Four Aussie hotels named among the 'best' new properties in the world
Even the roughest of travellers who don't mind pitching up in a tent or a one-roomed cabin, could never say no to a night in a luxury hotel.
There's no better feeling than cozying up under a heavy doona after a day of luxurating in the amenities of your five-star lodgings.
If you need some inspiration for your hotel-based dreaming, US publication Travel + Leisure has released its It List, with the 100 Best New Hotels in 2026.
READ MORE: 'I asked AI to plan a day exploring Sydney CBD - there was one main problem'
25Hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia has been named one of the best new hotels in the world. Supplied
Impressively, four Australian properties - and two in New Zealand - have made it to this year's list of the 100 best new hotels from across the globe.
First up is Sydney's 25hours Hotel The Olympia, which opened last November inside a landmark building on Oxford Street.
In a nod to the building's past life as a cinema - built in 1911 - the check-in desk doubles as a video rental counter, where guests can borrow VHS movies to watch in their rooms.
Monica - the rooftop bar - has a DJ booth and skyline views, or you can just step out the front door and be right in the heart of Sydney's best street for nightlife.
Alli Forde wrote for T+L that the Olympia "doesn't aspire to serenity or minimalism; it wants to entertain you, distract you, derail your plans, and then deposit you back in your room sometime after midnight."
READ MORE: How Sydney's new 25hours Hotel The Olympia embraces its movie star past
Expect impeccable views at the Mondrian Gold Coast. Mondrian
Heading north, next on the list is the Mondrian property on the Gold Coast, opened in early June 2025, which is highlighted for being the best place to watch the sun rise over the ocean.
With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Burleigh Beach, the hotel is perfectly positioned for a coastal escape.
Though the hotel has 208 rooms, the building was designed to complement the surrounding landscape - not dominate the skyline like other towers on the Gold Coast.
Guests can enjoy magnesium-infused plunge pools and a 24-metre resort-style pool, access to the CIEL spa with its biowellness treatments and restorative therapies, and beachfront houses with private pools.
READ MORE: The Bali alternative you don't even need a passport to visit
Hamilton Island's new hotel is The Sundays. Supplied
Another Queensland property - The Sundays on Hamilton Island - also made the list, after opening last April.
Designed for families, this high-end resort has generously sized suites with blackout curtains and snack-stocked kitchens.
With direct access to the Great Barrier Reef, a short drive to the airport, and year-round good weather, it's no wonder this hotel is so in demand with travellers of all ages.
1 Hotel in Melbourne focuses on sustainability. Supplied
Melbourne's brand new 1 Hotel, which opened on the Yarra River in June, was honoured with a spot on the list, too.
Housed in an industrial building, more than 7000 plants throughout the rooms, corridors, and on the balconies soften its harsh urban edges.
According to T+L, the main drawcard is its wellness floor, featuring an indoor pool with sweeping city views, a thermal spa, Finnish sauna, and steam room.
Huka Lodge is on the banks of the Waikato River near Lake Taupō. Supplied
Across the ditch, two Kiwi properties have also made the list.
Huka Lodge on the North Island near Taupo first opened its doors in 1924 as an elite fishing camp, but reopened last March after a multi-million dollar revamp. Immersed in the wild nature of NZ, the lodge has 20 cosy suites, high-end dining, and a two-room spa, sauna, and gym.
Down south, Roki Collection Queenstown was also included on the list - a luxury hideaway beside Lake Wakatipu with just 15 suites that opened in September. Guests enjoy cinematic views of the Southern Alps and impeccable service, including helicopter transfers to nearby ski fields.
