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What do a retro surf motel on the Mid North Coast and Sydney’s brand-new fish market have in common? They’ve both just scored a spot on TIME magazine’s annual World’s Greatest Places list – a global round-up of the most exciting destinations to visit and stay right now.
Each year, TIME compiles the list with help from its worldwide network of correspondents and contributors, spotlighting 100 standout experiences across hotels, restaurants, attractions and cultural sites. And while the 2026 edition spans everything from luxury expeditions to ancient cultural landscapes, two of the inclusions are much closer to home for Sydneysiders.
First up: Sydney Fish Market, which has just reopened following a massive $800 million redevelopment. Already one of the city’s most beloved institutions (and the second-most visited attraction in Sydney after the Opera House), the harbourfront icon has been completely reimagined as a next-generation seafood hub.
The new market brings together more than 40 seafood retailers, restaurants and cafés under one spectacular roof, making it a paradise for anyone partial to freshly shucked oysters, sashimi platters or a classic paper-wrapped serve of fish and chips.
Also flying the flag for NSW is Sea Sea Hotel, a design-forward boutique hiding by the beach in the laid-back surf town of Crescent Head. Opened in late 2024, Sea Sea is part of the new wave of nostalgic Aussie motels getting a stylish second life. The property bills itself as a “’70s-inspired surf club hotel”, and the vibe leans hard into a Cali-coded endless summer energy. Inside, you’ll find 25 guest rooms filled with bespoke furniture, statement lighting and curated artwork – old-school retro and effortlessly cool.
The fun doesn’t stop at the rooms. There’s a modern Australian restaurant led by chef Daniel Medcalf (formerly of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar), plus a surf-and-souvenir shop, a hi-fi listening lounge and an expansive outdoor hangout area complete with a heated pool, sauna, ice baths and an outdoor fireplace. The hotel also hosts regular gigs and pop-up events with creatives from around the world – a little oasis of world-class arts in a classic Aussie beach town.
Australia had two other experiences recognised on TIME’s 2026 list – including a remote luxury expedition in Tasmania and the ancient Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Western Australia.
You can see TIME’s full list of the World’s Greatest Places here.
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