Travel news The new hotels we’re

New hotels WE’RE EXCITED FOR

The Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa

Marriott International is set to debut its first Margaret River hotel in 2023. Located on Gnarabup Beach, The Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa will enjoy views over the Indian Ocean from its 120 guestrooms, including 45 spacious suites, and three on-site dining venues.

Eos Sky City SkyCity Hotels Group has unveiled the centrepiece of the $330 million Adelaide Casino expansion, Eos by SkyCity. Reservations have opened for the 120-room hotel starting 1 December 2020. Guests will enjoy bespoke experiences, from in-room styling to on-call mixologists, and can make the most of a host of new offerings, including restaurants and bars.

Bvlgari Hotel Roma Scheduled to open in 2022, Bvlgari Hotel Roma will be situated in the heart of the Campo Marzio neighbourhood in the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore. The 100 rooms occupy an imposing rationalist building, replete with a fresco by Antonio Barrera and mosaic by Ferruccio Ferrazzi.

The Londoner Reservations are now being accepted at The Londoner Hotel, billed as the ‘world’s first super boutique’ hotel, for arrivals from September 2020. Located in Leicester Square, the 350-room property is a 16-storey structure, with only eight of those levels above ground. The subterranean spaces accommodate a spa, pool and two private screening rooms.

Six Senses Rome Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas is adding the capital of Italy to its collection. Six Senses Rome will occupy the Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini, built in the 18th century in the centre of Ancient Rome. Opening in late 2021, the property will feature 95 guest rooms and suites, a spa, restaurant, events terrace, outdoor courtyard garden and rooftop terrace with a 360-degree view of the surrounding city and monuments.

Oscar Seppeltsfield South Australian winery Seppeltsfield has unearthed plans to introduce an luxury hotel and spa in the Barossa Valley. The proposed $50 million project is earmarked to open in 2022 and its ultramodern design aims to rival that of Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, Spain. The new accommodation offering aspires to lure new markets to the region and drive growth in the domestic and international visitor economy.

The Langham, Gold Coast Langham Hospitality Group has confirmed plans to open a luxury hotel on Queensland’s Gold Coast at the end of 2021. Located on the beachfront in Surfers Paradise, the company’s third hotel in Australia will be housed in the central and tallest of the three landmark towers of the much-anticipated Jewel development.

We Are Not Alone We might not be able to amble through the Louvre Abu Dhabi at the moment, but we can glimpse this incredible structure through a new cinematic podcast by Soudwalk Collective. We Are Not Alone guides you on a tour of the landmark gallery’s architecture, through a sciencefiction narrative that takes place in the future. Depending on your native tongue, the story is told by the likes of actor Willem Dafoe (English) or singer Nina Kravitz (Russian).

Where Dreams Are Made Of Addresses don’t get more exclusive than Park Avenue in New York. It’s here you’ll find the landmark Waldorf Astoria hotel, not to mention dazzling residences, which you can now tour from the comfort of your sofa. These stylish suites are set to open in 2022 and 2023 – grab your checkbook.

Morocco’s Moment Love LUMIRA fragrances? The Australian brand is taking you to the source of its aromatic inspiration with new LUMIRA Journeys, a range of hand-crafted tours highlighting the destinations that inspire notes in LUMIRA’s candles and perfumes. The debut trip in 2021 takes you to Morocco, with luxe inclusions and commentary by the company’s owner.

Travel glow

Light an aromatic candle to be reminded of all those destinations you miss most.

LUMIRA From Bali to Sicily, LUMIRA’s candles are all about travel. The ‘Arabian Oud’ is our fave for winter, all notes of musky oud and powdery rose, with hints of sandalwood and patchouli. Light this to bring warmth to a cool evening. RRP $70

Anouk Gania This Australian brand channels the aromas of Greece in every candle produced. While the weather’s chilly, try the ‘Winter’ fragrance, all woodsmoke and cedar forests with hints of crushed violets. RRP $69

Glasshouse Fragrances We love the limited-edition ‘A Moment in Tokyo’ - think, sensual notes of rose, birch, incense, violet and leather, all wrapped in a decadent indigo-and-teal glass vessel. RRP $49.95

WALK THIS WAY The Australian government recently announced it would spend $233 million upgrading the country’s national parks, including hiking trails. Which is great news for outdoor enthusiasts who love to get off the beaten path. And, it seems, there are a lot of you, with walking holidays growing in popularity by 47 per cent between 2014 and 2018. We predict the trend will increase further over the next 12 months, with a number of companies (including Abercrombie & Kent and APT), announcing new guided domestic offerings. At a time when stress levels are high, this type of travel makes sense: hiking in the great outdoors not only keeps you fit, it’s calming, soulfilling and eco friendly - it also gets you to places cars can’t go.

REEF REFLECTION Aussies may not be able to travel to Monaco at the moment, but this petite slice of Europe is certainly getting its taste of the Land Down Under right now thanks to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. The gallery’s new interactive exhibition, Immersion, is dedicated to the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef, revealing the majesty of this World Heritage Site through a multimedia installation offering visitors the opportunity to experience a dive below the surface and meet the marine species that inhabit the planet’s largest coral ecosystem. Combining contemplation and interaction, the show is designed to engage and educate the public to better protect the marine world.

Float With Flicks Want a novel way to social distance while still seeing your favourite films? Enter Paris’ Cinéma sur L’eau’ (or, ‘Cinema on the Water’), a summer series that sees 38 electric boats bob on the city’s river in the shadow of an enormous movie screen. There will also be 150 well-spaced deck chairs set up on the banks of the Seine. First film off the ranks: Gilles Lellouche’s Le Grand Baie. Perfect for Sydney Harbour, we reckon.

WOLLUMBIN MT WARNING - AN ICONIC VISTA

SWIM WITH TURTLES AT COOK ISLAND

FOODIE MOMENTS

CABARITA - AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACH 101BESTBEACHES.ORG

Find your moment

Endless memories are formed in a place where sparkling seaside villages and riverside towns lead to our gorgeous valley and hinterland hamlets. From a morning surf lesson to an afternoon browsing galleries, lunchtime river cruise to a gin distillery tour and country drive to beach view cocktails. Welcome to The Tweed.

L U X U R Y R A I N F O R E S T GETAWAY SIGNATURE LUXURY HINTERLAND CHALETS

Honeymoons & romantic escapes. Privacy and seclusion is assured, Featuring plunge pools, fi replaces, large double spa baths, fl oor to ceiling windows and rainforest views. Call 02 6679 1591, crystalcreekrr@bigond.com

ccrr.com.au

PICNICS ON WATER

With views to Mt Warning and the Border Ranges, La Rochér offers an idyllic escape in sublime luxury. Restore yourself by soaking in our luxuriant bath, relaxing at the pool or by the fi replace.

larocher.com

M A G N I F I C E N T OCEAN VIEWS

Six beautiful chalets nestled in the pristine and ancient Northern NSW hinterland. Surrounded in understated luxury and comfort, the property is designed so you can experience a closeness with nature.

ecoasis.com.au

GOURMET TOURS

Australia’s #1 outdoor dining experience is now on water with Mount Warning Tours. Step onto cozy rugs and plush cushions taking in 360º views. Cruise while enjoying 100% local and seasonal produce.

bluegingerpicnics.com

Located directly on the beachfront of ‘Australia’s Best Beach’ as voted in 2020. Spacious, self contained, apartments and Penthouses set amongst tropical gardens and three outdoor pools.

thebeachcabarita.com.au

Intimate tours focusing on the best Northern Rivers NSW food and produce. Settle in as we explore the back roads and sample from the best restaurants, providores, farms, breweries and distilleries.

tastingplatetours.com.au

Rugged up at home? Here are our three must-try spirits of the season.

Wine T ime Take a look at the three Australian estates that made the ‘World’s Best Vineyards’ list for 2020.

Penfolds Magill Estate Rank 24 Where Adelaide Hills Why This is the birthplace of one of Australia’s founding winemaking stories: the legendary Grange shiraz. Linger After visiting the cellar door, settle in for lunch at the fine-dining restaurant, or try blending your own wine.

Henschke Rank 25 Where Barossa Valley Why Emblematic centenarian vineyards that produce the stunning Hill of Grace shiraz. Linger Tour the vineyard then enjoy a tasting of 10 wines, some of them limited edition.

d’Arenberg Rank 34 Where McLaren Vale Why Vibrant New World wines in a diversity of styles – 70 wines from 37 grape varieties. Linger The jaw-dropping d’Arenberg Cube cellar door, the Salvador Dali exhibition and the food, enjoyed overlooking vines. 12

Adelaide Hills Distillery Native Grain Whiskey Distilled from native wattleseed and malted barley, this is like Australia in a delicious, boozy drop. It’s aged in French oak, adding notes of chocolate and caramel. Move fast – there are only 150 on the market.

Buckingham Palace Gin This new spirit includes ingredients that stem from the Queen’s very own palatial garden at the renowned palace. Think, citrus and herbal notes derived from 12 botanicals, hawthorn berries, bay leaves and mulberry leaves among them.

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996 This 23-year-old whisky is the oldest liquid to be matured in Glenmorangie’s bespoke casks. Lush, creamy and with bursts of citrus, spice and fudge, the limited-edition drop is like winter in a bottle.

Would you like to fly private around Australia?

At a time when crowds are discouraged and safety is a priority, this kind of travel – offering highly personalised service and the ability to visit remote regions of the country few dream of seeing – is the new luxury.

See an immense amount of the country in a short amount of the time Travel in style with only around 30 passengers Enjoy business-class comforts Book all-inclusive journeys

Click here to read how you can be part of the trend and fly private with Aussieowned Captain’s Choice.

Clockwise from top left Hayman Island © InterContinental Hayman Island & Tourism Australia; Flying private; Margaret River; Kangaroo Island © Ben Goode & Tourism South Australia; Macq01 Hobart © Stuart Gibson & Tourism Tasmania; Outback Queensland © Luke Workman