"Nestled into the base of Mount Sturgeon, at the southern entrance of Grampians National Park roughly three and a half hours from Melbourne, the Royal Mail Hotel combines a bush experience with world-class food and wine. The property is a slow-paced reprieve at the site where the town of Dunkeld was first settled. Accommodations range from minimalist mountain-view rooms bedecked with furniture and light fixtures by Melbourne designer Jardan to the Mt. Sturgeon sheep station, home to a six-bedroom homestead as well as eight dog-friendly sandstone cottages with bathrooms built inside old water tanks. Gardens play a prominent role in the Royal Mail experience; the hotel has the largest kitchen garden in Australia , which supplies the restaurant with nearly all its organic produce, and a 24-acre private garden is home to many rare indigenous and non-indigenous plants. With the Grampian Mountains and their year-round waterfalls right at the hotel’s back door, the Royal Mail is also a prime base for exploring the wilderness and its native wildlife. After a day in the woods, guests can indulge in an eight-course tasting menu with matched wines from one of the top-ranked cellars in the world."

"Tucked into the patchwork hills of the Margaret River wine region, Cape Lodge is a three-hour drive or 45-minute flight south of Perth. This country getaway sits on 40 acres of vineyards, native bush, and lakes a short drive from peaceful towns like Margaret River, Dunsborough, and Yallingup. The region is celebrated for food and wine, and the award-winning Cape Lodge Restaurant is arguably the best place to sample everything from White Rocks veal to prized black Périgord truffles. Bellies filled, guests can meander rows of vines, relax by the lake, or retreat to their spacious rooms, graced with country-style quilts, embroidered pillows, and fresh-cut flowers. Travelers will want to explore the area’s wild beaches (the lodge is less than two miles from the Indian Ocean), karri tree forests, winetasting rooms, artisan markets, and cave systems once inhabited by Aboriginal Australians."

"The Olsen Considered one of Australia ’s best living painters, John Olsen is famous for his squiggly-lined watercolor and oil takes on the antipodean landscape. Fitting, then, that the second property in the Art Series Hotel Group immerses guests in his playful worldview through museum-quality prints, an in-suite visual library, and tours of the hotel’s works. The 224 elegant accommodations are studies in restraint, with designer furnishings, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and soft white-and-silver color schemes that keep the focus on the intricate paintings; kitchenettes with stoves and crockery give suites the feel of modern artist lofts. Should you wish to explore the South Yarra shopping precinct that surrounds The Olsen as the locals do, a smart car, Kronan scooter, Lekker bicycles, and an artsy pram are available for rent. After a day of retail therapy, head back to the hotel for seasonal small bites (gnocchi with field mushrooms; chargrilled calamari with tomato-chickpea stew)."

"Henry Jones Art Hotel Australia’s first dedicated art hotel is also a hotbed of history. Set within Hobart’s oldest waterfront warehouses, which served as a jam factory from the 1890s to the 1970s and helped pull the seedy Sullivan’s Cove district out of poverty, the Henry Jones is a stylish blend of existing sandstone walls, wood beams, and tin roofing balanced with modern stainless-steel fixtures, glass bathrooms, and silk accents. More than 500 original paintings, prints, photos, and sculptures by some of Tasmania’s leading contemporary artists fill the property. In keeping with the city’s reputation as a food destination, the hotel is home to two restaurants (one centered on a wood-fired Asado grill), an all-day café, and a rough-luxe cocktail bar that makes an ideal pit-stop after an afternoon spent exploring Hunter Street’s19th-century architecture and harbor views."

"Set on a 7,000-acre reserve between Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone National Park, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa is a luxury ecolodge backed by the dramatic canyons of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney , the resort consists of 40 stand-alone suites and two homesteads built from traditional timber and sandstone under steel roofing. Most materials were sourced within a 60-mile radius; the fence posts were found on the property, and fallen eucalyptus trees were milled into unique furniture pieces that make up the Wolgan Valley Furniture Collection. Environmental initiatives extend to rainwater collection, water recycling, solar panels for water heating, and the use of traditional windmills instead of electrical pumps.The resort was also built by local tradesmen and decorated with iron lamps and furnishings, artworks, and porcelain jugs created by artisans from the area. Aside from its setting, the most intriguing aspect of the property is an original farmhouse, built around 1832, that hosted Charles Darwin in 1836. Today, the homestead functions as a museum that highlights the Aboriginal, settler, and agricultural history of the valley. A fruit orchard and edible garden supplies the kitchen with organic herbs, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. A comprehensive program of activities was designed to take advantage of the inspiring Wolgan Valley region, which offers peaks to climb, glowworms to ogle, and many memorable food and wine experiences."

"What started as an outback resort known as Wrotham Park Station in far north Queensland was bought by Indigenous Business Australia , dismantled, and loaded on 18 triple road trains (each roughly the length of three semi trucks) for the journey 1,740 miles across rain forest and desert to the Northern Territory's Mary River Wetlands, about an hour and a half from Darwin, adjacent to Kakadu National Park. Safari tents from Kenya were added to the modern “Habitats” and restaurant and bar to complete the immersive Australian wilderness retreat. Like the world’s best safari camps, Wildman Wilderness Lodge has a spacious wooden deck with an infinity pool and daybed-style lounge chairs that encircle a fire pit. This is the place to watch the sun set and look for the area’s wallabies, dingoes, water buffalo, wild pigs, native birds, and two resident saltwater crocodiles known as Big Arse and Fat Arse. The Mary River Wetlands are known for having the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the world, and the lily-studded floodplains are prime habitat for barramundi, which the restaurant often cooks for dinner. Open March through November, the lodge treads lightly on the landscape and is culturally connected to the native Limilngan, Unwynmil, and Wulna people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years."

"Crowning a gentle hill in the heart ofAustralia’s Barossa Valley, the Louise is an intimate vineyard retreat an hour’s drive from Adelaide. The property offers guests a quiet country getaway with creature comforts, including spa tubs, dual rain showers, private courtyards, and a destination restaurant. There are only 15 suites here, each with a patio overlooking the vineyards. Somerooms even have outdoor showers and gas fireplaces,while the hotel features a stunning infinity pool. Local art is a focal point of the Louise, especially in the restaurant, Appellation. Paintings of quince and wine by Adelaide’s Catherine Fitz-Gerald, the Faultline Series bySydney-based Kate Briscoe, and metal sculptures by Erin Keys decorate the main room, while graphics by Aboriginal artist Shane Pickett feature in the private dining area. Before dinner, be sure to have a glass of wine on Appellation’s patio, where you can watch the red sun dip below the terraced hill."

"The flagship property of Australian luxury hotel brand Baillie Lodges teeters on grass-covered limestone cliffs, tucked just far enough into the bluffs to feel protected from the roiling Southern Ocean below. Surrounded on three sides by national parks and facing the namesake seas of Kangaroo Island, just southwest of Adelaide, the Southern Ocean Lodge epitomizes Baillie’s goal of connecting travelers with Australia ’s powerful natural landscapes. Built harmoniously into this pristine coastal environment, the 21-suite lodge encourages guests to get out and explore. A range of guided experiences is included in the nightly rate, from a quad bike wilderness tour to "Kangas and Canapés" sunset drinks in the fields where kangaroos and wallabies graze at dusk. The property’s glass-walled suites feature sunken lounges built using the area’s spotted gum and limestone as well as outdoor terraces where guests can listen to the pounding surf. Some of the top suites have outdoor Jacuzzis. The lobby features a limestone wall and imported Roman floor tiles. The bar and restaurant offer a contrast of land and sea. And there’s a walk-in wine cellar, a shop selling local produce and crafts, and another one of the hotel’s signature sunken lounges. This one has a modern French fireplace suspended from the ceiling, racks of books and magazines, and a deck with a plunge pool that juts toward the ocean."

"The award for most prized piece of Sydney real estate must go to the Park Hyatt. The hotel is tucked directly beneath the Harbour Bridge, and many rooms showcase head-on views of the Sydney Opera House, perfectly framed in floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. In 2011, the Park Hyatt was layered with sandstone and marble to reflect the local Rocks neighborhood, which was built from sandstone in the Georgian period. Carvings, sculptures, paintings, and photographs by eight renowned Australian artists—including Robert Billington and Bruce Armstrong—further connect guests with the hotel's setting. Travelers get what they pay for here; every room, no matter the price, comes with a balcony, butler, and harbor views from the tub. Guests also have access to the coveted rooftop pool deck—where a sunset cocktail is highly recommended. The Park Hyatt is unbeatable for New Year’s Eve, the Vivid Sydney festival, or really any time of the year."

"You can hear water lapping beneath the floorboards of this boutique hotel, inhabiting a 1912 pier just west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is where ferry passengers used to wait to cross the harbor before the bridge was built. A hotel was first constructed in 1999, taking care to preserve the original pier pilings and steel support beams, incorporating them into hallways and guestrooms. Today, Pier One is a 189-room beauty that’s part of Marriot’s Autograph collection of unique properties. Co-owner Ruth Magid put extra love into the 18 sunny suites, which she designed like waterfront apartments. Some feature modern globe lights juxtaposed against the original wood-beam rafters, as well as brass sink basins, twin rain showers with side jets, and egg-shaped tubs. Two balcony suites take guests eye-to-eye with the Sydney Harbour Bridge."

"A longtime favorite among royalty, rock stars, actors, and visiting dignitaries, the Langham hotel completed a $30 million renovation in December 2014. London -based GA Designs was charged with retaining the hotel’s stately character—check out the original fireplace transplanted from the Sydney's beloved Elizabeth Bay House—while creating a sun-drenched new look dressed in white, amber, and silver. The new design also maximizes the property’s Darling Harbour views, most notably in the opulent lobby, whose Calcutta marble floor and gold-leaf paneling are reminiscent of a high-end spa. What hasn’t changed is the Langham’s superlative customer service. Guests can request a chartered yacht or helicopter to get to their show or meeting, and arrange a private picnic, tennis match, sunset Harbour Bridge climb, or tour of the hotel’s display of Sidney Nolan paintings ( Australia ’s largest private collection of his work). There’s even a discreet entrance and in-room check-in for guests who want maximum privacy, as well as an unpacking service for travelers eager to feel at home right away."

"The Four Seasons At the northern end of George Street, opposite Circular Quay and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Four Seasons hotel offers everything guests might need, right on the doorstep of the Sydney Harbour. It’s no surprise this is one of the most popular hotels among business and leisure travelers, and it books out a year in advance for New Year’s Eve. In typical Four Seasons fashion, the hotel is outfitted with caramel-colored furnishings, dark woods, and romantic lighting—exemplified by the lobby’s crystal overhead lights and the hanging lantern installation—and the top-tier suites are dressed to impress. They all offer an apartment-style ambience and incredible harbor panoramas from their perch on the 34th floor; the Royal Suite is especially beautiful, with parquet floors, an ornate wardrobe, and Roman blinds. Whether staying for work or pleasure, all guests will appreciate the fine-dining restaurant, the cherry-wood bar that specializes in boutique beers and wines, the full-service spa, and the 24-hour gym. The Four Seasons also puts together exclusive guest experiences, such as a harbor tour led by a renowned local photographer."

"Chiseled from a sandstone-and-brick wool factory on the site of Sydney ’s first hospital, the Harbour Rocks Hotel is one of the most historic accommodations in the Rocks—and maybe the most haunted. Hotel staff say part of the building, named Scarlett’s Cottages after a well-known lady of the night, is watched over by Eric, a man who once lived here and who still searches for Scarlett in the labyrinthine corridors after she swore her love to him and then disappeared. Ghosts aside, the hotel’s 59 rooms are peaceful, with high ceilings, Georgian arched windows, brick walls painted dark gray, Old West–style textiles, and wool carpeting that recalls the building’s former life. The place is filled with fun artifacts, too, from the ancient luggage lift to old maps and letters framed on the walls. The early-20th-century history that pervades the building is also found in every direction outside its doors."

"The Eastern Suburbs’ most luxurious property is tucked away in the European-style village of Double Bay. It’s an exclusive retreat for those wishing to fly under the radar or travelers wanting a bayside vacation away from the city center. Draped in soft blues, whites, and grays, the hotel reflects its watery surrounds, and furniture pieces from Australia and abroad exude an air of elegance. Much of it, such as the large gray upholstered headboards and the bevel-cut mirrors and veneer side tables on either end, is custom-made. Many rooms feature harbor-view balconies equipped with Italian furniture that transports guests to a secluded European isle. That is, until the lorikeets and cockatoos sound their morning alarms, reminding visitors they’re most certainly in Australia."

"The name hints at the experience, but it doesn’t quite do it justice. Pretty Beach House is not just pretty; it’s stunning. Nestled into a seven-and-a-half-acre swath of semitropical Bouddi National Park, roughly a 90-minute drive or 20-minute seaplane ride from the Harbor City, Pretty Beach House is an intimate retreat immersed in nature. Four distinctive accommodations, from the copper-sheathed, wood-beamed Bayview to the two-level Retreat pavilion that’s nothing less than its name suggests, encourage guests to disconnect, soak in their bathtubs or outdoor plunge pools, and spin a record from the in-room vinyl collection. That is, if they’re not already out exploring the wild landscapes. Owners Brian and Karina Berry, who run the beloved Bells at Killcare retreat nearby, know a thing or two about hospitality, farm-to-table restaurants, and experiences that offer a sense of place. Every evening at Pretty Beach House, guests witness a traditional welcome ceremony by a member of the Darkinjung Aboriginal tribe, who might share some of the indigenous culture that steeps the land. Afterward, a luxury Italian dinner is served inside the main house—which is crafted from local mud bricks, hand-cut sandstone, and rail pylons from the 1880s. Original works by Australian artists such as Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, and John Olsen frame floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, the peninsula’s peaks and waterways beckon guests out the next day—to hike, kayak, or ride the resort’s yacht to get closer to land and sea."

"The bronze-tile pattern at the entrance of 57 Hotel—a 92-room boutique property in the heart of bustling Surry Hills—echoes the mosaic of windows that soar seven stories up. But the stamped-tin awning out front and the gold ceiling that undulates like a wave over the reception area (a plaster-and-metal base that was hand-painted gold) nods to Studio 54, the legendary New York club from which 57 Hotel owes much of its inspiration. The sunken lobby-lounge is the moodiest of the spaces, outfitted in black leather benches, shiny silver walls, spot lights and gray-and-black carpeting that recalls piano keys. This is the best place to catch up with friends over a complimentary Nespresso coffee or watch the Surry Hills scene unfold. Glass walls face lively Foveaux Street. The rooms upstairs offer a vintage-’70s vibe with a white-and-mauve palette playing backdrop to pops of color such as turquoise vinyl chairs in King rooms, topped with candy-striped pillows. The amenities are modern and include free Wi-Fi, in-room iPads, and a selection of films. The guest experience is also infused with groovy tunes curated by Sydney DJ Dre Branciamore, taking the Studio 54 theme full circle."

"The cornerstone of the Kensington Street Precinct, at the heart of the funky Chippendale neighborhood, the Old Clare is the storied pub she used to be and so much more. Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects built a glass-and-steel walkway between the former Clare Hotel and the neighboring Carlton United Brewery building, both dating to the early 20th century, to create a 62-room boutique hotel that simultaneously feels historic and edgy. Original wood panels and brick walls blend seamlessly into spotted gum floors and nude-colored walls, exemplifying the creative reuse that pervades the Chippendale suburb, an inner-city district of galleries and cafés situated at the crossroads of Glebe, Redfern, Surry Hills, Chinatown, and the Central Business District. The design echoes other landmark Sydney restorations by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer such as the Paddington Reservoir Gardens and Carriageworks, an arts complex located just down the road. The Old Clare also brings two more standout restaurants to Chippendale, including the first Australian venture by Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton. Whether guests soak in the egg-shaped tub in their loft room, take a sunrise yoga class on the rooftop pool deck, or sip a “Ginny Hendricks,” a watermelon-dill concoction with bitters and Hendrick’s gin, at the midcentury-modern bar, they’ll have a story to tell. The Old Clare is a tale that keeps getting better."

"The Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park Sports fans, go west. The Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park allows guests to sleep at the site of the epic Summer Olympic Games that Sydney hosted in 2000. But Olympic Park is not just for Olympics buffs; it’s also home to ANZ Stadium, the home field for teams ranging from the National Rugby League (NRL) South Sydney Rabbitohs and Australian Football League (AFL) Wallabies to the national soccer and cricket teams. If that’s not enough, the park houses large entertainment venues such as Allphones Arena, where the likes of Madonna perform. In addition to sports and entertainment, guests of the Pullman come to Olympic Park to attend conferences and business meetings, and everything from the ergonomic work spaces in rooms to a speedy menu at the restaurant cater to the corporate set. That doesn’t mean the place is stuffy, however. The interiors are modern and inviting; the restaurant has hip red accents and a wall-size wine rack; and the property is based at the heart of Australia’s sporting and entertainment culture, which can mean only one thing: fun."