Hotel recommendations for New York in July

I forgot to add that wherever you decide to book, book soon as the period you are there includes Independence Day, and the city will be full.  Be prepared for queues at every museum, monument, ferry, show, etc etc

The Surrey, Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad are all great! Most should be within the AUD500 range..

I'm a former New Yorker. When I go back I generally stay at the Beacon Hotel on Broadway and 75th. It's my old neighbourhood of the Upper West Side. It's a former apartment building (people still live there, actually) and while it's a bit old the location is fantastic and the rooms have all been upgraded.

I have a friend staying there this week and his rate was in the $200 range; not easy to come by in the City.