Don’t Rough It For The Rugby, These Luxe City Hotels Are Perfect For A Sporting Good Time

IHG is the official hotel partner of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour and as such, you can expect a few tasty little extras if you book a stay: think fan activations inside certain hotels (including the luxe InterContinental Melbourne). At the time of writing, this swish stay had limited availability for the July test match weekend, but if you can nab a spot it’s well worth it.

Expect generous room sizes and timeless decor, and that’s all before you’ve even checked out the rooftop, with its heated pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Need to get rid of some of that nervous pre-match excitement? Bung on your sneakers and skip over to the 24-hour gym for a cardio sesh. There’s always the Botanica Wellness Spa and Clinic for a massage later in the day.

Melbourne’s only absolute riverfront hotel, the Crowne Plaza is a top spot for work and play. It’s designed with “9-to-5 work to 5-to-9 life in mind” which sounds a pretty good deal to us, particularly if you need to check those emails before heading to the Lions game. Expect some useful perks, like contactless arrivals and a fitness centre with state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment, plus a tempting rooftop swimming pool for that post work dip.

It’s worth knowing that if you’re a Platinum ticket holder and heading to the Melbourne test match, you can expect to see pop-up experiences inside the Lions Den and Wallabies Paddocks at the stadium, including free branded merch, buggy transfers to the stadium and you can order drinks at the IHG Bar.

Love your hotels with a big dollop of personality? Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders is positively oozing with it, and with availability for July test match weekend at the time of writing it’s a total winner in our book. The rooms here are gorg: think statement wallpaper and spa-inspired bathrooms, and if you’re travelling with a plus one who isn’t going to the match you can rest assured they’ll be just fine.

We recommend grabbing a spot at the bar at the delightfully bright Bistrot Bisou, a spot designed by chef Luke Mangan which offers casual French cuisine. There’s a fitness centre on site if you need to remind your body it’s your temple. Oh, and at this hotel there’s pet-friendly rooms too.

Fancy supplementing your weekend of rugby-watching with a spot of retail therapy? If so, Voco Melbourne Central is the place to do it. This pad is right in the heart of the city, mere moments from Bourke Street Mall, the Emporium and all the fun stuff.

The rooms here have views that are pretty spesh, and if you head up to the plunge pool (always heated to a perfect 28 degrees no matter the season) on the rooftop you’ll be positively surrounded by skyscrapers. Take a load off and park yourself in Blacksmith Bar & Grill for an hour or so, and you can linger over those views some more, with a side of fire-cooked, locally-sourced food. Yum!

Go all in and live the five-star life you deserve with a stay at the InterContinental Sydney. Your home for the weekend is in the restored Treasury Building of 1851 right in the middle of Circular Quay—and at the time of writing there was availability for the August test match weekend.

Inside, expect rooms with some serious views (yes you can look out over Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge) and some eye-catching dining options. Take the lift to level 32 and you’ll find Aster, a lush bar with an outdoor terrace where you can sip on a vino while getting your eyes used to that Sydney skyline. A must-visit is the lobby bar The Treasury, with its monochrome floor and historic surroundings.

Prefer a stay where the beach is not too far away? The InterContinental Double Bay has the salty stuff within strolling distance. Tucked away in the leafy Eastern Suburbs, this spot has 140 rooms, each with a private balcony overlooking the courtyard, bay or village.

A sunset drink at the Upper Bar by the rooftop order is definitely in order, as is an afternoon tea at The Bar. Here, you’ve got high-end fashion boutiques within tottering distance, and Bondi beach is just a short drive away.

“If it fits in the lift, it can stay!” It’s a slogan that sums up the playfulness and generous service you’ll experience at Kimpton Margot Sydney, and we should clarify that they’re talking about doggos here! Yep, this beaut of a Sydney hotel is pet-friendly, so if you’re bringing your other half and the fluffy one to Sydney for the British & Irish Lions Tour, you can trot off knowing that they are living their best lives without you.

This boutique hotel has a grand yet inviting central lobby surrounded by drinking and dining options including Luke’s Kitchen, The Wilmot Bar, and The Pantry at Margot's. And, for a touch of contemporary beach chic, you and your dog can head to the Harper Rooftop Bar where there’s cocktails waiting, and a rather gorg pool.