🇦🇺 Canberra, Australia
River Motel
📍 1, Macquoid Street, Canberra
Dein Aufenthalt — River Motel
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Das Eigentum — River Motel
The River Motel is a straightforward, no-nonsense three-star on the Kingsford Smith Drive strip, a 10-minute drive from Civic. Think burnt-orange brick, a small heated pool, and rooms that are clean but dated — you’re paying for location (walking distance to Manuka shops and the lake) and a solid car park, not luxury. It suits self-drive travellers who need a decent base for exploring Parliament House, the galleries, and the War Memorial without the hotel bill.
Chroniken von Canberra
Canberra was deliberately founded in 1913 as a compromise capital between Sydney and Melbourne, after a decade-long squabble. Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin won the international design competition, laying out the city around Lake Burley Griffin with wide boulevards and geometric axes — a bold, planned vision on what was then sheep pasture. Parliament House (opened 1988) sits atop Capital Hill, and the National Triangle holds the High Court, National Library, and the iconic 1960s Lake. Today Canberra is a quiet, well-educated place of national institutions, leafy suburbs, and a growing food scene — more ‘civil service town’ than tourist trap.
Beste Zeit zu besuchen
Vollständiger Canberra-Guide →Die besten Monate
October (spring, wattle in bloom, Floriade finishes) and February to March (late summer, warm days, fewer flies) — good weather for walking around the lake and the galleries without peak crowds.
Peak / Festival Surge
March for the Enlighten Festival (light projections on Parliament House, Night Noodle Markets) and the royal Easter Show in nearby Hall. Hotel prices jump 30–50%, book months ahead. Floriade (September–October) is the other big one.
Budget Schulter Saison
May, August and November are the sweet spots: mild temps in the high teens, unattractive for sun-seekers but perfect for museum-hopping, and motel rates drop 20–30%.
Wetter & Verpackung
Canberra winters are sharp — July averages 1–11°C, often with frost and crisp, clear skies. Pack layers: a thermal base, a decent woollen jumper, and a windproof jacket; bring a wool beanie and gloves for evening walks along the lake.
Live City Briefing veröffentlicht — Canberra
- The tram line (light rail) now runs from Civic to Gungahlin, but the River Motel is south of the lake — you’ll need a car or bus (Action route 2/3 from Manuka to Civic runs every 10 min weekdays).
- The National Gallery’s big summer blockbuster ‘Australian Impressionists’ runs until August 2026 — worth a lunchtime visit.
- Winter school holidays kick off in early July: expect family crowds at Questacon and the War Memorial, and consider booking the motel’s hot breakfast if you want a quick start.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to River Motel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (upstairs) at the rear of the motel, away from Macquoid Street. First-floor rooms get more daylight and slightly better views over neighbouring rooftops, and the rear side avoids traffic noise from Braddon's busy main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Macquoid Street. Street-facing ground floor units get the worst of early morning delivery trucks and pedestrian noise from the Braddon strip, plus you lose privacy with people walking past your window.
Best views
The best view is from first-floor rooms at the back – you'll look out over the low-rise Braddon neighbourhood and maybe spot Telstra Tower in the distance. Forget water views; this is a motel in a city centre, not a resort.
Quietest floors
First floor, rear side. The first floor is quieter than ground because you're above street-level clatter, and the rear orientation cuts road noise significantly.
🔊 Noise notes
Macquoid Street carries steady traffic into the city centre, plus delivery trucks early morning (6-8am). The Braddon area has cafes and bars so expect pedestrian chatter until late evening on weekends. No lift means you'll hear doors slamming on both floors.
Insider tips
1. Arrive before 3pm to snag a parking spot directly outside your room — the lot fills up fast and you don't want to pay $25 overnight at Canberra Centre. 2. Download anything you need to watch before check-in; the 5 Mbps WiFi is fine for emails but YouTube will buffer. 3. Request a ground-floor room near the car park if you have heavy luggage — no lift here.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Einrichtungen — River Motel
Free basic WiFi for all guests (speeds around 5 Mbps). No paid upgrade available. Login with room number and surname.
No lift. Two-storey motel with stairs only. No historic sections.
No complimentary digital or physical newspapers. A few free local tourism brochures in the lobby.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop available at front desk. Late check-out until 12:00 for $30 AUD, subject to availability.
Free storage at reception during operational hours (08:00-22:00). Not available overnight.
No step-free entrance. Two steps up at front door; no ramps. No ground-floor rooms with accessible bathroom. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Free on-site parking directly outside your room (first come, first served). No valet or EV charging. Nearest public car park is Canberra Centre car park (2-min walk) at $5 AUD per hour, $25 AUD overnight.
Gebühren, Steuern & Einlagen
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night's rate charged as deposit on booking. A $100 AUD incidental hold is placed on your card at check-in.
Faith & Diät in der Nähe
- Church: St Gregory's Parish (600 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Michael (808 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Christ Church - Queanbeyan District Anglican Church (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: C3 Church Queanbeyan (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Lokaler Lebensstil & Erholung
Riverside Plaza — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Peace Park — 375 m · ~5 min walk
Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
The Q — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
Blundell park playground — 640 m · ~8 min walk
5 Minuten Radius Essentials
multi — 147 m · ~2 min walk
Chemist Warehouse — 497 m · ~6 min walk
Ampol — 155 m · ~2 min walk
Queanbeyan Interchange — 820 m · ~10 min walk
Geld & Währung
Get a travel card →Australian Dollar, AUD
Use ATMs or currency exchange desks in Civic (city centre) for fair rates; avoid the poor rates at Canberra Airport's bureaux.
Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere; contactless and Apple Pay/Google Pay widely used. Small cash needed at some markets or taxis.
Not customary; rounding up for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Tipping taxi drivers or hotel staff is rare.
Essen, Einkaufen und Reisen auf einem Budget
Cheap car hire →Flat white at bakeries or café strips in Kingston or Civic — roughly $4.50–$5.00.
Pie and a drink at a local bakery or food court — about $12–$15.
A main at a pub or casual Italian place — around $20–$25.
Civic's food-court laneways (e.g. Garema Place) and Kingston's weekend markets offer budget eats like banh mi, bao, and dumplings.
Aldi and Coles are the main budget supermarkets in the area; both on Bunda Street or near the Canberra Centre.
Canberra Centre and nearby malls (e.g. Westfield Belconnen bus-ride away) have Kmart, Target, and Cotton On for affordable basics.
A MyWay day pass (bus) is about $7.60 for adults; from the airport take the R3 bus to Civic ($5.30) or use a rideshare (about $25–$30).
Buy a MyWay card for bus travel (tap on/off). Eat at suburban clubs (e.g. Canberra's workers' clubs) for cheap meals. Visit free national museums and galleries.
Gut zu wissen — Canberra
Type I · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ A$1.44 · AUD
Emergency Contacts
CanberraFor all emergencies in Canberra, dial 000. For non-urgent police assistance, call 131 444. For health advice, contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. For the national Poison Information Centre, call 13 11 26.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Canberra, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at River Motel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · multi — 147 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Chemist Warehouse — 497 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Umher zu kommen
Civic Bus Stop (Alinga Street) → Various Canberra suburbs (e.g., Belconnen, Woden)
💡 Use the Transport Canberra app for real-time arrivals. The Mid City Motor Inn is a 3-min walk to the bus station. For Lake Burley Griffin, take bus 2 or 3.
Alinga Street Station (City) → Gungahlin
💡 The tram doesn't go to the airport yet, but it's great for reaching Gungahlin and EPIC markets. The Mid City Motor Inn is a 2-min walk from the Alinga Street stop.
Canberra Airport → Mid City Motor Inn (Canberra City)
💡 Book via the Canberra Taxi or GoCatch app for fixed fares; avoid surge pricing.
Canberra Airport → Tourist Hotel
💡 Uber is often cheaper than a taxi, but surge pricing peaks around 5–6 PM and 8–9 AM. Compare with Didi for another option. Pickup is just outside baggage claim.
Canberra Airport → City Bus Stop (Alinga Street / Civic)
💡 Buy a MyWay card at the airport newsagent for cheaper single trips; tap on and off. The Mid City Motor Inn is a 5-min walk from the city stop.
Canberra Airport → Tourist Hotel (London Circuit, Civic)
💡 Book through the Canberra Taxi app for a fixed fare of $35 to Civic. Avoid surge pricing late at night.
Canberra Airport → Hotel Queanbeyan
💡 Uber pool often skips cross-border trips, so stick to Uber X. Request pickup from the departures level to avoid airport surcharges.
Canberra Airport bus stop → City Bus Stop (London Circuit, near Tourist Hotel)
💡 Buy a MyWay card at the airport newsagent for easier travel around town. Tap on and off, or pay with your credit card (contactless) for the same fare.
Canberra Airport → Tourist Hotel
💡 Take bus 3 from the Airport to the City Interchange, then walk 5 minutes to London Circuit. The light rail runs from Gungahlin to Civic, but isn't direct from the airport—this combo saves time if you miss the R3.
Canberra Airport → Hotel Queanbeyan
💡 Book via the Canberra Taxi app for quicker pickup. The hotel is in Queanbeyan, NSW, so the interstate trip may incur a surcharge.
Canberra Airport → Queanbeyan Station
💡 Buy a MyWay card at the airport newsagent. Route 834 drops you at Queanbeyan Station, a 10-minute walk uphill to the hotel.
Canberra City (Jolimont Centre) → Queanbeyan Station
💡 You'll need a separate bus from the airport to Jolimont Centre first (Route 3 or 4). The coach runs parallel to the train line but is cheaper and just as fast.
Über Canberra
Wikipedia ↗
Canberra ( KAN-brə; Ngunawal: Kanbarra) is the capital city of Australia and the largest population centre in the Australian Capital Territory. With an estimated population of 484,630 as of 2025, Canberra is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest Australian city by population. The c...
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What are the best rooms at River Motel?
Request a room on the first floor (upstairs) at the rear of the motel, away from Macquoid Street. First-floor rooms get more daylight and slightly better views over neighbouring rooftops, and the rear side avoids traffic noise from Braddon's busy main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at River Motel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Macquoid Street. Street-facing ground floor units get the worst of early morning delivery trucks and pedestrian noise from the Braddon strip, plus you lose privacy with people walking past your window.
Is River Motel noisy?
Macquoid Street carries steady traffic into the city centre, plus delivery trucks early morning (6-8am). The Braddon area has cafes and bars so expect pedestrian chatter until late evening on weekends. No lift means you'll hear doors slamming on both floors.
Which rooms have the best views at River Motel?
The best view is from first-floor rooms at the back – you'll look out over the low-rise Braddon neighbourhood and maybe spot Telstra Tower in the distance. Forget water views; this is a motel in a city centre, not a resort.
What are insider tips for staying at River Motel?
1. Arrive before 3pm to snag a parking spot directly outside your room — the lot fills up fast and you don't want to pay $25 overnight at Canberra Centre. 2. Download anything you need to watch before check-in; the 5 Mbps WiFi is fine for emails but YouTube will buffer. 3. Request a ground-floor room near the car park if you have heavy luggage — no lift here.
What time is check-in at River Motel?
Check-in at River Motel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does River Motel have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi for all guests (speeds around 5 Mbps). No paid upgrade available. Login with room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at River Motel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near River Motel?
Pie and a drink at a local bakery or food court — about $12–$15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from River Motel?
A MyWay day pass (bus) is about $7.60 for adults; from the airport take the R3 bus to Civic ($5.30) or use a rideshare (about $25–$30).
When is the best time to visit Canberra?
October (spring, wattle in bloom, Floriade finishes) and February to March (late summer, warm days, fewer flies) — good weather for walking around the lake and the galleries without peak crowds.
Top-Attraktionen in Canberra
💡 Hire a bike from the dock near the library for about $15 per hour — flatter route than walking and you'll cover more sights.
💡 Check the free short film screenings in the theatre on weekdays; the café has outdoor seating overlooking the lake.
💡 Rent a bike from the docks near the National Library for about $15 per hour. The eastern section has fewer crowds.
💡 The section between Kings Avenue Bridge and the National Library is quietest on weekday mornings—take a thermos and a book.
💡 Rent a bike from the Acton Ferry Terminal for $10/hour — the full loop is 12km with great views of Parliament House.
💡 The Sculpture Garden is free and often quieter than the main building; bring a picnic if the weather is fine.
💡 Rent a bike from the shop near the National Carillon for about $15/hour—the full loop is 25 km but the central section from Commonwealth Bridge to the Jet is an easy 4 km there and back.
💡 Hire a bike from the Canberra Bike Hire kiosk near the Commonwealth Place bridge—$15 for an hour, cheaper than a taxi for the loop. Keep left for the best photo of Parliament House reflected in the water.