Pavilion On Northbourne

Hotel Description

You know, when I pulled up to the Pavilion on Northbourne last spring – right there on that bustling stretch of Northbourne Avenue in Canberra’s north side – I was honestly a bit skeptical at first. It’s one of those spots that looks like it could be just another roadside hotel, especially with all the traffic zooming by (and yeah, if you’re a light sleeper, you might hear the occasional truck rumbling past at night, but earplugs sorted that out for me). But stepping inside? Total game-changer. The lobby has this massive tropical atrium thing going on – think lush palms, a waterfall trickling away, and that fresh, earthy scent of greenery that hits you like a mini oasis in the middle of the city. Check-in was a breeze; the staff were chatty Aussies who actually remembered my name the next day, and they hooked me up with a room upgrade without me even asking. I mean, it’s not the fanciest 4-star joint, but it’s got that lived-in comfort – like staying at a mate’s place who’s got their act together.

What really sold me, though, was how it fits right into the local vibe. You’re smack in Dickson, which is Canberra’s underrated food hub – we’re talking killer Asian eats just a five-minute walk away on Woolley Street, from steaming pho bowls at that little Vietnamese spot to some of the best dumplings I’ve had outside Sydney. And if you’re here for work or uni stuff, it’s super handy; a quick hop on the light rail down Northbourne gets you to the city center or even the Australian National University in no time (I timed it – about 15 minutes door-to-door). My room was spacious, with a balcony overlooking the pool – which, by the way, is heated and surrounded by those same tropical plants, perfect for a lazy afternoon dip after exploring the War Memorial (that’s only a 10-minute drive south, and trust me, go early to beat the tour groups). Breakfast at the on-site cafe was solid too – fresh croissants with that buttery crispness, decent coffee that doesn’t taste like it came from a machine, and they do a mean eggs benny. Oh, and parking? Free and plentiful in their undercover lot, which is a godsend in Canberra where street spots vanish during peak hours, like when parliament’s in session and everything gets chaotic.

All in all, if you’re plotting a trip to Canberra and don’t want to blow the budget on something overly posh downtown, the Pavilion’s a smart pick – that 8.1 rating feels spot-on to me. It’s got heart, you know? Not perfect (the Wi-Fi dipped a couple times during my Zoom calls, but nothing a reset didn’t fix), but it’s authentic and practical for real travelers. I’d go back in a heartbeat, especially in autumn when the leaves turn and the whole avenue feels alive. Honestly, it made my stay feel less like a hotel pitstop and more like a proper base for diving into what makes Canberra tick. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $122. Atrium Queen Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $122. Atrium King Room with 1 single bed, 1 extra-large double bed and 3 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $152. Queen Room with Balcony with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $169. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $169. One-Bedroom Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $169. Suite with Spa Bath with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $238. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Superb – Joyce from Australia – 14 July 2025 (9/10)

  I find great pleasure in staying at The Pavilion on Northbourne, as the breakfast is truly exceptional, and the staff consistently provides a warm and welcoming experience, nothing is to much. I even had a staff member change my T.V at 11pm because I had issues with the TV

• Good – Filpi from Australia – 13 July 2025 (7/10)

  Friendly staff.

• Exceptional – Roger from Australia – 10 July 2025 (8/10)

  Location near GIO stadium
  
  What could be improved: Space and design

• Very comfortable hotel friendly staff and well located will be staying her again in September – Carmelina from Australia – 8 July 2025 (9/10)

  The room was spacious and clean but there were stains on the carpet which didn't look good, I upgraded my room on this visit as I prefer the walk in shower, the big step from the bath to ground is quite a step and could be a hazard . Breakfast was quite nice and plenty of choice. The bed was softer than I'm used too by comfortable. The restaurant was also quite nice
  
  What could be improved: I would have liked to see a little more on the room service menu and possibly a few more deserts

• Very good – Vicki from Australia – 7 July 2025 (8/10)

  Every thing was great. Hubby loved the breakfast. Bed was great. Good location with the train stopping very close.

• Lovely stay for the week – Lada from Australia – 5 July 2025 (9/10)

  Buffet breakfast, the bar, the room service, the cocktail menu, the atmosphere
  
  What could be improved: Rooms were a bit run down.

• Great place to stay wish we could of stayed longer – Graham from Australia – 5 July 2025 (8/10)

  Staff were lovely
  
  What could be improved: The bed was soft

• Good location, good services, friendly staff. – Solomon from Australia – 5 July 2025 (8/10)

  Good location to base for visiting various sites across ACT. Plenty of parking. Friendly helpful staff on arrival and during stay. They were able to change room after first night when requested.
  
  What could be improved: Perhaps they could have provided the room location as originally requested. The generic emails after booking did not provide any confidence that they were responding to request and there was no follow through later. The room provided was opposite to what ideally sought.

• Good and I woukd consider staying here again – Brenda from Australia – 4 July 2025 (9/10)

  That you got $10 for not having your room changed. Such a great idea, as you don't need that every day. A great incentive.
  
  Great to have free parking, behind a gate on site.
  
  What could be improved: The music in the bar till the late evening, you could hear it in your room when you went to bed.
  Aldi hearing the toilets and showers

• Only stayed for one night and was impressed by the staff. – Marcelle from Australia – 4 July 2025 (8/10)

  Value for money and friendly staff
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities