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Sydney’s first luxury hotel on the beach is about to arrive

Rachael ThompsonBy Rachael Thompson
This luxurious coastal escape is bringing an elevated beachside living to Sydney’s East this summer.

Sydney’s East is about to get a serious upgrade with the arrival of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach announced for December 2025. The opening comes just in time for summer, offering tourists and locals alike a new accommodation on Sydney’s iconic eastern coastline at Coogee Beach. The accommodation will fill a notable gap in Sydney’s accommodation market, building on the strong reputation of the InterContinental brand.

The exterior of Intercontinental Sydney Coogee Beach
The breezy hotel will fill a notable gap in Sydney’s accommodation market.

The InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is a significant refurbishment and transformation of the former Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach building. What now stands is a 5-star resort-style hotel that blends laid-back beachside living with sophisticated coastal elegance. Swathed in chic neutral tones that reflect the coastal surrounds, the 198 spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms and 22 suites feature curved joinery and furnishings, bright whites and subtle textures, all of which make way for ocean views.

A guestroom with ocean views at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach
Wake up to spectacular ocean views.

For the ultimate coastal escape or luxe staycation, the suites feature indoor-outdoor designs, spacious lounges, refined finishes and luxurious outdoor baths. Public spaces are breezy, blurring the line between the indoors and outdoors and inviting guests to switch on holiday mode. 

Guest room at intercontinental sydney coogee beach
The calming guest rooms and suites are swathed in chic neutral tones.

Wellness will be central to InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. Guests can kickstart their mornings with sunrise yoga by the ocean or a game of pickleball on the hotel’s dedicated courts. Or perhaps an indulgent treatment at the onsite day spa. A leisure deck featuring an ocean-facing infinity edge swimming pool, poolside bar and outdoor event terrace will be the ultimate place to spend warm summer days. 

A balcony with ocean views at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach
The hotel sits adjacent to one of the city’s most iconic beaches.

There will be two distinct restaurants onsite that will bring fresh flavours to the city’s culinary landscape and complement the hotel’s idyllic beachfront setting. Shutters Restaurant & Bar will offer modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean influences, and Rick Stein will bring his signature seaside dining style to the Australian flagship restaurant, Rick Stein at Coogee Beach. Stein’s highly anticipated eatery will seat 224 patrons who can indulge in fresh seafood plates such as Singapore chilli crab and Nelson Bay mahi mahi, all to be enjoyed while taking in sweeping ocean vistas. 

The pool terrace at intercontinental sydney coogee beach
The outdoor pool and terrace will be the ultimate spot to spend summer days.

The hotel is set to open in two phases with the guestrooms and suites and Shutters Restaurant & Bar opening in December, and the leisure deck, day spa and Club InterContinental scheduled to open in March 2026. 

The combination of prime beachfront location, 5-star facilities, world-class dining and a focus on wellness will set InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach apart from the city’s other accommodation offerings.

Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. 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 are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.