Rydges Darwin Central
21 Knuckey St, Darwin, Northern Territory 0800 Australia
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Avg. ₱4,000 /night, 2/6 - 2/7
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21 Knuckey St, Darwin, Northern Territory 0800 Australia
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Great for walkers
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Our sixth holiday to Darwin over a few years. This is the 3rd time staying at Ridges Darwin Central (previously named Darwin Central) OK it is dated, needs work to modernize the whole property. But honestly our room was good. Nothing was broken, fallen off, torn or worn. It was clean and tidy. June, July & August is their peak season and you would not find anything better for the same price. The kitchenette was enough for breakfast, tea & coffee, drinks & snacks. The bathroom spotless and yes inside the shower can get slippery when wet, just be careful. The staff are excellent, Robert, Lydia, Huan & Daneil, outstanding, nothing was too much when asked for whatever we needed. happy & friendly staff goes a long way.
I do have a negative: It is a pity Ridges are cost cutting when it affects customers.
i.e. The breakfast area looked great when offering breakfast service, full of people enjoying a full breakfast with friends or making new friends, now it's just an empty open space which looks sad.
And put the ice machine somewhere for it to be accessible anytime, not in the laundry room which is locked after 7.45pm.
I do have a negative: It is a pity Ridges are cost cutting when it affects customers.
i.e. The breakfast area looked great when offering breakfast service, full of people enjoying a full breakfast with friends or making new friends, now it's just an empty open space which looks sad.
And put the ice machine somewhere for it to be accessible anytime, not in the laundry room which is locked after 7.45pm.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Give it a try. Some holiday makers strike it lucky where you stay and others, not so lucky.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is situated in the middle of the CBD and you can walk to many sights and restaurants. In fact you have to walk to any restaurant since the hotel has none. They do have a cafe in the same building, but you have to walk about a block to get there. Breakfast is served in the cafe. If you have booked a rate that includes breakfast, you receive a voucher for a choice of three items: Bacon and eggs, an omelette, or two pancakes, plus juice and tea or coffee.
The room itself is comfortable. But the wi-fi is erratic. It worked fine for four days. Then it stopped working. The person at the front desk came up to my room and connected me to the next room's wi-fi so I could access the internet.
The room itself is comfortable. But the wi-fi is erratic. It worked fine for four days. Then it stopped working. The person at the front desk came up to my room and connected me to the next room's wi-fi so I could access the internet.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Rydges mid August ‘21.
Check in was ok, self check in didn’t really work properly but got there in the end, the front desk staff were great, had an issue with my door card daily not working and had to get it re coded/replaced.
Parking is quite steep at $20 a day, we we’re there during the 72h lockdown so couldn’t go anywhere, I did ask if they could wave the fee but nope.
Rooms were cleaned upon departure or when requested, if you needed new sheets you had to ask and fit yourself.
For the price we paid it was ok for the central location, but not having your room cleaned did kinda suck (I did borrow a vac one day)
Would I stay again?
Probably, pool was nice, staff were lovely, central location, but for the price I’d expect a full service hotel.
7/10
Check in was ok, self check in didn’t really work properly but got there in the end, the front desk staff were great, had an issue with my door card daily not working and had to get it re coded/replaced.
Parking is quite steep at $20 a day, we we’re there during the 72h lockdown so couldn’t go anywhere, I did ask if they could wave the fee but nope.
Rooms were cleaned upon departure or when requested, if you needed new sheets you had to ask and fit yourself.
For the price we paid it was ok for the central location, but not having your room cleaned did kinda suck (I did borrow a vac one day)
Would I stay again?
Probably, pool was nice, staff were lovely, central location, but for the price I’d expect a full service hotel.
7/10
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SO DISAPPOINTING! Don’t think about staying here!. From the moment you walk through the door there is no reception, and no one around! However one staff member magically arrived from behind a pole, but had limited experience and knowledge. Pictures on website are not a true representation of the actual Hotel. No reception area as shown on website pictures! No way to contact reception and if you did they were not help. Pool not open, and had not been for some time, no restaurant. It is dated and requires work to modernise the whole property. Bedroom area was dark and gloomy with a very small window overlooking roof tops. 1 plug to charge 5 apple products. Quite depressing. It is in the City Centre, however no one tells you Mitchell Street is the PARTY street and they start drinking about 4.00pm or earlier on hot days. Extremely overpriced. We had booked for 6 nights and left after 1. Requested a refund and my complaint was escalated to Reservations, but they were not helpful and not interested in my feedback. It is truly a backpackers! Just told us we were outside of the cancellation time. Do not even consider this hotel as it will result in disappointment and frustration.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When we arrived at the hotel we had to do contactless check in helped by a member off staff to which i was asked to make payment, we were then asked if we wanted housekeeping everyday to which we said yes. Upon entering our room it smelt musty and was very basic for a 4.5 star hotel, we then noticed that there was a note that there may not be housekeeping on occasions, i feel we should have been told this before we paid for the room as it was advertised as full housekeeping. we then went back to reception and asked for the room to be freshened up to which it was.
After checking the amenities it was found that the restaurant and the bar was closed and were using outside caterers but still no bar.
After viewing the pool area it was very disappointing, the pool was small but the area was at best disgusting, the paint was peeling off the wall and was black with mold and a door at the area of the changing rooms black with mold and also the water in the pool was a milky color so we never used it. The hotel has provided WIFI as described but the connection was so slow 0.81 download and 0.21 upload as (tested via speedtest) these speed are unacceptable as it wasn't even enough to open a wed page.
We then went to use the washing machines for guest use one was out of order for our duration of stay and one took out money and didn't start, there was also an ice machine that was for guest use that was also out of order. Then a lift was out of order for 3 days. Our booking was from the 9th October until the 23rd October but by the 18th we had had enough of staying in a poor run hotel.
We made arrangements to speak to the manager about our discontent with our stay at this hotel, she told us that the hotel had been shut for 1 year during covid i do realize that that times have been hard but this alleged 4.5 star hotel (which was also confirmed with the manager) in answer to our questions we were told that everything has changed during covid, well i have to agree with her. The answer to the very poor internet was that we do not have $500.000 a year to spend on internet. As for the disgusting walls in the pool area her answer was i have been waiting for enough work to put team of maintenance worker in to make it viable, being in the building industry there is enough work for a team in this hotel for a month.
I then broached the issue of no housekeeping and said that we should have been told before we paid for our room that we should have been told that we may not get what was advertised which is wrong, i asked her if there used to be telephones in the rooms before covid she said yes they have all been removed since reopening. In my opinion this hotel is being run on a shoe string, there was no staff on reception. The manager offered us a refund on the last 5 nights of our stay to which we agreed and received a refund. We moved to another 4 star hotel locally and it was a breath of fresh air for us, totally differently run. A positive for this hotel Rydges Darwin Central is its location but this is its only good point. Would not recomend
After checking the amenities it was found that the restaurant and the bar was closed and were using outside caterers but still no bar.
After viewing the pool area it was very disappointing, the pool was small but the area was at best disgusting, the paint was peeling off the wall and was black with mold and a door at the area of the changing rooms black with mold and also the water in the pool was a milky color so we never used it. The hotel has provided WIFI as described but the connection was so slow 0.81 download and 0.21 upload as (tested via speedtest) these speed are unacceptable as it wasn't even enough to open a wed page.
We then went to use the washing machines for guest use one was out of order for our duration of stay and one took out money and didn't start, there was also an ice machine that was for guest use that was also out of order. Then a lift was out of order for 3 days. Our booking was from the 9th October until the 23rd October but by the 18th we had had enough of staying in a poor run hotel.
We made arrangements to speak to the manager about our discontent with our stay at this hotel, she told us that the hotel had been shut for 1 year during covid i do realize that that times have been hard but this alleged 4.5 star hotel (which was also confirmed with the manager) in answer to our questions we were told that everything has changed during covid, well i have to agree with her. The answer to the very poor internet was that we do not have $500.000 a year to spend on internet. As for the disgusting walls in the pool area her answer was i have been waiting for enough work to put team of maintenance worker in to make it viable, being in the building industry there is enough work for a team in this hotel for a month.
I then broached the issue of no housekeeping and said that we should have been told before we paid for our room that we should have been told that we may not get what was advertised which is wrong, i asked her if there used to be telephones in the rooms before covid she said yes they have all been removed since reopening. In my opinion this hotel is being run on a shoe string, there was no staff on reception. The manager offered us a refund on the last 5 nights of our stay to which we agreed and received a refund. We moved to another 4 star hotel locally and it was a breath of fresh air for us, totally differently run. A positive for this hotel Rydges Darwin Central is its location but this is its only good point. Would not recomend
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Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketed as 4 star but have stayed in better 3 star motels. Weird machine check in that felt like supermarket checkout. Empty fridge on arrival ( no cool water or milk for tea) some appeared after we had bought some. Bizarre design choices : bed light switches just out of reach; dim lighting with few things on walls; expense room based Wi-Fi to cast your own device to television but television very small so cast image would be smaller than viewing on your phone from chair or bed! Bathroom tiles remarkably slippy when wet. No in-house restaurant and vouchers for mediocre cafe next door for breakfast.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Go somewhere else
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can’t believe this hotel, rated 4 star it must be self rated.
Rooms were very tired, and we had booked day tours in which we left very early so the breakfast box they gave us was a dry croissant with a thin piece of ham and cheese slapped on, and muesli bar and an apple juice. The problem was the croissant, threw it in the bin, no butter, dry croissant, spoke to others on our day tour and all felt the same. No cafe so a walk around the corner was our breakfast with a choice of three.
No service on counter after 10 pm until morning.
The poolside was so uninviting, I have never seen such a plain, horrible area, The pool door we thought was locked but we were told it wasn’t so we pushed and pushed and rattled the door and staff member heard us from the floor below so came up the stairs and opened it after shaking it open. It had been like that for weeks she said that was waiting on someone to fix it. My partner and I at different times trying to open it cut our finger and told reception but nothing still was done about this pool door.
We were there for six nights and had our room serviced twice although the second time we were in the room getting ready to go out and it was mid afternoon so wasn’t done. After the third day we actually had to ask for our room to be done even though they advertise serviced rooms daily .
Okay if it was rated a one or two star as you would know what to expect, this was terribly disappointing, couple of staff on counter were quite good but the rest didn’t seem to understand our concern re-a cut fingers And general inquiries.
would never stay in this place again.
Do yourself a favour and look elsewhere for same price.
Also very surprised at IMAGINE HOLIDAYS for booking this, as the cost of our trip including the Ghan was highly priced with the promise of 4 1/2 star hotels.
WE are yet to take this up with them
Rooms were very tired, and we had booked day tours in which we left very early so the breakfast box they gave us was a dry croissant with a thin piece of ham and cheese slapped on, and muesli bar and an apple juice. The problem was the croissant, threw it in the bin, no butter, dry croissant, spoke to others on our day tour and all felt the same. No cafe so a walk around the corner was our breakfast with a choice of three.
No service on counter after 10 pm until morning.
The poolside was so uninviting, I have never seen such a plain, horrible area, The pool door we thought was locked but we were told it wasn’t so we pushed and pushed and rattled the door and staff member heard us from the floor below so came up the stairs and opened it after shaking it open. It had been like that for weeks she said that was waiting on someone to fix it. My partner and I at different times trying to open it cut our finger and told reception but nothing still was done about this pool door.
We were there for six nights and had our room serviced twice although the second time we were in the room getting ready to go out and it was mid afternoon so wasn’t done. After the third day we actually had to ask for our room to be done even though they advertise serviced rooms daily .
Okay if it was rated a one or two star as you would know what to expect, this was terribly disappointing, couple of staff on counter were quite good but the rest didn’t seem to understand our concern re-a cut fingers And general inquiries.
would never stay in this place again.
Do yourself a favour and look elsewhere for same price.
Also very surprised at IMAGINE HOLIDAYS for booking this, as the cost of our trip including the Ghan was highly priced with the promise of 4 1/2 star hotels.
WE are yet to take this up with them
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Do not book this place
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great location. Very clean. All staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We arrived very late at night, went to self check in as we expected but staff member greeted us and check us in, they were lovely. Very comfortable first night, a little hiccup on second night as new guests were checked into the room next to us, as the room we had, had an adjoining door, we could hear them. There were not many guests at the time as it was wet season, so we were a little perplexed why they would put someone next door. When their dog started barking, we asked to be moved, and they were only too happy to move us to another floor. The pool was lovely and refreshing, although it is on the smaller side, it was adequate. Many places to eat near hotel, and nearby supermarkets. Very central to everything. Thank you to all staff we met during our stay, you made us feel very welcome.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â The car parking at hotel is expensive. There is a small car park in the side street near...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pros:
Large room with two double beds
Check in from 2pm and check out is 11am
In the middle of town and you can walk anywhere from there… although it might be a long walk…
Good security, as you need a swipe to get in the door and use the lift
Air conditioning in rooms is cold
Friendly staff who were doing their best
Close to Coles and cafes and other shopping.
Blackout blinds
Button to call a taxi in the foyer.
Cons:
No hot water one morning.
Room not serviced on one day of our stay.
Hotel entrance is down an alleyway.
Advertising incorrectly advised that there were amenities that were not in fact available such as the restaurant.
Rooms are tired and unattractive
Beds are made with just sheets. No blankets. Although there were blankets in the cupboard.
No way to contact reception without going down there.
One small window with no view. Made room dark and unpleasant.
Sheets felt of poor quality.
Only one lift working for the whole hotel. And it looks and feels like a car park lift.
Self check in in the foyer of the hotel is cumbersome and unnecessary.
Towels are thin and no longer white.
Cheap and nasty toilet paper.
I definitely wouldn’t stay here again… surely there is better elsewhere?
Probably would also not recommend spending more than a day or two in Darwin… there is not much in town.
Large room with two double beds
Check in from 2pm and check out is 11am
In the middle of town and you can walk anywhere from there… although it might be a long walk…
Good security, as you need a swipe to get in the door and use the lift
Air conditioning in rooms is cold
Friendly staff who were doing their best
Close to Coles and cafes and other shopping.
Blackout blinds
Button to call a taxi in the foyer.
Cons:
No hot water one morning.
Room not serviced on one day of our stay.
Hotel entrance is down an alleyway.
Advertising incorrectly advised that there were amenities that were not in fact available such as the restaurant.
Rooms are tired and unattractive
Beds are made with just sheets. No blankets. Although there were blankets in the cupboard.
No way to contact reception without going down there.
One small window with no view. Made room dark and unpleasant.
Sheets felt of poor quality.
Only one lift working for the whole hotel. And it looks and feels like a car park lift.
Self check in in the foyer of the hotel is cumbersome and unnecessary.
Towels are thin and no longer white.
Cheap and nasty toilet paper.
I definitely wouldn’t stay here again… surely there is better elsewhere?
Probably would also not recommend spending more than a day or two in Darwin… there is not much in town.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Given the insane prices often charged by Darwin hotels, Rydges Darwin is a decent option if you just want a room and little else.
Room are a good size, quiet and mine at least was recently renovated with a new bathroom.
Location is excellent, right in the middle of the city with the Esplanade and Smith Street just 5 minutes’ walk, and the waterfront 15 minutes.
However, there is no dining on site, the pool is not much bigger than a spa pool, the main entrance is a laneway, and check in is meant to be done at a kiosk, though staff magically appear if you look like you’re struggling.
Room are a good size, quiet and mine at least was recently renovated with a new bathroom.
Location is excellent, right in the middle of the city with the Esplanade and Smith Street just 5 minutes’ walk, and the waterfront 15 minutes.
However, there is no dining on site, the pool is not much bigger than a spa pool, the main entrance is a laneway, and check in is meant to be done at a kiosk, though staff magically appear if you look like you’re struggling.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cityhotelsightseeing asked a question Apr 2021
Melbourne, Australia4,309 contributions73 helpful votesHi, II am staying in June, what dining options will be open? Thanks
Breakfast was included in our room price and it was very good. Don't think it was expensive anyway.
Rooms have small kitchens. Better than kitchenettes. Not sure about interconnecting.
There are shuttle buses right outside the terminal that run 24/7
"The car parking at hotel is expensive. There is a small car park in the side street near entrance of hotel which we used which was cheaper."Read full review
"Give it a try. Some holiday makers strike it lucky where you stay and others, not so lucky. "Read full review
"these questions do not relate to my experience and now see why this hotel gets a high score. "Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
₱3,942 - ₱5,624 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaNorthern TerritoryTop EndDarwin
NUMBER OF ROOMS
132
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Rydges Darwin Central
Which popular attractions are close to Rydges Darwin Central?
Nearby attractions include Crocosaurus Cove (0.2 km), Parliament House (0.2 km), and Darwin Cenotaph (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Rydges Darwin Central?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, room service, and a business centre.
Which room amenities are available at Rydges Darwin Central?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Rydges Darwin Central?
Guests can enjoy breakfast, complimentary tea, and free instant coffee during their stay.
Is parking available at Rydges Darwin Central?
Yes, a parking garage, paid private parking on-site, and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Rydges Darwin Central?
Conveniently located restaurants include PepperBerry Restaurant, Moorish Cafe, and The Rabbit Hole.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Rydges Darwin Central?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Rydges Darwin Central located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Darwin.
Are any cleaning services offered at Rydges Darwin Central?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are there any historical sites close to Rydges Darwin Central?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Burnett House (1.8 km), The Old Town Hall (0.4 km), and Survivors’ Lookout (0.3 km).
Is Rydges Darwin Central accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.