Fit for a Duchess? I followed in Meghan's footsteps for a royal-approved Coogee staycation

CA few weeks ago, Prince Harry and Meghan touched down in Australia for a whirlwind four-day tour – but it was a quick stop in Sydney's east that set tongues wagging.

The Duchess was front and centre at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney's Coogee to speak at a women's retreat, with the iconic beach sparkling in the background.

I was bamboozled. Meghan, in the heart of Coogee? Just down the road from the place I grab a coffee and nip to the pub (the Pav, of course) for a bev? Outrageous!

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I never thought I'd be following in Meghan's footsteps.

But a week later, I was checking into that very same hotel to test if the reality lived up to the royal hype.

This is what happened when my partner and I tried out the five-star hotel that, for a few hours, was the place to be to see Meghan and Harry in the flesh.

First impressions

Full transparency – we aren't exactly dripping with first-class energy. We love a good campsite and a fire, so the idea of a night in luxury was very new to us.

But for a special occasion, this seemed right up our street.

The hotel itself is a hidden gem tucked away from the main street of Coogee.

It's 25 minutes from Sydney's CBD and 20 minutes from the airport, and just a quick dash to the beachfront – making it ideal for those wanting a romantic ocean escape.

As we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly Irish lady at the counter who immediately told us where to park, eat, and the best time to see sunset and sunrise. We were staying for one night only, so wanted to make the most of every minute.

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There are 198 rooms and suites on-site, many featuring sweeping ocean views; we were lucky enough to nab one of those. I've got a feeling Meghan and Harry would be in a suite if they stayed, but for me, this was a bloody dream.

Downstairs, there was a wealth of restaurants, including Rick Stein's new place and the on-site Shutters restaurant for a bevy of meals and a breakfast buffet.

Good lord, was I thrilled.

The room

My favourite thing about staying in a hotel is the three seconds you get after the keycard unlocks the door. You storm in, luggage dragging behind you.

You either nod and say, "That's nice," or you beam and go, "Wow, this is INSANE!"

This was the latter. I gasped at the ridiculous ocean view outside, made only more thrilling by the fact that the curtains opened with the click of a button on the wall.

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We were in a Premium Ocean View room, with the bed perfectly positioned to watch the sun rise over the Pacific without even lifting my head from the pillow.

It was cosy, but well-equipped. The mini-bar had everything you'd want – and despite it being a luxury hotel, it wasn't half as expensive as I'd have expected.

The view was honestly the standout feature. For a while, we just sat and stared at the ocean, taking a seat on the balcony and lapping up the same view we'd enjoyed for years. But from this angle, it felt completely new.

The room overlooked the infinity pool outside, which was again quaint but would be exactly what you need in the middle of summer – and cocktails a few feet away. Bonus.

We of course took a dip in the pool – which, albeit was freezing cold at this time of year – and shared some laughs under the moonlight. We'd been there a couple of hours max, and it already felt like we were millions of miles from home (even if both of us do in fact, live 20 minutes away).

The food

Everyone who's been there knows: Coogee is an absolute delight for a good bit of grub.

But for those wanting the ultimate relaxing weekend, you don't even have to leave the hotel to get a great feed.

We went to the Shutters restaurant for both dinner and breakfast, and both were completely different atmospheres.

For dinner, we enjoyed a three-course meal including king prawns, a steak, pork cutlets and a white chocolate crème brûlée, which was honestly to die for. The friendly wait staff paired it with the most delicious wine, and it was just... ugh. Glorious. Can't breathe because you're full to the brim, kind of glorious.

It's moderately priced but a taste of luxury, and one we'd definitely love to have again.

The next morning, the mood was completely different.

The dark, romantic vibe from the night before had changed into a functional breakfast serving station, with eggs, beans and sausages aplenty. My kind of breakfast indeed.

The experience

We only stayed for one night in The InterContinental, but my GOD would I want to come back for more.

I'm a sucker for a taste of luxury in the best possible locations, so to have this just seconds from the main Coogee strip was something else.

A very elite detail I have to mention? Club InterContinental access. It granted us entry to the private lounge for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres – a welcome little "bonus" that made the whole experience feel truly special.

Was this place fit for a royal? Yes. Was it fit for a couple who just wanted a taste of royalty for the weekend? Absolutely.

This writer stayed as a guest of the InterContinental Hotel Coogee.