The best new hotels in Australia

Opened: May 2026 

Vibe: A shiny 12-storey city-style hotel, but right by the beach. It makes history as the first full-service internationally branded hotel to open on the Sunshine Coast in four decades.

Location: Only 100 metres from the surf and sand, in the hip and happening suburb of Mooloolaba, located a 15-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport and two hours from Brisbane. 

Rooms: Relax in one of 180 light-filled rooms and suites, reflecting the region's coastal charm.  

Extras: Four distinct restaurants, including a rooftop pool bar with 180-degree water views, a modern Australian rooftop restaurant, a street-level Lobby Bar, and First Avenue Cellar & Bar. The hotel also features a dedicated AvaniSpa and AvaniFit, which integrates a high-performance fitness studio and in-room wellbeing programming.

Opened: February 2026

Vibe: One of the Southern Highlands’ most storied estates reimagined as a high-end retreat after a multi-million-dollar transformation.

Location: In the adorable NSW town of Bowral, just 90 minutes south of Sydney.

Rooms: Stay in one of 44 upgraded heritage-listed guestrooms, with views of the gorgeous Bridgerton-esque gardens. Rooms include daily breakfast, walk-in showers and curated minibars. 

Extras: A signature restaurant called Horderns, serving pan-European fare; The Polo Bar, which features a dedicated charcuterie room; high tea; fitness centre; and Èliva Wellness Spa.

Opened: December 2025

Vibe: The sister property to Sydney’s beloved Manly Pacific hotel, this reimagined resort leans into relaxed luxury – the kind of place where sandy toes are totally welcome.

Location: In the heart of one of Australia’s most iconic coastal destinations, just steps from Noosa Main Beach on Hastings Street.

Rooms: 175 beautifully transformed rooms and suites, ranging from the pinnacle Elysium Suite, complete with sweeping ocean views and a private plunge pool, to Ocean View Suites, River View retreats and poolside sanctuaries.

Extras: A new collection of dining experiences by celebrated Sydney restaurateurs Anna and Alessandro Pavoni, including Italian trattoria Cibaria Noosa and all-day Mediterranean hotspot Bar Capri. There’s also a centrepiece pool featuring 120 sun lounges, a pool terrace and a swim-up bar.

Opening: December 2025

Vibe: The beautiful beachfront property is claiming the title of “Sydney’s only luxury beachfront hotel”.

Location: Just metres from the sand at the southern end of Coogee Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

Rooms: Relax in one of 198 breezy rooms, including 22 ocean-facing suites complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor baths and spacious designer lounges. 

Extras: A brand new seafood restaurant by celebrated British chef Rick Stein; a refreshed Mediterranean restaurant and bar called Shutters; a leisure deck complete with an ocean-facing infinity pool, a poolside bar and an outdoor event terrace; a spa and private pickleball courts.

Opened: November 2025

Vibe: The only vineyard stay on the iconic Great Ocean Road, complete with two ultra-secluded villas tucked within the vines.

Location: Set among the 24-year-old Basalt Wines, just 15 minutes from Port Fairy and Warrnambool at the rugged end of the Great Ocean Road.

Rooms: Tempranillo and Pino Noir are Basalt’s two adults-only villas, featuring a fireplace, private deck, stone bathrooms, honesty bar, breakfast hamper and uninterrupted vineyard views.

Extras: A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, a cosy cellar door pouring Basalt’s cool-climate wines, optional picnic packs and a charming vineyard for exploring.

Opened: October 2025 (the former Novotel property has reopened after a multi-million-dollar renovation under the M Gallery brand)

Vibe: The huge bayside retreat – complete with a Mediterranean-inspired beach club and a show-stealing outdoor pool – has all the polish of a global boutique hotel, ignited by the soul of its tight-knit Greek-Australian neighbourhood. 

Location: On the shores of Sydney’s Brighton-Le-Sands beach – 20 minutes from the CBD – The Brighton is as close as you’ll come to a European beach resort without leaving the Harbour City. 

Rooms: Spread across 14 floors, the hotel’s 307 rooms range from entry-level ‘Deluxe’ rooms to sky-high designer suites, complete with private balconies, luxe living rooms and bespoke in-room touches. 

Extras: A multi-award-winning Mediterranean restaurant called Ammos, a palm-flanked outdoor pool, a large indoor heated pool, an expansive fitness centre, a sauna and steam room, and restorative communal spaces.

Opened: September 2025

Vibe: Australia’s first-ever 25hours Hotel brings the brand’s signature blend of design and quirk to Sydney. True to form, The Olympia leans into its neighbourhood’s creative streak – bold with just the right amount of eccentricity – perfectly suited to Paddo’s stylish, well-heeled crowd.

Location: Set within the heritage-listed former West Olympia Theatre on Oxford Street, at the crossroads of Paddington and Darlinghurst. 

Rooms: 109 character-filled rooms across four levels, split between two design moods – the dark and dramatic ‘Renegade’ and the bright, whimsical ‘Dreamer.’

Extras: Multiple venues bring their own distinct personalities to the property – Monica, a rooftop bar with harbour views; Jacob the Angel, a sunny ground-floor café; The Mulwray, an intimate cocktail and wine bar made for late nights; and The Palomar – a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant from London’s acclaimed team. Add a live music courtyard, wellness facilities and a handful of retail spaces, and it’s as much a neighbourhood hangout as it is a hotel.

Opened: September 2025

Vibe: The newest luxury bolthole in Melbourne’s hotel boom – it feels contemporary yet grounded, with an understated elegance that feels right at home in the city’s creative core.

Location: Perfectly placed at the junction of the CBD, South Melbourne, the Yarra River and the Arts Precinct, Hannah St Hotel puts the best of the city within walking distance – from galleries and theatres to laneway cafés and riverfront walks.

Rooms: 188 sophisticated rooms across ten levels, designed with warm timber finishes and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Extras: A rooftop bar with skyline views, a lap pool and wellness studio, plus a gym, sauna and steam rooms for post-exploration recovery. Downstairs, there's a modern Australian restaurant, co-working spaces and a providore-style café. 

Opened: September 2025.

Vibe: A former convict-era precinct reimagined as a design-forward stay where the spirit of “Freo” (the port city) shines through with a hedonistic-meets-heritage swagger.

Location: At the corner of Parry and William Streets, just a short stroll from Fremantle Prison, the markets and every cool-kid café.

Rooms: 83 contemporary rooms (plus restored heritage cottages) designed with a mix of stone, timber, and art that feels collected by your cool aunt. 

Extras: A wellness space with a sauna and ice-shower for contrast therapy enthusiasts, and Anglesea, the ground-floor restaurant, Anglesea, serving Japanese-Korean-inspired dishes. 

Opened: September 2025

Vibe: Urban, art-inflected and unapologetically Melbourne, it's a boutique hotel that flexes its cultural smarts.

Location: In the thick of it – wedged between heritage façades on Little Collins Street, surrounded by cafés, theatres and vintage shops.

Rooms: 179 rooms are chock-full of character with charming nods to its heritage, local art and terrazzo finishes made from recycled vodka bottles are featured throughout. 

Extras: A ground-floor restaurant and bar that stay open from breakfast to nightcap, a compact gym and direct access to the new Melbourne Walk precinct – a retail rabbit hole of boutiques and design stores that will swallow your afternoon. 

Opened: August 2025 

Vibe: A former ‘80s seaside stay reborn by Doma Group, Marina Resort has traded its dated tiles and buffet breakfasts for a new coastal cool aesthetic. 

Location: Nelson Bay, above the blue-green sweep of Port Stephens. You’re only steps from calm beaches, dolphin cruises and a great wining and dining scene in nearby Shoal Bay. 

Rooms: 48 ultra-slick rooms and suites, each with private balconies and ocean or dune views. 

Extras: A 25-metre pool, direct beach access, a refined restaurant with locally-sourced seafood and minimalist interiors that feel more Byron than standard resort.

Opened: July 2025

Vibe: The first Brisbane hotel for the world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts.

Location: In the former Hilton site on Elizabeth Street in Brisbane CBD.

Rooms: 319 rooms across 25 floors with sweeping views over the River City.

Extras: A fitness centre, heated outdoor lap pool, 19 meeting rooms, one of the city’s largest ballrooms, an all-day restaurant and lobby bar, Latitude 27 Bar and Kitchen, and a new Club InterContinental lounge.

Opened: July 2025

Vibe: A dog-friendly southside hotel offering a more residential-style experience for both short- and long-term stays.

Location: In South Melbourne, near many of the city’s coolest attractions, including Albert Park Lake, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Arts Precinct and South Melbourne Market.

Rooms: 97 residential-style rooms equipped with kitchenettes and homely amenities.

Extras: A gym, a co-working space, a breakfast bar, a lobby bar, and a 24-hour grab-and-go station.

Opened: July 2025

Vibe: The first Northern Territory property from the world’s biggest hotel chain.

Location: In the heart of Darwin CBD, within walking distance of the city’s most popular attractions.

Rooms: Expect 186 rooms with city or whirlpool views.

Extras: A fitness centre, an outdoor pool and a hyper-local restaurant (expected 2026).

Opened: June 2025

Vibe: A new, waterfront luxury hotel that's both swanky and sustainable, built using recycled materials and draped in native greenery.

Location: Perched right on the banks of the Yarra River in Docklands, 1 Hotel is part of a $600 million development called 'Seafarers'.

Rooms: Expect 277 rooms featuring locally sourced, sustainable linen, non-toxic, organic mattresses and reclaimed wooden furniture.

Extras: A state-of-the-art wellness centre with spa, sauna, steam room and gym; a 1,000-seat function centre, a sleek lobby cocktail bar, and a signature restaurant, Here by Mike, helmed by celebrated chef Mike McEnearney.

Opened: June 2025

Vibe: Arguably the Gold Coast’s most luxurious hotel to date, this 24-storey coastal-luxe beach house marks the Australian debut of LA’s innovative Mondrian group.

Location: The five-star hotel sits mere metres from Queensland’s pine tree-framed Burleigh Beach.

Rooms: 208 studios, suites and homes boasting breathtaking views across the Pacific Ocean and out to the Hinterlands.

Extras: A magnesium plunge pool, 24-metre resort-style pool, a wellness space and spa; plus a chic terrace eatery and pool club, Haven, and an oceanfront Italian restaurant, Lito.