Spacious & Open 2 bd 2bth Unit in Canberra City

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon the Spacious & Open 2 bd 2bth Unit in Canberra City during a quick trip to the capital last spring, and honestly, it was a bit of a lifesaver after a long drive down from Sydney. It’s tucked right on Northbourne Avenue – that bustling main drag heading into the city center – at number 484, postcode 2602. I mean, if you’re coming in from the north like I did, it’s super straightforward to spot; just watch for the light rail stop nearby, which makes getting around a breeze without a car. Check-in was pretty low-key – no fancy lobby or anything, since it’s more like a serviced apartment setup, but the host messaged me the code ahead of time, and I was in within minutes. Walking through the door, the first thing that hit me was just how airy it felt; high ceilings, big windows letting in that crisp Canberra sunlight, and this open-plan living area that didn’t feel cramped at all, even with my oversized suitcase sprawled everywhere. Oh, and the faint smell of fresh linen – you know, that clean, just-laundered vibe – made it feel welcoming right away.

What really sold me on this place was the space – it’s a proper two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, perfect if you’re traveling with family or mates, like I was with a couple of friends. We spread out comfortably; one bedroom had this ridiculously comfy king bed that I sank into after a day exploring, and the other was great for the kids (or in our case, the one who snores). The kitchen’s fully kitted out – think dishwasher, microwave, even a coffee machine that brews a decent flat white – so we whipped up breakfasts without blowing the budget on cafes. Location-wise, it’s spot on for hitting up the sights; you’re a short walk from the Dickson shops for some good Asian eats (try the pho at that little Vietnamese joint on Woolley Street), and a quick tram ride to Lake Burley Griffin or the War Memorial. I appreciated the parking spot underground – Canberra’s parking can be a nightmare in peak tourist season, like during Floriade in September when everything’s blooming and crowded. Noise-wise, well, Northbourne can get a bit humming with traffic during rush hour, especially mornings around 8 am, but the double-glazed windows kept it mostly at bay – nothing a white noise app couldn’t fix. And let’s not forget the little balcony; we sat out there one evening with takeaway from the nearby pub, watching the city lights flicker on, feeling like we had our own slice of urban oasis.

All in all, if you’re after something that feels more like a home base than a sterile hotel room, this unit’s a solid choice – especially at that 4-star level with a 7.9 rating that matches what I experienced. It’s not perfect; the Wi-Fi dipped a couple times during our stay, but nothing major, and for the price, you get way more bang for your buck than those chain spots in Civic. I’d recommend it for anyone wanting to dive into Canberra’s vibe without the fuss – families, small groups, even solo travelers who like room to breathe. Next time I’m back for a conference or just to catch the autumn leaves, you bet I’ll book it again. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $175. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed, 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Would be very happy to stay there again – Stephen from Australia – 24 June 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, near Dickson shops with supermarkets, cafes and restaurants
  Easy to get into Civic by car or light rail.
  Excellent host, very helpful

• Superb – Liane from Australia – 1 May 2025 (9/10)

  Fabulous location, lovely views, clean, with everything you need. Easy walk to restaurants, bars and shops. Would definitely stay again. Great to have secure parking too.
  
  What could be improved: The only glitch was that for some reason we didn't get our checkin email and I had to call. No problems after that though. Nothing I didn't like about the apartment or location.

• Excellent stay for our needs. Would recommend and stay there again. Thank you – Yvonne from Australia – 13 February 2025 (9/10)

  Property was excellent for our needs. It was very clean and tidy. Beds were comfortable. Couldn’t fault the property . Close to public transport, eateries and supermarket which was handy as I forgot that there would probably not be any tea or coffee.
  
  What could be improved: Picking up and dropping off key and car spot was a bit confusing. Host was very helpful. There seemed to be some mixed messaging between Booking.com and the host.

• Aside from some communication issues with the host, the apartment and location was very good. – Kate from Australia – 27 January 2025 (8/10)

  What could be improved: I would have liked clearer instructions on access to the apartment. Perhaps the host could have met us there.

• Could have been fabulous, but just failed in quite a few apparently small but important ways. small – Ol’ from Australia – 28 December 2024 (8/10)

  Good location. Clean. Very modern.
  
  What could be improved: Feedback (always better direct than through a website)
  1) The parking spot instructions were good but, after such an unnecessarily long list of "Conditions" which are, quite honestly, far too long and whilst may be true , don't need pointing out (as if anyone who is a people smuggler will either read them or take any notice, to be honest!) I hadn't waded through them to navigate to the parking space. Either ditch all the "Do not" instructions or put the parking directions earlier in your writing.
  Same with the key collection process. It takes far too long to discover how and where to collect the keys.
  2) There were virtually NO paper products in the unit. Hardly any toilet paper and no kitchen paper. Both basic necessities when staying even for a short time.
  3) No hand soap in the ensuite bathroom, virtually none in the other. None in the kitchen.
  4) When staying in units around the country and the world (I've visited 25 countries this year in 5 months of travel and stayed in well over a hundred such places), it is not unreasonable to expect to have soap or body wash in all showers, as well as shampoo and even conditioner. Not mismatched and frankly third rate, near empty bottles of these items that look like previous travellers have left behind.
  5) Decent bedding. Clean is a minimum requirement which your unit certainly meets. However, a doona needs a top sheet. The aircon can be too cool to sleep without a cover and the cover too warm. A top sheet is a convenient halfway option.
  6) The pillows were very "basic" and felt cheap. However, a basic OH&S requirement is for all pillows to have pillow protectors, either washable or disposable. For a 4-5 star priced stay, these are mandatory by law.
  7) Dishwashing liquid required to be able to wash a few items rather than having to use the dishwasher.
  8) Fly screens on the sliding doors. Sleeping with the doors open is a good option instead of aircon on hot nights.

• very enjoyable stay – Ronald from Australia – 9 December 2024 (9/10)

  What could be improved: saucepans need replacing – drying rack broken

• Comfortable,but very minimalistic – Kaj from Australia – 13 September 2024 (8/10)

  Location was great-lovely view
  
  What could be improved: A bit of attention to creature comfort would’ve been nice.No toilet paper provided-had to contact host.Tea,coffee & milk would be a big plus,particularly for late arriving travellers

• Superb – David from Australia – 3 September 2024 (9/10)

  Very tidy and clean unit

• Very good – Cassy from Australia – 28 August 2024 (8/10)

  Fantastic location with secure parking. Everything you need within walking distance with a neat little IGA in the building.

• Superb – George from Australia – 8 August 2024 (9/10)

  Overall, great location, hosts, comfort and space.
  
  What could be improved: There was only one set of keys. In future, please organise two sets of keys for families so that we can have more flexibility. The host offered a solution: the key could be dropped at the local IGA front counter and collected when we entered the apartment. However, this is not a practical solution as we need to park in front of the street (if we get closer parking). Walk to the shop and collect before accessing the parking or building. Definitely not an appropriate solution, though it is workable.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities