Last week we had a spontaneous night away at Q-Station at Manly. Our friends at Touched by Olivia offered us the opportunity and we grabbed it with both hands and headed there on Friday night.
I’d heard a lot of good things about Q-Station after a friend recently went there for a wedding. It sounded like a wonderful location filled with history.
Q- Station is 5 minutes drive from Manly and was known as North Head Quarantine Station. It was used from the 1830’s to isolate people arriving in Australia suspected of carrying contagious diseases such as Spanish Influenza, Smallpox or Bubonic Plague. In holding people at the Quarantine Station it was hoped that deadly diseases wouldn’t reach the general population in Sydney.
People stayed an average of 40 days in quarantine, that’s if they survived.
ACCOMMODATION
Being a historic site I didn’t know what to expect regarding access. We had two rooms for the night, one accessible and one ‘regular’ room. The boys took the accessible room which was small but was manageable with a wheelchair. BJ is a restless bod so we would normally book more spacious accommodation but for one night we had everything we needed. We were just thrilled to have the opportunity to experience Q-Station.
Accommodation at Q-Station
ACCESSIBLE ROOM
Wheelchair accessible room at Q-Station Manly.
There is ramp access and double doors open into the room. The room has a queen size bed, with room to transfer from a wheelchair on one side. We appreciated having the room beside the breakfast dining room because BJ is an early-bird. We were first to breakfast at 7am. Not another soul was seen.
BATHROOM
Accessible bathroom at Q-Station Manly.
The bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom. It is a spacious bathroom with a roll-in hand held shower, grab rails and lever taps.
There is no flip-down shower seat or shower chair in the room. When I asked the hotel they said they may be able to provide a shower chair if requested. If you need this you would need to speak to the hotel’s reservations manager direct.
ACCESS
The Q-Station is at the top of a hill which gives the property spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.
Access to the common areas we visited had ramp access. The breakfast room, games room and guest lounge all had ramps at the door.
Q-Station does not allow guests to drive within the grounds with the exception of guests with a disability (by prior arrangement). Guests without a disability leave their car in a car park and receive a mini-bus transfer to their room. We were given an escort to drive to a parking space near our accommodation.
Ramp access at Q-Station Manly.
FACILITIES
History is everywhere you look at Q-Station and I love the fact that they have embraced and incorporated this in the common areas. We visited the guest lounge which has the most amazing old kitchen, comfortable seating and books to borrow. I envy anyone who stays long enough in a hotel to actually complete a book.
Guest Lounge at Q-Station Manly.
The games room was a favourite with our family.
We played many games of pool with everyone getting involved. Perhaps BJ’s focus wasn’t quite what it needed to be if he wants to ever become a pool shark but he had lots of fun.
MUSEUM
The museum at Q-Station is fascinating with lots of information about the Quarantine Station and it is wheelchair accessible.
DINING
There are two restaurants onsite at Q-Station which are side-by-side. Located behind the beach with beautiful harbour views. The Boilerhouse Restaurant is the fancier of the 2 restaurants. We chose to eat in the more casual Engine Room and loved sitting outside watching the ‘traffic’ on the harbour.
The restaurants are at the very base of Q-Station which people usually access via the mini-buses but the mini-buses are not wheelchair accessible at the moment. Guests with mobility restrictions can get an escort if using their own car.
BJ and I had plans the next day so Hubby and AJ dropped us at Manly Wharf and we went off in different directions. Hubby and AJ returned to Q-Station and spent the remainder of the day exploring, playing more pool and having lunch at The Engine Room.
It was a wonderful change of pace for us and we’d like to thank Touched by Olivia for thinking of us and Stockland Mall for giving TBO and in turn us, the night’s accommodation.
If you’d like more information about the Quarantine Station at Manly you can check their website here.
Marvellous, will share this on social media. I’d love to stay here one day. I remember visiting long ago and being riveted by all the history there, some of it quite chilling.
Thanks Seana. It is an interesting place to stay because it is truly steeped in history.