The Oaks Ranch, NSW
The Oaks Ranch, NSW
Kyah, NSW
If you’re travelling to New South Wales, you’re in luck: the state has a stack of great new hotels to add to your hit list, including the arrival of a couple big-name US brands. But it’s not all about the big players or NSW – this year, Australia saw the arrival of stylish boutique hotels and the revival of grand old beauties, as well as perfectly placed city stays. Here’s the best newbies we visited in 2022. Oh, and if you want some more recently opened hotels, check out our list from 2021.
The Oaks Ranch, Mossy Point, NSW
For a country that loves eating well, there’s not been too many recently opened hotels where you’d be happy to stay put. You know, those places that offer everything from excellent dining to great drinks and relaxation. This beauty, south of Batemans Bay (but north of Narooma), does – although if you don’t jump in the car and explore the coast you’d miss some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. The food is great, and there’s well-made cocktails and a wine list that feels very contemporary. This is one of those old-hotels-made-good, and its Spanish Mission-style architecture has been preserved. There’s 14 elegantly renovated suites with luxury linen bedding and robes, Leif bathroom products and a bathroom with twin showers and heated floors. There’s a nine-hole golf course, and many of the rooms have a private courtyard overlooking the manicured lawn. But for us, the best bit is the magnesium pool. Lazing on the sunny deck with a Margarita in hand is very fabulous.
Osborn House, Southern Highlands, NSW
Like the Oaks Ranch, this luxury newbie is a destination hotel: simply turn up and it’s got everything. One of the more luxe hotels on this list, it’s centred around a grand 1892-built home that’s been converted into suites, with additional self-contained cabins complete with a fireplace and a balcony bathtub for cosy bathing in the crisp Southern Highlands air. The hotel is full of eclectic furniture, and there are many nooks and places, like reading rooms, for you retreat to for quiet relaxation. There’s also a 25-metre lap pool with a retractable roof, plus a tennis court, gym, and a sauna and steam room with a cool plunge. But we reckon the real draw is the dining and bar area. Executive chef Segundo Farrell has looked across the globe to create a menu that includes roast chicken for two, house-made potato gnocchi, empanadas, a beef burger, and more. There’s a more formal dining room pitched for the sophisticated surrounds, as well as a more casual eatery and bar centred around a great fireplace. Importantly, both offer delicious food.
Intercontinental Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
This Mornington Peninsula landmark, built in 1875 and previously known as Hotel Continental, has re-emerged as a luxury lifestyle destination with accommodation, restaurants and a spa following a $100 million-plus renovation. The 108-room hotel mixes Victorian and art deco styles, with plush velvet furnishings and freestanding bathtubs. Guests get access to the Mediterranean-inspired pool deck with views over Port Phillip Bay, complete with green-and-white striped furniture and chequerboard tiling that give Amalfi Coast vibes. Its Aurora Spa and Bathhouse is moments away from opening and will have a float room, hydrotherapy pools and thermal experiences including an “igloo” ice room. The hotel’s 13 dining and drinking options are guided by celebrated Victorian chef and restaurateur Scott Pickett. The highlight is his fine diner Audrey’s.
QT Newcastle, NSW
In the former David Jones building on Hunter Street Mall in Newcastle’s East End precinct, this is the first regional property in the designer hotel group’s portfolio. The 104-room hotel has all the quirky art and design elements you would expect from the brand, with the bonus of a rooftop bar that’s said to have the largest selection of Japanese whisky in the area. There’s also a modern Australian restaurant, Jana Restaurant & Bar, and a casual eatery, Scott’s. The colourful rooms and suites feature brushed brass, industrial textures and views over the water or Newcastle cathedral. But for a rockstar experience, book the Clock Suite. It gets its name from the building’s dome and clock face, which is the suite’s centrepiece. It’s been restored to its former glory and sits above the room’s oversized bathtub, which is surrounded by pretty emerald-green tiles.
Hotel Indigo, Brisbane, Qld
This 212-room hotel is beside the river at North Quay so it’s not far from the Queen Street Mall action or Roma Street Station, and there’s lots of river walks you can take. But our favourite part of this Brissie hotel is its exterior facade, which features a large-scale artwork of a blue wren – a nod to the award-winning book Boy Swallows Universe by Brisbane-based author Trent Dalton. The rooms are smart and have all the usual comforts and, if you don’t want to leave the hotel for drinks and food, there’s a graffiti-covered Tuk Nook coffee cart in the lobby, an izakaya-style restaurant and a speakeasy-inspired bar.
Kimpton Margot Sydney, NSW
Kimpton was one of the first boutique hotel groups in the US, founded in 1981, and has more than 75 hotels worldwide. It’s now owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts (which also operates Intercontinental, Regent and many more), and it’s got big plans for expansion. The first Kimpton to arrive in Australia is in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, on Pitt Street, not far from Town Hall and Hyde Park. It’s moved into the former Primus Hotel building and its striking art deco features have been preserved – most specifically its handsome scagliola-pillared lobby. There’s a rooftop swimming pool, and its signature restaurant is helmed by long-time Sydney chef Luke Mangan, who also does the food at the nearby Hilton.
Portarlington Grand Hotel, Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria
There might be nods to years gone by, but the multimillion-dollar refurb of the 1888-built Portarlington Grand Hotel marks a new era for the coastal township of Portarlington. The traditionally slow-paced spot on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is now making waves that can be felt across the bay in Melbourne, just over an hour away by ferry. Elements of the original pub – overlooking the water on Newcombe Street – have been painstakingly preserved, including the balustrading, which was sent to Castlemaine and recast to look exactly as it did when built. A large balcony gives early 20th-century-Australiana grandeur to six of the accommodation’s 18 boutique rooms. There are also ornamental fireplaces, archways, and textural feature walls hand-painted by local outfit Scanlan & Makers, with Zuster furniture throughout. Dine on everything from chicken parmis to local mussels in the stylishly refurbished bistro, relax at a picnic table under a yellow-and-white striped umbrella in the lawn area, or grab a beer in the front bar.
Ace Hotel, Sydney, NSW
In 2022, Australia got its first Ace Hotel. The perennially cool US boutique hotel group chose Sydney for its inaugural digs, specifically a spot on the edge of the city and Surry Hills. The entry-level rooms are fairly standard, albeit with some cute design touches, but if you want to get the full Ace experience you should splurge for the top-level rooms. Some come with guitars and a collection of vinyl, others with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace. The suites have kitchens and loungerooms. But you don’t even need to stay at the hotel to experience the Ace glow. On a Friday night the downstairs bar is a real vibe, and it rooftop restaurant, Kiln, is outstanding. That’s because self-assured rule breaker Mitch Orr is at the helm. It’s so good we included it in our best restaurant openings of 2022 list.
Voco Melbourne Central, Victoria
Don’t let the uneventful entry put you off – the door is tucked down a non-descript laneway and you need to ride the elevator to get to check-in and amenities. But with comfortable and inviting rooms, decent breakfast, a rooftop plunge pool, and a brasserie terrace and bar overlooking the city, Voco Melbourne Central is a great new hotel option if you’re looking for digs in the centre of the Victorian capital. The beds are cosy (and made from recycled materials) and we especially like the openable windows to help reduce the reliance on air conditioning.
Voco Brisbane City Centre, Queensland
It’s a similar story at this Brissie Voco. Each of the 194 guestrooms have plush bedding, smart in-room technology and views over either the city or river. Its interiors are influenced by its riverside location, best seen in the bold bedhead mural. There’s an outdoor pool and modern gym, and its ground-floor dining venue, Kraft & Co, begins the day as a cafe before transforming into a lounge bar at night.
Finniss River Lodge, Northern Territory
Finniss River Station has operated as a grazing property for Brahman cattle since 1987, but now also has six luxurious suites, with wide verandas and an infinity-edge pool offering views over the picturesque floodplains. The 200-square kilometre working cattle property is a 90-minute drive south-west of Darwin, and the opening of Finniss River Lodge brings to life a long-held dream for the Venturin family. The architecture relies predominantly on natural timbers and floor-to-ceiling picture windows that draw in the surrounds. The all-inclusive experience includes meals by Travis Crane, who previously worked at Brisbane’s City Winery restaurant, and if fishing is your thing, it’s a big deal here. There’s also guided activities for both adults and children.
Oxford House, Sydney, NSW
Inspired by the motels of Southern California, this pretty property in leafy Paddington has a restaurant overlooking buzzing Oxford Street and a courtyard with a pool, bar and loungers. The pool is the perfect spot to while away the day ordering cocktails and snacks by executive chef Tyler Preston (ex-Melbourne’s Chin Chin). The rooms have Marc Newson crockery, Grown Alchemist hair products and a Marshall speaker. You can also slip into custom bathrobes by Paddington designer Double Rainbouu, or walk the hotel admiring the photography, collage and sculptures by artists Lena Gustafson, Adam Turnbull and Niah McLeod. And, as a special local touch, Paddo’s Simon Says Juice is delivering fresh juices daily to the hotel via bicycle – just for fun.
Kyah, Blue Mountains, NSW
This former Blackheath motel has been given a stylish facelift. Its 46 rooms are spread across three wings – each named after the rocky columns in the Blue Mountains’ most famous landmark, the Three Sisters: Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo – which converge at a central lobby. That’s where you’ll find Blaq restaurant and bar, which showcases produce picked from its garden or sourced from local producers under the culinary vision of executive chef, Mate Herceg, who was previously head chef at iconic Blue Mountains hotel, the Hydro Majestic. The large property also offers a tennis court, a steam room, three fireplaces and a 100-year-old cherry blossom tree.
Honourable mentions
The Cambium, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
This business retreat on the Mornington Peninsula is a sanctuary for work groups looking to escape in style. The 1.6-hectare property in Red Hill, surrounded by the lush Endeavour Fern Gully rainforest, is bookable for everything from company retreats to events and seminars. It has 11 guest rooms, a grand communal dining room and a commercial kitchen. The historical site’s original stables have been restored and flipped into a multipurpose space with a 14-person meeting room, an open fireplace and a loft fitted with seating and quiet workspaces.
QT Gold Coast, Queensland
The long-opened QT has added another accommodation option: six two-person boutique cabins on the rooftop. Each one has its own character, a balcony, natural textures and earthy tones, and comes with board games, coffee-table books and treats such as complimentary bliss balls.
Additional reporting by Emma Joyce, Tomas Telegramma and Tim McGlone.
17 Jul 2023
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