Overall the hotel is your standard 3-4 star Australian property. The hotel is located approx 200m back off the water at Darling Harbour. It is within walking distance from the monorail, train and Central station for buses to outer Sydney suburbs.

We found the hotel easily used as a base to commute around Sydney travelling to outer suburbs for football matches and to the beach.

The hotel is fairly basic in design, however very comfortable for a place to sleep and shower at the end of a busy touring day. We stayed on the second floor fairly close to the road, however I only remember hearing cars a couple of times during the night and I am usually a fairly light sleeper. The black out shades on the window were so good that we slept in for the first time in months! Although we didnt use them, the gym was fantastic and had a small heated lap pool alongside.

Breakfast was disappointing, especially on the second day of our stay when the resturant was a bit busier. In reflection I would nnot have paid the buffet price, rather going down to one of the many resturants in the city to have a cheaper and possibly fresher breakfast.

Staff members were helpful face to face, however did not assist us when we requested transport advice over the phone. This however did certainly not ruin our stay!

Overall the hotel is a great place to use as an average priced base if you are going to be exploring Sydney! I would not necessarily stay if you were intending on being in the hotel room much as the view is very minimal

Stayed at this hotel for a two day convention at the nearby Sydney Convention Centre it is indeed close to Chinatown where Chinese food can be had Convenience store can be found up the slope across the road from the hotel The view I had was of the opposite Chinese Gadens and the room was quiet except for the whizzing by sound of cars on the main road just outside the room TV selection is limited - local channels play incessantly local AFL footie games and criicket matches - two prime local Aussie preoccupations despite the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics that i saw in this hotel room As usual mini-bar prices are exorbitant so get yout munchies from Chinatown and nearby 7-11 store up the slope across the road The entertainment centre was largely quiet when I was there - no noise pollution
Happy to note that my requests were completely acceded to - 2nd level, nonsmoking

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the indoor swimming pool and gym was in fact also on the 2nd floor and just a few doors away - making it very convenient for those who must exercise It was winter and do wear enough warm clothing The so called famous Pumphouse restaurant was too pricey for me so I skipped it - the menu and prices are stuck up on the lift wall for all to see

The area around the Convention centre is indeed a 10 minute walk away but do bring a brolly as it can rain - there are more Western food choices around the Convention and harbour area so that might be up your alley of culinary preferences

Overall housekeeping was prompt and clean and the complimentary coffee and tea satchets were duly replenished

Breakfast was adequate for the solo business and convention traveller as I had worse before in other hotels - it is basically DIY and self serve including the coffee that uses a machine to dispense fresh ground coffee

It is also oki for couples travelling to sight see cos they would be out of the hotel for most of the day anyway

Not so family friendly esp for couples with young kids < 5 yo

Overall I got what I paid for and my requests were completely acceded to The unexpected bonus for me was the proximity where I could have my economical Chinese eats and the nice indoor same level gym that had a treadmill! some hotels dont haev treadmills at all but this one had - well DONE! and also no free weights which would also be potentially risky in the hands of someone mentally deranged - congrats on this nicely prudent oversight!

I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights in early 2008 for a business trip to Sydney. I have stayed at many Novotels - and can only assume that the 'Rockford' label is the generic name of the branding.

The hotel has all the requirements of a business hotel - is nice and clean and conveniently located in the heart of Sydney - though not (strangely for a business hotel) in the business district. This didn't bother me too much as I am a former Sydneysider anyway.

The room was of a decent size - though the housekeeping left a lot to be desired. The all inclusive rates did not include car parking - so the astronomical fee for valet parking was a joke, especially considering they required 45 minutes to bring up your car!!!

Being opposite the Sydney Entertainment Centre does not help the situation either - if you don't like hearing thousands of people carrying on outside your window all hours of the morning. I was (un)lucky enough to stay when the Centre was hosting an international boxing match - the two thugs in the ring were not the only ones looking out for someone to punch!

On the plus side, the reception staff were extremely friendly and always smiling. This almost made up for the pricy and not very appealing buffet breakfast. I felt urged to eat and leave quickly - due to some convention being held at the hotel.

Not my worst experience (by far) but not a truly memorable one either.

Stayed here on a whirl wind tour of Australia, typical business hotel. Good rooms, spacious, with all the amenties you'd expect, good minibar, good bathroom, there's a black out blind in the room which is pretty cool to get over the jetlag.

Great location, you can walk anywhere in the city from here, max distance is about 25minutes to the opera house, enjoyed the walking through the city, you see things you wouldn't see normally.

Staff were mostly helpful, attentive and pleasant. I found concierge good who offered me the assistance I needed. Check-in staff were friendly upon arrival and in the restaurant adajcent to the hotel (the Pumphouse), nice surroundings, lack of atmosphere but nice meals.

Would recommend to my friends, but maybe I would suggest the other Novotel on Darling Harbour as that looked a slightly better location. But I would go back to this hotel for sure.