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

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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

Sun Ranch Byron Bay
Sun Ranch would be perfect for The White Lotus drama.

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?

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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

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
Enjoy the chaos from your hammock at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef.

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

Silky Oaks Lodge
Someone might get eaten by a crocodile if The White Lotus airs from Silky Oaks Lodge.

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

Sequoia Lodge Adelaide Hills
This season will include plenty of wine.

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.

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Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tas

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
The moody vibes will be central to the plot. (Image: Emilie Ristevski)

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.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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7 reasons to book a long weekend on the Mornington Peninsula

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    Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
    A place of spectacular coastlines and rolling vineyards, the Mornington Peninsula is just an hour from Melbourne, yet feels like a world away.  

    Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is often voted the number one short stay in Australia, and for good reason. From its beautiful coastline and scenic trails to exceptional food and wine, it’s the perfect escape any time of year, but especially as the weather grows cooler.  

    Picture afternoons relaxing in the soul-warming hot springs. Evenings by a cosy fireplace, sipping one of the region’s renowned Pinot Noirs and tucking into a delicious meal made from local produce. Now stop imagining, and start planning; here’s why the Mornington Peninsula should be your next long weekend adventure.  

    1. It’s easy to get to 

    An aerial view of Pt. Leo Estate on the Mornington Peninsula.
    Spend a long weekend on the Mornington Peninsula. (Image: CMcConville)

    At only an hour’s drive southeast of the city, the Mornington Peninsula offers unbeatable convenience. If you’re taking the Eastlink tollway to Peninsula Link, look out for eclectic roadside artwork such as Callum Morton’s high-rise hotel (hint: you can’t check in). 

    2. The coastline is stunning

    Mount Martha Bathing Boxes
    Stay in colourful, iconic beach huts along the coast.

    The Mornington Peninsula separates Port Phillip Bay to its west and Western Port Bay to its east, making it the only place in Victoria you can see a sunrise over one bay and sunset over another. 

    Its spectacular coastline varies from sandy swimming and surf beaches to dramatic rocky cliffs. Mt Martha Beach, known for its colourful beach huts and calm clear waters, was named in Tourism Australia’s Top 10 beaches for 2026. Nearby, Arthurs Seat Eagle offers gondola rides to the peninsula’s highest point, where you can enjoy breathtaking vistas. 

    For a different perspective from the water, embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience swimming with the bay’s resident dolphins, or catch a ride with Searoad Ferries from Sorrento to Queenscliff (the tip of the opposite Bellarine Peninsula). Pop into their new Sorrento terminal for sweeping views from its floor-to-ceiling windows and a bite to eat at Mediterranean restaurant ONDA. 

    3. Taste exceptional food and wine

    Crittenden restaurant mornington peninsula
    Treat yourself to the restaurant at Crittenden.

    While the Mornington Peninsula is now synonymous with cool climate wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it was originally renowned for apple production. There are many orchards still in operation, like fifth-generation Mock Red Apple; taste craft ciders (the Mulled Spiced Cider is a must in winter), and don’t miss the famous apple pie. 

    Of course, it would almost be a sin not to dine at a winery restaurant, or at least try a local wine. Stop at Foxey’s Hangout for casual share plates and a glass of Chardonnay on the deck; or for a more formal affair, the light-filled restaurant at Paringa Estate offers a fine dining set menu on weekends, with picturesque estate views. 

    Pt. Leo Estate has no less than three separate dining experiences to choose from, ranging from a wine terrace to contemporary fine dining, all sourcing seasonal Victorian and local Mornington Peninsula produce, and offering stunning vistas over Western Port Bay.  

    And opened in 2025, the restaurant at Crittenden celebrates regional produce with a modern Australian menu that pairs beautifully with their sustainably crafted estate wines.

    4. Plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors

    A quiet moment on the green as he prepares for the perfect swing.
    Tee off at world-class golf courses with stunning coastal views.

    Bring your hiking boots, because from beachside strolls to breathtaking cliffside walks, the Mornington Peninsula boasts incredible scenic trails for all fitness levels.

    The Red Hill Rail Trail follows the old railway line between Merricks and Red Hill, while the Bushrangers Bay Walking Track is the go-to trail for rugged coastal scenery, linking Cape Schanck and the Boneo Road picnic area (part of the longer Two Bays Trail). 

    The region is also home to several national parks providing plenty of opportunities to connect with nature, whether it’s a walk, picnic, or simply admiring the local flora and fauna. Golf lovers will rejoice with gorgeous courses such as the world-class Moonah Links or Flinders Golf Club, one of Victoria’s oldest golf courses.

    5. Lean into wellness and relaxation

    From an aerial view, a woman drifts peacefully across still, crystal-clear water.
    Unwind in mineral-rich hot springs and soak in total relaxation.

    Soaking in one of the Mornington Peninsula’s mineral-rich hot springs is a must in the cooler months. Alba Thermal Springs and Spa is the newer addition, with 25 contemporary geothermal pools, a sauna and steam room set amongst elegant coastal landscaping. Book a Night Owl session to watch the sunset from the pools, and extend your visit with a spa treatment or dining at their restaurant.  

    Across the road, the Peninsula Hot Springs offers two main bathing areas, cafes and a spa in a natural bush setting. The Bath House comprises over 70 bathing and wellness experiences, including their iconic Hilltop Pool, a reflexology walk, and Nepalese mineral showers; while the Spa Dreaming Centre is a serene adults-only sanctuary.  

    6. Get a culture fix

    Visit the Southern Hemisphere’s largest privately owned sculpture park at Pt. Leo Estate during long weekend on the Mornington Peninsula.
    Discover inspiring art across galleries and sculpture parks. (Image: Chris Conville)

    Wander the Southern Hemisphere’s largest privately owned sculpture park at Pt. Leo Estate, glass of red in hand, or pop into the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery to view one of their seasonal exhibitions. Seawinds Garden is also home to a sculpture collection by William Ricketts, surrounded by exotic and indigenous gardens.  

    If you’re more of a history buff, book a tour of the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, or spend an afternoon at Point Nepean National Park. Here, you can explore walking trails through the traditional country of the Bunurong people, learn the history of the old Quarantine Station and discover military forts and tunnels. 

    7. Gorgeous accommodations

    Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill
    Check into Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill.

    The Mornington Peninsula’s standout accommodations are an experience in themselves. Escape to The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, a luxe retreat perched in the dunes above the springs. Or indulge in the dramatic luxury of Jackalope Hotel, home to a vine-facing pool and spa and the chef-hatted Doot Doot Doot. 

    For a dose of European country charm, stay at Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill, set amongst lush gardens and vines with a cellar door and chef-hatted restaurant. Or for more contemporary, yet still charming, surroundings, the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula is a historic hotel reimagined as a luxe coastal stay with European flair, including a pool deck and on-site bathhouse. 

    Start planning your long weekend at visitmorningtonpeninsula.org