Two Aussie hotels named among world’s top 50 for 2024

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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The results for The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 have just been announced and Australia has made its mark.

Hotels have become a major influence on travel decisions in recent years, often holding equal importance as the destination itself. Accommodations with opulent amenities, unique experiences, and arresting design hold significant appeal for discerning travellers. And The World’s 50 Best Hotels list serves as an annual benchmark for the best hotels and luxury hospitality experiences worth travelling for. 

The results for 2024 have just been announced in London featuring hotels from 36 destinations across six continents, including two Aussie hotels: The Calile, Brisbane and The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. This reflects the growing recognition and quality of Australian hospitality on a global scale and underscores the unique offerings of Australian hotels. 

The winners

Urban oasis Capella Bangkok claimed the number one spot with its sleek design, lush landscaping, and panoramic views of the Chao Phraya River. The World’s 50 Best highlighted the calming nature of the hotel in one of the world’s most lively cities noting “The Capella is a masterclass in serenity and calm, from the neutral-toned, clean-lined, Japan-esque design to the brilliant and seemingly semi-psychic service that anticipates your every waking need." The recently opened Singapore outpost also featured on the list at no. 33. 

 

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Last year’s winner, luxury boutique hotel Passalacqua, Lake Como, was named no. 2. The palatial lakefront accommodation sits within an 18th-century villa once owned by Pope Innocent XI, and features immaculate terraced gardens and ornate Baroque design.

Passalacqua, Lake Como
Experience la dolce vita at Passalacqua. (Image: Edwina Hart)

The Aussie hotels that made the list

For the second consecutive year, The Calile Hotel is featured on the list. In 2023, it was awarded no.12 and this year it has come in at no. 25 as well as receiving the accolade for The Best Hotel in Oceania 2024. Located in the hip precinct of James Street in Brisbane, The Calile has elevated the city’s design landscape and become a hotspot for stylish Aussies since it opened in 2018.

The Calile Brisbane
The urban resort boasts a retro cool design.

Taking cues from modernist Miami and Palm Springs aesthetics combined with elements of 1960s Australia, the tropical oasis is swathed in a sophisticated palette of rich-veined rose marble, smooth concrete, and blonde timber. 

The Calile Brisbane
The sleek rooms exude calm.

The Tasman Hobart claimed no.49 this year, putting the port city on the map for international travellers. An elegant heritage reconstruction of former state government offices, The Tasman is a study in sensitively bringing a historic building into the 21st century.

The Tasman Hotel Hobart
Rooms and suites boast soaring ceilings. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Sitting pretty on the waterfront, guestrooms feature original Georgian details, exposed sandstone walls, sweeping water views, and custom furnishings. 

The Tasman Hotel Hobart
Old meets new at The Tasman Hotel Hobart. (Image: Sean Fennessy)

Bali-loving Aussies planning on visiting The Island of the Gods in the near future should turn their attention to Seminyak beauty Desa Potato Head which came in at no. 21.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 list

  1. Capella Bangkok, Bangkok
  2. Passalacqua, Lake Como
  3. Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  4. Cheval Blanc, Paris
  5. The Upper House, Hong Kong
  6. Raffles Singapore, Singapore
  7. Aman Tokyo, Tokyo
  8. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
  9. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
  10. Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island
  11. Claridge’s, London
  12. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok
  13. Raffles London at the OWO, London
  14. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
  15. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
  16. Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá
  17. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes
  18. Maroma, Riviera Maya
  19. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence
  20. Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi
  21. Desa Potato Head, Bali
  22. Bulgari Tokyo, Tokyo
  23. The Lana, Dubai
  24. Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo
  25. The Calile, Brisbane
  26. The Siam, Bangkok
  27. Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kyoto
  28. Mount Nelson, Cape Town
  29. One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit
  30. The Carlyle, New York
  31. La Mamounia, Marrakechch
  32. Four Seasons Madrid, Madrid
  33. Capella Singapore, Singapore
  34. Four Seasons at The Surf Club, Surfside
  35. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
  36. Eden Rock, St. Barths
  37. Aman New York, New York
  38. Royal Mansour, Marrakech
  39. Amangalla, Gaelle
  40. Le Bristol, Paris
  41. Gleneagles, Auchterarder
  42. Castello di Reschio, Lisciano Niccone
  43. Suján Jawai, Rajasthan
  44. Singita – Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park
  45. Six Senses Zighy Bay, Zaghi
  46. The Connaught, London
  47. The Brando, Tetiaroa
  48. Hotel Esencia, Tulum
  49. The Tasman, Hobart
  50. Kokomo Private Island, Yaukuve Levu Island

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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After dark: 6 experiences along the Murray lighting up the night

(Credit: Serena Munro)

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
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    See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.

    By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.

    From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.

    This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.

    1. Share in ghostly tales

    Port After Dark tour Murray at night
    Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)

    If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.

    You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.

    2. Wander art installations

    Bruce Munroe's Fibre Optic Symphoinic Orchestra Murray at night
    See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)

    Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.

    For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.

    3. Learn through lasers

    Heartbeat of the Murray at night
    Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)

    Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.

    The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.

    4. Light up the lake

    Lake Mulwala Laser Light Show Murray at night
    Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)

    Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.

    You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.

    5. Be captivated by local culture

    Bullanginya Dreaming Murray at night
    Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)

    Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.

    Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.

    6. Discover a winter glow

    winterglow festival
    See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)

    Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.

    Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.

    Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.

    Start planning a day-to-night adventure along the Murray at visitthemurray.com.au.