As 2025 winds down, we’re all counting down the days to a well-deserved summer holiday. But this is also prime time to start dreaming up your travel wish list for 2026. If you need some fresh inspo, Condé Nast has just dropped its Best Places to Go in 2026 list – and there are some seriously spectacular Aussie destinations on it.
First up, let’s flick through Condé Nast’s global hit list, which fittingly features 26 destinations across six continents. Among them are two Aussie gems, starting with the gorgeous Margaret River wine region in Western Australia. Here, world-class vineyards meet rugged coastline, so you’ll be torn between swimming and sipping. Fortunately, with new seaside wine festivals like Pair'd, you can do both. Add in the WSL Margaret River Pro 2026 (the second stop on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour), a visit to Halliday’s top winery of the year, Vasse Felix, and the breathtaking 130-kilometre Cape to Cape Track – and you’ve got one unforgettable itinerary.
Next up is Uluṟu – the sacred sandstone monolith in the heart of the Australian Outback, which National Geographic also just named a must-visit destination in 2026. This month marks the 40th anniversary of the historic hand-back of its title deeds to the traditional owners, the Aṉangu – a milestone that sets the stage for Uluṟu’s next chapter of purpose-driven tourism. Central to this is the launch of the five-day Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk in April 2026, offering visitors the rare chance to walk alongside Aṉangu storytellers and even stay overnight in the national park.
Condé Nast’s Best Places to Go in Oceania 2026 spotlights six more Aussie destinations, with the focus of this year’s list shifting from natural wonders to urban gems. Adelaide, Darwin and Perth all got a shout-out, while Sydney’s “second city”, Parramatta, was an unexpected entry.
This is largely thanks to the upcoming Powerhouse Parramatta, set to become Australia’s largest museum when it opens in October 2026. We’re especially excited for its riverside restaurant, which will host a huge food program led by chef Kylie Kwong, alongside pop-up supper clubs in local restaurants. Plus, with the opening of the new Western Sydney International Airport and two big hotel brands – QT and InterContinental – Parramatta is evolving far beyond day-trip territory.
It’s not just the capitals making waves. Just a two-hour drive from Sydney CBD, Port Stephens is a classic coastal getaway that’s recently scored a handful of new boutique stays (we have our eyes on the ocean-view Marina Resort). With Newcastle Art Gallery set to fully reopen in February 2026 after a major expansion that will double its size, and international flights now landing at the nearby Newcastle Airport, the region is officially on the rise.
Rounding out Condé Nast’s Oceania travel list for 2026 is the remote and rugged King Island, just an hour’s flight from mainland Tasmania or Melbourne. The island’s standout accommodation, Kittawa Lodge, expanded its footprint with a new, two-bedroom retreat in early 2025. Adding to the appeal, Ocean Dunes golf course – regarded as one of the best in the Asia-Pacific – will unveil a new restaurant, clubhouse and 64 on-course hotel rooms late next year. So much to look forward to!
Check out the full list of Condé Nast’s Best Places to Go in 2026 here.
The best places to go in Australia in 2026, according to Condé Nast
- Adelaide, SA
- Darwin, NT
- King Island, TAS
- Margaret River, WA
- Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
- Perth, WA
- Port Stephens, NSW
- Uluru, NT