Pharaoh fun: The ultimate family staycation in the heart of Sydney

News & Views – 23 Apr 24 By Fiona Wright

Discover Ancient Egypt and fall in love with Sydney.

Sometimes the best thing about a night away in your home city is the chance to see and experience it from a different perspective.

That’s exactly what my family and I discovered when we checked in for a staycation at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, thanks to their Ramses & The Gold of the Pharaohs Exhibition Accommodation Package.

As soon as we stepped into our room, my family and I was captivated by the view. The floor-to-ceiling windows showed off the greenery of Hyde Park with the city’s skyscrapers in the backdrop and from our room on the 20th floor my kids were amazed at how tiny the people looked as they went about their day.

After dropping off our bags, our next stop was the rooftop pool. The Autumn air may have been cool but the water was heated to just the right temperature and the view from up there? Simply breathtaking.

Next on the to-do list was a visit to the Australian Museum to see the Ramses & The Gold Of The Pharaohs Exhibit. Conveniently, the museum is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park swimming pool — The kids didn’t want to leave the pool at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park. *(Image: Supplied)*

Stepping into the exhibit felt like a journey back in time to Ancient Egypt. The children were wide-eyed and completely wowed as they learned about Ramses the Great, explored the mysteries of the pyramids, and checked out all the ancient artifacts.

The exhibit is a big deal because unless you’re planning a trip to Egypt yourself one day, this could be your only chance to see these ancient treasures, right here in Australia.

My 6-year-old daughter was keen to try on a gold Egyptian headdress, while my son wanted a closer look at the coffin of Ramses the Great. Unfortunately, both requests were a no-go due to the museum’s strictly enforced no-touch policy.

Ramses the Great, also known as Ramses II, was a powerful pharaoh of ancient Egypt — Ramses the Great, also known as Ramses II, lived approximately 3,200 years ago. *(Image: Supplied)*

After our time in Ancient Egypt, we checked out the rest of the Australia Museum, learning about our First Nations cultures and discovering cool facts on dinosaurs and Australia’s most deadliest spiders (it’s the Sydney funnel web spider, btw).

Following our adventures at the museum, we headed back to the comfort of our hotel to order room service for dinner – seriously, isn’t hotel room service the best!?

The next morning, we tucked into the breakfast buffet at the hotel’s restaurant, Windows on the Park. From fresh fruit to fluffy pancakes and barista-made coffee – it was the fuel we all needed to spend another day exploring the city.

Our staycation at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park was the perfect getaway. We swam in the pool, immersed ourselves in Ancient Egypt, and rediscovered our own city with fresh eyes.

Who was Ramses II?

Ramses the Great, also known as Ramses II, was a powerful pharaoh of ancient Egypt during the 19th dynasty of the New Kingdom period, ruling from around 1279 to 1213 BCE.

He is renowned for his military victories, including the Battle of Kadesh, and his impressive building projects like the temple complex at Abu Simbel. Ramses II had over 100 children and his mummy was discovered in 1881 in the Valley of the Kings, now housed in the Cairo Museum.