The Sphinx
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The Sphinx

2 Thompson Rd, Geelong, City of Greater Geelong, Victoria 3215 Australia
Pork Belly
Traveller (38)
Dining (10)
Take a dip?
Pool & Beach (1)

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Avg. AU$196 /night, 2/11 - 2/12
AU$196
per night
AU$195
per night
AU$194
per night

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About

#14 of 20 hotels in Geelong
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Location
2.3 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.2 of 5 bubbles
Value
3.1 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
3.3 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality

The Sphinx is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Geelong, offering a family-friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.

As your “home away from home,” the hotel rooms offer air conditioning.

Guests have access to room service while staying at The Sphinx. In addition, The Sphinx offers an on-site restaurant, which will help make your Geelong trip additionally gratifying. And, as an added convenience, there is free parking available to guests.

Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Geelong Arena (0.5 mi) and St. Peter and Paul's (1.2 mi), guests of The Sphinx can easily experience some of Geelong's most well known attractions.

If you’re looking for a Mediterranean restaurant, consider a visit to Azzurra Trattoria, Sailors' Rest, or La Vista Authentic Italian Restaurant & Cafe, which are all conveniently located a short distance from The Sphinx.

Plus, during your trip, don’t forget to check out some of the popular history museums, such as Old Geelong Gaol and Geelong Museum Association.

Enjoy your stay in Geelong!

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Property amenities
Free parking
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Non-smoking hotel
ATM on site
Room features
Air conditioning
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
4.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Modern

Location

2 Thompson Rd, Geelong, City of Greater Geelong, Victoria 3215 Australia
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 40 out of 100
40
Avalon Airport
14.7 km
See all flights
Essendon Airport
65.3 km
See all flights

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
J V wrote a review July 2024
2.0 of 5 bubbles
The internet reviews and photos were clearly given a long time ago and are not remotely reflective or accurate of the Sphinx hotel, Geelong in 2024. The rooms are barely habitable ( think drug den given half hearted makeover). The carpets need to be carpet cleaned and are filthy! I refused to walk barefoot on them.
The doors don't have any internal lock chains for extra security. The window blinds do not cover the full length of the window so leave large gaps anyone can see into the room through if they were loitering outside.

The restaurant looked good, the menu read well, unfortunately the $45 steak (x2) we had were 80% Grisel and 20 % hammered flat cuts of beef that were NOT sirloin steak, nor was it 350gms worth, barely 1cm thick( and that is being generous).

The evening meal bar staff on the night we dined, while efficient, were begrudgingly helpful and held a distinct air of not wanting to be there, and I cannot say blame them. The chips were the only saving grace for the meal, but $45 for a handful of chips is not worth it. I was greatly disappointed with the entire facility and offerings after two days driving across country, tired, hungry and needing a shower before falling into bed.

Did I mention, through no fault of the hotel, we checked in to find a large hole and a crew of plumbers working to fix a broken pipe? So, that took about five hours to repair and then another two before the hot water was ready to shower under and we could use the bathroom. (Portaloo was provided but, yeah, nah, hard pass!)

Upside, the sheets were clean and fresh and the lovely lady on reception was the silver lining on a very black cloud. In hindsight, the expression on her face when I checked in must have been her silently wishing she could tell me to book elsewhere for three days. I wish to god she had!

Unless you are desperate and happy to pay good money for poor to mediocre, I would NOT recommend this establish to anyone looking for either good food or accommodation. Poker machines, beer and possibly their live entertainment maybe.
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Date of stay: July 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
2.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: It is the closest motel/hotel to the Spirit of Tasmania but not one I will ever return to or...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mattnelson95 wrote a review Apr 2022
Melbourne, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
After finding out the rooms at the Sphinx are cheaper and in better condition, we decided to make the switch and stay here when we work in the area. Great atmosphere in the bar and gaming area. Friendly staff who are very helpful when we are arriving late to check in. Yet to have a meal here but definitely looking forward to it and many more stays in the future.

If you’re looking to upgrade your electric hot water service to a heat pump to save money on power bills, get in touch with chromagen and you won’t be disappointed.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon B wrote a review June 2022
City of Greater Geelong, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Needing quick feed on winter day but wanting something home style.
Recalled Sphinx sports bar has a quick serve lunch buffet plate for $10.
Friendly waitress served up a cracking plate of beef casserole, veg & chips.
Buttered roll on the side. Spacious dining area and watched the greyhounds on telly.
Great value meal plate, deliciously cooked and fresh.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greta d wrote a review Dec 2024
Brisbane, Australia
1.0 of 5 bubbles
What a disappointment. Arrived from interstate late about 8pm and had to check in at the gaming lounge because reception was closed. Allocated a room but the key or lock was faulty and I couldn’t get in. Went back to the gaming lounge, one of the staff came out to try it presuming I was too stupid to open the door myself, finally admitted that it was faulty, so back to the gaming lounge for the third time to get allocated another room. The rain was clean, but smaller than it appears in the pictures, and the bathroom is definitely old and very dated. I could not find the hairdryer, so went back to the gaming lounge for the fourth time to enquire where it might be hidden, and was advised that hairdryers are not standard in any room. I have stayed at thousands of hotels around the world, and this is the first time I’ve stayed somewhere that doesn’t have a hairdryer. Went to make a cup of tea, but the kettle doesn’t fill from the tap over the basin. Had to use the shower. Went to hang up my clothes but there was one lonely wire hanger, and one skirt hanger. Wanted to iron a shirt for the next day but the small collapsible ironing board from Aldi I presume was broken. The bed was comfortable, the sheets were clean, and the shower had enough pressure, but that’s about the only positives I can think of. I suggest the owner or operator goes to Kmart and buys a hairdryer and half a dozen coathangers for each room, would only cost $20 per room and make guests feel a little more cared about.
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Date of stay: December 2024
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: BYO hairdryer, hangers, shampoo etc.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaret K wrote a review Feb 2024
Geelong, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Again, great food. I don’t understand any of the negative reviews. Staff are great. Menu is extensive, with weekly specials. Servings are quite large - man sized, I’d say but luckily take away containers are available, free of charge, so you can enjoy the rest of the meal at home. I am a regular patron of this place, so close to home too.
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Date of stay: February 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: There is no bad food here, so be adventurous and try something new.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie wrote a review Mar 2024
2.0 of 5 bubbles
There were a few things that I feel need improvement. The air conditioner was old and was hard to turn on and off. Needed to call the staff for assitance. The toilet looked worn, the shower head seemed clogged, so the water didn't come out properly. The cutlery was wooden, disposable and only 1 teaspoon, so couldn't have more than 1 cup of coffee per day, as couldn't clean it for future use. Curtain was in need of fixing. Only good thing was the beds were comfortable. Such a shame, as the hotel itself looks amazing with the Egyptian theme. We didn't eat there this time, but from past experience, I found the meals average compared to other places.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pasta Master wrote a review Nov 2020
Geelong, Australia
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Come on down to The Sphinx Geelong, if your looking for friendly service you won’t find it here, instead a taste of rude sub level service and overpriced disappointing food. This is by far the worst bistro in Geelong. The staff are slow, often understaffed and service with a smile does not exist here you are met instead with snide remarks and bistro staff openly bad mouth customers and the gaming room staff are definitely less than accommodating to wins and service is lacking in every department.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
another-reviewer27 wrote a review Dec 2020
Geelong, Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Although it's been hard times, I feel the Sphynx may have fallen into the trap of cutting back on serving sizes and upping the price on the back of Covid. The salmon dish did not even fill our 50kg Nana and the steak should have been twice the size for the price. Staff were friendly and did the best they could.

Definitely go and help your local pub out, but management need to address this because it wasn't just our table who recognised the value proposition has gotten worse here... at a time when other venues are ramping up their game.

3 stars, 2 plus 1 for the kids playground and mock Egyptian artifacts.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris K wrote a review Feb 2020
Ocean Grove, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Met here with work mates to farewell a work mate.
For a pub The Sphinx was very good.
We had a semi private area which was great. The service was good and friendly.
The food was really good Pub Food. My Snitzle was very nice and very big and everyone else was happy with their food and there was a wide range of dishes on the table.
Nice setting as well.
All in all a very nice place and well worth having a meal there
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phebianMelbourne wrote a review June 2023
Eaglemont, Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Interesting decor. Called in for the pokies (and dinner). Reasonably fast service. I had the pork belly and my wife had the pork roast. Food OK but the meat was tough. Beware of the pokies - they weren't paying out
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Date of stay: June 2023
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Answer from Julie S
Rome, Italy5 contributions
Dear Karen, I am sorry that you never received a reply, but we are having difficulty locating your original request. We do not have a booking service through trip advisor Could you please send me the date that you made your request so I can investigate the query. For future references, please go to our website for bookings. Julie
greta d wrote a tip Dec 2024
Brisbane, Australia90 contributions66 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"BYO hairdryer, hangers, shampoo etc. "
Read full review
J V wrote a tip July 2024
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"It is the closest motel/hotel to the Spirit of Tasmania but not one I will ever return to or suggest anyone else does."
Read full review
Margaret K wrote a tip Feb 2024
Geelong, Australia3 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"There is no bad food here, so be adventurous and try something new. "
Read full review
tony h wrote a tip Sept 2019
Lara, Australia226 contributions128 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Not applicable"
Read full review
Dags1954 wrote a tip Jan 2019
City of Greater Geelong, Australia147 contributions34 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"all room off highway quiet"
Read full review
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Geelong area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$191 - AU$196 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaVictoriaCity of Greater GeelongGeelong
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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THE SPHINX (AU$191) - 2025 Prices & Reviews (Geelong) - Photos of Hotel - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Sphinx
Which popular attractions are close to The Sphinx?
Nearby attractions include Next Level Skirmish (0.8 km), Geelong Arena (0.9 km), and Focal Point Darkroom & Gallery (1.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Sphinx?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Sphinx?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The Sphinx?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Sphinx?
Conveniently located restaurants include Telegraph Hotel Restaurant, Eddy and Wills, and Tandoori Cuisine & Bar Indian Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Sphinx?
Yes, guests have access to an outdoor pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to The Sphinx?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Heights Heritage House (2.8 km), Barwon Grange (4.1 km), and The Old Paper Mills (4.0 km).
Is The Sphinx accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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