Is there anything better than a holiday in our own backyard? Thankfully, our sunburnt country is home to many cracking stays, from coastal shacks to rainforest treehouses, swish five-star hotels and charming cottages. But if you’re after the crème de la crème, you’ll want to check out the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards – the world’s longest-running and most prestigious travel awards. More than 750,000 travellers voted in the 38th edition, and ten hotels rose to the top as undisputed favourites in Australia and New Zealand. And one Sydney stay has just been named the second-best hotel in Australia. Staycation, anyone? (Yes, please).
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This year, the silver medal went to Capella Sydney, which is officially the best hotel our Editor in Chief, Alice Ellis, has ever experienced. It’s luxurious, yet not in a flashy, chandeliers-and-knockout-views type of way. Capella Sydney radiates quiet, confident, understated elegance, where every detail has been thoughtfully curated. Rooms are generous and filled with original artworks, the heritage sandstone exterior adds timeless charm, and the hotel offers top-notch wellness facilities alongside exceptional restaurants and bars. Check us in!
Capella wasn’t the only Sydney stay to clean up at the awards, with the Fullerton Hotel named the sixth-best hotel in Australia and New Zealand. Located in a beautiful heritage-listed building – the old General Post Office – the Fullerton Hotel even offers tours of the historic GPO.
Claiming the crown as Australia’s best hotel for 2025 is Silky Oaks Lodge in Queensland, scoring an almost perfect 99.67. Under the lush and leafy canopy of the Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, this ‘hotel’ is home to 40 luxury treehouses fitted with private verandahs, swaying hammocks, large spa baths and all the amenities you could wish for. It’s the ideal launchpad for exploring the natural wonders of the surrounding Mossman River and the nearby Great Barrier Reef, giving you the best of both worlds – a rainforest escape and a coastal getaway in one unforgettable stay.
Two Melbourne hotels featured in the top ten, with The Langham claiming third place and last year’s number one property, The Ritz-Carlton, close behind in fourth. The Langham is at the grand, traditional end of the hotel spectrum, featuring chandeliers, signature lobby florals, marble bathrooms with generous-sized tubs and also pops of Langham pink. Meanwhile, at 80 storeys, The Ritz-Carlton is the tallest hotel in the country, boasting 257 stylish rooms, an infinity pool, regionally inspired spa packages and signature fine dining experiences. You can start building your hotel bucket list from the full top ten below.
The 10 best hotels in Australia and New Zealand for 2025, according to Condé Nast Traveller
- Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree, Australia
- Capella Sydney, Australia
- The Langham, Melbourne, Australia
- The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
- The Tasman, a Luxury Hotel Collection, Hobart, Australia
- The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, Australia
- Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, Australia
- Pihopa Retreat, Nelson, NZ
- Otahuna Lodge, Tai Papu, NZ
- COMO The Treasury, Perth, Australia
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