Best Luxury Hotels in Australia

Named after the Greek Goddess of Dawn, this 120-bedroom boutique hotel stuns with a mirror-glass frontage that catches the abundant sunlight. It features interiors by local design team Hecker Guthrie and Walter Brooke, with suspended lighting, velvet chairs, marble coffee tables and gilded glass minibars. Some suites have birds’ eye river views through floor-to-ceiling windows and the two-bedroom Grace Villa offers butler service, on-demand mixologists and spa therapists, an office, a sauna and a gym. There’s a pool deck with a hot tub, a spa with products by IKOU, a family-friendly Italian eatery and a sleek restaurant serving plant-based and degustation menus.

Hidden in the Hinterland of Mullumbimby Creek, beside Mount Koonyum, this adults-only estate is made up of low rise pavilions. The site was originally a banana plantation and many of the original materials have been salvaged and reused in the build of Blackbird. Its resulting aesthetic is earthy and simple, yet stylish. Accommodations come with Egyptian cotton linen, burnished concrete floors, reclaimed timber joinery and Moroccan tiled bathrooms A magnesium lap pool was built into the mountainside and provides enviable ocean vistas, Named in Tatler’s 2020 annual travel guide as one of the ‘Top 101 Hotels in the World’, Blackbird is one not to miss.

Immaculate landscaping (the topiary is quite the work of art) and a country club feel await travellers checking into the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. The interiors of this low-rise Heritage Listed Hotel (which dates back to 1924) feature many of its original Art Deco design elements, along with a refined selection of classic furnishings that bring the property into this century. There’s a courtyard for drinks, two restaurants, a tennis court, a health club and a heated pool. A ten-minute walk brings you to attractions including an art gallery, library, Japanese garden and the lake.

Laidback luxury is the philosophy at this guest house in the centre of Byron Bay. It offers TV-free accommodation for over 21s only, with the option of a private plunge pool, lighthouse view, outdoor showers and claw-footed tubs. Owner and interior designer Deb Garske has created a slow living feel, incorporating wellness touches like local beeswax candles, Hunter lab skincare and an immune-strengthening Grander water system, as well as a personally curated local guidebook. Breakfast here is typical of Byron, with paleo granola, organic yoghurt and moonshine coffee appearing on the menu. Guests at 28 Degrees have shared access to a gourmet kitchen, a pool area and a reading room.

Centrally located in downtown Darwin, the Hilton Darwin overlooks the busy harbour and is conveniently within walking distance of several of the city’s main attractions. The hotel is comprised of a collection of comfortable and contemporary guestrooms and suites offering sensational harbour views and featuring the spacious King Premier Suite. Guests are invited to dine in the on-site PepperBerry Restaurant, which serves uniquely Australian delights, while Le Petit Chef offers a multi-sensory dining experience. There is also a relaxing bar and lounge offering light bites and expertly crafted cocktails. The hotel is also home to an outdoor pool with a tranquil terrace where guests can soak up the sun and enjoy views across the water. Guests are also welcome to make use of the fully equipped fitness centre.

This 175-bedroom urban lifestyle resort may be every bit the modern hotel, but it contains plenty of nods to midcentury style. Book a cabana beside the 88-foot pool (which has a glitzy US feel) for dinner or daytime sunbathing, champagne in hand. And request one of the ‘pink’ rooms for a view of this terrace – all of the bedrooms come with Bluetooth speakers, minibars and blackout drapes, with interconnecting and accessible spaces available. Tuck into some moussaka or mezze at The Calile’s Greek eatery, Hellenika, then finish your night with cocktails in the Lobby Bar.

Deep in the Derwent Valley of New Norfolk, lies this Georgian mansion turned boutique hotel. Its public rooms have a traditional country house feel, with the eight bedrooms decorated to fit a contemporary vibe. Guests can also use the library, sauna, a hot tub and access the river from the hotel’s own pontoon. Pretty gardens wind down to the water, breakfast is taken buffet style and a set dinner is served on request. Like the Islington, Woodbridge On The Derwent is exclusively for an adult clientele and is a great choice for those seeking an intimate, high-end home from home experience.

Located on the waterfront in Salamanca, The Tasman — part of the Marriott Bonvoy Collection — inhabits 1840s Georgian and 1940s Art Deco buildings. Choose from rooms in the modern Pavilion Building (which includes the rooftop Aurora Suite with an outdoor terrace overlooking the harbour); or from those in the Heritage Building, where you’ll be surrounded by original features such as restored fireplaces and art artwork and custom furnishings. Eat at Peppina, where Italian-inspired dishes are crafted from farm-local ingredients, take high tea at the Deco Lounge overlooking Parliament Square and drink at the speakeasy-inspired Mary Mary bar.

The Darling at The Star Gold Coast has 56 luxurious suites from 70 to 328msq with stylish décor and incredible views from the Penthouse Suites. Guests can enjoy a selection of delicious dishes from the comfort of their own rooms thanks to the on-demand in-room dining. This hotel features a shimmering pool for guests to enjoy and the fully equipped Azure Spa & Fitness facilities which features six treatment rooms including an exclusive outdoor cabana and 24-hour gymnasium access. There is a wide range of eateries on site which serve flavours from all over the world from Japanese specialities at Kiyomi to Italian delicacies at Cucina Vivo. The Darling at The Star is also home to an exciting casino which is open all day every day and has a whole host of games to play and win. The hotel makes for the perfect location to host any occasion in one of its chic event spaces which can hold up to 2,300 persons.

Four Seasons Sydney caters to guest’s needs with 531 accommodations and a wide range of options available – 7 unique guest rooms, 8 suites, and 4 accessible room types are on offer. Each of the spacious, contemporary rooms in this 5-star luxury escape offer awe-inspiring views from expansive windows of the city’s skyline or the iconic harbour. The hotel is a stone’s throw from The Rocks and Circular Bay and offers views of Sydney’s iconic landmarks. There are plenty of exquisite dining establishments and the option of room service, 24 hours a day. A luxurious array of indulgent spa treatments is available at Endota Spa for a tranquil experience. In the heart of the city’s Central Business District, Four Seasons Sydney is the ideal location for hosting sophisticated MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events for up to 900 persons, as well as unforgettable celebrations from intimate gatherings to lavish weddings.

This elegant hotel was established more than a hundred years ago and is the place in Perth where history meets luxury. The hotel occupies the former Treasury, Lands and Titles offices and General Post Office and many of the original tiles and other fixtures and fittings have been retained while guests are also treated to plenty of opulence. The hotel is perfectly positioned in the very heart of Perth and just a short stroll from a large number of prominent attractions, while there are 48 different spacious guest rooms to choose from. Those who want to swim laps will be treated to full use of the indoor pool and there is also a gym and sauna on the site.

Elegant and timeless, The Langham Melbourne welcomes its guests via a grand lobby with high ceilings and chandeliers. If you plan on staying here, do partake of its famous signature afternoon tea, served in the elegant Tea Lounge. The in-house Chuan Spa offers a range of holistic treatments inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. And there are two places to eat; Melba Restaurant for fine international cuisine (with river views through floor-to-ceiling windows and cookery views through a glass kitchen), and Aria Bar and Lounge for a more casual atmosphere with a focus on cocktails and light bites.