Why one night away is all you need for a holiday
Global uncertainty, rising fuel prices, and an ongoing cost-of-living struggle likely have many wondering whether they'll be able to get away at all in 2026.
Indeed, we're fresh off a long weekend that saw plenty of Aussies cancel any travel plans they might have had.
My own Easter weekend also looked very different this year. And yet, just one night away was all it took to feel like we'd had a bit of a holiday.
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A night in the city was all it took to feel like we'd had a holiday. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
New research from Pureprofile found that 63 per cent of Aussies were going to stay home this Easter, with one in two saying the cost of fuel has affected their plans.
But you don't need to go all out to make some memories and get out of your usual routine.
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According to recent Airbnb data, three in five Aussies say they find "holiday mode" within just three hours of domestic travel.
We aimed for even less than that, driving just under an hour from our home to spend a night in the Sydney CBD.
It's not like we hadn't done this before but there is always something new to try to make it feel that little bit special.
The Little Explorers Package at Parkroyal Darling Harbour was a fun twist to a usual hotel stay. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
The Little Explorers Package at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour was a fun twist to a usual hotel stay.
The package, which is available for Pan Pacific Discovery members, includes overnight accommodation, daily breakfast at BARKERS restaurant, a cosy tepee, explorer kit and extra in-room amenities for kids.
No surprise that the tepee was a big hit for our two-year-old who took a lot of convincing to go to sleep in her actual bed instead of in the tent.
The extra in-room amenities were also a great way to make something as simple as a hotel stay just that little bit more exciting.
The doughnut decorating was a big success. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
Doughnut decorating was on the cards thanks to some icing and sprinkles provided. Apologies to housekeeping for the mess afterwards but it was a clear indication that much fun was had.
Our little one also loved the disposable camera and binoculars on offer, spending a fair but of time seeing what she could spot from the suite windows.
We'll see how many photos of the tepee made it onto the camera roll when we eventually print out the images she took.
Car spotting from our room windows. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
With prices for the package starting from $325 for a night, you do get a lot for a little and if that's as far as the budget stretches then to be honest we could have packed up and simply headed back home the next morning.
If you do want to get in a little more exploring though, the hotel is perfectly located to spend the day hitting up some of Darling Harbour's top attractions.
You're an easy walk from Wildlife Sydney Zoo, SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
We visited the aquarium early (about 9:30am) and because our toddler was not tall enough for the penguin expedition boat ride we moved past that lengthy queue (a 30-plus minute wait and only opens at 10:30am) and were able to enjoy the exhibits beyond that with next to no people.
Still had a great view of the penguins. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
Wildlife Sydney Zoo also wasn't too busy early in the day. Supplied/Kristine Tarbert
If you are planning on doing any of the attractions my advice would be to try and get a bundled pass, or search booking sites for a deal.
These days entry to the aquarium alone, for example, sadly doesn't come cheap at over $50 for an adult and $42 for ages 2-15. But you'll save when you buy online, plus get 50 per cent off kids tickets when visiting two or more attractions.
Free things to do in Darling Harbour
However, if saving money is the name of the game there are so many free things you can do around Darling Harbour to spend the day.
Darling Harbour's Children's Playground has swings, slides and a host of different play areas for all ages. On a hot day the water splash zone and fountains are also a lot of fun.
The Darling Harbour playground is massive. Supplied
If you've got a mini yogi, Kids Yoga at Darling Quarter offers free 30-minute sessions with a skilled instructor for children aged 2 to 5 (and primary-aged kids during school holidays).
And if you're there on the first Saturday of the month you can also enjoy the free fireworks display that usually takes place about 8:30pm.
Keep an eye out on their Facebook and Instagram stories for any updates on the schedule.
The writer and her family were guests of PARKROYAL Darling Harbour.
