HOTELS & SPAS

Repeat after me: 'Hotel Blue in Woolloomooloo'. Feels good to say, doesn't it? I liked it so much that, much to my boyfriend's dismay, I insisted on saying it in full to every taxi driver who took us home during our two-night stay at this five-star Taj-group hotel.

Situated in Woolloomooloo Bay, Blue has a great location for those looking to explore the tourist sites as it's within walking distance of the opera house and the botanical gardens. But for history buffs it's the building itself that will provide plenty of entertainment as it holds a strong link to the Wharf and has a story all of its own.

Constructed over 95 years ago as a wool and cargo handling facility it went on to be the main disembarking point for migrants arriving into Australia as well as the staging point for troop deployment in the World Wars. Blue's history can be seen throughout its design in the large pictures of how the building used to look, and its workers in action, that are hung throughout the hotel. A huge development project has turned this timber building into a complex complete with hotel, restaurants, spa and luxury residential apartments one of which (the multi-million dollar penthouse) belongs to Russell Crowe.  

All of the hotel's 100 sleek and contemporary bedrooms overlook the lobby and the ever-popular Water Bar, which sits in the middle of the open space and is a popular hangout with Sydney's young and beautiful. You could spend hours on the squishy couches working your way, by flickering candlelight, through the lengthy cocktail list — something we were looking forward to doing on our first evening in Sydney until we were "spoken to" regarding the bar's strict evening dress code and the fact that our flip-flops and shorts didn't quite cut it.

We were staying in one of the hotel's split-level Marina King Lofts, which are spacious and sleek and have stunning views of the water from the comfort of the roomy couch. However, because the spa was shut for refurbishment, it was to be the hotel's gym and gorgeous pool that were to rescue us from our horrendous jetlag rather than a quick nap in the oversized bed.

Across the cavernous lobby and via a trip in a private elevator sits the hotel's fitness area, where there is a small but well equipped gym and swimming pool. Residents of the private apartments can also use the gym and pool and so I was hoping to spot Rusty having a dip. However, there was not an Oscar winner in sight, neither anyone else for that matter, and so for an hour we were able to swim in our own private pool with the doors flung open to an outdoor area bathed in sunshine — the perfect antidote to a foggy jetlagged head and the ideal introduction to Sydney.

Hotel Blue, The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Sydney, NSW 2011 (+61 (2) 9331 9000; tajhotels.com/Sydney). Room rates start from £154 per room per night.

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