Stories, Guides & Opinions
In-depth editorial features, curated lists, and insider guides to Australia's luxury hotel scene.
Waldorf Astoria Sydney Pushes to 2027: What's Coming to Circular Quay
Hilton's first Australian Waldorf Astoria has slipped to early 2027. Inside the Kengo Kuma tower, the Forrest family's $520m bet, and a $140m penthouse next door.
When the Kimberley Reopens: A Guide to the 2026 Dry Season
The 2025-26 wet was one of the heaviest in years. Here's what's open in April and May 2026, when to go, and which lodges are worth basing from across the Kimberley.
The 2026 Hotel Openings Reshaping Australian Luxury
Ten hotel openings across six states that mark a turning point for Australian luxury: global brand debuts, heritage revivals, and wilderness lodges pushing further into the landscape.
Luxury on Tasmania's East Coast: The Only Guide You Need
Wineglass Bay, the Bay of Fires, oyster farms, cool-climate wine, and the Hazards range. A practical guide to planning a luxury trip along Tasmania's 220km east coast, with the best places to stay at every price point.
The All-Inclusive Question: Are Australia's Most Expensive Hotels Actually the Best Value?
A pricing reality check on Australia's luxury lodges, where the most expensive nightly rate on paper rarely tells the full story once meals, drinks, and experiences are tallied.
Emirates Wolgan Valley targets early 2027 Ritz-Carlton reopening
Recent reports put the Ritz-Carlton Lodge debut at early 2027, following the original mid-2026 plan. Bookings and rates remain unannounced.
Peppers Clear Mountain reopens after resort-wide refurbishment
The former Mercure reopens as Peppers Clear Mountain, with 51 refurbished rooms and redesigned dining and event spaces.
Southern Ocean Lodge rises to Three Michelin Keys in 2026
Southern Ocean Lodge advances from Two to Three Michelin Keys in 2026, joining just two other Australian hotels at the guide's highest level.
Silky Oaks Lodge voted top resort in Australia and the South Pacific by Condé Nast readers
Condé Nast's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards put Silky Oaks, Southern Ocean Lodge and Capella Lodge first to third, and two Ritz-Carltons atop the hotel list.
Australian hotels in the 2026 Michelin Keys
Australia has 54 hotels in the 2026 Michelin Keys, with Saffire Freycinet and Southern Ocean Lodge promoted to the highest level.
Crystalbrook Sam opens bookings for late-December debut
Adelaide’s 196-room Crystalbrook Sam is taking reservations ahead of a late-December 2026 opening, with rates from $275 a night.
Australian luxury hotel news for September 2026
September 2026 in Australian luxury hotels: bookings at Crystalbrook Sam, a rebrand at Peppers Clear Mountain and an award for Capella Sydney.
InterContinental Brisbane Reveals Its Redesign, With Works Due to Finish in Late 2027
First renders of InterContinental Brisbane's Woods Bagot redesign show a reworked atrium, a new Level 6 arrival and club lounge, and rooms in marble and dark timber.
Australia's Best Wine Country Hotels
Six luxury hotels across Australia's wine regions where the restaurant alone justifies the journey. Hatted dining, vineyard settings, and kitchen gardens that treat the postcode as the point.
Hidden Gem Boutique Hotels Worth Discovering
Beyond the big-name resorts, Australia's most memorable stays are often its smallest. These intimate boutique hotels reward the curious traveller with character, art, and a personal touch that larger properties simply cannot replicate.
Australia's Best Luxury Hotels
Eight luxury hotels across six states, each selected for singular character and a deep connection to place. City landmarks, wilderness lodges, private islands, and heritage estates that represent the best of Australian hospitality right now.