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

Credit: Tourism & Events NT/ George Apostolidis

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.