Aboard our business class private jet, we forgo the formalities of commercial air travel, flying on direct routes to reach remote and captivating destinations. We enjoy a range of exclusive experiences and stays in luxury accommodation. At every stage, we are accompanied by a Captain's Choice Tour Manager and Tour Doctor from Australia, as well as local guides. On these journeys, everything has been considered and included.
London - Azores - Havana - Amazon - Atacama Desert - Salvador - Madeira - London 18 Days, departing 5 August 2026
GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Contributors this
18 Where in the World Spotlight on an inspiring location
20 In the Know
Latest travel happenings from around the world
30 Luxury Travel Products
Beautiful items to take on your travels
36 Dispatches
A collection of authentic experiences, outstanding design and sustainable travel initiatives
48 Online Spotlight
What’s trending on luxurytravelmag.com.au
54 Australia’s New Luxe
Our cover story checks you in to a raft of new luxury hotels opening across Australia’s major cities, from boutique boltholes to gleaming towers by big-name international brands
62 Pause
A peaceful photo interlude
Kingdom in the Clouds A photo essay of Bhutan by Nuno Alves 12 Publisher’s Note
ABOVE, RIGHT Exploring
MEMORABLE JOURNEYS FOR THE CURIOUS MODERN TRAVELLER
Still the One Aspen may draw A-list crowds, but this ski resort town will always remain humble at heart
At the Edge of Existence
Denmark’s untouched Faroe Islands unite basalt cliffs, myth and memory through an elemental landscape shaped by sea and wind
Awe and Antiquity
A voyage with Ponant proves that sailing the high seas is the perfect way to uncover the history, heritage and magical mythology of Greece
In the southwest corner of New Zealand, the country’s largest national park brims with natural beauty
Echoes of an Empire
From medieval fortresses to grand capitals, cruising the Danube uncovers
BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO DWELL FOR THE DESIGN DILETTANTE
116 By the Sea
A pioneer in Australia’s mod-motel world, Halcyon House still stands out 10 years down the track
122 Wild at Heart
At Tubu Tree Camp and Wilderness Mombo in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, comfort and safari magic go hand in hand
128 Island Time
On its own six-hectare island in the North Ari Atoll, Constance Halaveli Maldives feels both refined and relaxed
134 Written in Stone
A restored 12th-century castle in Tuscany’s wild Maremma hills, Castello di Vicarello is the life’s work of an inspirational Italian family
140 Where Stillness Settles
A beloved adults-only Fijian hideaway evolves with care and heartfelt hospitality
146 Suite Life
A makeover of Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands brings with it the flashy new Paiza Collection of suites
150 Suite Life
Culture and community define the design of Sydney’s hippest new hotel, The Eve
157 savour
A MENU OF INDULGENT GOURMET & WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
158 Rainforest Reverie
In the rainforest north of Ubud, Buahan reimagines Balinese luxury, without walls
166 Sail Away
With its pioneering dining concept, staggering coastal views and superyacht DNA, new Dubai resort Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is riding the wave
174 In Good Taste
On Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Allura, fine dining finds a lighter rhythm, pairing Master Chef pedigree with champagne brunches, bubble waffles and a sense of pleasure
182 The Original Tastemakers
From grand dining rooms to global menus, a raft of iconic dishes and drinks were born in legendary hotels and have gone on to shape how the world sips and sates in style
“The coffee-table book-style publication you’re holding is something we are immensely proud of, particularly in an era when print standards are so often compromised.”
There’s no better antidote to the ‘January blues’ than a party – and that’s exactly what I, and some 100 travel industry friends, did at the start of February when we celebrated the winners of the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards.
Held on the gorgeous rooftop of Sydney’s recently opened 25hours Hotel The Olympia, with views over the Paddington treetops, it was the perfect way to usher in 2026 while honouring the industry’s best hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators, experiences and people.
As publisher, it was especially rewarding to see first-hand the impact the Gold List continues to have in the industry, and how far the brand has come since Indesign Media welcomed Luxury Travel into the Indesign Media family just four years ago.
In that time, we have cemented our position as Australia’s highest-quality travel magazine – not only editorially, but as a physical product. The coffee-table book-style publication you’re holding is
something we are immensely proud of, particularly in an era when print standards are so often compromised.
In this issue, I penned a feature on the idyllic Likuliku Lagoon Resort in Fiji (p140), which underwent an extensive refresh last year. I was born in Fiji, and the country will always hold a special place in my heart. It was incredibly meaningful to be back in the archipelago with my family.
If you haven’t already, I invite you to sign up to our weekly newsletter at luxurytravelmag.com.au to stay up to date with the latest in luxury travel – from the most exciting hotel and resort openings to curated listicles, in-depth features, reviews and trend pieces.
You can also connect with us on Instagram (@luxurytravel_mag), Facebook (@luxurytravelmagazine), LinkedIn (/luxury-travel-magazine) and Pinterest (@luxurytravelau). Happy and safe travels.
KAVITA
LALA PUBLISHER
Publisher Kavita Lala
EDITOR’S NOTE
“With more than 20 luxury hotel openings across the country in the last decade, many of them emerging post-Covid, Australia is experiencing a new wave of luxury hospitality.”
AA question I get asked a lot is, “Which is your favourite hotel in the world?” I always respond with the same, mysterious (read: safe) line: “I couldn’t possibly. It’s like asking me to choose a favourite child.” Little do they know I have just one child. You might expect this response from a travel editor asked to assess the entire global landscape, but surprisingly, I have recently started using it when asked about Australia alone.
With more than 20 luxury hotel openings across the country in the last decade, many of them emerging post-Covid, Australia is experiencing a new wave of luxury hospitality – and this time, it’s all about style in the city. Luxury travel expert Ute Junker explores this exciting new chapter in this issue’s cover story, Australia’s New Luxe (p54), and paints a picture of an increasingly sophisticated destination with a luxury offering of true global calibre.
It’s an exciting time on our home turf, and within these pages you’ll find reviews on one such new
property, Sydney’s The Eve (p150), along with a regional New South Wales favourite, Halcyon House (p116). Beyond our shores we check in to more luxury hotels impressing through design, dining and a defined sense of place – in Botswana, Italy, Fiji, Singapore, the Maldives and Bali – and indulge aboard Oceania’s newest ship, Allura (p174).
True to Luxury Travel’s ‘authenticity’ pillar stamped on every cover, this issue also showcases a raft of lesser-visited – and unimaginably beautiful –destinations, including Denmark’s Faroe Islands and New Zealand’s remote Fiordlands.
I’m also proud to showcase the work of Singaporebased photographer Nuno Alves, whose stunning photo essay documenting the daily rhythm of life in Bhutan (p104) leaves me wanting to go to the world’s ‘happiest nation’ now more than ever.
Maybe I’ll see you there.
MADELIN TOMELTY EDITOR
Editor Madelin Tomelty in the Maldives
Entries Open May 2026
The Luxury Travel Gold List Awards set the benchmark for the finest in travel across Australia and beyond, celebrating the evolving luxury traveller who explores the world responsibly. From world-class resorts and cruises to unforgettable experiences, the Gold List honours the very best in luxury travel.
Luxury Travel Team
Publisher
Kavita Lala kavita@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Editor
Madelin Tomelty madelin@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Creative Director
Sylvia Weimer sylvia@spacelabdesign.com
Brand + Partnerships Manager Dan Kinsela dan@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Assistant Editor + Sub Editor Natasha Dragun
Head of Production
Anna Carmody anna@indesign.com.au
Production Coordinator Charlotte Yap production@luxurytravelmag.com.au
General Enquiries media@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Contributors
Nuno Alves, Belinda Craigie, Roderick Eime, Bella Falk, Kee Foong, Louise Goldsbury, Susan Gough Henly, Jenny Hewett, Ute Junker, Tatyana Leonov, Jocelyn Pride, Barry Stone, Craig Tansley
Head Office 98 Holdsworth Street, Woollahra NSW 2025 luxurytravelmag.com.au
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work and recognise their continued custodianship and connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their Elders past, present and emerging.
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Some of the talented writers whose inspiring stories feature in this issue
UTE JUNKER
Covering luxury hotels for more than 20 years, Ute Junker has been showered with rose petals on arrival in India, been greeted by a margarita butler in Mexico and watched elephants grazing from her deck in Botswana, among many other highlights. In this issue she dives deep into new-wave luxury in Australia for our cover story, and discovers that when trying to find the country’s best new openings, it pays to look in unexpected places (p54).
Lisbon-born and Singaporebased, Nuno Alves is a travel photographer drawn to places that reward patience and presence. Having lived in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, his work focuses on quiet human moments, cultural nuance and the poetry of everyday life. For this issue, he journeyed through Bhutan, documenting the country’s landscapes, rhythms and rituals through a contemplative photographic approach (p104).
Kee Foong blames his parents for his wanderlust and love of food, passions he has somehow fashioned into a career. Kee has had the privilege of setting foot on all seven continents yet remains in awe of how much there is left to explore. As an Academy Chair for the World’s 50 Best Hotels awards, Kee gets to stay in very nice hotels and resorts, too. This issue, he checks into the Paiza Collection Suites at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore (p146).
One of Australia’s most prolific cruise writers, Louise Goldsbury is a nautical nomad. In between some 100 cruises, she has lived in London, New York, Portland, Taipei, Danang, Darwin, Fremantle and Sydney. Louise specialises in small ships, obsessing over the food, wine and wellness experiences. For this issue, she sailed around the Caribbean on Oceania Cruises’ most luxe ship, Allura, and discovered how high the culinary stakes have been raised (p174).
NUNO ALVES
KEE FOONG
LOUISE GOLDSBURY
HEAVENLY HIDEOUT
Nestled where mist lingers on fjord-kissed waters and ancient beech forests meet mountain peaks, Elysium Lodge is the kind of New Zealand escape that makes other hotels blush. Part boutique retreat, part playwright’s dream, it perches above Lake Wakatipu with views so good they practically write postcards themselves. Forget the typical alpine lodge tropes –dark timber and earnest plaid. Elysium is a confident fusion of contemporary calm and rugged wilderness poetry. Interiors feel curated not contrived: soft linens, smoky greys, earthy leather and sculptural lighting that feels like modern art on a mountainside. Each suite (there’s space to sleep 12) frames the landscape like a living portrait, letting the play of light on water become part of the decor. Outside, pathways weave through native flora, inviting slow mornings with coffee in hand and evenings warmed by a fire pit or alfresco spa under Southern Cross skies. The sense here isn’t just of place but of permission –permission to pause, to stare, to be gently undone by the sheer drama of the view. Here, design and nature don’t compete – they conspire to make you stay a little longer, breathe a little deeper and maybe, just maybe, surrender to the stillness.
elysiumlodge.com
IN THE KNOW
Travel happenings from around the world
WALDORF ASTORIA NEW YORK
The grande dame is back – and she’s dressed for a new era. After an eight-year, billion-dollar restoration, Waldorf Astoria New York has reopened its Park Avenue doors, polishing its Art Deco bones while ushering in a new chapter of Manhattan glamour. Once the address of presidents, screen sirens and society’s upper crust, the landmark now pairs heritage details – marble floors, gilt accents, that iconic clock –with dramatically reconfigured guest rooms, a new crop of restaurants and bars, and private residences carved from the upper floors. Public spaces have been meticulously restored, suites expanded, a Guerlain spa added and service recalibrated for a more contemporary, residential feel. The result? Less hushed museum piece, more living legend. A hotel that has shaped hospitality trends since 1931 is, once again, setting the pace.
