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Luxury escapes to Sydney and Melbourne that money can’t buy

From VIP stadium suites to harbour view upgrades, these are the experiences your travel points were made for.

They say the best things in life are free. We say experiences earned with travel points are a pretty strong contender. But judging by exclusive money-can’t-buy experiences available through ALL Accor, we’re not even sure that’s true.

Designed for travellers who know how to make every journey count, ALL Accor members receive up to 10 per cent off at more than 4500 hotels worldwide. You’ll also earn points on hotel stays, dining, partner airlines, car rentals, online shopping and more – and then turn those points into experiences that go far beyond a free night’s stay.

Here’s how to turn your points into the ultimate weekend.

Sydney

Day one

The view from Acapulco El Vista overlooking Sydney Harbour, one of the many experiences you can enjoy on ALL accor luxury city escapes.
Unlock exclusive experiences with ALL Accor.

Check into Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour and one of the world’s great harbour views. Framed by the Royal Botanic Garden, Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the hotel’s 216 apartment-style suites place you squarely in Sydney’s spiritual heart.

As the setting sun turns the Opera House sails soft shades of orange and pink, settle in at onsite restaurant Acapulco El Vista for a sundowner. Inspired by the golden age of 1950s Acapulco, the rooftop bar channels old Hollywood glamour, while the Mexican spirit runs through the drinks list like a strong shot of tequila. Fortify yourself for the night with Acapulco’s porchetta Cubano sandwich.

Next up, head to the Eastern Pontoon and skip the ordinary by boarding a water taxi. Cruise across Sydney Harbour and up the Parramatta River to Sydney Olympic Park.

Accor Stadium
Enjoy a VIP experience at Accor Stadium.

The VIP experience continues in Accor Stadium, with suites reserved exclusively for ALL Accor members. Whether you’re there to see your favourite pop star –like Robbie Williams, BTS or Harry Styles – or you’ve snagged tickets to the NRL Grand Final, you’ll enjoy a fully catered experience from one of the best seats in the house.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Day two

Friends exploring the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney – one of the many experiences you can enjoy on ALL Accor luxury city escapes.
Explore Sydney’s arts and history. (Image: Destination NSW)

Do as Sydneysiders do and start the day with a swim: this one just happens to overlook Circular Quay from the hotel’s Recreation Deck. Or save your energy for exploring the Royal Botanic Garden and the Art Gallery of New South Wales next door. Later, wander the cobbled laneways of The Rocks, stopping in heritage pubs and sandstone shops.

Be back in time for a late lunch at Flaminia, located within Pullman Quay Grand. Inspired by the great port cities of Italy, the restaurant celebrates the country’s coastal cuisines, from Cagliari’s spaghetti alla bottarga with spanner crab and lemon myrtle to warm Venetian ricotta fritters with orange mascarpone. All served with a side of Sydney Harbour views. Accor Plus Explorer members receive 15 per cent off the à la carte menu. Molto bene, indeed.

Melbourne

Day one

The charming Tudor-style cottages at Fitzroy Gardens, one of Melbourne's most picturesque attractions.
Stay opposite the leafy Fitzroy Gardens. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Start your weekend the same way you’ll finish it: enjoying your exclusive ALL Accor benefits. This time, it might begin with a complimentary welcome drink when you check in at the five-star Pullman East Melbourne. Perfectly positioned in East Melbourne, the hotel sits directly opposite the elms and red gums of Fitzroy Gardens and is a mere 10-minute stroll from the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Olympic Park.

After dropping your bags in one of the 419 stylish rooms, head down to The Cliveden Bar & Dining for an early dinner. The Mediterranean-inspired kitchen prides itself on sourcing premium Victorian produce, so don’t miss locally driven dishes like the Aylesbury aged duck ragù with pappardelle and macadamia or the butter-braised Lakes Entrance monkfish.

Next, head over to the MCG – lit up like the world’s most enthusiastic Christmas tree – to catch an electrifying session of Aussie Rules football or cricket. If you time your visit right, you might even score seats to the AFL Grand Final. For the ultimate sports enthusiast, the daily guided stadium tours are a rip-roaring crowd-pleaser.

No matter what’s on your hit list, you can secure tickets and experiences through ALL Accor’s Limitless Experiences using your points.

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Day two

Friends enjoying a hearty breakfast together at The Cliveden Buffet Breakfast before a day of exploring Melbourne.
Fuel up before another day in Melbourne. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The next morning, use the raw throat you earned from screaming along at the MCG to whisper your coffee order at The Cliveden Buffet Breakfast. Here, you can replenish your strength with Victoria’s most-loved morning staples, featuring rich Gippsland Dairy milk and artisanal La Madre Bakery sourdough. If the Melbourne bug has truly bitten, venture out into the city streets to immerse yourself in its cult coffee culture.

After checking out, make your way to Higher Ground. Built inside a 19th-century power station, this popular brunch spot is all about the drama, from its multi-tiered architecture to its high-concept menu, with bites like prawn toast benedict and chilli scrambled eggs with smoked yoghurt and banana pepper.

A coffee shot or two not enough to feed your addiction? The Victorian capital never judges. Take a break from vintage shopping to visit a pioneer of the city’s high-concept coffee culture: ST. ALi Canteen – Collins Street will give you your fix, plus a mac and cheese jaffle seasoned with Vegemite salt if that’s your fancy.

Alternatively, hold out for an Asian-Australian lunch of caramelised pork belly with pineapple or baked scallops in a salted black bean sauce at Miss Mi at the Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer.

Book your next perfect escape at ALL.com.

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Kate Bettes
Kate Bettes is a freelance travel writer. Whether having a picnic in Vietnamese jungle with new friends, or partying in the back of a limousine in Hollywood, Kate’s experiences have left her with the sneaking suspicion that the best travel memories happen when you least expect. It’s this feeling - and how to get it - that she loves to write about.
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7 ways to switch off and reconnect with nature in Albury Wodonga

Credit: Destination NSW

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Switch the hustle and bustle for a weekend of birdsong and greenery on the border.

    Straddling the Murray River where New South Wales meets Victoria, Albury Wodonga is just hours by car or train (or even a quick flight) from many major cities, but it feels a million miles away from the everyday.

    Here, you’ll find a blend of relaxed country lifestyle and modern city amenities, where a booming culinary scene and vibrant arts offerings meet a rich Indigenous history and stunning natural vistas. Spend time amongst river red gums, wildlife-filled wetlands and winding waterways.

    Ready to roll on the river? Here’s where to begin.

    1. Birdwatch in Wonga Wetlands

    The scenic Wonga Wetlands along the Wagirra Trail and Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, West Albury.
    Walk along Wonga Wetlands, looking for local birdlife. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    It might be close to Albury’s CBD, but Wonga Wetlands feels a watery world away. This former grazing land has been restored to 80 hectares of lagoons, billabongs and river red gums, and you can now wander three kilometres of walking trails as you spot cormorants, spoonbills, egrets and sacred kingfishers. More than 170 bird species call the wetlands home, thanks to the Murray’s cycle of flooding and drying, so pack a picnic, settle in at a bird hide, and pull out those binoculars.

    2. Explore the Murray River

    picnicers in Noreuil Park albury wodonga nature autumn
    Take a picnic to enjoy in Noreuil Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The Murray River runs between Albury and Wodonga, where locals swap desks and deadlines for shaded riverbanks. Less than a kilometre from Albury’s CBD sits Noreuil Park, the city’s favourite stretch of riverfront. Cool off on the famous loop float, hire a kayak, launch a stand-up paddleboard or cast a line.

    Afterwards, chuck a rug on the lawn under a plane tree, fire up one of the free barbecues and watch the water as you munch on some Murray cod.

    3. Take a sculpture walk

    Albury Wodonga Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk
    See the art along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk.

    Albury Wodonga’s three sculpture trails showcase the Murray through First Nations tales on foot or by bike. Along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, 15 contemporary Aboriginal artworks celebrate kinship and Country. The Crossing Place Trail passes the Wodonga Scar Tree, where local Indigenous people once harvested bark to craft canoes, and the Gateway Island trail tells you how the Murray sustained First Nations people for millennia.

    4. Get moving on local tracks and trails

    bike rider on albury wodonga nature trails
    Take your bike to Hunchback Mountain Bike Park.

    More than 100 kilometres of trails cross Albury Wodonga’s hills, reserves and riverbanks. Mountain bikers can tackle the championship-calibre descents of Nail Can Hill, weaving through eucalyptus forest where the rare crimson spider orchid blooms, or hone their skills at Hunchback Mountain Bike Park‘s 29 graded trails.

    Keen to explore on foot? Huon Hill makes the sore legs worth it, with lookouts across Lake Hume and the Kiewa Valley, while McFarlanes Hill meanders through stringybark woodland and rocky outcrops.

    For a slower pace, the 44-kilometre High Country Rail Trail hugs the shores of Lake Hume, crossing the red-pillared Sandy Creek Bridge before rolling into Tallangatta.

    5. Check into restorative stays

    Couple standing outside the retro inspired Astor Hotel Motel in Albury
    Check into one of Albury Wodonga’s over 60 accommodation options. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Some moments call for a boutique hotel. Others call for backing the caravan up beside the lake. Whether you’ve spent the day splashing in the Murray, furiously clocking kilometres on the bike trails or entertaining kids in playgrounds at the water’s edge, there’s somewhere to lay your head.

    From motels shaded by river red gums to lakeside holiday parks and boutique hotels, Albury Wodonga’s 60-plus accommodation options mean you’re never far from a morning walk along the Murray or dinner on Dean Street. But be warned: book ahead. You might not be the only one craving a weekend by the Murray, especially in the school holidays.

    6. Enjoy delicious dining options

    yardbird restaurant
    Enjoy incredible meals in Albury Wodonga.

    Every paddle, bushwalk and bike trail deserves a proper meal afterwards. Once you’ve swapped out your damp swimmers or your dusty trainers and start to sniff out a feed, you’ll quickly discover you’re surrounded by one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions.

    Unsurprisingly, Albury Wodonga’s dining scene is all about that Riverina produce. We’re talking Murray cod (of course) but also premium local beef from the valleys, olive oil from nearby groves, cool-climate wines and European-style cheeses.

    The restaurants, wine bars and breweries around Dean Street and Junction Square are all within easy reach, serving everything from modern Australian and Mediterranean to Thai, Vietnamese, Italian and classic wood-fired steakhouse fare. Looking for a riverside brunch? A comforting bowl of dumplings on a winter evening? Or up the ante with the vibrant flavours of Europe? Whatever the craving, there’s a table waiting.

    7. Get out on Lake Hume

    lake hume at sunset in albury wodonga nature
    Be sure to stay for a Lake Hume sunset.

    When you’re ready to dial up the solitude, trade the river for a veritable inland sea: Lake Hume. Just 15 minutes from Albury and Wodonga, it’s one of Australia’s largest water storage reservoirs. In other words, there’s plenty of space to swim, paddle and stake out a patch of shoreline all to yourself.

    Take the long way through Riverina farmland, stopping at the dam wall to appreciate just how enormous Lake Hume is. Cast a line for Murray cod, rainbow trout, golden perch or redfin and unpack a bag of bakery treats beneath the trees before launching a kayak into the vastness.

    Afterwards, stop by the Bonegilla Migrant Experience, where the remaining accommodation blocks tell the stories of more than 320,000 post-war migrants who passed through between 1947 and 1971. Give yourself time to walk through the preserved camp, stopping to digest the photographs, personal stories and artworks that reveal what it meant for residents to begin a new life at the edge of the world.

    Even if you’re exhausted, stay until twilight. The sunset is about to put on a hell of a leaving show for you.

    Start planning your escape into nature at visitalburywodonga.com.