The most magical Christmas high teas around Australia

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to get festive the fancy way.

If you’ve explored Australia’s Christmas markets, there’s another way you can get into the spirit this silly season. Festive high teas are popping up across the country, enticing guests with sweets, treats and irresistible eats.

But there’s more to high tea than getting dressed up and indulging. It’s a way to celebrate a special occasion, and what’s more special than Christmas? Combine two great things and you get something incredible. Now, pinkies up – these are the best places to book a festive high tea experience this year.

1. Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, NSW

When: 21 November – 24 December
Cost: $105; $65 (1–12 years)

High Tea with Santa at QVB, Sydney — Cheers to Christmas with Santa himself at QVB’s Tea Rooms.

You’re invited to Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building this Christmas to have High Tea with Santa ! Held in the historic ballroom, guests will be treated to a range of sweet and savoury delights, from freshly baked scones to delicate pastries.

You’re not the only one invited, though. Santa himself is taking a break from his busy schedule to pop in for a bite to eat and a photo! A professional photographer will be onsite to capture happy snaps with old Saint Nick before he jets off to the North Pole again.

2. The Cupcake Co., Southern Highlands, NSW

When: 1 November – 23 December
Cost: $59.95

Christmas cupcakes — The Berrima tea house specialises in cupcakes. (Image: Getty/Liudmila Chernetska)

Curated by a boutique cake and cupcake shop, it’s practically a given that this festive high tea will be nothing short of amazing. Quaint Berrima tea house The Cupcake Co. delivers an indulgent spread of sweets and treats made fresh for you.

Paired perfectly with a barista-made coffee or a pot of fresh loose-leaf tea, it’s an experience worth savouring over a sunny morning. Afterwards, explore the cosy town of Berrima or finish your day ticking off some of nearby Bowral’s best local highlights.

3. Shangri-La, Sydney, NSW

When: 27 November – 6 January
Cost: $98–$178

Shangri La Sydney high tea, NSW — Treat yourself to high tea with views of Sydney Harbour this Christmas.

High above the city, Shangri-La Sydney is transforming its Level 36 bar into a Christmas wonderland this festive season. Indulge in sweet treats like Christmas-tree-shaped cookies, reindeer tarts and Santa-red choux pastries, alongside savoury delights and scones with clotted cream.

Prices range between $98 and $168 per person on weekdays, depending on your choice of beverage (think tea, coffee, bubbles or French Champagne. Come the weekend, tack on $10 for each offering. It’s the kind of high tea that feels like luxury wrapped in a festive bow, capped off with views of the glittering harbour below.

4. Dorsett, Melbourne, Vic

When: 7 & 15 December
Cost: $80; $40 (children)

Dining at Dorsett Melbourne, Vic — Every bite tastes like Christmas magic at Dorsett Melbourne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Indulge in a delightfully festive high tea at the Dorsett Melbourne this year, with just two exclusive dining experiences available. The elegantly curated offering includes unlimited freshly baked scones and sandwiches, plus your choice of premium coffee or tea.

Each morsel has been handcrafted by the luxury hotel’s pastry chef, guaranteeing good times (and great flavours) all round. Guests will also enjoy a complimentary drink upon arrival to kick off the festivities – we’ll cheers to that!

5. Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, Bellbrae, Vic

When: 22 December
Cost: $71; $30.50 (3–12 years)

Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, Vic — The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery hits the sweet spot.

Not only is the Great Ocean Road Australia’s top road trip adventure, it’s also home to one of the most mouth-watering pit stops – and this year, it’s hosting a festive high tea worth pulling over for. At the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery , guests can tuck into everything from turkey and ham to pastries and a giant chocolate fountain.

If you can’t make it to the coast, the celebration continues at the Chocolaterie’s sister venue in the Yarra Valley . The regional outpost is adding extra sparkle this season with an elf treasure hunt and a chocolate bauble-making workshop – perfect for chocoholics!

6. The Langham, Melbourne, Vic

When: 24 November – 1 January
Cost: $138; $60 (1–12 years); $148; $70 (Sundays)

Christmas high tea at The Langham Melbourne, Vic — The Langham goes all out for its annual Christmas High Tea.

Celebrate the most wonderful time of year with The Langham Melbourne , which hosts a dreamy afternoon high tea come Christmas. The banquet is held at the onsite bar and lounge, Aria, a befitting space with plush sofas, marble tables and huge windows draped with wispy white curtains.

Indulge in a mouth-watering arrangement of salty and sweet treats that have been delicately designed and baked to perfection. If you miss Chrissie with the family this year, don’t fret. The Langham’s high tea runs until 1 January, so you can still celebrate with loved ones in style.

7. W Brisbane, Brisbane, Qld

When: 7 November – 28 December
Cost: $80 (tea/coffee) – $99 (Champagne); $45 (children)

Festive high tea at W Brisbane, Qld — Festive indulgence never looked so good at the W Brisbane.

If you’re in the Queensland capital this Christmas, head to the W Brisbane for a fun-filled high tea at the Living Room Bar . Devour a teetering tower of treats with your loved ones, paired with your choice of tea and coffee or Champagne.

Afterwards, get hands-on with a build-your-own gingerbread house kit courtesy of the W Brisbane, which you can take home to enjoy. Not only is the five-star hotel one of the best places to stay in Brissie, it’s a fantastic spot to celebrate the silly season.

8. QTea, Gold Coast, Qld

When: 15 November – 31 December
Cost: $69; $39 (5–12 years)

QTea at QT Gold Coast, Qld — Get festive the Gold Coast way this Christmas at QTea.

Dive into a sun-soaked Christmas high tea on the Gold Coast, where the usual elegance takes on a festive twist at QTea . Think beetroot-thyme macarons, smoked-salmon roulades, mini pavlovas and more – all within one of the Gold Coast’s most luxurious properties.

With your choice of tea or espresso, plus optional bubbles or even boozy iced tea, it’s the perfect excuse to gather friends and treat yourself. This sip-sational high tea offering is available until the end of December, running from 11am to 2pm daily.

9. Strangers’ Restaurant, Brisbane, Qld

When: 2–17 December
Cost: $69.50

Christmas-themed sweet treats — Strangers’ Restaurant is setting the table for merriment this Christmas. (Image: Getty/Mila Bond)

In the heart of the city with views across the Brisbane River, Queensland’s parliament building may not seem like the most festive of places. But come December, its onsite Strangers’ Restaurant transforms into a twinkling wonderland for its Christmas high tea.

The menu has been curated to include delectable festive-themed eats with warm, comforting flavours. Think everything from chocolate-filled pastries and cranberry scones to prawn rolls and pumpkin tarts – delicious!

10. Cataract on Paterson, Launceston, Tas

When: 14 December
Cost: $75; $35 (children 10 and under)

High tea at Cataract on Paterson in Launceston, Tas — Don’t skip Cataract on Paterson’s delicious, freshly baked scones.

Cataract on Paterson is one of the best restaurants in Launceston, partly due to its incredible food, and partly due to its very merry Christmas high tea . Start off with a festive-themed cocktail before diving into a range of sweet treats, savoury snacks and bottomless cups of tea.

It’s the perfect family day out, thanks to a mini high tea curated for your mini-me. The team at Cataract have taken the adult menu and shrunk it, turning bigger treats into bite-sized eats. There will also be presents for little ones, delivered by Santa Claus himself.

11. Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart, Tas

When: Throughout December
Cost: $59

Plate of Christmas desserts — Dive into a high tea full of Christmas classics at Hadley’s. (Image: Getty/Mtreasure)

Tucked in the heart of Hobart’s charming city centre, this heritage hotel invites you to savour a joyfully festive afternoon tea in its beautifully restored atrium. Hadley’s Orient Hotel will be serving up freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches and Christmas-themed sweet treats, all served with bubbles or tea.

Whether you’re celebrating with friends, family, or simply treating yourself, the venue’s holiday ambience, complete with seasonal decor and tailored table settings, makes for a memorable festive outing. It’s the perfect excuse to soak in the Chrissie spirit before the year ends.

12. Hearth, Perth, WA

When: 1–31 December
Cost: $87; $49 (children)

Hearth's high tea package, Perth WA — Hearth’s high tea offering is inspired by Western Australia’s landscape.

Hearth at the Ritz Carlton Perth is going all out this Christmas by giving its signature afternoon tea a seasonal makeover. But it won’t be your usual menu. In true Hearth fashion, this high tea is inspired by Western Australia’s landscape, from coast to country.

Take a culinary journey through sweet and savoury flavours, all elevated by locally sourced ingredients like raw Forest Fresh honey and tea grown in Margaret River. Running seven days a week throughout December, this is one Santa would definitely approve of.

13. Cape Arid Rooms, Perth, WA

When: Until 5 February
Cost: $85; $45 (children 12 and under)

Cape Arid Rooms high tea in Perth, WA — The Spring to Summer high tea experience is perfectly suited to an Aussie Christmas.

As the days stretch into the warmer months, Cape Arid Rooms invites you to its Spring to Summer afternoon tea in the heart of Perth. Expect savoury bites such as smoked salmon and pumpkin, as well as sweet treats like brownies, tarts, mousse and seasonal fruits.

The tea selection is sure to impress, with 20 blends on offer labelled under profiles like rich and bold, rare and precious, sweet and mellow, plus filter coffee, too. It’s the perfect fit for an Aussie Christmas: fresh, light and inspired by summer.

14. The Q on Hallet, Adelaide, SA

When: 16 November
Cost: $70

A small Christmas cake — Experience high tea at one of Adelaide’s best art galleries. (Image: Getty/Liliboas)

Is there anywhere more fancy to have scones and a cuppa than one of Adelaide’s most beautiful art galleries? This year, the Q on Hallett in Adelaide is inviting you to do just that, with Christmas high tea under its twinkling chandeliers.

Devour 10 different treats, half savoury and half sweet, with your choice of Christmas punch or glass of bubbles on arrival, as well as free-flowing coffee and T2 tea! A browse through The Q’s stunning art collection is the perfect way to end the day.

15. Together & Co, Darwin, NT

When: 14 November – 25 December
Cost: $45; $25 (5–12 years)

Christmas-themed high tea — Upgrade your high tea experience to bottomless for just $10 extra. (Image: Getty/Yena Lou)

Starting mid-November and running every day until Christmas, Together & Co at Darwin’s Hilton Garden Inn is hosting a festive high tea of epic proportions. Taste your way through a tantalising menu that features everything from brownies and baked cheesecake to pork sliders and arancini.

Whether you prefer classics like fruit cake or want to try your luck with an eggnog shooter, your taste buds are sure to be thankful. Simply can’t get enough? You’re in luck – make the whole thing bottomless for just $10 extra a pop.

16. Hyatt Hotel, Canberra, ACT

When: 24–25 December
Cost: TBC

High tea at Hyatt Hotel Canberra, ACT — Indulge in tiers of festive favourites at Hyatt Hotel Canberra. (Image: Pew Pew Studio)

Those in the nation’s capital this December should treat themselves to an indulgent high tea buffet courtesy of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Set up in the aptly named Tea Lounge, the exclusive experience will be held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only.

Sit down with your friends and family to munch on savoury sandwiches and sweet treats delivered to your table and paired with your choice of beverage. Too full to journey home? Book a stay and treat yourself to a cosy night at one of Canberra’s top hotels.

Are you looking to take the year off from hosting Christmas? Explore the best restaurants open on Christmas Day in Australia.

From natural wonders to historical sites, we’ve rounded up Victoria’s most epic icons that deserve a place on your itinerary.

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

From towering mountains to crystal cascades and ancient rock art sites, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a playground for both outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t miss the views from the highest peak Mount William or the iconic Pinnacle.

Murray River

A paddle steamer down the Murray in Echuca — The wonders of the Murray are best experienced on board a paddle steamer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

A natural icon of majestic proportions, the Murray River flows for a staggering 2700 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest navigable rivers. Meandering through Victoria before flowing out to sea at Goolwa in South Australia, the river is home to diverse wildlife, picturesque towns and secluded creeks and beaches.

Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell

the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road — The Twelve Apostles are a star attraction on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

These limestone sea stacks are arguably Victoria’s most famous icon . After an $8-million upgrade to its lookout, The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool (meaning breath of the whale) has recently reopened. A brand-new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, complete with rooftop lookout, will open in 2026.

You Yangs, Geelong

kangaroos in You Yangs — Kangaroos enjoy dusk in the You Yangs. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Rising 300-plus metres from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne/Naarm and Geelong, the You Yangs are massive granite boulders named for the local Wadawurrung word ‘Youang’, meaning ‘big hills’. Hiking, biking, rock climbing and horse-riding are popular within this regional park.

Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley

Near the town of Warburton, an extraordinary forest of some 1500 Californian Redwoods stands among native orchids, eucalypt trees and rich birdlife. Planted in the 1930s, these 55-metre-plus trees can live for 2000 years and will grow to be some of the world’s tallest.

Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland

the Wilsons Promontory — Wilsons Promontory is home to the incredible Skull Rock formation. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Prom, as it’s known locally, is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This 50,000-hectare reserve comprises granite mountains and forest, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by a marine park rich in marine biodiversity. It’s also home to the incredible and imposing Skull Rock formation.

Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges

This six-million-year-old volcanic rock  was thrown into the national spotlight thanks to the 1967 novel and consequent 1975 film based on the fictional disappearance of schoolgirls in 1901. Mystery aside, visitors can walk the steep 105-metre summit, fish for trout and go twitching.

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

exploring Sovereign Hill — Step back in time at Sovereign Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Cry ‘eureka!’ at Sovereign Hill , a living museum to the prosperous Gold Rush era of the 1850s, during which Ballarat produced the most gold in the world. Visitors to this much-loved attraction can walk historic  streets, enter a gold mine and try panning for the good stuff, too.

The Great Stupa, Bendigo

Who’d have thought the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world would be tucked away in Bendigo’s bushland? Welcoming visitors to explore, this sacred Buddhist pagoda is an epicentre for Tibetan culture, architecture, art and interfaith harmony.

Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula

the Cape Schanck Lighthouse from above — Heritage-listed Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

Ensuring the safe passage of ships in the notoriously treacherous Bass Strait since 1859, this heritage-listed lighthouse overlooks dramatic volcanic coast and wild beaches. The surrounding reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including little penguins, seals and echidnas.

The most magical Christmas high teas around Australia to celebrate the festive season