Dear HBO, White Lotus belongs in Australia

Over to you Mike White.

Let’s be honest: The White Lotus has always been about two things – jaw-dropping locations and the rich behaving badly. And while HBO has stuck loyally to the Four Seasons franchise, it’s time to expand the map (and your loyalty program) for season four. Australia is calling, and it’s ready to serve every sun-soaked, passive-aggressive, Aperol-fuelled, luxury-laced moment you could dream of.

Sure, we’ve got a Four Seasons in Sydney (and no offence to Circular Quay, but it’s giving suit conference energy). But the real drama – the type Tanya would’ve thrived in – lives in our wild, wonderful, ludicrously luxe lodges. Australia is practically a ready-made casting call of locations, each ready to deliver its own brand of chaos, secrets and slow-burn resentment.

So, HBO, consider this your set location shopping list. Each of these incredible Aussie stays is ready to be your next White Lotus location, each with its own unforgettable vibe.

Sun Ranch, Byron Bay, NSW

Cue the cowboy hats, crystals and unresolved family trauma. At Sun Ranch, it’s all linen and microdosing as Byron’s most spiritually connected guests gather for a week of “healing" – aka passive-aggressively judging each other’s hat game and ayahuasca experiences. I can see Jaclyn absolutely falling for the hot-but-questionable yoga instructor, while the rich teens plot revenge on their dads for dragging them to Byron instead of Europe. Expect surf lessons, healing circles and someone dramatically riding off on a horse.

Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Qld

Lizard Island aerial — What could go wrong on an isolated island?

Nothing says “disaster pending" like total isolation. Set on the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island is so exclusive that someone could disappear and no one would notice until sundowners. Saxon is spiralling when he realises there’s no phone reception, no wi-fi… and his crypto wallet is crashing. Meanwhile, Lochlan insists he’s thriving, but his thousand-yard stare by day two says otherwise.

Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, NSW

Capella Lodge pool Lord Howe Island — Capella Lodge serves as the ideal backdrop for Mike White’s drama.

Scenic perfection and family dysfunction? Capella Lodge is ready. The plot? A family reunion no one asked for. The setting? Too isolated to storm off, but just close enough to plot each other’s downfall over wine on the deck. The siblings are feuding over the family’s empire. Someone gets too close to the cliffs – but was it really an accident?

Bullo River Station, NT

Bullo River Station, NY — Swap white linen for Akubras at Bullo River Station. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Forget yachts – this season swaps white linen for Akubras. At Bullo River Station it’s all dirt, danger and intergenerational wealth as cashed-up travellers take on the outback. There’s a tense cattle muster, a helicopter arrival and a dinner where everyone pretends they’re not terrified of dying out here. Piper is running the station now. Don’t ask how.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

There’s nothing like communal dining to guarantee a dinner party explosion. At Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, everyone eats together under the stars – and that’s where the real bloodbath happens. Someone definitely hooks up with someone else’s partner in a tent, Victoria attempts (and fails) to snorkel and passive aggression reaches new heights.

Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest, Qld

The Daintree Rainforest is dense, the secrets are deeper. At Silky Oaks Lodge, Chelsea books a “spiritual cleansing" for Rick and he ends up sobbing in the creek. Chelsea gets lost on a nature walk and an illicit affair bubbles over in one of the suites. Also, someone might get eaten by a crocodile.

Mt Mulligan Lodge, Qld

Mt Mulligan Lodge infinity pool — Mt Mulligan Lodge’s infinity pool will definitely feature heavily in the season.

It’s remote. It’s eerie. It’s perfect. Mt Mulligan Lodge serves big ghost-town energy – and someone’s definitely hallucinating their dead ex in the infinity pool. There’s a mining disaster backstory, naturally, and at least one séance. The season finale? A dust storm reveals exactly what’s been buried out here.

Sequoia Lodge, Adelaide Hills, SA

Wellness, wine and barely concealed contempt. At Sequoia Lodge, the couples’ therapy retreat is going spectacularly badly. Picture it: Jaclyn gets way too into hot pool bathing, Laurie refuses to leave the wine tasting, and what was supposed to be a vow renewal between Kate and Dave turns into a screaming match. Someone ends up in the wine cellar… permanently.

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tas

Moody. Misty. Murder-adjacent. Welcome to Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania, where someone accidentally pushes their partner into a glacial lake. Is it an accident? Is anything, really? Every shot looks like a Scandi-noir thriller, and the cold only makes everyone meaner.

qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

qualia Long Pavilion Entrance — qualia screams *The White Lotus*.

You want helicopters, yachts and a surprise wedding no one’s excited about? Welcome to qualia. Someone sails off into the Hamilton Island horizon screaming, Chloe secures the wrong rich husband, again, and the wedding ends with multiple betrayals – and that’s before the midnight swim.

The Calile Hotel, Brisbane, Qld

The Calile Brisbane — Someone will definitely end up floating in the pool.

Think pastel poolside perfection meets TikTok-induced identity crises. At The Calile, it’s all pastels, designer shades and arguments about who gets the best pool shot. Rick is low-key losing his mind while everyone else is just vibing. Someone ends up floating in the pool.

Marramarra Lodge, Hawkesbury, NSW

Marramarra Carter House — *The White Lotus* needs some riverside representation. (Image: Isaac Tseng)

The ultimate cliffhanger? A secluded riverside lodge where secrets float in by boat. Someone’s long-lost child turns up. There’s nowhere to run, the family has way too much history and the river knows everything.

HBO and Mike White, it’s time. Australia is ready to serve The White Lotus energy. We’ve got the scenery, the scandal and more than enough stunning lodges to host your next beautiful disaster. Now come where the stakes (and the wildlife) are wilder. Bring sunscreen, pack a hat – and maybe a body bag.

From cycling and comedy to boating and begonia appreciation, there’s an event in regional Victoria that’s sure to have you circling dates on your calendar.

1. Festival of Sails

the Melbourne to Geelong passage race, Festival of Sails 2025 — The Melbourne to Geelong passage race will be held for its 183rd year. (Image: Salty Dingo)

When: 24–26 January
Where: Melbourne and Geelong

This five-day regatta of sailing and onshore entertainment at Geelong’s waterfront includes Australia’s oldest sporting event, the Melbourne to Geelong passage race which, in 2026, will be held for its 183rd year. But you don’t have to be a yachtie, sailor or boat-enthusiast to enjoy the nautical excitement; there’s also a three-day line-up of entertainment, food and live music, including the anchoring of tall ships – ever a firm family favourite.

2. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

cyclists during the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race — Catch the best cyclists as they wind through Victoria’s coastal towns. (Image: Visit Victoria)

When: 31 January – 1 February
Where: The Bellarine Peninsula

Meandering (at pace) along the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast is this annual cycling event that welcomes everyone from families to serious athletes. Since its beginnings in 2015, the race has become a huge hit with spectators flocking along to cheer on Lycra-clad competitors. Starting and finishing in Geelong’s Velo Village, this is the hub of the non-race activity with food and drink, roaming performers, lawn games and face painting.

3. Riverboats Music Festival

the performers at Riverboats Music Festival, Murray River — The annual music festival is staged under majestic red gums by the Murray River.

When: 13–15 February
Where: Echuca–Moama

Get along to bop and sway under the canopy of red gums at this annual music festival . Hosted by the twin towns of Echuca–Moama, the stage is set for Murray River-adjacent revelling as historic paddlesteamers peacefully chug alongside the event. As well as music, there’s dancing, food trucks and plenty of atmosphere to absorb.

4. Neerim ArtsFest

the Neerim ArtsFest south sculptures — Admire stunning works at Neerim ArtsFest. (Image: Nicky Cawood)

When: 28 February – 15 March
Where: Gippsland

This biennial Gippsland festival celebrates sculptural artists with an esteemed award in two categories, large outdoor and small indoor. The public is invited to enjoy the works over the exhibition period as they’re placed throughout Neerim South and surrounding venues. For 2026, the theme ‘The Spirit Soars’ leads artists to create stunning pieces that explore the expression of freedom in a thrilling visual capacity.

5. ChillOut Festival

a street parade during the LGBTQIA+ ChillOut Festival — Think colourful street parades and burlesque performances.

When: 5–9 March
Where: Daylesford

Pride in the country has been cheered on every March in Daylesford since 1997 with the riotous annual LGBTQIA+ ChillOut Festival . This colourful regional spectacle is an inclusive celebration of diversity that plays out across a vibrant parade, burlesque performances, a bush dance and a carnival. Get bedazzled, find a wig and stick on the false eyelashes for this fun party.

6. Port Fairy Folk Festival

Missy Higgins at the Port Fairy Folk Festival — Celebrate folk music at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. (Image: Lucinda Goodwin)

When: 6–9 March
Where: Port Fairy

In 2026, this beloved festival will be one year shy of its 50th anniversary. From folk fans to festival-lovers, this long-running event brings plenty of good vibes to guarantee an incredible experience. While music is at the heart of the festival, there’s also a range of workshops, exhibitions and family entertainment across dance, film and folk art. For its 49th year, the line-up so far includes Blair Dunlop, Elephant Sessions, and the musical duo Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham.

7. The Ballarat Begonia Festival

a woman admiring flowers at The Ballarat Begonia Festival — Gasp at delicate blooms at The Ballarat Begonia Festival.

When: 7–9 March
Where: Ballarat

In bloom since 1953, this horticultural event places a collection of rare begonias at the centre of festivities, honouring the flower’s presence in Ballarat since the 1800s. During its history, the event has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II and, in 2015, it featured the launch of the largest outdoor Lego flower. Apart from a display of around 500 species of the flower of the moment, there’s also a begonia parade, entertainment, live music, food and presentations.

8. The Bendigo Easter Festival

Chinese dragon Dai Gum Loong dance at The Bendigo Easter Festival — The majestic Chinese dragon Dai Gum Loong dance is an annual tradition at The Bendigo Easter Festival.

When: 3–6 April
Where: Bendigo

Held in the city’s Rosalind Park, the annual Easter Festival has been a highlight of Bendigo’s calendar of events since 1871. A carnival of colourful activity, the festival welcomes everyone and rolls out the good times with everything from a Good Friday Easter egg hunt to live music and performances, a Rotary market and Gala Parade. Don’t miss the world’s longest imperial dragon rhythmically roaming the historic streets as part of the Easter Sunday festivities.

9. Grape Escape

a glass of wine at the Grampians Grape Escape — Enjoy a wine tasting experience. (Image: Anthony Evans Photography)

When: 1–3 May
Where: The Grampians

Backdropped by gorgeous Grampians/Gariwerd National Park, this much-loved bacchanalian-inspired festival of food, wine and music is a high-priority for gourmands. Held at Halls Gap Reserve, a Tasting Ticket includes a tumbler that unlocks free wine, beer and cider tastings and, if you are partaking, there’s a shuttle bus to get you back to your digs afterwards. Be sure to book your accommodation early for this one – its popularity is undisputed.

10. Comedy in the Vines

Comedy in the Vines at Cherryhill Orchards — Get the good times rolling at Cherryhill Orchards. (Image: Saige Prime)

When: 24–26 October
Where: Yarra Valley

The premise of Yarra Valley’s Comedy in the Vines , held at Cherryhill Orchards, is that wine and laughs pair well. Few arguments can be made, so get along this month (or next year), to have a giggle and a gamay. This year, taking the stage is the likes of Merrick Watts, Tommy Little, Ray O’Leary and Takashi Wakasugi. There are also masterclasses, a riesling and oyster shot bar, and plenty of food and music between gigs.

Dear HBO, the next White Lotus season belongs in Australia, here’s why