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cover story showcases the most progressive experiences, hotels and destinations across land and sea, awarding those who innovate and
ABOVE, LEFT Thoalagala
Plantation Bungalow in
ABOVE,
Alphonse Island in the Seychelles © Michael van Rooyen
WHERE SEAMLESS LUXURY MEETS SOUL-ENRICHING
FIJIAN HOSPITALITY
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131 linger
BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO DWELL FOR THE DESIGN DILETTANTE
132 Cycladic Haven
e Greek resort changing the face of sustainable design on Folegandros
148 e Call of the Wild Malaysia’s e Datai Langkawi resort is just as dreamy as it was when it opened more than three decades ago
158 Suite Life
e W Sydney delivers design drama both inside and out
162 Suite Life
On the Greek island of Corfu, Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort delivers a stay t for royalty
166 Design Bite
Striking architecture de nes Harudot café on the ai isle of Phuket
169 savour
A MENU OF INDULGENT GOURMET & WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
170 Art de Vivre
A forward-thinking French family are not only making exceptional wine around the country, but also exceptional luxe retreats
178 Nature & Nurture
Pioneers in Australia’s farm-to-table culinary scene deliver impeccable dining and relaxation at two Daylesford spa-country retreats
186 Body & Soul
Wellness means far more than massages at the preeminent ai health retreat, RAKxa
194 Rendez-vous
A beautiful place to gather and dine
196 Scents & Sensibility
A Q&A with legendary perfumer Quentin Bisch
MIDDLE Spa time at Les Sources de
Daylesford’s dreamy Dairy Flat Farm © INKD Photography
TOP, LEFT Domes Miamar’s main pool in Corfu
TOP, RIGHT Gundari resort sits pretty on the Greek Isle of Folegandros
Caudalie in Bordeaux, France
BOTTOM
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
“The tea fields throughout Sri Lanka have inspired me to drink more of this beneficial brew, and I plan on doing just that this Christmas break as I read this new, engaging issue from cover to cover.”
Welcome to this special summer 2024/2025 issue of Luxury Travel, where we reveal all the winners and honourable mentions in this year’s Gold List Awards. ese annual awards are special not only to us here at Indesign Media, but – as the country’s longestrunning travel awards – also to the Australian travel industry at large. Indeed, the number of entries we received this year is testament to that. I’m so proud of the Luxury Travel team, who brought this magni cent awards program together, and am awed at the incredible calibre of brands we saw enter in 2024.
I did not envy our jury this year, who had the di cult job of determining our shortlist from a pool of truly inspiring and progressive hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and travel agencies. I am so grateful for their contribution to the Gold List, and to everyone who voted this year – thank you for your support as we continue to recognise and celebrate those that are doing big things in the luxury tourism industry.
As this issue hits the stands, we are also coming up to six months since our beautiful new website debuted. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to head to
luxurytravelmag.com.au to see the slick, modern and intuitive site our brilliant team has come up with. If you sign up to our newsletter you will receive a weekly wrap-up of the week’s best content, including news on the latest luxury hotel and resort openings, along with engaging features by the industry’s best travel writers and snackable roundups and destination guides – now all the more enjoyable to read for this redesign.
On social media, you can connect with us on Instagram (@luxurytravelau), Facebook (@luxurytravelmagazine), LinkedIn (/luxury-travel-magazine) and Pinterest (@luxurytravelau) to keep up to date with our gorgeous content, too.
As you’ll see from my feature on page 102, I’ve just returned from a trip around Sri Lanka, which was absolutely fantastic. e tea elds throughout the country have inspired me to drink more of this bene cial brew, and I plan on doing just that this Christmas break as I read this new, engaging issue from cover to cover.
Wishing you a safe and happy festive season, and a fabulous start to 2025. I hope it is lled with joy, laughter and luxurious journeys that move you.
KAVITA LALA PUBLISHER
Publisher Kavita Lala
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EDITOR’S NOTE
“My New Year’s resolution? To have more fun. I hope this issue inspires you to do the same.”
It’s always a risk to go back to a destination or hotel that really blew you away on the rst visit. What if the experience doesn’t match the perfect memories – the rosy images you have in your head – the second time around? I took such a punt this year when I checked back in to a resort I originally visited in 2015: e Datai Langkawi in Malaysia. I knew that not only were my standards likely to be higher after another nine years of global travel, but also that luxury resorts around the world had come a long way in the design and sustainability stakes during the same period – had e Datai kept up?
What a relief it was to nd that this treasured resort was almost exactly the same as I remembered it to be. I rediscovered why it is still winning awards left and right, and inspiring both guests and the industry at large after 31 years of operation: e qualities that make it so memorable – architectural beauty, idyllic location, environmental focus – are unique, but more importantly, they are timeless. e Datai makes a very worthy recipient of the Sustainable Luxury Resort award for the second year running in this very special Gold List Awards issue of Luxury Travel
Another well-deserved win in the new category of Luxury Hotel Restaurant or Bar is Lake House in Victoria’s Daylesford spa country. is retreat, too, posed me a conundrum: Will it live up to the hype I’ve been hearing all these years? I quickly discovered
the answer – a resounding ‘yes’ – when visiting for my feature Nature & Nurture (page 178). e Gold List jury and you, our readers, concur.
ese are just two of the outstanding hospitality and travel o erings that have taken home trophies in this year’s Gold List Awards, all the winners of which can be found in the pages of this extra-large issue. From the world’s best cruise lines to the luxury family experiences that take the cake, we were blown away with the standard of entries in the program’s 26 categories this year.
Also to discover and devour in this issue are beautiful stories on far- ung destinations such as the bougie Hamptons, soul-stirring Bhutan, the paradisiacal Seychelles and the under-the-radar Italian island of Ischia. Design lovers will want to read about Gundari resort in the Greek Islands and Niseko’s Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, not to mention, the larger-than-life W Sydney, which opened its doors in 2023.
ere’s nothing like seeing another issue of Luxury Travel come together to make me want to put on my ‘Out of O ce’ and head o on holiday – and I plan on doing just that as whirlwind 2024 comes to a close.
My New Year’s resolution? To have more fun. I hope this issue inspires you to do the same.
M ADELIN TOMELTY EDITOR
Editor Madelin Tomelty in Provence
ENDORSED BY
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 Richard Bunting richard@luxurytravelmag.com.au General Enquiries media@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Head of Production Anna Carmody anna@indesign.com.au
Production Coordinator Charlotte Yap production@luxurytravelmag.com.au
Assistant Editor + Sub Editor Natasha Dragun Contributors
Belinda Craigie, Bella Falk, Susan Gough Henly, James Huntly, Ute Junker, Tatyana Leonov, Vanessa Mulquiney, Barry Stone
Events Coordinator Roisin Fagan roisin@indesign.com.au
Accounts Vivia Felice vivia@indesign.com.au
Indesign Media Executive Team
CEO Raj Nandan raj@indesign.com.au
Group Operations Manager
Sheree Bryant sheree@indesign.com.au
Online Manager
Radu Enache radu@indesign.com.au
Head O ce
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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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CONTRIBUTORS
Some of the talented writers whose inspiring stories feature in this issue
Barry Stone is the author of 16 non- ction books on military history, colonial Australia and contemporary architecture for domestic and international publishers including Harper Collins and Allen & Unwin. Around 20 years ago, he began dabbling in travel writing and now contributes to some of Australia’s premier publications including e Australian Financial Review and Luxury Travel. Barry ventured to vibrant Buenos Aires for this issue (page 116).
Vanessa Mulquiney is a Romebased travel writer and editor. A former in ight magazine editor, Vanessa has covered travel for more than 20 years, her work appearing in Travel + Luxury, Forbes Travel Guide and Vogue. Although a city girl at heart, Vanessa spends most weekends wandering small towns and beaches on the outskirts of Rome and beyond with her bilingual cocker spaniel. Vanessa explored beautifully under-the-radar Ischia for this issue (page 108).
e ability to pack everything needed for a three-week trip into a piece of carry-on luggage is just one of the skills Ute Junker has developed over a lifetime of travel. What keeps this writer, editor and podcaster on the road is the joy of immersing herself in a new destination, exploring its sights and sounds, its avours and its people – and also the delight of revisiting a muchloved place. Ute discovered transformative Bhutan for this issue (page 82).
Susan Gough Henly divides her time between an old stone farmhouse in Bordeaux and a treehouse on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Fluent in the language and culture of France, she has a deep knowledge of food and wine, and loves exploring the French countryside with the promise of a ne hotel at the end of the day. Sue visited the bougie Hamptons, the idyllic Greek Islands and France’s enchanting Loire Valley for this issue (pages 88, 132 and 170).
BARRY STONE
VANESSSA MULQUINEY
UTE JUNKER
SUSAN GOUGH HENLY
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RAI N BOW CONN ECTIO N
ey say there are ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. Vinicunca mountain in the Andes range of Peru is literally all in one. e soaring peak – near the city of Cusco – tops out at 5,036 metres, and is layered in an astonishing seven geological hues. e colourful stripes are made up of more than 14 different minerals, and they were only revealed in 2013 when ice-melt over the mountain revealed them in all their rainbow glory. Without the snow interacting with the minerals, the striations would never have formed. Despite the fact that this glorious sight does tell a rather sobering story about climate change, it’s still a geological wonder to behold – all red clays, calcium carbonate-rich sediments, ferromagnesian compounds, and other combinations of elements that interweave to paint an unimaginable colour palette. Get set to unleash your inner artist after a visit.
IN THE KNOW
Travel happenings from around the world
Morocco’s storied Hispano-Moorish history is front and centre at the freshly minted Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam in the country’s UNESCO-listed capital. e dreamy retreat is set over more than 440 hectares of lush Andalusian-style gardens, replete with pools, fountains and eye-catching mosaic features. is is your view from rooms and suites, many of which also overlook the adjoining 45hole golf course. Because 18 is not enough. Design throughout is exquisite: high ceilings, intricate muqarnas (a classic Arab-Andalusian architectural element), intricate Moroccan gebs frescoes and a richly decorated domes that sparkle like gems. Don’t miss a turn in the spa, which boasts hammams and a Roman bath-inspired indoor pool. ritzcarlton.com
NAMIA RIVER RETREAT
Style and sustainability unite at Namia, welcoming guests from mid-December to the colourfully chaotic Vietnamese town of Hoi An. Set in a quiet enclave of the u Bon River – a short bike ride from the city’s UNESCO-listed heart – the resort is like a salve for the soul. Each of the 60 villas comes with a private plunge pool and patios overlooking the water or palm forest that surrounds. Fittingly, every stay slows your pulse with an included spa treatment, including a herbal steam, ideally following a session in the on-site apothecary where you can stretch your limbs practicing duong sinh (meditative movement). Sign up for outings including bike rides through Nipa Forest (your wheels are made from bamboo) or guided visits to the studios of local artisans. namiariverretreat.com
QT SINGAPORE
Whimsy is at the forefront of the QT brand of hospitality, whether you’re sleeping in stylish surrounds in Sydney, the Gold Coast or Queenstown. Traditionally Antipodean, the hotel group has branched out to Singapore, launching its rst Southeast Asian post within the refurbished Neoclassical Telegraph heritage building on Robinson Road. As expected, there’s a bold use of colour throughout, nodding to Singapore’s candy-coloured Chinese shophouses and fast-paced lifestyle. It’s all interwoven with artistic furniture, delicate lighting and considered detailing incorporating woven rattan, black framing and artwork from the likes of Singapore-based artist Jill Tran, whose prints line the hotel’s walls. Public spaces are complemented by two distinct dining experiences: Cygnet, a Manhattan-style steakhouse with a menu curated by award-winning chef Sean Connolly, and Rooftop at QT, a bar that o ers creative cocktails with a view.
qthotels.com
SOFITEL SYDNEY WENTWORTH
Australia’s rst international ve-star hotel, So tel Sydney Wentworth, has undergone a stunning AUD$70 million refurbishment. Created by Qantas in the 1960s, the hotel has hosted royalty, movie stars, musicians and dignitaries. Now, experience the reimagined elegance across 346 meticulously designed rooms and suites. New public areas include the grand entrance and opulent So tel Club Millésime. Indulge in unique dining experiences at a multi-venue precinct crafted by House Made Hospitality.
sofi tel.com
© Giulia Peyrone
ROYAL DAVUI ISLAND
RESORT FIJI
Small is beautiful at Royal Davui Island Resort in Fiji, its 16 adults-only villas perched across Beqa Lagoon. Seven months in the making, the resort has a new look – just in time to celebrate its 20th anniversary. e property’s commitment to sustainability and the archipelago it calls home is still evident throughout accommodations, but with upgraded bedrooms, private plunge pools and spacious outdoor lounge areas now at your disposal. e retreat’s Banyan Bar & Restaurant – built around a centuries-old banyan tree – also received a polish in the recent renovations, now with custom-made furnishings and a 3D art installation (a tribute to the island’s local wildlife) on show. Other treats await: an eight-metre pool, white-sand beaches, powerboats and kayaks, and sand quay picnics.
But the real opulence lies in the 50-plus sta , whose sole aim is to treat guests as royalty.
royaldavuifiji.com
RAFFLES JAIPUR
Beginning its life in Singapore in 1887, the Ra es hotel brand is synonymous with luxurious, old-world hospitality – the Golden Age of travel in an opulent package. e group’s latest outpost (its second in India) sits pretty in the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur. And boy does it glow. e building is pure white marble, uniting Mughal and Rajputana architectural techniques in design ourishes. Each of the 50 rooms and suites is unique in design and comes with expansive balconies, outdoor soaking tubs or plunge pools, painted corniced ceilings, golden murals and locally sourced artefacts. Exclusive dining, artisan masterclasses and private concerts feature on the hotel’s calendar of events, along with an Artisan Trail designed to connect guests with local creatives and their crafts.
ra es.com
AMAN MALDIVES
The Aman hospitality group can’t put a foot wrong – from Beijing to Bhutan, New York to Japan they craft some of the most luxe, personality-driven hotels and resorts on the planet. eir spotlight today is rmly on the Maldives, that enticing archipelago of dreamy all-inclusive stays in the Indian Ocean. Set to open in 2025, the private-island Vaavu Atoll oasis of Aman Maldives will feature just 52 guest accommodations, designed by long-time Aman collaborator, Kerry Hill Architects. e Vaavu Atoll is one of the most secluded and exclusive parts of the Maldives, known for its exceptional diving. Here, the new resort will continue Aman’s tradition of timeless and minimalist architecture, taking inspiration from the white coralline beaches, palm-popped interiors and opaline waters for which the archipelago is so renowned.
aman.com
THE LANGHAM CUSTOMS HOUSE, BANGKOK
The ai capital has its fair share of luxurious hotels and urban resorts. e Langham, Customs House, Bangkok, is set to give them a run for their money when it opens in 2026. Set on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the city’s historic Bang Rak District, the glam property will transform the 1888-built Customs House – a neoPalladian landmark conceptualised by Joachim Grassi. Designers have their eye on maintaining original features, from the building’s original teak oors to the grand central staircase and impressive four-storey hallway. Adjacent to the historic structure will be a new building housing 78 guest rooms, o ering expansive views of the river and city skyline.
langhamhotels.com.au
CAPELLA KENTING
Beloved purveyors of bespoke and highly personalised luxury, Capella Hotels & Resorts has announced its second property in Taiwan. You will have to wait a few years, though –the hotel is not scheduled to open in Kenting, on the western coastline of the Hengchun Peninsula, until 2028. Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, founders of ACPV Architects, are behind the design, and they draw inspiration from the region’s indigenous architecture and the rich natural environment – think low walls made of stacked stones, re ecting the region’s tribal houses. ere’s a big emphasis on wellness, as is in Capella’s DNA, alongside experiential dining with a focus on locally harvested ingredients presented through a farm-to-table concept.
capellahotels.com
SPOTLIGHT ON SAUDI ARABIA
From monumental desert tombs and epic canyons to white-sand atolls and evocative old towns, Saudi Arabia has rmly made it as a travel hotspot. Seeing the success of ravishing resort destinations like AlUla, the government has launched a slate of giga-projects such as NEOM in the country’s northwest, including Sindhala Island, a luxury island set to open next year with Four Seasons and Marriott hotels, and a debut from Zannier Hotels. Other projects include Trojena, the Middle East’s rst outdoor ski destination in the mountains above 1,800 metres, which will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. And e Line, the world’s rst vertical city stretching across 170 kilometres of the desert, designed by some of the world’s leading architects. Just as ambitious is Red Sea Global, a luxury regenerative tourism destination on the west coast. Conceived as a zero-waste, zero-carbon destination, with annual visitor numbers capped at one million to limit environmental impacts, Red Sea Global includes a brand-new international airport and a number of luxury retreats including the just opened Six Senses Southern Dunes, e Red Sea, which will soon be joined by e St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
