Australia’s Best And Brighest Hotel Openings 2021

Spend the night in the latest, greatest and most fabulous new stays

NSW

Ace Hotel Surry Hills

Inspired by the rich history of Surry Hills and the warm, cinematic colour palette of the Australian landscape, the new Ace Hotel (designed by Flack Studio) is Sydney’s new accommodation playground.

Slated for a early 2022 opening, the premiere property will be the first Ace in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing clear design cues from the neighbourhood fabric that surrounds. Many of the furnishings, artworks and interior details were created uniquely for the property, ticking the boxes for both style and substance.

As of right now, reservations are now open. Book to enjoy a post-COVID escape in one of  264 rooms, a gym, a restaurant and cafe, a lobby bar, and, of course, a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley

One of the Hunter Valley’s best-loved accommodation options has been reborn as voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, a 70-room luxury escape. With interior designer Greg Natale overseeing the look and feel of the property, the interiors are finished to the highest standard with bursts of signature yellow throughout, as well as diverting art and fabrics.

There’s a paddock-to-plate focus in its Locavore Dining and Epoch Lounge Bar, including using honey from the onsite beehives, and sustainable touches like duvets produced from recyclable plastic.

Blackbird Luxury Byron

The Byron Bay accommodation offering just got a whole lot more beautiful with the arrival of Blackbird, the environmentally sustainable, luxury brainchild of James and Stella Hudson.

Comprised of self-contained pavilions and facilities, including a Magnesium mineral swimming pool, the property is framed by acres of that famous green rain forest, with spectacular views Eastwards to Cape Byron and the Pacific Ocean.

Blackbird toes that oh-so-good line of being wonderfully secluded, but still close enough to the action – exactly what you need on your next Byron vacay.

Broken Hill Outback Resort

After launching its camping and van sites late last year, Broken Hill Outback Resort is now fully up and running with the opening of its 12 spa cabins, with another 12 to come shortly.

Surrounded by the Barrier Ranges, the five-million dollar resort itself surrounds the historic.

Spicers Retreat Hunter Valley

Spicers Retreats has added a second Hunter Valley property to its portfolio of luxury escapes: Spicers Guesthouse Retreat.

An 18-month, $20-million refurbishment has resulted in the historic property it’s housed in now offering 49 rooms, including a four-room standalone cottage, state-of-the-art conference facilities, large-scale event spaces and a private dining room with a stacked-stone fireplace and a spectacular floor-to-ceiling wall of wine.

Hotel Ravesis

From its plum position on the constantly buzzing Campbell Parade, Hotel Ravesis has been providing gracious boutique accommodation for years. But while the exterior of the 1914 building had a pretty pick-me-up back in 2016, along with the on-site bar and restaurant, the revamp of its 12 rooms and suites was only unveiled this year.

The wait was definitely worth it though. Under the guidance of interior designer Carina Hicks, each has been given a sophisticated new focus, while at the same time echoing the property’s laid-back beachside setting.

Furniture pieces from Australian makers VELA Living and MCM House are offset with luxurious fabrics – tactile velvets and exuberant retro patterns – and arresting gold finishes. Walls are hung with works by local artists and vintage images of beachside playgrounds in the 1970s.

Other elements to get a refresh, courtesy of Killanoodle Design, were the mini bars (think bespoke gin blends, Italian mints and Marvis toothpaste)and in-room purchases – the green and pink tote bag is a must-have!

The Hideaway Cabarita Beach

A glamping village of luxury tents and caravans surrounded by nature in the NSW coastal town of Cabarita Beach, The Hideaway offers a stripped-back luxury with a hazy, nostalgic feel to it.

Tents come with stylish furniture, some offering mini bars, air conditioning and other plush extras.

Sheraton on the Park

Having opened its doors when Paul Keating was still prime minister (1994), Sydney’s venerable Sheraton on the Park was ready for a revitilisation ahead of its 25th anniversary, which is what it got in the form of a $40 million overhaul of its 510 guest rooms, 48 suites and Sheraton Club Lounge.

Interior designer Joseph Pang has combined modern design with classic elegance to give rooms a sophisticated residential feel, using lots of wood and leather layered in a calming colour palette of celadon and warm greys.

Novotel Darling Square

The newly refurbished Novotel Darling Square in Sydney is influenced by the nearby Chinese Garden of Friendship, and provides hop, skip and a jump access to the best dumpling restaurants in Chinatown and the buzz around the newly emerging Darling Square neighbourhood.

The 230 guest rooms have been made over, with shots of restive colour and fittings in tactile wood and leather, while downstairs the new lobby bar and restaurant serves up a menu abundant in fresh produce and healthy options.

WA

The Adnate

The Adnate Hotel, Accor hospitality’s newest Art Series hotel located in Perth’s city centre, promises to inspire guests with ‘the art of dreaming big’.

As a physical representation of creativity at its finest, the hotel namesake, street artist Matt Adnate, pushes the boundaries with his hand-painted mural spanning 25 storeys. The murals, created with spray paint, highlight Perth’s cultural history through an expressive and creative medium.

Adnate’s artwork can be found spread throughout the $90 million hotel, which also features a outdoor heated pool area, a gymnasium and chic development, Hyde Perth Kitchen + Cocktails.

Home Valley Station

Located in WA’s East Kimberley, Home Valley Station has reopened after its wet-season hiatus. A heritage cattle station on the famous Gibb River Road, close to the Cockburn Ranges, the station offers up quintessential outback hospitality and experiences, including a new menu in the Dusty Bar and Grill that includes kangaroo, crocodile and barramundi (hopefully caught during one of the guided fishing tours available to guests). Accommodation options range from guesthouse rooms to eco tents and camping facilities.

RAC Karri Valley Resort

This family-friendly property in Western Australia’s South West has undergone a $5.7-million renovation, resulting in the updating of its lake and forest-view chalets, the creation of a new reception area and an extensive refurbishment of the Lakeside restaurant (including an updated menu concentrating on local produce and flavours). A caravan and camping area is still to come.

ibis Styles East Perth

With its signature vibrant design and quirky personality on show, the ibis Styles East Perth (pictured above) offers up 252 guest rooms over 18 floors, all imbibed with colour and fun. There’s also Eastside Social Restaurant & Bar, a state-of-the-art gym, and convivial co-working spaces, all at a budget-friendly price.

The Ritz-Carlton, Perth

Perth is quite the boomtown right now when it comes to hotel openings, with The Ritz-Carlton one of the most hotly anticipated of them all. The venerable brand has taken up residence at the Elizabeth Quay precinct, with the striking exterior and lobby adorned with 10,000 pieces of handpicked Kimberley sandstone.

Inside, the property boasts 205 luxe rooms, including 18 suites, a restaurant, rooftop bar, spa (complete with yoga studio) and heated outdoor infinity pool.

NT

Glamping at Kings Canyon Resort

Kings Canyon Resort has added six luxury canvas glamping tents to its accommodation roster. Located in the heart of the Red Centre, at the edge of the mighty Kings Canyon, the tents are spacious in size and decorated with chic quality furnishings in woods and metals, with tactile fabrics used throughout (including two goat-fur cushions on the bed that you can’t help but stroke) to add warmth and cosiness.

Each tent comes with a deck, perfect for sitting on to watch day turn to inky black night, en suite bathroom with shower, and generous living space.

QLD

Bailey

While most visitors are lured to Tropical North Queensland to visit the reef and rainforest, the city has long been a lure for creative types drawn to the dramatic landscapes. Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, celebrates different artists on each of its 12 floors and features dedicated spaces that pay homage to the arts.

Suites have art and splashes of colour from stylish fabrics and the open lobby features a wall of greenery and waterfalls and a mosaic of Dolly the Dugong, which the hotel commissioned 25 exiled Syrian artists to make.

Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort

The wait is finally over! Australia’s premier island resort, Hayman Island, is back in business from 1 July (and currently taking reservations), now under the wing of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG).

After extensive works due to cyclone damage, the resort has been restored to its former levels of luxury, with gorgeously appointed rooms and suites, a wellness spa, that iconic pool, and new restaurants and bars: Pacific, a brasserie-style bar and restaurant; AQUA, next to that pool, Amici Trattoria with its wood-fire pizza oven, the pan-Asian Bam Bam and Bar Fifty.

Ovolo The Valley

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley just keeps getting cooler with the arrival of Ovolo The Valley.

Inspired by the area’s colourful history, the 103 rooms are styled via Ovolo’s signature whimsical aesthetic, with statement art, custom wallpaper and eccentric furniture.

The pièce de résistance is the rooftop pool looking out over the surrounding neighbourhood.

Daydream Island

Daydream, one of Australia’s best-loved Whitsunday island resorts is reopening after a serious makeover, with three restaurants and three bars added.

A few past favourites are returning, albeit amped up a notch, such as the Living Reef – a free-form coral lagoon where guests can join the team of marine biologists to feed baby stingrays or visit the underwater observatory.

voco Gold Coast

Reflecting the Gold Coast’s recent funky revival, voco has an eclectic, fun-in-the-sun feel befitting its location. Rooms are rendered in a palette of neutrals and blue with pops of sunshine yellow, and come with views towards the ocean or the hinterland.

Throughout there is a roster of restaurants and bars, a day spa, gym and pool.

Westin Brisbane

The Brisbane hotel scene just continues to grow: the first Westin in Queensland is open, with 299 guest rooms offering sweeping views from its prime position in the heart of the city, and a roster of health and wellness offerings, including a two-floor wellness centre, signature restaurants, two bars and resort-style facilities.

Riley Cairns

Occupying a prime spot at the end of the iconic waterfront boardwalk in Cairns, Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort has presented the Queensland city with a fresh take on hospitality. Its 311 rooms and suites, most with balconies, are stylish and contemporary, and there’s a lagoon swimming pool with private man-made beach, spa, fitness centre, restaurants and a rooftop bar.

Mt Mulligan Lodge

Another luxury lodge has been added to the Australian landscape (and the rollcall of Luxury Lodges of Australia; luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au) with the opening of Mt Mulligan Lodge in remote Far North Queensland. Engulfed by a 28,000-hectare heritage property, the new-build lodge caters to a very select 16 guests, with each of its guest retreats looking out to the stunning form of Mt Mulligan.

There is a range of activities on offer, from paddle boarding to barramundi fishing to taking part in the cattle muster on the working cattle station.

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

After being shuttered since September 2018, the heritage-listed Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane (housed in the former Queensland Government Savings Bank) is back after restoration. The building’s history and architectural merit have informed the features and furnishings throughout, giving the 220-key property, including a gym, heated pool, Donna Chang restaurant, the Boom Boom Room bar, a new lease on life. adinahotels.com

TAS

Peppers Silo Hotel

A collection of 1960s grain silos on the banks of Launceston’s Tamar River have been reborn as Peppers Silo Hotel. Derelict for decades, there are now 108 guest rooms including 52 inside the original silos.

The hotel has also worked closely with Guide Dogs Tasmania to employ a Canine Ambassador, Archie. The black Lab lives at the hotel and helps concierge staff greet guests and deliver the morning newspapers.

ACT

Midnight Hotel

The 199-room Midnight Hotel is part of the latest residential and commercial development to arrive in the hip hood of Braddon. The interiors are minimalist in feel, with warmth added by shots of colour on statement design furniture pieces, and plenty of foliage in the hotel’s internal courtyard.

Facilities include a gym, sauna, indoor swimming pool and a bar and restaurant; alternatively the charmed position offers up cafes, shopping and Canberra’s myriad cultural attractions within easy range.

Abode Murrumbateman

Located in the ACT’s cool-climate wine region, Abode Murrumbateman’s 50 light-filled studio rooms offer city style in bucolic rural surrounds.

The property has a guest lounge, the Abode Pantry, stocked with food, snacks, a selection of Canberra region wines, and a kitchen where guests can use local produce they’ve bought
while out and about (and there are bikes available for exploring).

VIC

Hotel Chadstone Melbourne

Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, MGallery by Sofitel, is a new 250-room luxury hotel that rubs shoulders with the style hotspot of Chadstone Shopping Centre. The local fashion focus is reflected in the beautifully put together hotel, which is all opulent interiors, brass and leather finishes, custom lighting and luxurious amenities.

CABN Sadie

CABN’s first eco retreat in Victoria has arrived in Daylesford. Dubbed ‘Sadie’, the off-grid sanctuary is perfectly placed in the Victorian countryside for languid perambulations around the picturesque property.

Located 90 minutes away from Melbourne, the 100 per cent sustainable, custom cabins sleep three to four people, have composting toilets, rainwater catchment and solar power so eco-conscious travellers can feel justifiably righteous about leaving zero footprints behind. Switch off and press reset in the pocket-sized CABN before venturing into nearby Hepburn Springs for a soak in the mineral springs.

Zagame’s House

The Zagame family, famed in the Victorian hospitality industry, has added to its portfolio with the opening of its first boutique design hotel, Zagame’s House. The $18-million transformation of their former hotel on Lygon Street, Carlton, has resulted in 97 contemporary rooms filled with luxe custom furnishings, locally produced linens, acoustically panelled walls and sexy, generous bathrooms.

A Feng Shui master has ensured the correct flow of Qi throughout the hotel, and sustainable initiatives such as the use of eWater, composting systems and reducing its carbon footprint are an integral part of the hotel’s DNA. Commissioned artworks completed on site add to the bespoke feel.

Shadow Play by Peppers

Located in Melbourne’s Southbank arts and entertainment precinct, Shadow Play by Peppers, designed by Melbourne architects Elenberg Fraser, with interiors by Melbourne design firm Hecker Guthrie, pairs a bold aesthetic with rich, luxurious finishes.

Its one- and two-bedroom self-contained apartments are bathed in natural light and feature stunning city views, while there’s a heated outdoor pool, lounge and library, fully equipped gym, enclosed garden space on the 46th floor and Edwin’s Wine Bar & Cellar.

Ocean Grove Chalet

Situated on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, within easy reach of the Great Ocean Road, this 15-room hotel has a sleek, modern vibe throughout, with rooms ranging from standard to penthouse, and including generous family rooms.

There are plentiful cafes and restaurants nearby and the beach is a short stroll away, presenting the perfect summer bolthole.

Big Sky Ridgeview Lodge

Big Sky Retreats, purveyor of new boutique stays in the heart of Victoria’s Alpine High Country, has debuted the gracious Ridgeview.

Located in the town of Bright and taking inspiration from American-style lodges, the four-bedroom property is steeped in country chic, with lots of cosy areas to relax in, as well as an outdoor pool (made from an upcycled shipping container), a steam room and a barbecue.