Location
Located in the heart of the Macarthur region in the south-west of Sydney, the Campbelltown Catholic Club has everything you could want for an enjoyable family weekend away in one spot. It is very easy to get to, about an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD, and 10 minutes from the train station.
Why we stayed here
The Campbelltown Catholic Club recently marked its 50th birthday with a family-friendly Garden Party, so we thought that we would bring the kids for the whole weekend and join in the celebrations.
Accommodation
Rydges Campbelltown is attached to Campbelltown Catholic Club and has recently been refurbished. There are 154 luxury rooms, including some one-bedroom apartments, which are perfect for small families. I loved the little private balcony, a great place to unwind with a glass of wine once the kids had gone to bed.
Activities
The Campbelltown Catholic Club features the perfect play area for kids under 10, with a Mini Castle for the little ones and a Mega Castle with slides, climbing structures and a ball cannon for the bigger ones. The play area is fully enclosed, with plenty of seating around the outside so you can enjoy a bite to eat while the kids have a play. It certainly kept my two kids busy!
The Cube Convention and Entertainment Centre is the perfect spot to watch a show, including performances for kids like The Wiggles.
Staying in the hotel also gives you access to the Aquafit Fitness Centre. They offer everything from yoga, aqua classes and state-of-the-art equipment, and even have a crèche on site to look after the little people while you workout. The pool is open for kids 15 years and older.
Just across the road from the Club is Koshigaya Park, a popular venue for outdoor activities and named after Campbelltown’s sister city in Japan. Its playground caters for kids of all ages, is protected by ample shade cloths and has been designed with accessibility in mind. It’s very easy to spend an hour or two having a coffee and watching the kids explore everything on offer.
Food & beverage
With so many options in one spot, you’re sure to find anything you want. Well-known chef and the club’s food and beverage director, Peter Sheppard, heads up the kitchen at the club and together with his team, focuses on creating exciting and affordable dining experiences for families to enjoy.
We had dinner at Embers Charcoal Kitchen, where they specialise in smoked and roasted meats and seafood. The food was delicious, although the options were a bit limited for my daughter who has food allergies. The club does have a number of restaurants with different offerings, so there is an option to ‘mix and match’ between them and dine in a common area.
We started the next day with a breakfast buffet at Otis Grill located in the Rydges Hotel, with fresh fruit and pastries, hot brekky options and great coffee. Otis also has a microbrewery, with some tasty house-made beers. The Clubs also offers Samba Café and Kings Food Court, both of which have lots of options for kids and offer a wide range of cuisines. If you are looking for something special, Kyūbi Modern Asian Dining is upstairs, away from the buzz of the main club floor. The Asian-inspired menu is designed to share and offers tasting menus for bigger groups. It’s perfect for a special occasion or a parents’ night out!
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This story first appeared in Family Travel magazine. To subscribe or read back issues of the magazine, click here.