On our recent drive from Sydney to Melbourne we had the pleasure of staying at a wonderful hotel in the NSW town of Albury.
Atura Albury is located at 648 Dean Street in a convenient central location just a short stroll into the centre of town. The Botanical Gardens are also nearby, which are home to the playful Children’s Garden that features a delightful fairies and dragons theme.
Before arrival I was a little unsure about what to expect from the hotel, but I can honestly say I was surprised and seriously impressed with the design, features, styling and quality.
We were warmly greeted at reception and check in was fast and efficient. We had two interconnecting rooms which is a fantastic option for families. The rooms are modern and spacious and feature a desk, couch area with a coffee table and a small dining table and chairs. One of our rooms had a king bed and the other had two singles.
A huge advantage when booking direct with the hotel is that the room rate comes with the fabulous bonus of a free mini bar.* That’s right, you get to enjoy the entire contents of the mini bar! The kids absolutely loved it and before I even had a chance to shut the door they were eating jelly snakes and pringles. The mini bar items are really generous and include beer, soft drinks, cider, nuts, chocolate and other tasty snacks.
Colourful vintage style bikes are complimentary for guests to use and are perfect for exploring the town. Staff at Atura are incredibly warm and welcoming and were always available to offer assistance. The reception area has a handy grab ’n’ go pantry, offering all of the essentials for guests to purchase and includes toiletries, snacks, drinks, gifts and goodies. It’s a great little shop for stocking up on road trip treats.
The Roadhouse Bar is a great spot to relax and unwind after a long drive. Happy hour is from 5pm-7pm and the most divine cocktails served in colourful teapots are available daily from 5pm. I tried all three cocktails on the menu (for research of course!). Bartender Laura is an amazing mixologist and manages to make the cocktails look (and taste) like little delicious works of art.
In the bar, a cosy fire place, comfy couches, pool table and a collection of board games, cards and dressups keep the kids entertained (and the adults too of course).
The Roadhouse Bar and Grill restaurant has an impressive menu with loads of options. I was pretty hungry after my cocktail tasting so I went a little crazy on the ordering. I decided on the crispy salt and pepper squid, popcorn prawns and fried kaarage chicken bao buns. All I can say is…….. WOW. Every single thing on my plate(s) was absolutely delicious, fresh and full of flavour.
The kids meals were incredibly generous, tasty and great value. We all left with very happy tummies.
Breakfast was equally delicious and had lots of buffet items to chose from. Fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, yoghurt, danishes and croissants provided the perfect start to the day.
Atura Albury has a stylish swimming pool area, with colourful umbrellas, poolside deck chairs and palms that make you feel like you are in a tropical sanctuary. It was a little cold for swimming the day we were there but it is a beautiful space to relax and a lovely view to look at whilst enjoying breakfast in the restaurant.
I recommend joining the Priority guest rewards program which is a wonderful loyalty membership offering 10% off the best online rates, 20% off dining, free wifi, late checkout and other perks. The membership is based on a points system which accumulate with each stay and can be used for future bookings, meals, drinks and gift cards. Points can be redeemed in Atura, QT, Rydges and Art Series hotels. Best of all, the program is free to join and the benefits are instant. Click here for more information on the Priority Guest Rewards.
Atura Albury is the perfect hotel for a stopover on the long journey between Sydney and Melbourne. I would have liked to stay longer in Albury as there is so much more to see and do than I expected. Next time I make the drive between states, I will be sure to stop off in Albury, stay at the Atura hotel, eat some more popcorn prawns and I will definitely be sampling more teapot cocktails. 😉
Atura Albury is located at:
648 Dean Street, Albury NSW / Ph: (02) 6021 5366
*complimentary mini bar promotion runs 13th Sept – 31 Dec 2017.
Travelling Soul Sister 