Quest NewQuay, Docklands Hotel in Melbourne

SD › Melbourne › Best Hotels › Quest NewQuay Review
Updated: January 5, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Caravel Lane in NewQuay, a block south of The District shopping center.
• Hotel website: questapartments.com.au
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)3 9070 8000
• Check prices for Quest NewQuay

Review of Quest NewQuay, Docklands Hotel in Melbourne.

Quest NewQuay is a new riverside hotel featuring modern and elegant studios and apartments with kitchens and balconies, located close to an excellent shopping center.

Quest NewQuay – Quiet, modern apartments in an affluent city-edge suburb facing a marina.

Opened as recently as early 2019 and the largest within the Australia-wide Quest chain, this hotel is already winning plaudits for its service, value, and amenities. In the flourishing new area of NewQuay at Docklands, the location is superb: a few stops by free tram from downtown; virtually facing the marina; a minute’s walk from a marvelous shopping center with a games arcade, ice rink, and cinema; and surrounded by bayside bistros. All accommodations (some with two or three bedrooms) feature kitchens and laundry facilities, separate living/dining rooms, and balconies offering views of the attractive harbor or amazing Melbourne Star observation wheel.

See Also

Quest NewQuay – The Location

    (Not to be confused with the nearby Quest Docklands hotel – 1 km.)

  • Area: In a rejuvenated suburb facing Victoria Harbour and its marina. Quiet, modern, and affluent area of apartments and bistros. About 3 km from the city center (including by tram).
  • Address: 26 Caravel Lane in NewQuay. Part of an area known as Docklands which is just past the western edge of the city center.
  • Nearest Transport: Bus – Waterfront City/Footscray Rd (400m), Tram – NewQuay (100m), Metro – North Melbourne, Flagstaff, & Southern Cross Station (1.5 km).
  • How to Get There: Taxis to/from the airport (21 km) cost around A$60. Just as fast – and one-third the price – is the SkyBus Southbank Docklands Express (every 30-60 minutes, daily 6 am to 7 pm). It drops off and picks up passengers outside The District Docklands shopping center (300m). Otherwise, Starbus shuttles (5 am-10 pm daily) travel directly between the airport and hotel (about A$30).
  • Handy to: Football Stadium.

Quest NewQuay – The Basics

  • Guests: Mostly business people during the week and those attending events and football games (weekends from March to September) at the nearby stadium.
  • Pets: Could be accepted depending on the type of animal. Contact management when booking.
  • Views: All types of accommodations feature balconies. Some face the marina but are partially obstructed by other high-rises, while others overlook a shopping area and the Melbourne Star observation wheel.
  • Kitchen: The studios have kitchenettes; apartments have large, fully-equipped kitchens.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected (or provided) at this sort of inner-city apartment hotel.
  • Extras: Free shuttle bus services each morning and afternoon to the inner-city area.
  • Parking: Secure parking on-site for a minimal cost. Limited spaces, so arrange when booking.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +61 (0)3 9070 8000
  • Email: questnewquay@questapartments.com.au
  • Website: questapartments.com.au

Quest NewQuay – Amenities

  • Pool & Spa: Not really expected (or provided) at this sort of inner-city business-oriented hotel.
  • Fitness Center: Undersized and may disappoint serious gym-goers. Open 24/7.
  • Other Facilities: ‘Pantry shopping’ service (i.e. the staff does the grocery shopping). Business center/lounge. Laundry. Valet dry-cleaning. Barbeque/entertainment area.

Quest NewQuay – Food and Drink

  • Restaurants & Bars: Nothing on-site, probably because all accommodations have kitchen facilities and there are so many eateries in the immediate area anyway.
  • Breakfast: Not offered. There is no café on-site and all accommodations feature kitchen facilities. A packaged continental breakfast is available for an extra charge.
  • Room Service: Not offered because there is no café on-site and all accommodations feature kitchen facilities. Several local restaurants will deliver – ask at reception. Rooms are cleaned daily, except Sundays and public holidays.

Quest NewQuay – Rooms

  • Room Types: Studios • Studio Executive Apartments • One Bedroom Apartments • One Bedroom Executive Apartments • Two Bedroom Apartments • Two Bedroom Executive Apartments • Three Bedroom Apartments • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: Permitted on the room balconies only.
  • Best Room: The Executive Apartments are large and some feature 2 bedrooms. Those on an upper floor offer superior views, including of the marina.
  • For Families: Each apartment has a laundry, full-sized kitchen, and separate living/dining room. Some have 2 or 3 bedrooms. Each apartment also has a king-sized bed which can split into 2 singles, adding even more flexibility, and a sofa that converts to a small bed.

Quest NewQuay – Local Transport

  • Walking & Cycling: The streets and paths, especially around the marina, are flat and ideal for walking and cycling.
  • Public Transport: The hotel is the second-last stop on tram services #70 and #86 that head into the city center and beyond. Trams leave every few minutes and are free to and within the city center.
  • Taxis & Ride-shares: Arrange a taxi at reception or find one along the streets. Uber and Ola operate all over Melbourne.

Quest NewQuay – What’s Nearby?

The hotel has a ‘charge back’ system with several local restaurants, whereby guests can add the cost of food and drinks to the hotel bill. Several places nearby also deliver for little or no extra charge.

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

  • Aree Thai Café and Restaurant – Virtually opposite the hotel entrance. Simple, great-value, and authentic. Try the seafood. (50m).
  • Cargo – Unusual cube-shaped building near the harbor. Casual and chic, for Australian cuisine and superb views. (150m).
  • Berth – Another swish bistro with a focus on seafood. Next to Cargo and popular for cocktails, views, and contemporary cuisine. (150m).

Nearby Shops

  • The District Docklands – Bright, spacious, and arguably the most appealing shopping center in Melbourne. Over 70 places to eat and shop, as well as cinemas, a games arcade, art gallery, mini-golf, and ice rink. Up the main street. (600m).

Nearby Attractions

  • Melbourne Star – Some rooms at the Quest overlook the Melbourne Star observation wheel, the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. (500m).
  • Marvel Stadium – Dominating the Docklands area, this 50,000-seat stadium is used for weekend games of Australian Rules Football (March to September) and occasional concerts. (Note: The stadium changes names according to sponsorship.) (750m).
  • Port Phillip – Several ferries travel daily (80 minutes one-way) across Port Phillip Bay from a terminal opposite the football stadium. Ferries stop at Portarlington, a historical seaside village.

Quest NewQuay – The Hotel

The hotel is located in Docklands.

The Quest NewQuay hotel is in Docklands, an affluent area facing a harbor on the western edge of the city center.

The hotel is very new.

This modern collection of apartments was opened in early 2019.

All accommodations have balconies.

The overall design is contemporary and all types of accommodations feature balconies.

The gym is very small.

The fitness center is small and may disappoint.

The rooftop has a free barbecue area for guests.

A surprising attraction is the rooftop entertainment area with a barbecue that guests can use for free.

Accommodations are chic.

All studios and apartments feature a likably chic décor.

Larger apartments have separate living rooms and kitchens.

The larger apartments are spacious and have separate living/dining/kitchen areas.

Apartments are very spacious.

Apartments provide plenty of space, so they’re ideal for families.

Apartments come with fully-equipped kitchens.

Each apartment features a sizable and fully-equipped kitchen.

All accommodations have balconies.

Every studio and apartment has a balcony, some quite substantial.

Some accommodations have partial harbor views.

Some categories of accommodations face the harbor, but views are partially obstructed.

The neighborhood is upmarket residential.

The Quest is along a pleasantly quiet part of Docklands which is crowded with upmarket apartments.

A harbor-front promenade is in front of the hotel.

Just steps from the hotel entrance, a promenade stretches alongside the harbor.

The location of the hotel is very attractive.

A definite attraction of staying at the Quest is the setting alongside the Victoria Harbour marina.

The marina is very interesting.

The marina features some quirky statues.

There are several boats in the marina.

The hotel faces the marina which is chock-full of boats, yet it’s less than 3 km from the city center.

Bicycles are popular in the area.

With quiet and flat streets and paths in the area, bicycles are an ideal way to get around.

Aree Thai is a great cafe opposite the hotel.

Opposite the hotel entrance, the Aree Thai Café offers simple but tasty food.

Cargo offers great food and views.

Along the marina near the hotel, Cargo restaurant offers splendid views.

Berth is a sophisticated restaurant neaby.

Next to the Cargo restaurant is Berth, one of many sophisticated places to eat and drink along the marina near the hotel.

District Docklands is an excellent shopping center nearby.

Just up the main street from the hotel is the excellent The District Docklands shopping center.

The mall has a ice rink, cinema complex, and games arcade.

As well as over 70 shops and cafés, The District Docklands shopping center has an ice rink, cinema complex, and games arcade.

Marvel Stadium is popular on weekends.

Dominating the Docklands area is the 50,000-seat Marvel Stadium, primarily used for weekend games of Australian Rules Football.

Trams in the city center are free.

The hotel is along a tram line that provides frequent, free services into the city center.

The riverside is very beautiful.

Only a few stops by free tram from the hotel is the riverside area alongside the city center.

Some rooms overlook the Melbourne Star observation wheel.

Some rooms overlook the amazing Melbourne Star observation wheel.

The express SkyBus is the best way to and from the airport.

Conveniently, the SkyBus Express directly links the airport to a stop just a few minutes from the hotel. Check rates and availability: Quest NewQuay

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