Australia’s luxury hotels are as incredible as the destinations in which you’ll find them. These stylish stays are more than just a place to rest; they’re destinations in their own right.
[rpi]JACKALOPE, MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VICTORIA
Considered one of Australia’s best destination hotels with a string of awards to its name, Jackalope boasts an infinity pool overlooking a manicured vineyard – as well as a day spa offering to scrub and polish you with local pinot grapes (intriguing). Art is front and center, with an imposing black seven-meter tall Jackalope sculpture greeting guests on arrival, busts with agate faces dotting the bar, and ornate lighting installations in the hallways. Doot Doot Doot is the silly name of the hotel’s serious fine-dining restaurant, but if you want something more relaxed, try the cellar door eatery next door (called Rare Hare).
COMO, THE TREASURY, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
Australia’s first Como hotel, with a Como Shambhala spa, injects luxury into a Perth stay. COMO The Treasury is a luxury hotel located in the heart of Perth, Western Australia, occupying the 19th-century State Buildings. This urban sanctuary is set within the revitalized 140-year-old State Buildings and was designed by Australian Kerry Hill. The 48 rooms are Minimalist, with muted colors and pale wood, and many have original high ceilings and cornicing. It has two restaurants including Wildflower, with a menu driven by Indigenous seasons as well as a bar and lounge while the spa’s holistic pampering is sublime.
SAFFIRE FREYCINET, COLES BAY, TASMANIA
Shaped like a sinuous manta ray, contemporary retreat Saffire Freycinet teams luxury with pure Tasmanian nature. Located midway up the east coast, its 20 suites and gourmet Palate restaurant have floor-to-ceiling windows framing panoramas of the Hazards Mountains. Tailored experiences connect guests with the environment, from visiting a marine oyster farm to boating to Schouten Island and going to Wineglass Bay. Team your trip with a visit to MACq 01, a Hobart hotel inspired by the characters of Tasmania.
BAMURRU PLAINS, TOP END, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Bamurru Plains is a luxury lodge in a vast private buffalo property west of Kakadu National Park. A three-hour drive from Darwin, its coastal floodplains and savannah woodlands support diverse wildlife. Guided experiences include crocodile, brumbie, and wallaby spotting. The 10 bungalows have mesh walls so that the surrounding wilderness can be seen and Australian bush-inspired dishes are created by the kitchen. In true Wild Bush Luxury style, Bamurru Plains lodge is rustically chic and utterly exclusive surrounded by an exotic landscape of twisting pandanus.
CAPELLA LODGE, LORD HOWE ISLAND, NEW SOUTH WALES
Refreshingly off the radar, Capella Lodge is Lord Howe Island’s premium luxury retreat, offering the ultimate island castaway escape. Only a two-hour flight from Sydney, Lord Howe Island is a reef-wrapped, subtropical Pacific paradise that’s home to Capella Lodge. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is famous for seabirds, and its turquoise lagoons and the twin peaks of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird can be seen from Capella’s restaurant or infinity pool. Nine suites, styled like a contemporary Australian beach house, offer basalt bathrooms and outdoor decks.
THE LOUISE, BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Louise, a boutique hotel with 15 secluded contemporary suites, offers views of Barossa Valley’s vineyards. Enjoy picnic breakfasts with kangaroos, dine at award-winning locavore restaurant Appellation and go on exclusive tours of local wineries. The hotel offers opportunities to join the chefs gathering provisions at the local markets and to blend your own wine with a local winemaker and then have the kitchen devise a dish to accompany it.
QT MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
Channeling Melbourne’s creative spirit, the 188-room boutique hotel QT Melbourne takes its cue from the city’s historic fashion district, with industrial design by Nic Graham and Shelley Indyk. Minibars contain locally sourced produce, while public spaces showcase Australian art. On-site dining options include The Cake Shop, offering native teas; the Pascale Bar & Grill, which uses produce sourced from artisans and a kitchen garden; and Rooftop at QT, a terrace bar serving up cocktails and skyline views.
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