In The City

Join us inside the most expensive and exclusive city hotels in the country – from the secret room in Melbourne you’re not supposed to know about, to sleeping under a bridge in Sydney the millionaires’ way.

It’s the stereotype of countless films. A massively opulent suite taking up the very top floor of a five star hotel. The kind of room occupied by James Bond types or evil tyrants looking to rule the world while stroking a white cat. The sort that require your own special lift pass. Or, in the best cases, your own special lift.

So, what’s life like when you push the last button on the elevator and get whisked up to the very best the hotel has to offer?

They were once called “penthouses" but now they go by different names. Sky Villa. Roof Pavilion. Whatever. We’re only interested in the most expensive room at the hotel. So what do you get for your money?

It’s the little things

The first thing is service. Regardless of the hotel, when you book the most expensive suite in the place you’re entering a different level of service. For starters you have a dedicated staff, generally a butler and at least a maid, whose job it is to go to extraordinary lengths to anticipate anything you might require.

The second important element involves the accoutrements to your stay. Hotels figure if you’re going to spend more than $20,000 on a room you can afford a bit more on some extras. Take Australia’s most expensive city hotel,Crown Towers in Melbourne. If you’re feeling like a bit of bubbly with your suite you can opt for a bottle of the Heidsieck & Co Monopole 1907 Gout Americain.

This apparently very good champagne was earmarked for the Russian military during WWI but was sunk by a German U-boat enroute toFinland. In 1997 salvage divers recovered the champagne to discover that, through a confluence of sturdy crate construction, constant temperature and uniform pressure, the bottles had been perfectly preserved. And you can order yourself a bottle for $13,200 if you wish.

If you’re the type who can afford $27,500 a night for the best room at Crown, you’re not about to blink at another $13k for a bottle of champagne.

Stay for the legroom

And then there’s the space. These hotel rooms are like nothing you’ve ever seen; they’re more like luxury apartments. It’s as though the actual hotel is just an enormous edifice hanging off the hotel room in order to feed it the service it requires.

They’ll all come with at least two bedrooms, a dining room and a vast lounge area at an absolute minimum. Interestingly, the Park Hyatt in Sydney has received council approval to add another suite onto their roof. Each room will have its own plunge pool. Given the hotels location and unbeatable view, these suites will come close to being the best (and most expensive)Australia has to offer.

Maybe it’s just the power these suites represent – the prestige of occupying the most expensive room in the building. Whatever the reason, we can understand why there will always be villains doing battle with James Bond types. They have a set of standards to which they’ve become accustomed and a lifestyle to defend.

Crown Towers, Melbourne

When it comes to the most expensive city hotel in Australia, this is it. We’ve been reliably informed that their über-suite will set you back some $27,500 per night. The best rooms at Crown are called Villas, of which there are 31, beginning at lofty level 30 of the hotel.

The very best Villas are Presidential Villas, the cream of which is room 3918, which will cost you that aforementioned $27,500 per night. Crown are very tight-lipped about this particular Villa. In fact, their public relations GM, Anne Peacock, refused to comment publicly on this particular room, citing the discretion and privacy of their extreme high rollers for the no-comment policy.

That said, we know that if you place $27,500 on the table and ask for the best room in the hotel, you should be given the keys to room 3918. Keep in mind that this isn’t just the most expensive hotel room in Australia; this is one of the most expensive in the world. By comparison, the priciest room in all of Sydney is a paltry $6950 a night.

Look at it this way: go out, come back to your room late and get a solid eight hours sleep. By the time you wake up for breakfast, you’ll have spent nearly $1 for every second you’ve been asleep. But, then again, if you can afford this suite you’re probably going to have some very cool dreams anyhow.

To get to your suite, you’ll take a lift to the Crystal Club on level 29, which is where you check in if you’re rich. No hanging around the foyer with the riff raff for you! The Crystal Club offers amazing views of Melbourne and is like having a very, very posh boutique hotel tucked inside a much larger one. The Crystal Club offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapés. Most other hotels would configure level 29 as a sophisticated cocktail lounge.

Which, in part, this is. However, this is also the lobby within the hotel to access the best Crown Towers Suites. After swiping your diamond, ivory or obsidian Amex, your butler will take your bags to the 39th floor where room 3918 awaits. And what a room it is.

We can confirm that the three-bedroom suite takes up the entire floor. We’ve also been advised that it’s “around" 400m2 and has one of Melbourne’s best views. We just don’t have photos to share. Perhaps we have a reader out there who’s been lucky enough to stay in room 3918 that can send us some photos? We’d all be very keen to see them. Call (03) 9292 8888 or check out www.crowntowers.com.au for more.

Park Hyatt, Sydney

Sitting proudly beneath theHarbourBridgeand directly across from the Opera House, the Park Hyatt Sydney has probablySydney’s best views – and surprisingly is in a quiet part of The Rocks, with the hotel itself being relatively unimposing.

Where Melbourne’s Crown Towers stands tall, flashing neon and belching flames as a good casino should, the Park Hyatt is a touch more serene, subdued and understated.CrownTowersparties on. Park Hyatt considers. It’s also home toSydney’s most expensive hotel room.

This 185m2 suite costs around $6975 per night and has recently undergone a refurb. It has the most extraordinary views of the Opera House, the Bridge andSydneyHarbour, containing a dining table that seats 12. Extensive balconies (six in total) frame the unforgettable view.

Naturally the suite has a separate very large living room that’s equipped to be commensurate with the sort of entertaining that people spending $6000 a night require. The suites are stocked with all the latest technology and there’s nothing wanting. Forgot your camera? There’s one there to use. Need a meal? Get the chef to come cook one for you. It really is a relaxing way to unwind after a day of plotting world domination. Call (02) 9241 1234 or check out www.sydney.park.hyatt.com for more.

Traipse Jurassic cliffs and wander secluded beaches on Australia’s most enchanting walks.

Australia’s landscapes are made for hiking. Take the Red Centre, dusted in shifting sands and dotted with miraculous geological formations. Or our rainforests, left behind as the sole souvenir from continents that no longer exist. Down south, mottled night skies hang above crashing seas and unwavering cliffs. It makes sense, then, that hiking holidays are rising in popularity. No wi fi, no traffic. Just you and the path less travelled on the Great Walks of Australia in remote and iconic destinations.

What are the Great Walks of Australia?

If nature is your happy place, you’ve likely heard of the Great Walks of Australia, part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences program since 2013 – a curated collection of 15 all-inclusive, eco-luxury journeys showcasing the country’s most spectacular landscapes with expert guides and incredible meals. GWOA launching in 2013 as

From exploring the peaks of a World Heritage listed island, to journeying through the heart of Australia, and the gentle pull of the majestic Murray – there’s a walking holiday to suit walkers of all experience levels (and interests).

Joining a Great Walks of Australia hike means the pressure is off with all meals, guides and eco-luxury accommodation included.

Where can you hike?

1. Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland

great walks of australia tour group on Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland — Enjoy incredible food along the way.

Around 23 million years ago, volcanoes spewed magma across Queensland’s Scenic Rim . Now, what’s left of the fiery landscape takes the form of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana rainforest.

The Scenic Rim Trail is a four-day guided hike that takes you through the ancient rainforest. You’ll venture out into breathtaking viewpoints across the Main Range National Park. Enjoy a packed lunch, listen out for the duplicitous calls of the lyrebird and enjoy the silence.

You’ll spend your nights in boutique eco-cabins and incredible hospitality.

2. Murray River Walk, South Australia

great walks of australia tour group on — Walk through vibrant wildflower fields.

Murray River Walk pairs easy hiking with blissful evenings cruising the Murray River. Over four days and nights, you’ll follow kangaroo trails through red dirt dusted with vivid patches of wildflowers.

Each day ends on a solar-powered, custom-built houseboat. Watch towering, red sandstone cliffs float by from the top deck spa. Then, it’s three-course meals sourced from local produce and served alongside the region’s best wines.

The entire region you’ll be traversing is within the Riverland Ramsar site. Watch as spoonbills forage for food in the tranquil wetlands, emus parade through the wildflowers, and regent parrots flit above.

3. Maria Island Walk, Tasmania

wombat along the Maria Island Walk tasmania — Spot adorable locals.

Your Maria Island walk begins with a private boat transfer to an untouched, white sand beach. Barefoot in the sand, you’ll quickly realise – aside from your guide and group – you’re completely alone. Spot countless wombats and hear the distant calls of Tasmanian Devils as you spend four days leisurely traversing the island.

Nights are split between private, comfortable wilderness camps and queen-size beds in a historic cottage from the island’s convict history. Meals are built around fresh-caught seafood and served with East Coast Tasmanian wine.

4. Seven Peaks Walk, New South Wales

hiker on Seven Peaks Walks on Lord Howe Island — Explore the incredible Lord Howe Island. (Image: Luke Hanson)

Lord Howe Island feels like another world. With its patchwork blue coral lagoons and magma-honed peaks, it’s easy to forget you’re in New South Wales.

This walk has the highest level of elevation in the Great Walks of Australia’s collection. It’s because of this that you’ll witness nature like never before. UNESCO-listed volcanic peaks and coral reefs that grew out of solidified lava will become your daily norm.

Along the way, step onto beaches that lie undisturbed for weeks at a time. Then, snorkel the southernmost reef in the Pacific Ocean.

5. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, Northern Territory

This five-day, fully guided, premium hiking experience inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was developed in partnership with Aṉangu Traditional Owners. Begin your walk dwarfed by the shade of Kata Tjuṯa’s towering dome formations. Following remote desert trails through the red sands, crest dunes and traverse mulga woodlands as you draw closer to the monolithic walls of Uluṟu.

Each night, dine under the lamp light of the Milky Way in the warm desert air and sleep in new flagship, environmentally sensitive private camps and lodge. This is the first time that travellers have ever been allowed to spend the night inside the national park.

6. The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria

great walks of australia tour group on The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria — See the Twelve Apostles in a new way. (Image: Ken Luke)

The Great Ocean Road’s rugged splendour is best experienced on this signature four-day, 44-kilometre guided walk . You’ll follow the rugged limestone stacks of the shipwreck coastline: wild, crashing waves, curious wildlife, and two national parks.

Finish each day at your luxurious lodge, where you’ll sit with your feet soaking and a glass of wine in hand. You’ll have a single lodge to call home on this walk, meaning you’ll only need to set out with a day pack.

7. Three Capes Signature Walk, Tasmania

On Tasmania’s Three Capes Signature Walk , you’ll feel like you’re walking along the edge of the world. From your boat landing on a remote beach, climb slowly upward for spectacular views and wildlife encounters with pods of dolphins, fur seals and echidnas. Spend days walking Jurassic dolerite cliffs with the wild Southern Ocean as your only constant.

Stay in architecturally designed eco-lodges nestled at the very edge of the world. Think floor-to-ceiling windows, a plunge pool and even an on-site spa to tend to ailments from the hike.

Discover more Great Walks of Australia and start planning your next adventure at greatwalksofaustralia.com.au.