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Australia’s newest hotels worth planning a trip for

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
Check into Australia’s most exciting new hotel openings, from buzzy city stays to dreamy coastal escapes.

Australia’s hotel scene is booming, with a wave of fresh openings raising the bar on style, location and experience. Think design-led city stays, beachfront retreats made for switching off and destination hotels worth planning an entire trip around.

If you’re looking for somewhere new to stay in 2026, these just-opened and soon-to-open hotels deserve a spot firmly on your radar.

Ardour Milton Park Bowral, NSW 

Polo Bar, Ardour Milton Park
Unwind at the elegant Polo Bar.

Salter Brothers Hospitality will unlock access to a piece of Southern Highlands heritage with the much-anticipated reopening of Milton Park in early 2026. The storied estate, relaunched as Ardour Milton Park Bowral after a multimillion-dollar refurbishment, will serve as the flagship property for Ardour Hotels & Estates. The luxury address, built as a grand country residence in 1910, will include The Polo Bar and signature restaurant, Horderns.

Address: 200 Horderns Road, Bowral, NSW

Lon Retreat & Spa, Bellarine Peninsula, Vic 

Lon Retreat and Spa
A retreat to reconnect with the slow and simple. (Image: Nikole Ramsay)

Discerning wellness warriors have long had Lon Retreat & Spa on their radar for its mineral pools and dreamy, adults-only suites. But the luxury hideaway, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, recently tapped into a rising interest in contrast therapy with its new immersive thermal environment. The sanctuary, on Victoria’s breathtaking Bellarine Peninsula, features a Finnish sauna, magnesium-rich pool, Swedish soak bucket and communal firepit. 

Address: 25 Gill Rd, Point Lonsdale, Vic

Elysium Noosa Resort – MGallery Collection, Qld 

Elysium Noosa
Elysium boasts revamped accommodation for luxury seekers. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Freshly reimagined on Hastings Street, Elysium Noosa Resort – MGallery Collection pairs coastal calm with considered luxury. Formerly Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, the new 175-room hotel spans ocean, river and poolside stays – the majority boasting private balconies. As for dining, that is courtesy of Sydney duo Anna and Alessandro Pavoni. Expect Italian trattoria Cibaria Noosa, all-day Bar Capri and light poolside dining on the revived terrace, plus a swim-up bar. The sister property to Manly Pacific is designed for slow, salty coastal stays.

Address: 14-16 Hastings Street, Noosa Parade, Noosa Heads, Qld

The Tiny Mile, Old Bar, NSW 

The Tiny Mile, Old Bar NSW
The Tiny Mile, a luxury tiny-house experience on the NSW Mid North Coast.

It’s just a tiny mile-long drive up the dirt road past the dinky sign leading to The Tiny Mile. But that’s where the journey to the riverside property begins. The Tiny Mile is a one-bedroom cabin set on a bend of Berady Creek outside Old Bar on NSW’s Mid North Coast. Embrace your country era with a stay at the rustic retreat, which is all rust, ochre, charcoal and autumn tones that complement nature’s palette. Admire the outlook from the sunken outdoor bath or sauna.

Address: 44 Berady La, Old Bar, NSW

Caption by Hyatt Central Sydney, NSW 

room at Caption by Hyatt Central Sydney
Caption offers stylish rooms in the heart of Sydney CBD.

The opening of Caption by Hyatt Central Sydney marks the debut of the brand in Australia. The 174-room hotel in the heart of Haymarket includes tech-enabled touches – such as a seamless mobile check-in – and guestrooms designed for flexibility as well as comfort. But ultimately, the hotel is about people and place, culture and community. Worth yapping about is the Talk Shop, a social hub, cafe, bar and workspace designed to foster connection.

Address: 13 Parker St, Haymarket, NSW

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Avani Mooloolaba Beach, Qld

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel Exterior
It’s Sunshine Coast’s first internationally branded, new-build hotel.

Slated to open in April, the 12-storey, 180-key Avani Mooloolaba Beach is only a frisbee throw from Mooloolaba Beach. It’s also the Sunshine Coast’s first internationally branded, new-build hotel to open in nearly four decades. Guests will be able to graze on light bites in the lobby bar; enjoy cocktails up on the rooftop beside the pool while looking out towards the hulking peaks of the Glass House Mountains; and restore balance in the serene AvaniSpa.

Address: Cnr Brisbane Rd &, First Ave, Mooloolaba

Trinity Point, Lake Macquarie, NSW

a spacious apartment with marina view at Trinity Point, Lake Macquarie NSW 
Revel in marina views from bed.

A new luxury hotel planned for Trinity Point has been given the go-ahead in Lake Macquarie. The sparkling new sustainable $665 million resort at the marina has been designed by Koichi Takada Architects to include 153 rooms and serviced apartments with marina views, two waterfront restaurants, a spa, wellness centre, pool and bars. The coastal resort will be anchored in its surrounds and feature public boardwalks that run like tributaries from the world-class resort and marina.

Address: Trinity Point Dr, Morisset Park, NSW

Novotel Sydney Cabramatta, NSW

Dany Karam at Magma, Novotel Sydney Cabramatta
Dany Karam at Magma restaurant in Novotel Sydney Cabramatta.

The suburbs of Sydney continue to advance at full throttle with openings such as the Novotel Sydney Cabramatta, part of the new integrated Cabravale Club Resort in the heart of Sydney’s Little Saigon. Food tourists should get on the front foot and book a staycation at the new hotel in Western Sydney. Guests at the hotel will have the option of a thrilling onsite dining experience at Magma by Dany Karam, a sophisticated open-flame steakhouse. The new Novotel has 140 guestrooms, including seven for those with reduced mobility.

Address: 1 Bartley St, Canley Vale, NSW

ESTE Wategos, Byron Bay, NSW

a chair facing scenic coastal views at ESTE Wategos, Byron Bay NSW 
Escape to ESTE Wategos in Byron Bay. (Image: Courtney King)

Want to visit Byron Bay and not stress about parking or paparazzi? The new retreat ESTE Wategos is right in position, tucked away beneath the iconic Byron Bay lighthouse.

Park your luxe pop-top in the garage and dress in your fave full ‘crunchy granola’ (read: hippie) ensemble for a stay at ESTE Wategos, which offers two architecturally designed three-storey residences with rooftop terraces and glass-bottom pools. There are concierge services and space for up to 12 guests when these swanky sanctuaries are booked together.

Address: 11 Brownell Dr, Byron Bay, NSW

1 Hotel Melbourne, Vic

the river penthouse suite at 1 Hotel Melbourne, Vic 
Settle into the spacious and serene river penthouse suite.

Expect to gulp down lungfuls of fresh air during a stay at 1 Hotel Melbourne, which has incorporated more than 7000 plants into its biophilic design.

The urban sanctuary is anchored by the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5, where the original support beams were salvaged for the signature all-day dining restaurant, From Here by Mike, by restaurateur Mike McEnearney. The hotel has 277 guestrooms, two bars, a wellness spa and access to sprawling riverside parklands.

Address: 9 Maritime Place, Docklands, Vic

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voco Gosford, Central Coast, NSW

a modern bedroom at voco Gosford, Central Coast NSW
The vibrant voco Gosford is equipped with bespoke furniture.

The first new-build hotel to open on the Central Coast in 15 years will share its colour palette with the sky, sand, sea and sunshine. When it opens late 2025, voco Gosford will also showcase one of the brand’s virtues: to inject a bit of local flavour through its bespoke furniture, textiles and custom artworks. The vibrant voco Gosford will include 130 guestrooms as well as six F&B outlets, including a signature restaurant led by Dany Karam. Gosford CBD will also get its groove on courtesy of a swim-up pool bar and the Central Coast’s highest rooftop bar.

Address: 108 Donnison St, Gosford, NSW

Box Hill Esperance, WA

a private tub with nature views at Box Hill Esperance, WA
Soak in a luxe coastal escape at Box Hill Esperance.

Box Hill Esperance has ushered in a new era of barefoot luxury with the unveiling of two luxe off-grid cabins. The adults-only lodges were crafted with locally sourced materials centred around a fireplace featuring 50-million-year-old fossilised shells. Anywhere in WA with sunshine and coastal views is ideal for a summer holiday. Insert Esperance into the equation and these cabins, a short flight from Perth, make for the ultimate coastal escape.

Address: 804 Merivale Rd, Myrup, WA

Tiny Aahana, Sunshine Coast, Qld

an off-grid cabin at Tiny Aahana, Sunshine Coast Qld 
This off-grid cabin offers a chance to decompress in total seclusion. (Image: Kirra Smith)

The magic of Tiny Aahana lies in its rainforest surrounds. Just 30 minutes from Noosa Heads, the off-grid cabin by Into The Wild Escapes provides six guests with the chance to decompress after a day spent swanning around Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Your immaculate itinerary might include a bush walk, shady chic-nic and night around the firepit under a sky pinpricked with stars. The greatest luxury at this eco cabin is having the space to roam on the secluded property.

Address: Noosa Hinterland, Qld

The Roost, Prevelly, WA

two people sitting on sun loungers while watching the sunrise at The Roost, Prevally WA
Sit in quiet contemplation at this hillside haven.

Wind your way around Southwest WA’s voluptuous curves to find The Roost, an architect-designed holiday home three hours from Perth. The stylish three-bedroom retreat affords sweeping ocean views from its cantilevered deck jutting out like an open drawer over its perch in Prevally. The hillside haven is near to world-class wineries, surf breaks and forests. The indoor-outdoor living and sun loungers provide the perfect speed for contemplation.

Address: Prevelly, Margaret River, WA

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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    Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington, like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

    We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

    A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

    inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes
    Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours. While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

    holding Portarlington mussels
    See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

    As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

    The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

    blue mussels off Portarlington
    Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

    Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

    Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli
    Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

    “Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

    a hand holding a Portarlington mussel
    Mussels are a sustainable food.

    Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

    But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

    guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard
    Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.