If you’re anything like us, your post-Covid-19 bucket list is brimming with new destinations to visit, favourite places to re-visit and hotels to check into. Lucky for all of us, there are some wish list-worthy hotels both here and in New Zealand that very much belong on each and every one of those bucket lists. From a Mexico-meets-Miami-style hotspot in Brisbane to a historic hotel stay in Hobart, and an architecturally-design tiny house in Wellington, this list of top Australian and New Zealand hotel hotspot are guaranteed to make up for the travel experiences we have missed while in self-isolation. Our top travel tip? Once the travel ban lifts, get booking and enjoy some of your memorable check-ins to date. Happy hotel hopping!
Halcyon House, Cabarita, NSW
There’s every chance that you’ve either already experienced the beauty of Halcyon House, added it to your Aussie travel bucket list or swooned over its picture-perfect setting on Instagram, but no matter how you’ve been acquainted with the coastal hotspot to date, a holiday at Halcyon House is alwaysa good idea. Located in Cabarita on the NSW North Coast, Halcyon House is not only one Australia’s most luxurious getaways, but a quintessential Australian getaway thanks to its beachside location, year-round balmy temperatures, umbrella-fringed pool, relaxed-meets-refined interiors and its award-winning restaurant, Paper Daisy, which serves fresh local and seasonal produce.
Moss Hotel, Hobart, TAS
As one of the newest boutique hotels to Hobart’s accommodation scene, Moss Hotel has become a must-stay for discerning travellers visiting the Tasmanian capital. The hidden and cosy retreat in the heart of the city is set inside original sandstone warehouses that were once home to traders, whalers, publicans and convicts. Not only is Hobart’s new hotspot steeped in history, but it also pays homages to the beauty of Tasmania’s untouched wilderness by the use of local timbers, green hues and indoor greenery in its décor making for a very memorable Tasmanian experience.
The Calile, Brisbane, QLD
Located in the heart of Brisbane, The Calile is arguably Australia’s most coveted hotels right now. With seriously Instagram-worthy candy-hued interiors, a pool complete with gold tiles (spelling the hotel’s name) that is framed with mint green and white umbrellas, sprawling city views, and an in-house restaurant, bar and spa, that title comes with no surprise. If you weren’t already planning on a jaunt to Brisbane, we have a feeling this dreamy stay might just sway you.
Blackbird, Byron Bay, NSW
Welcome to luxury accommodation in the Byron Hinterland — a combination that is almost too good to refuse before even finding out more. The founders of Blackbird describe this boutique bed and breakfast as “somewhere to escape the ordinary” — and extraordinary it is. Blackbird was designed to be close to nature and prides itself on its attention detail — hello, magnesium mineral swimming pools that are framed beautifully in acres of green rain forest with spectacular views Eastwards to Cape Byron and the Pacific Ocean. You can expect champagne on arrival, complimentary artisanal local produce in your room and for it to feel like your home away from home as soon as you arrive.
Longitude 131˚, Uluru, NT
Nestled among rich red dunes, Longitude 131° overlooks Australia’s best-known natural wonder, Uluru. With direct views of Uluru and across the desert to Kata Tjuta, Longitude 131˚ is undoubtedly Australia’s most celebrated luxury camp. The famed eco wilderness camp is home to sixteen tented pavilions which all offer views of Uluru through floor to ceiling windows whether you’re waking up in bed or enjoying a fire from your deck under the stars. Inside, stylish furnishings offer a place to relax, while works by local indigenous artists offer inspiration. Longitude 131° is the definition of glamping.
The Lindis, Ahuriri Valley, NZ
Near the bottom of the habitable world is the remarkable and pristine Ahuriri Valley. Carved over millions of years by the once fierce glacial waters of the Ahuriri River, the valley is now a tranquil, yet comfortingly rugged slice of paradise in New Zealand’s South and incredibly home to The Lindis — a unique luxury lodge. The first thing that strikes you at The Lindis is its wooden slatted roof which has been designed to pays homage to the shape of the earth below and to create a sense of harmony between structure and land. And inside it just as impressive. Think beautiful spotted gum wooden panelling, sweeping floor to ceiling windows, bluestone masonry and earthy-meets-luxury interior finishes. How To Spend It described it perfectly — "the Lindis on South Island is a haven for gastronomes, oenophiles and lovers of spectacular scenery."
Studio Seventy Four, Wellington, NZ
When an architect and artist husband and wife duo join forces to build a work studio-meets-Airbnb tiny house at the rear of their Wellington residence, you instantly know it’s going to a property worth experiencing. Set on a ridge line overlooking Wellington with 360 degree views from the city to the south coast, Studio Seventy Four is an architecturally designed studio made from timber milled and sourced from the family farm. With an outdoor hot tub, postcard-like views, a photogenic structure and top-notch amenities, this is one place you definitely want to call home for a night, or two.
Huka Lodge, Taupo, NZ
Set on 17 acres of countryside on the banks of the Waikato River, Huka Lodge in Taupo is a must-stay when visiting New Zealand. A true retreat in every sense of the word, Huka Lodge has been designed to allow the beauty of its surrounding landscape to dominate while adding touches of pure luxury inside — think designer furniture to monogrammed bed linen and feather pillows to freshly baked biscuits. Outside the rooms, relish in the swimming pool, spa pools, tennis, croquet and pétanque courts and a library, a study. In short, Huka Lodge has been offering a travel experience to remember since 1924.
The Oyster Inn, Waiheke, NZ
The Oyster Inn is luxury boutique accommodation-meets-a fresh, unique restaurant experience in the heart of Waiheke Island — three of our favourite things. Located in Waiheke’s beachside village of Oneroa — just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland — The Oyster Inn is a one-stop-shop with all-day kitchen home and restaurant home to a seaside verandah, a breezy bar, a boutique store, and simple, yet charming hotel rooms. Warning, it’s highly likely you might consider relocating to Waiheke Island after a stay here.
Annandale, Pigeon Bay, NZ
Annandale is a working coastal farm home to four luxury villas that are set between the rolling hills of the Banks Peninsula and the sparkling water of the Pacific. Not only are Annandale’s private villas located in one of NZ’s most picturesque locations, but the villas themselves match up to the magnificence of their setting. If you’re a fan of privacy, breathtaking scenery, Pinterest-worthy interiors and the fresh crisp air, Annandale might just be your new favourite escape.
