island's original settlers, T. B. and Mary Wilson. Located between Old Settlement Beach and Lagoon Beach near restaurants and cafés, the 16 apartments are bright and breezy with tropical-style furnishings and kitchenettes. They are set in lovely gardens, with a grass tennis court and saltwater swimming pool. The original homestead contains a lounge area, game room with pool table, and small library. Guests have access to barbecues and a laundry, and bikes and helmets can be rented. The hotel can also arrange lagoon trips and fishing expeditions on its own boat, the MV Carina.

Right on Lagoon Beach and a short walk from the popular bowling club, the Pinetrees Lodge has a terrific location and is the largest accommodation on Lord Howe Island—with motel rooms, suites, and garden cottages. The property is run by descendants of the island's first settlers, and is one of the few hotels on the island that stays open year-round. Rooms are clean and tidy and without too many frills, but the location and family atmosphere are great draws. There are good deals for stays of more than five nights as well as themed packages (honeymoons, spring wellness weeks). Meals are included in the rates, and the staff can prepare picnic lunches. The lodge has a familiar guesthouse vibe, as guests sit at the same tables for dinner at set hours. Guests love the daily sunset drinks at Pinetrees's own beachfront boat shed. Check online for five-night packages—they are often start from around A$2970 per person and include all meals (including afternoon tea).

Newcastle's most upscale hotel, the Rydges Newcastle, formerly known as the Crowne Plaza, is in the trendy Honeysuckle Precinct and has the best location of any hotel in town. The hotel opens onto the wharf-side esplanade—a pedestrian and bike path that hugs the harbor for a couple miles and is lined with smart apartments and stylish restaurants and cafés. Most of the hotel's one-bedroom suites overlook the harbor; others face the city center. There's a pool and fitness center, and some rate packages include breakfast and evening snacks and drinks. The hotel's Seasalt Restaurant receives mixed reviews but does have some good lunch deals that include a glass of wine. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants close by.