Australian lodge tops list of world’s best hotels 2023
How do Australia’s hotels compare to the rest of the world? One online travel agency has put them to the test.
Travel as we know it has undergone a few changes over the course of the past two years. New behaviours and trends, ranging from the slow to the intrepid traveller, the hedonistic and solo, has forced the industry to recalibrate in ways experts couldn’t have predicted. But one thing has remained a constant: the world’s infatuation with hotels.
In Australia, for instance, the grand opening of a number of the world’s most established hospitality brands in the country’s hotel scene has caused a spike in local tourism, with data collected by travel booking aggregator Expedia indicating 60 per cent of Australians are planning a stay in hotels on home soil this year. But how do Australia’s hotels compare to the rest of the world? One online travel agency has put them to the test.
Today Tripadvisor announced the winners of the Travellers’ Choice – Best of the Best Hotel Awards for 2023, with three Australian properties emerging as global heavyweights. Based on 12 months of data recorded from January to December 2022 from more than 1.5 million hotels, Australia has proved itself as a leader in world-class hospitality across 10 categories, including top hotels, all-inclusives, bed and breakfasts, luxury, family friendly, hottest new hotels, out of the ordinary, small hotels, best hotels for sleep and best hotels for spas.
Pinetrees Lodge on the pristine Lord Howe Island and Mount Lofty House Adelaide Hills in South Australia were recognised in the all-inclusive and small hotels categories respectively, the former also taking out the number one spot for the top 10 hotels located in the South Pacific, followed by The Reef House in North Queensland’s Palm Cove.
“It’s clear that our community ventured far and wide in the last year,” Tripadvisors head of editorial Sarah Firshein said. “As our savvy reviewers know, hotels can sometimes be the entire reason for the trip.”
Here’s a look inside the Australian hotels leading the charge on the world stage.
-Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Island
Just a one-and-a-half house plane ride northeast off Sydney’s coast, Lord Howe Island feels like a utopic landscape, with only 400 people permitted to visit at one time. Pinetrees Lodge is popular among families and overlooks the island’s famed Lagoon Beach. It boasts a restaurant, lounge, bar, day spa, tennis court and waterfront deck. For larger groups and families it offers suites and cottages, as well as some of the best activities available on the island, including fishing, diving and snorkelling.
Mount Lofty House, Adelaide Hills, SA
This boutique hotel, originally built in 1952, is resplendent in old world charm and character. Once one of South Australia’s best-known private homes, before being converted into a five-star hotel, the award-winning property is much loved by locals and tourists alike. Located in the Adelaide Hills wine region, it houses the acclaimed fine dining restaurant Hardy’s Veranda and Arthur Waterhouse Lounge, where guests can enjoy exceptional food and an extensive Australian and international wine list.
The Reef House, Palm Cove, QLD
A hidden tropical treasure in North Queensland, The Reef House is a stunning retreat for visitors longing for a getaway by the beach. One of the first Palm Cove properties built in 1957, the hotel is steeped in history and replete with tranquil natural surroundings and beautiful interiors. Featuring an array of different rooms, suites and villas, and amenities including the Reef House Restaurant, Brigadier’s Bar and Lounge, spa and pool, guests will be spoiled for choice for activities during their stay.