Stays in Glenmore Park

Quiet base near Jellybean Pool and Glenbrook Park

Why guests love it

Euroka Hideaway is a quiet bushland stay near Jellybean Pool and Glenbrook Park, aimed at families who would rather be close to a natural swimming spot than to a hotel's facilities. It has a rating of 10, though from only two reviews, so treat that score with caution. There are no restaurants or bars on site, so plan meals elsewhere. Our editorial advice: choose it for a low-key stay, and look to central Penrith for nightlife.

Polished five-star comfort minutes from Penrith's biggest attractions

Why guests love it

Pullman Sydney Penrith is a five-star hotel a minute's walk from iFLY Downunder and two minutes from Penrith Panthers Leagues Club, so families can plan an indoor skydive and an evening meal on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned, and the hotel adds a fitness center, bar, restaurant, room service and an airport shuttle. A 9.4 score from 667 reviews is outstanding, and I would choose it for a polished stay in Penrith.

Indoor pool and spa near Governor Phillip Park

Why guests love it

Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley by IHG is an upmarket four-star stop with an indoor pool, hot tub and spa, two restaurants and a fitness centre, set near Governor Phillip Park. The indoor pool means swimming works in any weather, which matters with children. It sits well for a pause between Sydney and the Blue Mountains rather than a central city stay. A 9.2 score from 1,680 reviews is hard to ignore.

Apartment-style comfort two minutes from Penrith station

Why guests love it

Quest Penrith is a straightforward apartment hotel that suits families who want a kitchen and an easy rail connection. Units are relaxed and include a kitchen as standard, there is a fitness centre and free Wi-Fi, and pets are welcome. Penrith station is a two-minute walk, and the Museum of Fire is a six-minute walk for a family outing. I would pick it for convenience and self-catering rather than extras.

Chic apartment suites with a rooftop pool and spa

Why guests love it

Astina Suites is a high-end apartment hotel with chic units and full kitchens, which suits couples and families who want some polish. The rooftop pool and bar, along with a spa and hot tub, are the main draw, and room service is available. Griddle Restaurant Penrith is a minute's walk away, and Penrith Regional Gallery is a nine-minute taxi ride. I would choose it for the rooftop pool and the kitchens.

Four restaurants and five bars under one St Marys roof

Why guests love it

I recommend Holiday Inn Sydney St Marys by IHG to families who want plenty of choice at mealtimes in western Sydney. The hotel lists four restaurants and five bars, plus a gym, and some rooms and suites have a kitchen for simple meals with children. Parking and WiFi are free, a full-service laundry helps on longer trips, and Waterstone Grill is a minute's walk away. Guests rate it 9.0 from more than 400 reviews.

A quiet riverside park footsteps from Tench Reserve

Why guests love it

Nepean by Gateway Lifestyle Holiday Parks is a three-star holiday park for travellers who would rather have a pool and nature nearby than a city hotel. Tench Reserve is a four-minute walk, and The Orchard is a seven-minute walk for a meal. Air conditioning, Wi-Fi and free parking are included. It has only a handful of guest reviews, so I would treat it as a quiet, well-rated but lightly tested option.

Bright budget rooms with a pool and BBQ area

Why guests love it

St Marys Park View Motel is a modest motel with bright rooms that works for families on a budget. There is an outdoor pool and a BBQ area, and both breakfast and parking are free. Calli's Grill is a two-minute walk away, and the motel sits close to Charles Hackett Drive in St Marys. I would choose it for the free breakfast, the pool and the simple, no-frills setting.

An easygoing family base with a playground on site

Why guests love it

Quality Inn Penrith is an unfussy three-star base for families watching their budget. There is a playground on site, an informal restaurant and a bar, and some rooms come with a kitchen, with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and free parking. About 230 guests rate it 8.4. Our editorial advice: pick a kitchen room for longer stays, let the children use the playground before dinner and treat it as a base for Penrith itself.

Modern hotel with a pool near Sydney Zoo

Why guests love it

Atura Blacktown is a modern stay in Prospect, a short drive from Raging Waters Sydney and Featherdale Wildlife Park, which is what many families come for. Every room has a kitchenette and looks over the garden or the pool, and there is a swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant. Rated 8.3 by almost 1,500 guests. Our editorial advice: plan the theme park or wildlife day by car and return for a pool swim.

Casual pub with a multi-cuisine family bistro

Why guests love it

Crossroads Hotel is a casual pub stay where the whole family can eat well without moving the car. The bistro covers seafood, Italian and pan-Asian dishes, there is a separate sports bar, and rooms are air-conditioned with free parking. More than 3,400 guests rate it 8.4. Our editorial advice for families: eat early in the bistro to dodge the evening crowd, and use the stop as a base for day trips to the Blue Mountains to the west.

Pub stay by Springwood Station with a wine bar

Why guests love it

Royal Hotel is a three-star pub stay near Macquarie Road and Springwood Station, with a restaurant, a cafe and a wine and whisky bar. Free parking and Wi-Fi are included, and the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum is a short drive for a cultural stop. It is a pub, so expect a social setting. An 8.2 score from 545 reviews is good, and I would choose it for couples who like a bar downstairs.

Modern rooms and a big sports bar in one stop

Why guests love it

I recommend Blue Cattle Dog Hotel to families who want a simple, practical base in western Sydney. Continental breakfast is included, parking is free, and some rooms have a kitchen, which helps with younger children. The large restaurant and sports bar on site means dinner is sorted without driving, and the rooms have air conditioning and free WiFi. Guests rate it 8.2 from more than 1,200 reviews, and Mamre Road is a four-minute walk away.

Casual pub stay with an indoor playground for kids

Why guests love it

Jamison Hotel is a casual pub stay that works for families who want things simple. The indoor playground is the main draw for children, while adults get a sports bar and a casual restaurant on site. Some rooms have a kitchen, and parking and Wi-Fi are free. It is close to Smith St, the Museum of Fire and Naked Flame Pizzeria. I would book it as a practical, no-frills family stop.

Simple budget rooms steps from the Great River Walk

Why guests love it

The Select Inn Penrith is a budget hotel with basic rooms and suites, good for travellers who want a simple base without extras they will not use. There is an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a fitness centre, plus free Wi-Fi and free parking. The Great River Walk is a nine-minute walk, and Sinclair's is a three-minute walk for a meal. I would choose it for the price level, the pool and the free parking.

Straightforward pub stay on the Great Western Hwy

Why guests love it

Colyton Hotel is a straightforward pub stay near Hewitt St and the Great Western Hwy, with an informal restaurant, a lively sports bar, and free breakfast and parking. It is a functional overnight rather than a destination, and the sports bar means evenings can be noisy. More than 1,300 guests rate it 8.0. My advice: ask for a quiet room away from the bar, or choose a motel set back from the highway if you want calm.

Simple motel stay close to iFLY Downunder

Why guests love it

Penrith Hotel Motel is a simple, unpretentious overnight for families passing through western Sydney. Rooms are no-frills, but parking and Wi-Fi are free, and the bistro downstairs means dinner is sorted without another drive. Children will mostly remember the short trip to iFLY Downunder for indoor skydiving. About 230 guests rate it 8.0. Our editorial advice for families: treat it as a one or two-night stop, book iFLY in advance, and expect some noise from the sports bar on busy nights.

Heated indoor pool near Featherdale Wildlife Park

Why guests love it

I recommend Alpha Hotel Eastern Creek to families who want a pool they can use whatever the weather in western Sydney. The heated indoor pool sits alongside a fitness centre and a spa and wellness area, and some rooms have a kitchenette. The hotel stands on 2.7 acres next to Sydney Motorsport Park, so it also suits race weekends, and Featherdale Wildlife Park is in the same part of Sydney. Parking and WiFi are free, and there is a grill restaurant and a wine bar.

Pub comfort with a hot tub near Mamre Rd

Why guests love it

I would pick Nightcap at Blue Cattle Dog Hotel for families on a road trip through western Sydney who want an easy overnight. Breakfast is included, parking and WiFi are free, and the rooms are air-conditioned. The hot tub is a welcome extra after a long drive, and the restaurant and bar on site mean dinner is close at hand, though they draw a lively local crowd. Mamre Road is a few minutes away, and guests rate it 8.0.

Riverside family holiday living with a pool and kitchen

Why guests love it

Ingenia Holidays Nepean River is a holiday park by the Nepean River, a good fit for families who would rather have a kitchen and an outdoor pool than a standard hotel room. WiFi and parking are free, which keeps a road trip simple, and the Museum of Fire is about a seven-minute taxi ride away for a day out. More than 460 guests rate it 7.8. My advice: cook breakfast in, swim in the afternoon and save the museum for a cooler day.

Kitchenette motel on the Great Western Hwy

Why guests love it

Pioneer Way Motel is an unassuming three-star motel on the Great Western Highway for families who need a simple base. It has rooms and kitchenette suites, free parking and free Wi-Fi, and the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum is a short drive away for a low-key cultural stop. About 115 guests rate it 7.8. Our editorial advice: choose a kitchenette suite for longer stays, bring the car and expect highway-side noise.

A 1930s mock-Tudor pub by the Nepean River, closest pub to the new Western Sydney airport

Why guests love it

This is a pub with rooms, not a resort, and families should read it that way. The two-bedroom suites solve the space problem, the bistro serves lunch and dinner every day, and the beer garden is where children can move around while parents eat. The draw for children is Zambi Wildlife Retreat, a sanctuary for big cats and other rescued animals just up the road, but only by booked visit. The drawbacks are real: late trading hours on the floor below, no pool, and nothing within walking distance apart from the river. Rated 7.8 out of 10 by more than 820 guests, it suits a one or two-night stop rather than a week.

Pet-friendly family living beside a Sydney vineyard

Why guests love it

Ingenia Holidays Avina is a four-star holiday park that welcomes both pets and families. Each unit comes with a kitchen as standard, and there is an outdoor pool for warm days. The Vineyard is a three-minute taxi ride away for an evening out, and Rouse Hill Estate is about ten minutes by taxi for a change of scene. I would choose it for a pet-friendly family stay with a kitchen and a pool.

Laid-back pub stay with airport shuttle access

Why guests love it

Nightcap at Jamison Hotel is a simple pub stay rather than a family resort, and that is how I would treat it: a practical overnight on a road trip. Free parking, free Wi-Fi and a kitchen in some rooms keep things easy, and the restaurant serves meals on site. The Museum of Fire is close by for a short outing with children. Guests rate it 7.4. Our editorial advice: ask for a room away from the sports bar if young kids go to sleep early.