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

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.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens, and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands, a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head. Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au.

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