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The Aussie hotels missing from Condé Nast’s Triple Crown Hotels list

Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ George Apostolidis

Condé Nast has released a new Triple Crown Hotels list, but there are some gaping omissions.

Australia’s best hotels contend with the best the world has to offer. Luxury in the heart of the country, iconic harbour views and tranquil forest stays are just the beginning. And Condé Nast Traveller’s new Triple Crown Hotels list is dedicated to honouring the best of the best. It’s the culmination of an impressive three awards in one: the annual Hot List for best new hotels, the Gold List of editor favourites, and Readers’ Choice.

And look, we get that. But some of the very best hotels in Australia have been continually snubbed by Condé Nast. We do know Australia better than most, which is why we’ve gathered a list worthy to sit alongside the other best-in-class hotels featured on the Triple Crown Hotels list so you have a full picture of all the incredible stays we have in this country to choose from.

Spicers Peak, Qld

Spicers Peak Lodge
Guests have access to a wide range of nature-focused amenities. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Combine rugged outdoor adventure and five-star eco-luxury at the highly awarded Spicers Peak luxury lodge in Queensland’s Scenic Rim. Considered ultra-luxury, this all-inclusive mountain retreat boasts particularly gobsmacking views over the Scenic Rim, thanks to its position up the mountain, 1100 metres above sea level (and yes, that does make it Australia’s highest non-alpine lodge). Lace up your walking shoes and explore the surrounding 8000 acres of World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park wilderness, or just stay in and luxuriate.

Longitude 131, NT

Longitude 131, NT
Be awed by views of Uluru from your room. (Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ George Apostolidis)

This celebrated luxury outback camp is not only nestled among the striking red sand dunes of Australia’s Red Centre, but many rooms also gaze out onto views of Uluru itself. It’s kept small and private, with an exclusive 16 tented pavilions. Guests can also take advantage of all-inclusive dining, and deeply immersive, Indigenous-guided desert experiences.

Capella Sydney, NSW

view from bathroom Capella Sydney
Find history and views at Capella. (Credit: Timothy Kaye)

There are few hotels better to explore Sydney’s CBD from than Capella. This five-star hotel sits inside a lovelingly resorted building from 1912 (the former Department of Education building), blending Edwardian Baroque architecture with contemporary design. Its location is as much to love as its style and service, in the historic Sandstone Precinct just steps from Circular Quay.

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Raes on Wategos, NSW

Raes on Wategos, NSW
Step into Byron Bay’s most iconic retreat. (Credit: Madeleine Johnson/ Sean Fennessy)

Raes on Wategos is an iconic private retreat on the shores of Wategos Beach in Byron Bay. Ultra-luxurious and boutique, the coastal elegance mixed with a touch of boho pulls hotel and dining guests alike.

Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Vic

view from the pool at Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Vic
Gaze down on Melbourne’s CBD. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

What’s better than rising above a CBD in style? The Ritz-Carlton is a whopping 80 stories high above Melbourne, with views of Victoria Harbour and Port Phillip Bay culminating in a dramatic sky lobby on the top floor. Here, find 257 elegant rooms, an immersive wellness floor with an infinity pool and the hotel’s signature, hatted fine-dining restaurant Atria.

The Calile, Qld

bedroom at Calile Hotel Brisbane
Pastel hues bring a playful energy to The Calile Hotel. (Image: Supplied)

The five-star urban resort that is The Calile is the very definition of sleek sophistication in the heart of Brisbane. Think breezy, Palm Springs-style resort glamour meets classic sub-tropical Australian architecture. With a neutral colour palette and elegant curves all surrounding a 30-metre pool. And it boasts a prime location in Fortitude Valley.

Langham Gold Coast, Qld

Beach side at The Langham Gold Coast
Enjoy a taste of beachfront luxury at The Langham Gold Coast.

Ultimate beachfront, right between the Gold Coast’s famous Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, the shimmering, crystal-like twin towers of this five-star hotel make for a striking image.

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Mt. Mulligan Lodge, Qld

Mt Mulligan Lodge
The luxury lodge invokes the spirit of adventure in the Queensland outback.

Head to the Queensland outback to find this ultra-luxury, all-inclusive outback retreat. Set on a 69,000-acre working cattle station 160 kilometres northwest of Cairns, just 28 guests at any one time can soak in world-class hospitality and unique outback vistas. Ngarrabullgan/Mt. Mulligan itself is an 18-kilometre-long flat-topped sandstone escarpment with plenty of history behind it to discover during a stay.

MACq 01, Tas

MACq 01 Tasmania
Stay in style on Hobart’s historic Macquarie Wharf. (Credit: Stu Gibson)

Hobart’s historic Macquarie Wharf features MACq 01, where old-world heritage meets cutting-edge design. Its 114 rooms are individually themed after a notable Tasmanian character, from Indigenous leaders to convicts to environmental pioneers.

Who did make the Triple Crown Hotels from Australia?

To give credit where it’s due, there are certainly still many incredible stays that did make the Triple Crown Hotels list. Here are some of the top listed mentions:

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Incredible day spas and hot springs to visit in Victoria

    Katie Carlin Katie Carlin
    From geothermal pools and luxury spa sanctuaries, Victoria’s mineral-rich waters and restorative landscapes offer total renewal.

    I pass waving coastal spear-grass and coast saltbush as I follow the curving path through 15 hectares of thoughtfully curated gardens at the Mornington Peninsula’s Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. I hang my robe at the entrance and slip into the first sunken geothermal pool I find – feeling the tension from the 90-minute drive from Melbourne melt away as I watch steam dance across the surface in the late afternoon light. There are 31 pools, a mix of geothermal, cold plunge and botanical, that range in temperature and design, spread over six regions.

    a woman relaxing at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula
    Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I gravitate toward The Hemisphere, with its dry sauna, steam room, cold plunge and dreamy open-air pool called The Hide. But it’s Alba’s brand-new Sanctuary that really elevates the experience. The five luxurious stand-alone villas and two additional studio rooms opened in June 2025 and feature an indoor fireplace, oversized bathtub with views across the bay, a deck and extensive all-inclusive (minus the cocktails) mini-bar.

    After dining at Alba’s Thyme restaurant, I return to my villa, content to fall asleep early listening to the fire crackle, feeling thoroughly restored. While Alba is one of the newest in the region, it’s certainly not the only place to enjoy a soothing soak. Here are others to book for a wellness weekend.

    Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa

    A woman bathes in the new Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa private bathing room with marble tiled walls
    The marble private bathing room is one of five new designs. (Image: Supplied)

    Nestled in the Daylesford region, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa has been welcoming guests to its historic bathhouse for 130 years. With a $1.7 million renovation now complete (part of the 21st season of Channel 9’s The Block), find five new private bathing rooms, an apothecary experience where guests blend a custom body scrub and all-new spa treatment menu.

    There are three bathing areas: Bathhouse for communal bathing for all ages, adults-only Sanctuary and a private bathing space for a personalised experience – try the skin-softening Mineral Milk Bath.

    Lake House Daylesford

    the pool at Lake House Daylesford
    The main pool at Lake House Daylesford. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Inciting deep exhales, the spa at Alla Wolf-Tasker’s iconic Lake House has long been a beacon of wellness in the region. Tucked into the cottage gardens that wind down to the lake’s edge, the spa is beautifully and deliberately cloistered away from guests and diners visiting the celebrated on-site restaurant.

    From Ayurvedic facials and hydrotherapy that makes use of Daylesford’s mineral waters, to cocooning thermal rituals and massage, treatments here promote tranquillity. While a day spa experience is delightful on its own, staying on the property adds a luxe layer to your corporeal renewal, especially if you’re in your own private spa villa.

    Metung Hot Springs

    the Metung Hot Springs' glamping tents by the river
    Glamping tents at Metung Hot Springs. (Image: Emily Godfrey)

    Imagine immersing yourself in a barrel overflowing with geothermal water, all while taking in views of Gippsland Lakes. It’s one of several unique bathing experiences available at Metung Hot Springs.

    There’s also a floating sauna and a Reflexology Walk constructed with carefully placed stones designed to stimulate the acupressure points in your feet as you walk. The 12-hectare site opened in 2022 with three bathing areas – Bathing Ridge, Lagoon Precinct and Hilltop Escarpment – and premium glamping tents that feature king-size beds and private bathing barrels.

    Four more blissful day spas to visit

    Lon Retreat & Spa is an award-winning, adults-only retreat on the Bellarine Peninsula.

    Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs features sensory caves and cleansing waterfalls in Warrnambool.

    Peninsula Hot Springs renews with 70 bathing and wellness experiences.

    The Benev is an indulgent spa and luxury accommodation in Beechworth.

    the Peninsula Hot Springs
    Bathe in beautiful surroundings at Peninsula Hot Springs. (Image: Tourism Australia/Harry Pope/Two Palms)