The one type of traveller behind the rise of the luxe hotel stay

Louise GoldsburyBy Louise Goldsbury
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Not that I need an upgrade from a Sydney Opera House-facing room, but when I mention it’s my 50th birthday, the staff are not surprised. Everyone, it seems, is celebrating something at Crown Towers. Some people don’t know it yet – such as the women whose boyfriends plan to propose this weekend – while others have chosen the venue for its all-in-one excellence. 

The glamorous hotel has a world-class spa, the city’s highest rooftop bar, several top restaurants including Oncore by Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth, and an infinity pool with over-water daybeds, private cabanas and Darling Harbour views. Even the hard-to-impress locals love it, with more than one-third of guests from NSW in 2024.  

The rise of the milestones

Increasing numbers of people are choosing to stay in hotels to mark milestones. According to the concierge at Crown Towers Sydney , there’s an equal split between birthdays, anniversaries and engagements. Other occasions include divorce, retirement, graduation, pregnancy, a new job or promotion. Some guests book after receiving an inheritance or redundancy payment or overcoming a serious illness. 

My celebration lasts for four days, starting with an indulgent breakfast at the sprawling international buffet, trying a different restaurant each night, and then drinks on the big day with 30 friends before a boat party departing from nearby King Street Wharf.  

King Street Wharf in Sydney
The writer celebrated her 50th with a stay at Crown Towers Sydney and a boat party from nearby King Street Wharf. (Image: Getty/gionnixxx)

I meet a couple from Sydney celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren. “We wanted our family to join us for this big one, but not for the whole weekend. This was the perfect place to bring everyone together for lunch, and then we’ll have dinner by ourselves and get a massage tomorrow." 

Another couple told me they chose Crown because “you feel like a VIP" and “everything is organised for you". 

Celebration and Love Packages are designed for those who want to make it more extravagant. Among the tailored treats are French Champagnes, flowers, balloons, LED candles, cakes, cheese boards, teddy bears, bathrobes with personalised embroidery, heart-shaped rose petals on the bed, or lightbox letters and numbers that spell out a special message. Original ideas are also welcome for the concierge team to customise.  

Crown Towers Sydney Presidential Suite
The Presidential Villa at Crown Towers Sydney is the ultimate milestone location.

As people get older, they are more inclined to celebrate life with extraordinary travel experiences. A 2024 report by Globetrender found that over-50s are three times more interested in travelling to mark a milestone than their younger counterparts. Gen X “milestoners" might kick off a mid-career gap year at a fancy hotel, while baby boomers are opting to start their retirement with a trip overseas.  

The desire for “carpe diem celebrations" has intensified in recent years, according to UK-based luxury tour operator cazenove+loyd , which has observed a 40 per cent increase in requests for 50th, 60th or 70th birthday trips since the pandemic.  

Solo travel is an emerging hot trend for milestones. A survey by Webjet revealed one-third of Australians would travel alone for a significant birthday, 23 per cent after a relationship break-up (even though travelling while heartbroken can backfire), and 48 per cent upon retirement.  

Hotels responding to the trend

More hotels in Australia are responding to this demand by offering room upgrades and discount packages for milestones, especially if you book direct. In some cases, there is no extra charge or small gifts appear as a surprise. The chance of a freebie is why some Aussies deliberately time their travels for special occasions.  

Woman celebrating with a stay at Shangri-La The Marina Cairns
Shangri-La The Marina Cairns is one of several hotels crafting packages for milestone travellers. (Image: Tropical North Queensland)

The Westin Brisbane , home to the city’s only swim-up pool bar and Guy Grossi’s award-winning restaurant, Settimo, is known for its personalised touch. “Our staff connects with guests from the moment they check in to find out who they are and why they are staying with us," says general manager Kelvin Ramm. “From there, we send something up to the room to recognise their milestone, like wine or chocolates, along with a thoughtful card that mentions the interaction." 

InterContinental Sydney  provides complimentary treats in suites, such as balloons or the chef’s signature ‘birthday dome’. Guests can also coordinate with the hotel team to curate experiences, such as in-suite dinner parties, for an extra fee. 

In Cairns, at Shangri-La The Marina, chocolates and a bottle of bubbly will be waiting in the room upon arrival. The Shangri-La Celebration offer  also includes daily breakfast for two in The Backyard waterfront restaurant. 

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa has a Baby Shower Package  designed for groups of 15 people or more. The party venue comes with an iced tea station, a photo wall, platters of food and cupcakes topped with sugar baby feet.  

Ovolo Woolloomooloo turns up the royal treatment for birthdays with decorated guestrooms and a special badge that provides perks such as personalised selfie sticks, a hotel-wide music playlist and a signature cocktail named after you. 

If you’re a member of a hotel loyalty program, check for additional rewards on your birthday. Crown Perth has extra enticements for West Australians who join the free Crown Rewards program. During their birthday month, members receive complimentary valet parking, a bottle of sparkling wine, breakfast and late check-out. 

Another idea is to book out a floor for the exclusive use of your party guests. QT Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth offer Floor’d packages with optional drinks on arrival, food, pop-up bars, DJs or performers.  

With enough advance planning, milestoners can book an entire property such as Mysa Motel, a seven-bedroom motel in Palm Beach, Queensland.  

Alternatively, book several rooms and the poolside events space at Adina Chippendale , in the inner-city suburbs of Sydney. This secluded sanctuary has studios overlooking a pool and courtyard that can be hired for daytime fun or a summer party under the stars.   

Other milestone hotels around Australia

NSW

  • Capella Sydney 
  • Park Hyatt Sydney 
  • Four Seasons Sydney 
  • Intercontinental Sydney 
  • Crystalbrook Byron – Byron Bay 
  • Bells at Kilcare – Central Coast 
  • Bannisters – Mollymook & Port Stephens 
  • Ovolo Woolloomooloo 
sydney opera house
Park Hyatt Sydney is set amongst the icons.

Qld

a hammock on the balcony of Silky Oaks Lodge
Silky Oaks Lodge is the perfect setting for a milestone celebration.

Vic

  • Langham Hotel – Melbourne 
  • Ritz-Carlton Melbourne 
  • QT Melbourne 
  • Peninsula Hot Springs 
  • Balgownie Yarra Valley 
  • Eaglehawk Country House Hotel  
Eco Lodge Peninsula Hot Springs
The Eco Lodges at Peninsula Hot Springs bring relaxation to your next milestone celebration. (Image: Alarna O’Connell)

SA

Southern Ocean Lodge The Baillie Pavilion
Southern Ocean Lodge The Baillie Pavilion offers unbeatable views of Kangaroo Island.

Tas

  • Saffire Freycinet 
  • Kittawa Lodge – King Island 
  • Pumphouse Point – Lake St Clair 
  • The Henry Jones Art Hotel – Hobart  
  • MACq 01 – Hobart 
Couple on MACq01 hotel balcony overlooking Hobart waterfront
Expansive waterfront views are one of MACq 01 – Hobart’s  many drawcards. (Image: Stu Gibson)

NT

Uluru Longitude 131
Longitude 131° offers rooms with a view of Uluru. (Image: Baillie Lodges)

WA

  • Crown Towers Perth 
  • Ritz-Carlton Perth  
  • COMO The Treasury  
  • Samphire Rottnest – Rottnest Island 
  • El Questro Homestead – the Kimberley 
  • Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa – Broome 
a modern bathroom with a bathtub at COMO The Treasury, Perth
COMO The Treasury in Perth is the epitome of urban luxury.
Louise Goldsbury
Twice named Best Travel Writer at the National Travel Industry Awards, Louise is an occasionally Sydney-based writer, who spends most of the year on luxury cruises. When on land, she embarks on road trips to review hotels, spa resorts and wine regions around Australia.
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Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

    Monique CeccatoBy Monique Ceccato
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    Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

    Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

    Aerial view of Mandurah.
    Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

    The best things to do in Mandurah

    Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

    In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

    While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

    If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

    Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
    Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

    You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

    Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

    Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

    The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
    Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

    Where to eat in Mandurah

    Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

    On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

    Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

    The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

    If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

    A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
    Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

    Where to stay in Mandurah

    With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

    Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
    Stay right by the sea.

    The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

    But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

    A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
    Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

    Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.