The Rocks

YHA Sydney Harbour

★★★★★

YHA Sydney Harbour is the answer for travellers who want to stay in the heart of the harbour without paying harbour-hotel prices. It occupies a purpose-built modern building at 110 Cumberland Street in The Rocks, a few minutes' walk from Circular Quay, the Opera House and the steps up to the Harbour Bridge, and its headline feature is the rooftop: an open terrace with panoramic views over the harbour, the Opera House and the Bridge that would not be out of place at a five-star hotel. A rooftop bar serves drinks and meals, and on summer evenings the terrace is one of the nicest places in The Rocks to watch the light fade. This is not a party hostel. All rooms, private and shared, have their own ensuite bathrooms. Private options include queen, king, double and twin rooms, family ensuite rooms and an accessible room, and some Opera Harbour View rooms have partial city and harbour views. The shared co-living rooms sleep four or six and are for guests over 18. Everyone has access to a well-equipped guest kitchen, a barbecue on the terrace, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, and Trails Cafe on site does coffee and food. Reception runs around the clock, check-in is from 2pm and check-out by 10am. The building sits above archaeological remains of the old Rocks neighbourhood, excavated houses and lanes from the colonial era that you can see from walkways around the site, which adds a layer of history to a budget stay.

Location is the whole point. Within ten minutes on foot you have Circular Quay's ferries, the Opera House, the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks markets, Observatory Hill, the BridgeMuseum in the pylon and the Bridge walk itself. Wynyard station, Circular Quay station and the Barangaroo metro station are all close, which makes the hostel an easy base for the whole city, and the airport is reachable by train from Wynyard or Circular Quay.

Choosing a room: couples and solo travellers on a budget should book a private queen or king ensuite; families should go for the family ensuite rooms, which make this one of the cheapest ways for a family to sleep in The Rocks. Ask about the Opera Harbour View rooms if a view matters, but remember the rooftop gives everyone the full panorama anyway. Rooms are simple and compact, as you would expect, and the shared rooms are best for groups of friends travelling together.

Who it suits and the trade-offs: budget travellers, families, solo travellers and anyone who would rather spend money on experiences than on a room. The property is cashless (cards only), smoke-free, and guests cannot bring their own alcohol onto the premises, so drinks come from the rooftop bar. Around New Year's Eve, demand for the rooftop views is intense, so book far ahead. Housekeeping and service are hostel-level rather than hotel-level, but for this location the value is hard to beat.