Must-see hotels in Australia & Pacific

  • Pumphouse Point

    Cradle Country & The West

    Unique and impressive, Pumphouse Point occupies a three-tier hydroelectric pump house built in 1940 atop Lake St Clair, accessed via a narrow pier, as…

  • Southern Ocean Lodge

    Kangaroo Island

    Looking for a place to your woo your sweetheart? The shining star in the SA tourism galaxy is Southern Ocean Lodge, a sexy, low-profile snake tracing the…

  • McAlpine House

    Broome

    Lord McAlpine made this stunning house, a former pearl master's lodge, his Broome residence during the '80s. Now renovated to its former glory, there are…

  • Lizard Island Resort

    Cairns & Far North Queensland

    This sumptuous, ultra-exclusive resort, fully and exquisitely refurbished in 2015, won't be within everyone's travel budget, but many consider it one of…

  • Pen-y-bryn Lodge

    Dunedin & Otago

    Well-travelled foodie owners have thoroughly revitalised this beautiful 1889 residence and continue to upgrade. There are two rooms in the main house but…

  • Elysian Retreat

    The Whitsundays

    Ten light-filled, thatch-roofed villas at this intimate, solar-powered boutique resort, accommodating a maximum of 20 guests, overlook a private stretch…

  • Blackbird Byron

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    Gaze at Cape Byron and the Pacific Ocean over the hinterland from one of three individual and specifically designed boltholes set high up above…

  • Como The Treasury

    Perth

    A regular on lists of 'World's Best Hotels', Como the Treasury has 48 luxury rooms that fill the baroque splendour of the historic State Buildings, vacant…

  • Largs Pier Hotel

    Largs Pier Hotel

    Adelaide

    Surprise! In the snoozy beach 'burb of Largs Bay, 5km north of Port Adelaide, is this gorgeous, 130-year-old, three-storey wedding-cake hotel with sky…

  • Gnaraloo Station

    West Coast Australia

    At the end of the road, around 150km from Carnarvon, Gnaraloo Station is the jewel in the crown of the Gascoyne Coast. Surfers from around the world come…

  • Halcyon House

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    This former surfers' motel has kept its vintage curves to become one of east-coast Australia's most lauded boutique hotel and spas. The location is…

  • Kings Creek Station

    Northern Territory

    Located 36km before the canyon, this family-run station offers a bush-camping experience among the desert oaks. Cosy safari-style cabins (small canvas…

  • Tin Chalet

    Victoria

    A genuine off-the-grid getaway, this solar-powered double-storey cottage is constructed from corrugated iron. Its charming interior features a wood-fired…

  • The Trig/The Container

    Tasmania

    Self-contained accommodation doesn't get any better than this. Perched on a working farm on the picturesque slopes of broody Mt Arthur, these two well…

  • 28° Byron Bay

    Byron Bay

    There's not a TV in sight at this stunning homestyle hotel. From the paleo granola in the in-room breakfast provisions, to the filtered water system that…

  • Hawk Dreaming Wilderness Lodge

    Kakadu National Park

    In a restricted area of the park (ie only guests and local Indigenous residents are allowed in), this deliciously remote lodge sits in the shadow of the…

  • BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park

    The East Coast

    Rolled across a green hillside 1.5km south of town, this park has plenty of family-centric amenities (games room with cinema, jumping pillow, playground)…

  • Anchors Aweigh

    South Coast NSW

    Rooms at this family-run B&B are furnished like a well-off aunt's bedroom, with heavy wooden dressers and floral decor; a couple of rooms (from $193) have…

  • Quamby Estate

    Tasmania

    Few hotels can match the setting of this classy country-house hotel, which offers 10 stylish rooms (opt for a downstairs deluxe suite) in a pastoral 1828…

  • East Hotel

    Canberra

    The East's stylish mini-apartments make the perfect destination for a weekender or a family getaway, located near delightful Manuka Pool (guests swim free…

  • Depot Beach Cabins & Camping

    South Coast NSW

    This enchanting campground, among spotted-gum trees and peopled by curious kangaroos, is opposite an idyllic sandy beach. There are 60 sites and one- and…

  • Alabama Hotel

    Hobart

    Sweet home Alabama! This old art-deco boozer – once a grim, sticky-carpet lush magnet – has settled into a new life as a boutique budget hotel. None of…

  • Anduramba Homestead

    Brisbane & Around

    Perched on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, this Federation-era homestead excels in authentic country hospitality. Hosts Sandra and Andrew have…

  • Theatre Royal Hotel

    The West Coast

    Themed around colourful figures from Kumara's past, rooms at this beautifully restored 1876 pub are reason enough to stay in town. We especially loved the…

  • QT Melbourne

    Melbourne

    Arty vibes, industrial surfaces, brass trim, lifts with tapestry light boxes that spurt random utterances in a Russian accent – this is one of Melbourne's…

  • Cockatoo Island

    Sydney

    Waking up on an island in the middle of the harbour is an extraordinary Sydney experience. Bring a tent (or just sleeping bags) or 'glamp' in a two-person…

  • Lighthouse Keepers' Cottages

    South Coast NSW

    For oneness with nature, elegantly renovated cottages on Montague Island offer a uniquely beautiful retreat. Cottages sleep up to eight or 12. Rooms are…

  • Venus Bay Eco Retreat

    Victoria

    This cute timber loft cottage is hidden on Venus Bay, surrounded by nature and wildlife and a 20-minute walk from the beach. While it's not entirely off…

  • Karijini Eco Retreat

    Karijini National Park

    This 100% Aboriginal-owned retreat is a model for sustainable tourism, and the on-site restaurant has fantastic food. The deluxe eco-tents have en suites;…

  • Hamelin Outback Station Stay

    West Coast Australia

    Far and away the nicest place to stay along Shark Bay Rd, Hamelin Station is a former pastoral property transformed into a 202,000-hectare conservation…

  • Emporium Hotel

    Brisbane

    From the lipstick-red glass-shard panels to the Japanese-inspired spa and spectacular rooftop infinity pool, Brisbane's most decadent boutique hotel roars…

  • Mandelbaum House

    Newtown & the Inner West

    One of the University of Sydney's residential colleges, this sweet spot makes a great place to stay in summer. It's a small, genuinely friendly place with…

  • Ridgemill Estate

    Brisbane & Around

    Slumber among the vines at one of Ridgemill Estate's eight contemporary cabins offering unobstructed vineyard and mountain views and compact timber decks…

  • Paramount House Hotel

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    When reception has a rack of shirts for sale and a beer tap it's not a standard hotel. Rooms are striking, with distressed walls, quirky features and…

  • Ovolo Inchcolm

    Brisbane

    Built in the 1920s as doctors' suites, the Inchcolm excels in contrasting heritage features with bold, modern touches, from colour-saturated wallpaper and…

  • Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel

    Sydney

    Often filled with wedding parties, or Watsons Bay locals who are renovating, this personable hotel is a great place to slip into the barefoot-millionaire…

  • Sea Shanties

    Brisbane & Around

    Dotted with upcycled sculptures and tropical plants, this waterfront oasis offers seven gorgeous, self-contained cabins. Lime-washed timber floors and…

  • ADGE Boutique Apartment Hotel

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Modern, catchy and bold, ADGE puts a clever, upbeat twist on the ubiquitous serviced apartment experience. The idiosyncratic but extremely comfortable two…

  • Bimbi Park

    Great Ocean Road

    Down a dirt road 3km from the lighthouse is this character-filled caravan park with bush sites, cabins, bunkhouses, pods and old-school caravans. It's…

  • Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village

    Cradle Country & The West

    Cleverly camouflaged in the bush, the 45 cabins here are clean, comfortable and well equipped. All have TV with DVD player and the top-of-the-line cabins…

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