2025's new restaurants, hotels, and experiences you won't want to miss

New openings 2025: The restaurants, hotels, and experiences to look forward to

A new year means a host of fresh openings around the country to get excited about. And 2025 promises a fantastic blend of culinary innovation, artistic brilliance, and immersive experiences to keep you entertained.

From flashy hotels to interactive art exhibitions, these are the openings to put in your diaries this year.

Accommodation

The Sundays

The first hotel to open on Hamilton Island since 2007, The Sundays will be the hottest new luxury destination in The Whitsundays. Opening in autumn at the northern end of Catseye Beach, the 59-room luxury accommodation boasts Coral Reef views and has been designed to deliver an elevated holiday experience, particularly for families. This includes a kid-friendly restaurant from Josh and Julie Niland from the seafood institution Saint Peter, practical room amenities like microwaves and freestanding baths, a swimming pool, and an Ice Cream Happy Hour.

The Lodge Wadjemup

Rottnest Island draws in visitors for its idyllic beaches and bays and its adorable resident quokkas. The newest spot to base yourself during your stay is set to be The Lodge Wadjemup . Named after the traditional owners’ name for Rottnest Island, the resort has received a $40 million redevelopment with 46 new boutique-style rooms and 56 refurbished rooms. The sleek lakeside resort will also feature a new restaurant, cafe, gelato bar, community space and two pools. The Courtyard and Lake Rooms are available now to book and the Stage Two (Poolside Rooms) are set to open by mid-2025.

The EVE Hotel Sydney

Redfern is getting a stylish upgrade on February 13th thanks to the arrival of boutique hotel The EVE in the lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane. Conceived by SJB’s Adam Haddow, 360 Degrees’ Daniel Baffsky and Interior Architect George Levissianis, the accommodation is an oasis in the inner city. Think: a lush Palms Springs rooftop pool area, ultra-chic rooms with earthy tones, and a host of dining venues. Talk about this hotel has been particularly buzzworthy in Sydney for the last few months, as it will be opened by the hoteliers behind Brisbane’s Calile.

The EVE Hotel in Sydney's rooftop pool. — The rooftop pool area transports guests to Palm Springs.

Six Senses Burnham Beeches

The Six Senses group has a unique focus on wellness, sustainability, and meaningful experiences, and their first Australian outpost is slated to open mid-year in the Dandenong Ranges. This 22-hectare heritage-listed property will become a wellness and gastronomic haven with 43 luxurious guest accommodations across the mansion’s three main wings. The facilities here are impressive: a Six Senses Spa, library bar, plant-covered rooftop terrace, and a restaurant showcasing produce from the on-site farm and gardens.

Mondrian Gold Coast

Mondrian Gold Coast is the first Australian property from the renowned lifestyle hotel brand that has accommodations everywhere from Miami to Ibiza. The property is slated to open in early 2025 in Burleigh Heads with 208 design-led rooms, suites, Beach Houses and a Sky House all of which offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The modern coastal accommodation will also house a pool club and restaurant celebrating coastal Italian cuisine.

1 Hotel Melbourne

One of the world’s most sustainable luxury hotel brands, 1 Hotels is arriving in Australia in Melbourne this May on the banks of the Yarra River. The sensitively designed 277 guest rooms and 114 residences will be enveloped within a nature-inspired, eco-conscious architectural framework. This pet-friendly accommodation will boast several dining options, a waterfront lobby bar, a Bamford Wellness spa, and an indoor pool.

25hours Hotel The Olympia

Sydney’s boutique hotel landscape is set to become even stronger with the highly anticipated arrival of the 25hours Hotel The Olympia , a cinematic-inspired sanctuary nestled in Paddington. The hotel is a reimagining of the historic West Olympia Theatre site and will offer 109 luxurious guest rooms, a rooftop bar, a central courtyard, a range of restaurants and cafes, live music facilities, a wellness offering and retail spaces.

Restaurants

Barragunda Estate

Opening in February, Barragunda Estate is a 40-seat restaurant set on a thousand acres from Bushrangers Bay to Green’s Bush on the Mornington Peninsula. Helmed by executive chef Simone Watts, the menu is centred on 100 per cent estate-grown produce, with all of the farming done with a regenerative approach. From their tables, diners can see the market gardens where the produce for their dishes was produced. The property also features an orchard with over 800 mature fruit trees and livestock including Wilitpoll sheep and Black Angus beef.

Golden Century at The Crown

To many diner’s dismay, the iconic Golden Century restaurant shut its Sussex Street doors in 2021. But the much-loved dining venue is set to make a triumphant return in January, relocating to the Crown Sydney . Diners can expect the restaurant’s signature Cantonese dishes including XO pippies, abalone steamboat, Peking duck, and salt and pepper squid all while taking in Sydney Harbour views.

Sydney Fish Market

After a complete waterfront transformation on Blackwattle Bay, the long-awaited refreshed Sydney Fish Market is set to open mid-year. The ultra-modern building will house a bevvy of retail and dining venues including a flagship venue from Luke Nguyen, a Cow and the Moon gelateria, and an outpost of Ho Jiak. At 90,000 square metres, it’s the largest fish market of its kind in the world and is expected to attract at least six million people every year.

Experiences

Dark Mofo

The news of Dark Mofo’s cancellation last year came as a shock to many of the festival’s loyalists. The closure was part of the team’s efforts to develop a renewed vision for the future. But the good news is, that future is now here! 2025 will see the festival make a full return, running from June 5th-15th, plus the solstice swim on 21 June. The full program will be revealed in April, but festivalgoers can expect the usual much-loved events including the Night Mass, the Winter Feast, the Ogoh-Ogoh, and the Nude Solstice Swim.

Sydney Marathon

If ever there was a year for Aussies to tick off the bucket list item of running a marathon, 2025 is it. That’s because the Sydney Marathon has been added as the 7th member of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, joining the iconic Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and the TCS New York City Marathon. The event will take place on Sunday 31 August so start your training ASAP.

PS Australian Star Murray River cruises

Australia’s first five-star overnight riverboat and the largest paddle steamer in the Southern Hemisphere is set to launch this June. Cruises on the Murray River will run over 3, 4, or 7 nights passing through historic towns and showcasing beautiful natural scenery, including lush riverbanks, ancient cliffs, and serene waters. The boat itself features serene, modern interiors with 19 luxury staterooms, a restaurant, a bar, and outdoor seating areas.

Astra Illumina at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Light shows have become increasingly popular in Australia, and from February 2025, 27 hectares of rainforest at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary will glow for the Gold Coast’s first permanent light spectacular. The Astra Illumina project will see visitors go on an immersive night walk where light, audio, and projection technologies create a multi-sensory experience.

Which new opening will you be trying first? Let us know in the comments below.

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

2025’s new restaurants, hotels, and experiences you won’t want to miss