Best City Stays in Bunbury, Western Australia
A city stay in Bunbury keeps you near the main street, the beach and the cafes, with the south-west region a short drive away. Three properties suit that: The Lord Forrest Hotel, The Clifton Motel and The Rose Hotel & Motel. The Lord Forrest has a heated indoor pool and private balconies, The Clifton is metres from the beach and offers rooms in the historic Grittleton Lodge, and The Rose is a heritage-listed building from 1865 renovated in 2016. All three are in the CBD, and I would choose by whether you want a modern hotel, a beach position or historic character.
Bunbury is a coastal city on Western Australia's south-west coast, with a working harbour, beaches close to the centre and vineyards and nature within a short drive. A city stay here means being near the main street, the beach and the cafes, with the wider region easy to explore by car. The pace is relaxed, and visitors are mostly families, couples and people touring the south-west.
Where to stay
Three Characterful Bunbury City Bases
Bunbury's centre is compact, so a city stay is mostly about the character of the building and how close you are to the beach and the main street. The three properties below are all in the CBD, and each offers something different: a heated pool and balconies, a beachside position with a pool and spa facilities, or a heritage building with a bar and restaurant. I would choose by the atmosphere you want to come back to.
The Lord Forrest Hotel is the most reviewed of the three, with more than 2,100 reviews and a rating of 7.1. It is a four-star hotel in the centre of Bunbury's CBD, with a heated indoor pool, a fitness centre and an on-site restaurant and bar. All rooms and suites have free WiFi and a private balcony, and some have a spa bath or ocean views. It is described as family-friendly and close to nature attractions and entertainment. I would choose it for a conventional hotel with a heated pool and a balcony, accepting the lowest guest score of the three.
The Clifton Motel is a three-star property in the CBD, just metres from the beach and the main street. Guests can choose between comfortable motel rooms or character rooms in the historic Grittleton Lodge, and the property has a pool and spa and wellness facilities. It rates 8.0 from more than 2,000 reviews and is described as an ideal base for exploring the city and nearby vineyards. I would choose it for the beach position and the choice of a character room, and for travellers who plan to visit vineyards by car.
The Rose Hotel & Motel is a three-star, heritage-listed building from 1865, renovated in 2016. It offers family-friendly accommodation in the CBD, with an onsite bar and restaurant, free WiFi and air-conditioned rooms with en suite bathrooms. Guests can easily walk to local cafes, shops and attractions. It rates 8.1 from 940 reviews, the highest of the three, from the smallest sample. I would pick it for historic character and an easy walk to the centre, and I would not expect a pool, since its description does not mention one.
The three offer clearly different stays. The Lord Forrest Hotel is the modern hotel with a heated indoor pool and balconies, The Clifton Motel is the beachside option with historic Grittleton Lodge rooms, and The Rose Hotel & Motel is the heritage building with a bar and restaurant. All three sit in the CBD, so the decision is about atmosphere. I would choose The Clifton for a mix of beach and character, The Lord Forrest for a pool, and The Rose for a historic stay. None of the three descriptions lists a kitchen, so I would plan meals in the CBD, where each property is a short walk from cafes and the main street.
A traveler's takeI would choose The Clifton Motel for a city stay in Bunbury, because it is just metres from the beach and the main street, rates 8.0 and offers a pool and character rooms in the historic Grittleton Lodge. For a heated indoor pool and a private balcony, I would pick The Lord Forrest Hotel. For a heritage building from 1865 with a bar and restaurant, I would book The Rose Hotel & Motel.
City StayThe Rose Hotel & Motel
★4.1Historic charm in Bunbury's heart with modern comforts and dining
Why guests love itThe Rose Hotel and Motel is a 3-star stay in a heritage-listed building from 1865 in Bunbury's CBD, renovated in 2016 and rated 8.1 by guests. I would recommend it to families who like to explore on foot, since cafes, shops and local sights are a walk away. Rooms are air-conditioned with en suite bathrooms and free WiFi, and the hotel's own bar and restaurant mean dinner is downstairs on nights when nobody wants to go far.
City StayThe Clifton Motel
★4.0City stay with a pool, spa, and historic charm near Bunbury's beach
Why guests love itThe Clifton Motel puts families in Bunbury's CBD, a few metres from the beach and the main street, so most outings start on foot. You can choose a standard motel room or a character room in the historic Grittleton Lodge, and the pool and spa help children wind down. More than 2,000 guests rate it 8.0. Our editorial advice: pick a motel room for practicality with kids, save the lodge for a couple's night, and keep a morning for the vineyards nearby.
City StayThe Lord Forrest Hotel
★3.6City hotel with an indoor pool, close to dolphins and wildlife
Why guests love itI recommend The Lord Forrest Hotel to families who want a city-centre base in Bunbury with a heated indoor pool. Every room and suite has free WiFi and a private balcony, and some add a spa bath or ocean views. A fitness centre, a restaurant and a bar are on site, and nature attractions are close. Guests rate it 7.1 from more than 2,100 reviews, so expect a simple stay.
Local tips
- 1Ask for a character room in the historic Grittleton Lodge at The Clifton Motel if you want something different from a motel room.
- 2Use the heated indoor pool at The Lord Forrest Hotel on cooler days, as it is available whatever the weather.
- 3Ask The Lord Forrest Hotel for a room with a spa bath or ocean view, as only some rooms have them.
- 4Walk from The Rose Hotel & Motel to local cafes, shops and attractions, as the CBD is compact.
- 5Take the car for a vineyard visit from The Clifton Motel, which describes itself as a base for the nearby vineyards.
- 6Compare the three on character and extras rather than score alone, as their ratings sit between 7.1 and 8.1.