2 Aussie stays made Conde Nast’s best hotels list – we stayed at both

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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The two iconic hotels were the only Australian stays to make the annual list and we’ve stayed at both. Our editors weigh in on their stays.

Condé Nast Traveller’s global editors have revealed their favourite places to stay across the world – and two Australian hotels have made the prestigious Gold List for 2025 . While the list includes some truly extraordinary properties from around the globe, what’s even more exciting is that we’ve stayed at both of the Aussie inclusions!

Here’s a glimpse into what it was like to stay at two of the best Australian hotels, shared through personal stories that bring these remarkable destinations to life.

Lizard Island

Lizard Island Great Barrier Reef Aerial
Do as much or as little as you like on Lizard Island. (Image: Supplied)

For Australian Traveller’s sub editor, Carla Grossetti, Lizard Island was more than just a luxury getaway – it was a homecoming. Growing up in Cairns, Carla spent her childhood snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, so the chance to revisit those waters in the lap of luxury was irresistible.

“You can do as much or as little as you like on Lizard Island. Launch yourself into the underwater environment and swim with turtles, snorkel over a giant clam garden and do your best impression of a starfish in Blue Lagoon," Carla says, who visited the Luxury Lodges of Australia property in 2024.

“The beauty of Lizard Island is that you can pamper yourself at the day spa, meet at the bar for sundowners and enjoy a world-class dining experience overlooking the waterfront," she says.

“I’m not surprised the resort featured on Condé Nast Traveller’s list of Best Hotels in Australia. It’s one of the best places I’ve stayed in the world and is the epitome of barefoot luxury."

Reflecting on her stay, Carla isn’t finished exploring this slice of paradise. “I’m currently manifesting a return visit: I’d like to go back in June to swim with minke whales during their annual migration," she concludes.

Lizard Island Great Barrier Reef Aerial Casuarina Beach and Blue Lagoon
Lizard Island is the epitome of barefoot luxury. (Image: Ken Butti)

Bullo River Station

Bullo River Station sign
Bullo River Station is rooted in connection to the land and its stories. (Image: Imogen Eveson)

For Australian Traveller’s print editor, Imogen Eveson, Bullo River Station offered a completely different kind of luxury – one rooted in connection to the land and its stories. Situated on over 160,000 hectares of Miriwoong and Gajirrawoong Country straddling a space between the Top End and the Kimberley, Bullo is a working cattle station (and one of our favourite station stays) that blends pastoral activities with conservation.

“My stay at Bullo River Station was one of the best domestic travel experiences I’ve had," Imogen explains.

“For me, it encapsulated what is distinctive about luxury travel in Australia. Low-key, down-to-earth and relaxed but with every last detail considered and executed flawlessly."

When Imogen visited in June 2024, Bullo River Station had just been announced as the latest member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, a collection of exceptional properties in spectacular locations that each tell a unique Aussie story.

Bullo River Station pool
Bullo River Station joined Luxury Lodges of Australia last year.

Days here are filled with adventure. From waterhole swims and leisurely cruises down the Bullo River to station tours and scenic helicopter flights over a sandstone wilderness carved by waterfalls, gorges and the convergence of two rivers.

“I saw the most stunning sunrise of my life when our chopper pilot landed on a pinnacle overlooking it all," she says.

“Above all, luxury travel in Australia means the luxury of experience. The privilege of access to an extraordinary environment and the opportunity to learn about it from the passionate people charged with protecting it."

Current owners Julian and Alexandra Burt, who bought Bullo in 2017, have set the property on a path towards transformation again with a groundbreaking new approach to land management and a collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). The vision is one where pastoral activities and conservation can thrive side by side, complemented by low-impact tourism that allows you to be totally immersed in the heart and soul of this place.

Bullo River Station outdoor dining experience
Days at Bullo River Station are filled with adventure. (Image: Imogen Eveson)

But the charm of Bullo lies in its quirks as much as its grandeur. Imogen recounted a moment of hilarity when her partner discovered a frog in the toilet.

“‘Ah, you’ve got a toilet frog!’ the staff chorused with a casual cheerfulness before instructing us, in such instances, to simply flush the loo and send the tiny tree frogs back where they came from; they are partial to the septic tank and don’t worry – we were assured it doesn’t harm them," Imogen recounts.

“I imagined all the traditional luxury hotels around the world where a commode cameo like this might provoke a freak-out among high-maintenance guests, and love knowing that Bullo is the kind of place that attracts likeminded people ready to throw themselves into the raw experience of it, frogs and all. And that to me feels so wonderfully Australian."

Bullo River Station toilet frog
Lucky the toilet frogs are cute. (Image: Imogen Eveson)
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
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    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.