Crowds, mayhem and Fireworks are the words synonymous with New Years Eve celebrations in Melbourne and all of which I have experienced on more than one occasion. To avoid the first two while enjoying the third I booked a Yarra suite at the Hilton South Wharf.

Catering for the ever expanding conference market the Hilton South Wharf adjoins the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centres and occupies a prime location on the south bank of the Yarra River. 

Underwhelming was my first impression of this hotel, caused primarily by the lack of presence as the building is surrounded by and in some ways engulfed by the convention centre and DFO shopping centre as well as the wide expanse of open air concrete carpark which it shares with the DFO.


Opting to self park I secured a carspace, amongst those of frantic shoppers seeking end of year bargains, and not so quickly navigated my way through the carpark into the main foyer of the Hilton.  

The main foyer, still decked out with Christmas decorations, was bustling with activity as people attempted to secure last minute dinner reservations at the house restaurants or as we were trying to do check in. The check in process was simple except for the fact that our room was not quite ready resulting in a 10 minute wait. In this regard the Hilton has embraced technology and when your room is ready they send you a SMS.

Call me old fashioned but I believe that the personal touch is more appropriate in such circumstances especially when you are unclear as to what you need to do once you receive the text. Eventually after lining up again in the check in queue I received the room keys and we were on our way to our suite. 


As part of our package we were entitled to what is marketed as a superb complimentary daily breakfast, drinks and canapes in the evening and snacks throughout the day in the Executive Lounge. However, as a result of New Years Eve celebrations the Executive Lounge was closed for a private function and alternative arrangements for guests, which we were not informed of at check in, had been made. So unfortunately I am unable to provide a review of these features of our stay.

Situated on level 10, our suite was expansive with full height windows offering views both east and west along the Yarra River and towards Port Phillip Bay, providing us with prime viewing position for the evening fireworks.

The layout of the suite is such that there is a living area, bedroom with king sized bed complete with pillow menu, oversized bathroom with both a bath from which views over the bay can be enjoyed, separate toilet and a walk in shower with rainhead.

Finishes of the suite include imported stone tiling to the bathroom, timber wall pannelling to the living room, wall to wall carpets throughout and electric blinds to the bedroom and bathroom but not the living area. Furniture is contemporary including a lounge, dining table and chairs and a desk.

Fully air conditioned the suite maintains a comfortable temperature even when confronted with the mercury hitting 35 degrees outside and extensive windows. However, at times the air conditioning was slightly noisy in the bedroom albeit it did not adversely affect us.

Sound proofing and black out of bedrooms was second to none ensuring a good night sleep.

The hotel also offers guests 24/7 use of a fully equipped gymnasium but does not have a swimming pool or spa which may be a detractor for some especially in the hot summer months.

With midnight fast approaching and with a bottle of champagne at the ready we settled down to enjoy the uninterrupted view of the fireworks without the inconvenience of crowds or the mayhem.

After a refreshing nights sleep and making the most of the later check out of 1pm we took the opportunity to enjoy further the views of Melbourne while dressed in the complimentary bathrobes which are not designed for people of ample proportions. Also a word to the wise, the windows of the Hilton do not have privacy in mind so make sure you keep your robe closed or passing pedestrians on South Wharf may end up seeing more than they expected.

Check out was as simple as handing back the room keys and before we knew it we were on our way.

What the Hilton South Wharf lacks in the grandeur and presence it certainly makes up in the views and overall size of accommodation. 

For further information: Hilton Hotel website