A bumper crop of sparkling debutantes awaits Australian travellers.
The sprawling new resort on Rottnest Island - located behind the settlement, facing the iconic salt lakes and the iconic Wadjemup Lighthouse - will offer over 100 rooms for guests, plus an open dining bar space and a little kiosk to welcome all island visitors.
Slated to open on November 1, the Sea Sea hotel takes its aesthetic cues from the '70s surf scene and will offer 25 rooms by the beach. It will include a surf club for guests as well as live music space and a changing roster of art exhibitions featuring local and international artists. There are several accommodation options to choose from and a distinct nod to wellness with the gardens part of a large native landscape program which includes a large heated pool, an outdoor fireplace, sauna and ice baths.
Located in Paddington, the new 25hours Hotel 'The Olympia' will have 109 luxurious guest rooms spread over six floors, a rooftop bar, a serene central courtyard, eclectic restaurants and cafes, live music facilities, a wellness offering and ground floor retail. The building itself was formerly a popular cinema, which opened in 1911 and now gives its name to the new hotel.
This slick new luxury hotel in the centre of Melbourne's CBD (at 130 Russell Street) has created a lot of buzz. Melbourne Place will feature a new eatery from restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted - Marmelo will be a vibrant dining room with 90 seats and an elegant private dining room, and their basement bar and late night supper club, Mr Mills will be accessible through the restaurant or via Melbourne Place Laneway. The menus in both will be influenced by the coastal cuisines of Portugal and Spain. Melbourne Place will also be home to Midair, a Mediterranean eatery helmed by hatted chef Nick Deligiannis.
This iconic Byron Bay hotel is expanding its footprint. The second property, which is currently under construction, will be situated in the former Victoria’s at Wategos site. It will feature ten new suites, several indoor common areas with open log fireplaces, tropical landscaped gardens, and two impressive lap pools: a 16 x 3-metre pool with a waterfall on the western side, and a 12-metre solar-heated pool on the eastern side complete with a cabana and lounge area.
This sparkly new hotel will mark the debut of luxury lifestyle brand Andaz in Australia and the Pacific region. Set in The Star Gold Coast, the hotel will feature 202 guest rooms and suites, a fitness centre and three food and beverage outlets. Overlooking Broadbeach, the outdoor pool deck on level six will include a cocktail bar, a beach club with private cabanas and al fresco dining. The Andaz Lounge will offer a relaxed and inviting all-day space for guests to enjoy a drink or snack. The architecture by Australian design firm DBI Architects will be matched with contemporary interiors by award-winning Australian design firm Hachem.
Hamilton Island - Australia's favourite playground - is getting a schmick new property. The new The Sundays development sits on the island's famous Catseye Beach with 59 rooms designed with families in mind. There's a new beachside pool, restaurant/bar by the water, pickleball court so you can see what the fuss is all about and, as you'd expect views for days.
Construction has commenced on The Sanctuary – luxury on-site accommodation for Alba guests, which will extend the wellness experience with the added indulgence of more time for relaxation and renewal. ‘The Sanctuary’ will comprise five stand-alone villas, plus two studio rooms within the property’s renovated homestead. Expectations are for a late 2024 opening.
Set among the laneways that connect Sydney's Redfern with Surry Hills, this new precinct is set to bring some fun new hospitality offerings to the area. As well as boutique shops, the precinct will showcase the shiny new EVE Hotel, complete with lavishly landscaped roof top deck and swimming pool. Liquid & Larder, the hospitality group behind Bistecca, The Gidley, The Rover and Alfie’s will be the hotel's F&B partner. They will deliver a rooftop restaurant and bar, poolside dining, lobby bar and dining, and the in-room dining service. The Wunderlich Lane precinct will also have two new venues from the House Made Hospitality Group - Island Radio (an eating house and noodle bar,) and cocktail tavern Baptist Street Rec Club.
The new Eco Lodges have been crafted with sleep wellness at the core, offering a haven where guests can focus on their mind, body and spirit. Nestled in the bathing area and overlooking a private lake, the Eco Lodges seamlessly connect with nature through thoughtful architecture and landscape design. Recognising sleep as one of the seven fundamental pillars of wellness, the Eco Lodges provide the perfect environment for rest and rejuvenation, ensuring guests’ overall wellbeing.
The same crew behind the famed Calile hotel in Brisbane are descending on Melbourne's Southbank precinct. In a trend we're seeing more of in the Victorian capital, the hotel will take up 10 floors of The Queensbridge Building with 102 rooms. We're looking at a series of lush gardens, private rooftop terraces, lap pool, wellness studio, gym, sauna, steam rooms, co-working spaces, plus a providore in the foyer.
The rapid evolution of the NSW Central Coast continues apace with the seventh Australasian Voco. Each of the 130 rooms will feature the brand's signature cool aesthetic - think panelled headboards, brass light fittings - and water views. The rooftop bar on level 28 is a major drawcard as is the restaurant under the control of Dany Karam who did time on the line at the award-winning Black Bar and Grill in Sydney's Pyrmont.
Having shaken up the idea of what an airport hotel can be with its debut Sydney property, Moxy has set its sights on the CBD. Expect a hint of mischief at this 314 room hotel with Sydney's highest outdoor rooftop on level 34.
Abutting the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, Burnham Beeches will offer 43 rooms and suites, a welcome lounge and terrace, a restaurant with outdoor seating, a library bar, and a rooftop retreat encased by garden planters. The aesthetic will remain true to the home's original Art Deco design and beyond the three-storey homestead will sit a separate two-bedroom cottage. A super-luxe glamping experience is also in the works, which will bring the total accommodation spaces to 82. The Six Senses will harvest all its produce from the surrounding farmland, while the herb garden will be the source of ingredients for use in Alchemy Bar workshops and Six Senses Spa treatments.
Originally slated to open in 2025, some behind the scenes machinations briefly put the brakes on things. Now, however, the One Circular Quay development is roaring ahead on the old Goldfields House site. Australia's first Waldorf will span 28 storeys, 220 rooms (179 guest rooms and 41 suites), include some of the most intuitive butlers in the game and feature a rooftop bar plus the hotel's iconic Peacock Alley tea rooms.
Sustainability is at the forefront of 1 Hotels and you'll see it in the 277 rooms through the use of upcycled timbers from local wharfs, bridges and sheds. It sits on the Yarra River opposite the Mission to Seafarers building. The eco cred extends to organic mattresses, responsibly sourced bed linens and you can leave behind pieces of clothing to be distributed through local charity partners. Bonus ticks come in the form of pet-friendly rooms, a leading edge Bamford Wellness Spa with sauna and steam rooms and a 3500 square metre public park next door.
There has been a loooooong genesis behind this project but it's shaping up as a beauty soaked in Miami vibes. Details are still emerging but we know there will be 208 rooms, a spa, restaurants and one of the coolest pools on the coast. And if you really love it, you can buy a residence upstairs.
See also:
The Gold Coast's best retro hotels.
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