This is what happens when you chuck money – and lots of it – at an old concrete container terminal.

Sydney’s newest waterfront precinct Barangaroo, which is as nice to say as it is to visit, has converted a down-at-heel industrial area into a gleaming swan.

And what a swan it is: Australia’s first six-star hotel, and Sydney’s tallest building, is the jewel in the Barangaroo crown.

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Are grand, tastefully OTT interiors your thing? Then you won’t be disappointed.

British architect Chris Wilkinson designed the hotel to be reminiscent of three twisting petals and its shiny exterior (made up of 8000 individually cut glass panels) is certainly worth a few “Wows” as you approach.

The lobby reinforces the idea that you’re somewhere special, from miles of Italian marble to an enormous crystal chandelier made of individual glass ‘blades’ set above the staircase.

There are 349 rooms, including 22 luxury villas.

No matter what your room number, there are views for days. My room boasted Instagram-worthy vistas of the Opera House and, if I angled myself right, that famous Sydney skyline.

The interior decorating excesses have been left at the door – the rooms are all about a subtle but classy palette of creams, greys and a few pops of gold.

The real stand-out is the generous marble bathroom – the tub faces a small TV and you can see the busy harbour as you soak.

Easy-to-use bedside tablets control the blinds, lighting and in-room dining options. Ten points for the Dyson hairdryer and the softest bathrobes I’ve ever encountered in a hotel. The blue-glowing Japanese Toto toilet was a bit gimmicky but still fun.

The real show-stopper is the fifth-floor infinity pool with what must be some of the best views in the world. You can also nab a day-bed or a private cabana.

Other amenities include a gym, tennis court, spa, sauna and Moroccan steam room and, for those perfect Instagram shots, a sky deck 83 floors above the iconic harbour.

Someone told me it would take at least a week to try each of the hotel’s 14 restaurants. While I can’t vouch for the accuracy of that figure, I can tell you there are a LOT of dining options.

That includes Nobu, the 43rd global outpost of the acclaimed Japanese Peruvian restaurant, a’Mare, a northern Italian eatery, and even a traditional Chinese teahouse.

But no matter where you eat, it’s a constant tussle between focusing on the kai and the gobsmacking views.

The Barangaroo precinct features a nature reserve, loads of shopping and dining options and a foreshore trail which means you can walk to Circular Quay. Or wander around the CBD, The Rocks and Darling Harbour.

Wynyard Train Station is a few minutes’ walk away.

Everything. My room was so nice that during a long overdue catch-up with a Sydney mate from my London days, she asked if we could meet in my room rather than go out. Which we did.

Probably the pool. And the general sense of opulence (but without the gaudy Dubai-style tackiness).

Plus the concierges are some of the nicest people on the planet.

I’ve thought long and hard about this but I have nothing.

Someone once said a hotel should be the home you wish you had. That’s certainly true of my brief but beautiful stay at Crown Towers Sydney. Naturally, this level of luxury doesn't come cheap (see below) and unless you’ve won Lotto, this is a hotel strictly for a special occasion splurge.

Rooms start from around $A850 (NZ$940) per night. Crown Towers Sydney, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Sydney. See: crownsydney.com.au

Staying safe: For the latest Australia travel requirements, see: australia.gov.au/international-travel. For rules on returning to New Zealand, see: covid19.govt.nz/international-travel

Carbon count: Flying creates carbon emissions. To reduce your impact, consider other ways of travelling, amalgamate your trips and when you need to fly, consider offsetting emissions.

The writer was a guest of Crown Towers Sydney.