Who needs five stars when you’ve got a million in the night sky? This week, one of Australia’s hottest new stays – without a lift, a lobby or a mini-bar – was named on National Geographic’s list of the world’s best hotels for 2025. Hidden in Western Australia, Heyscape Denmark scored a shout-out in the ‘Remote Escape’ category and was one of only two Aussie hotels to make the cut. The tiny but mighty property features outdoor baths, e-bike trails and ocean views – basically, everything you actually want when you’re in the middle of nowhere.
From Morocco to Madagascar, National Geographic’s annual Hotel Awards 2025 celebrate the best new and renovated places to stay across the world. This year's winners were decided by an expert panel of eight travel writers and crowned across categories, including budget breaks, designer dens, wellness havens, eco retreats and one-of-a-kind stays.
Three hotels were celebrated in the ‘Remote Escape’ category, including Western Australia’s very own Heyscape Denmark. Scattered across the hills of a regenerative cattle farm in the relaxed coastal town of Denmark – just a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the Rainbow Coast – these premium self-contained tiny homes are lauded for their wild, off-grid location. The first three cabins were only unveiled ten months ago, with the next batch of 12 set to open from November 2025, complete with a communal sauna and e-bike trails linking one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal national parks, William Bay.
With options for couples, families and even your furry friends, these tiny homes offer views of the towering karri trees, lush valleys or the turquoise ocean beyond. You can wander the forest trails, dip in secluded coves, soak in the outdoor bathtub, play board games under the stars and watch the kangaroos bound by. Sounds like our dream off-grid getaway!
The only other Australian property to make National Geographic’s 30 best hotels for 2025 was Hyde Melbourne Place in the ‘Designer Den’ category. Opened in May 2025, this chic CBD boutique stay features 192 spacious rooms and suites, each rocking its own earthy colour palette. Throw in circular motifs, an open-air rooftop bar and a buzzing city address, and it’s pretty much impossible to complain. You can find a full list of the winners here.