Best Luxury Hotels in Australia

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.

Based on the River’s edge of Brisbane’s Central Business District (CBD), the Marriott Bonvoy stands tall and thin, not entirely dissimilar to a New York-style hotel, and offers easy access to river walks and all the bars and restaurants that congregate accordingly by the water. As well as a swimming pool, dry sauna and gym, the hotel offers a ‘Rare and Exceptional Cellar List’ which includes Jeroboams and Methuselahs of champagne. Watch out for afternoon teas on Friday and Saturday, a frivolous but enjoyable way to while away your afternoon. 

The award-winning Capella Sydney is housed in the historic, heritage-listed Department of Education building. This eight-story, five-star hotel boasts 192 guestrooms and suites – each decorated with a harmonious blend of historical and contemporary. The hotel offers four opulent prestige suites – the Capella, Farrer, Liberty, and MacQuarie Suite – each uniquely designed to provide a spacious, serene haven and panoramic views. This hotel never sleeps and offers 24-hour hotel service, in-room dining, and access to the world-class Wellness centre which includes heated indoor swimming pool and vitality pool as well as a fully equipped fitness centre. Guests can savour exquisite gastronomy in Brasserie 1930 and Aperture or opt to indulge in a signature cocktail in McRae Bar. Capella Sydney is home to sophisticated event spaces that are perfect for catered business events for up to 80 persons, and even lavish weddings, in any of their high-tech, classic function rooms.

Located on Collins Street, one of Melbourne’s most prestigious addresses, the InterContinental is suitably sophisticated, with a blend of modern and traditional design elements across its two wings. It features the award-winning Alluvial Restaurant (set in the atrium), serving modern Australian cuisine that’s crafted using locally-sourced ingredients, as well as a bar and lounge, and a high tea service. The wellness amenities comprise a fitness centre, a sauna, an indoor pool and treatment rooms. While the public spaces lean toward grandness, the bedrooms focus on comfort, making the hotel popular with both business and leisure travellers.

This 174-bedroom establishment is at the exclusive Paris End of the aforementioned Collins Street. The accommodation offer includes 11 Terrace Suites with king-size Sheraton Signature Beds, 40-inch TVs and marble bathrooms with deep-soaking full-size tubs and separate rainforest showers. Breakfast and European-influenced meals are available at the Little Collins Street Kitchen and you can soak up some Aussie sun with drinks at the Terrace Bar. There’s also a full-service spa with an indoor pool, a jacuzzi tub and a sauna.

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.

Located in Melbourne’s bustling CBD, The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne is a five-star property with 257 stylish rooms and suites that offer breathtaking views of the city and Port Phillip Bay. Guests can indulge in contemporary Australian cuisine at Atria or savour a variety of premium rum and whiskey at Cameo – a tribute to Melbourne’s speakeasy scene. The Ritz-Carlton Spa provides a tranquil environment where guests can relax and recharge before heading out to explore the city. The hotel is made with materials that pay homage to the city’s unique stories.

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.

Bijou (by Melbourne standards), The Lyall is found in the upscale neighbourhood of South Yarra, known for its fashionable shops, galleries and restaurants. Its 49 suites boast separate living areas, kitchens and private balconies, with some overlooking the Japanese Maple Garden; book a Parisienne balcony room, a Grand Suite or the Penthouse to be at the top of the tree here. The hotel is quite the urban sanctuary, with an on-site spa and relaxation suite that has won numerous awards. The Lyall Champagne Bar and Bistro offers a French-inspired menu with an emphasis on fresh and locally-sourced ingredients.

InterContinental Sydney, housed in the historical Treasury Building of 1851, seamlessly blends all of today’s comfort with the proud heritage of the hotel. This luxury stay boasts 509 beautifully decorated guestrooms and suites including 28 deluxe suites and an award-winning Club InterContinental lounge. The hotel prides itself on stunning views of iconic Sydney landmarks including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge – it is no wonder it is included in the impressive luxury portfolio of IHG Hotels. There are top-of-the-range wellness and leisure facilities including a 31-story-high indoor, heated swimming pool overlooking the Sydney Opera House. Intercontinental Sydney offers a range of elegant local and international dining experiences, plush social spaces, and a host of function spaces – perfect for hosting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events, celebrations, and weddings – with a selection of exquisite packages on offer and a glamourous Vera Wang bridal boutique.

Le Méridien Melbourne, located just a few steps from Parliament Square, offers a truly unique experience for travellers. Its iconic art deco façade welcomes visitors to 235 guestrooms adorned with mid-century-inspired architecture. Guests can also enjoy a ground floor café and bar, seasonal Victorian cuisine at the restaurant, and a stunning pool deck overlooking Fitzroy Gardens and the Melbourne skyline. This hotel is renowned for its immersive art and culinary programme and is the perfect spot for creative-minded travellers to meet and socialise.

Established by the creators of the popular Little Creatures brewery, Alex Hotel is ideal for guests who are looking for something a little different. The hotel has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the best boutique establishments in the whole city and culture vultures are sure to be in their element. While each of the 74 guest rooms are comfortable and stylish, the hotel really comes into its own in the communal areas which include an honesty bar and pantry stocked with Margaret River wines, craft beers and complimentary olives. Of course, guests will also be able to sample all of the beers that the Little Creatures brewery is famous for in the fresh and funky rooftop bar and a special guided tour of the brewery is also granted to guests upon request.