“Australians want travel experiences that reflect who they are and what they love, whether that’s a solo journey, a family getaway, or a short city escape. With Aussies feeling the pressure of the cost of living rising, we want to make it easier for people to explore new destinations and enjoy experiences they’re passionate about,” says Daniel Thompson, Head of Marketing at Click Frenzy, which kicked off, March 25 among selected brands.

To get the spinner wheels of your next trip in motion, read on for the best flight, hotel and experience sales on now in 2026 from the likes of Virgin Australia, Flight Centre and more. Here’s to jetsetting to London, Nice, New York and beyond for less.

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Best international flight deals

• Flight Centre: Various sales in include the Asia Sale, Northern Territory Sale, Canada & USA Sale, New Zealand sale, and various cruise and tour deals
• Virgin Australia: Various international flight deals, including Melbourne to Bali from $479 return
• Hawaiian Airlines: Fly Sydney to Honolulu from $1739 rountrip
• Singapore Airlines: Various deals on site
• Qatar Airlines: Fly Sydney to London economy from $1914, or Sydney to Istanbul economy from $1724

Best domestic flight deals

• Flight Centre: Fly Melbourne to Sydney from $61 economy one way
• Virgin Australia: Various domestic flight deals, including Sydney to Ballina Byron from $65 one way

Best accommodation and tour deals

• Oaks Hotels & Resorts: Stay 2 nights, save 30 per cent with deals across 60+ destinations
• Luxury Escapes: Various exclusive offers on site
• G Adventures: Save up to 30 per cent on over 500+ trips worldwide including destinations India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru and more
• Halong Tours: Up to 65 per cent off Vietnam Tours including hotels, cruise, tours, meals & internal flights

Best luggage deals

• Antler: Up to 50 per cent off
• Samsonite: Up to 40 per cent off suitcases, bags & backpacks
• THE ICONIC: Various savings on luggage, including 50 per cent off selected suitcases
• Myer: Up to 50 per cent off travel and tech
• David Jones: 50 per cent off selected suitcases

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The post Fly far for less: top domestic and international flight deals revealed appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

NEED TO KNOW

• Virgin Australia has launched a ‘I deserve a little treat’ sale
• The sale includes domestic flights, with deals on popular routes like Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island and the Sunshine Coast
• Their cheapest fare is $49 from Sydney to Ballina Byron economy one way
• Live now till March 23 on select flights for travel between April 15 and December 16 (unless sold out prior)

A PSA to Australia-based travellers – particularly those looking elsewhere longingly – Virgin Australia has officially launched their March sale, giving travellers a chance to escape reality, and save hundreds on their next sojourn in the process.

For their ‘I deserve a little treat’ sale, the airline is offering savings on domestic fares, including Sydney to Ballina Byron from $49 economy one-way. The airline has also slashed the price of Business Class fares to start from $219 one-way.

While economy flights can often cost you a pretty penny on average, you can now be able to secure one-way tickets at an exceptional value. Major aerial moves.

So, whether you’re planning a getaway to rid the post-Christmas blues, or a romantic escape with a loved one, this is the best time to secure flights while you’ve got the ample discount.

Read on for the best offerings from Virgin Australia from the airline itself, plus everything we know about their ‘I deserve a little treat’ sale.

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Virgin Australia domestic deals

• Sydney to Ballina (Byron Bay) from $49
• Sydney to Gold Coast from $65
• Sydney to Cairns from $115
• Adelaide to Hobart from $95
• Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $119
• Melbourne to Sydney from $99
• Melbourne to Gold Coast from $89
• Melbourne to Canberra from $119
• Melbourne to Sunshine Coast from $105

Click here for the full list of of deals in the sale, including flights from Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and more.

Virgin Australia international deals

• Sydney to Queenstown (NZ) return from $665
• Sydney to Nadi (Fiji) return from $735
• Brisbane to Nadi (Fiji) return from $775
• Brisbane to Denpasar (Bali) return from $649
• Brisbane to Port Vila (Vanuatu) return from $619
• Brisbane to Queenstown (NZ) return from $739
• Gold Coast to Denpasar (Bali) return from $539
• Melbourne to Queenstown (NZ) return from $569
• Melbourne to Denpasar (Bali) return from $479
• Melbourne to Nadi (Fiji) return from $679

For the full list of of domestic flight deals in the sale, you can check out the sale page.

Cheap Virgin Australia flights from Sydney

Virgin Australia is also offering some discounts on domestic flights out of Sydney, including some of the routes below:

• Sydney to Adelaide economy one way from $149
• Sydney to Ballina Byron economy one way from $49
• Sydney to Brisbane economy one way from $99
• Sydney to Gold Coast economy one way from $65
• Sydney to Hobart economy one way from $85
• Sydney to Melbourne economy one way from $99

For the full list of of domestic flight deals in the sale, you can check out the sale page.

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Flight Centre Virgin Australia sale

Flight Centre also has discounts on a couple of Virgin Australia flights, including:

• Sydney to Ballina economy one way from $57
• Melbourne to Gold Coast economy one way from $104
• Sydney to Sunshine Coast economy one way from $76
• Brisbane to Proserpine economy one way from $86

For the full list of of domestic flight deals, you can check out the Virgin Australia deals page

The post This new Virgin Australia sale is your excuse to book that overdue trip appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

Hilton’s guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors, invites members to bid their Points on exclusive dining, lifestyle, cultural and sporting experiences. At the Formula 1, that looks like premium hospitality and views of the track and pit lane during qualifying, sprints and races; access to the Paddock and pit lane walks; and McLaren Mastercard F1 Team-hosted activities. Packages also include accommodation and on-property activations, like racing simulators and dining events. The numbers speak for themselves: for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Hilton Honors members redeemed more than nine million Points for McLaren F1 Team VIP packages — a record high.

Sports experiences up for the bidding include Australian Open meet-and-greets, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race (with viewing from a launch boat, VIP hospitality at the Thames Rowing Club, and exclusive dinners), and the Concacaf Champions Cup. Points are accrued through stays at the group’s 25 brands around the world (including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts), and members can bolster their bidding power by purchasing additional Points — up to 160,000 per calendar year.

This year, Hilton Honors also welcomed a new tier for its most loyal travellers: Diamond Reserve. Recognising members who stay either 80 nights (or 40 separate stays) and spend a minimum of USD $18,000, this level offers confirmable upgrades when booking, top priority for space-available upgrades, guaranteed 4pm checkouts, access to executive lounges and Premium Clubs and personalised customer service. Diamond Reserve travellers also unlock a 120 per cent Points bonus, meaning they have more Points to redeem on stays — or bid on Hilton Honors experiences — sooner.

From 2026, Gold status can be achieved with just 25 nights per year — 15 nights fewer than before — and Diamond with 50 nights. Perks include space-available upgrades, dining credits, and incremental Points bonuses, with Hilton Honors members continuing to enjoy no blackout dates on redeeming Points, the ability to combine Hilton Honors Points and cash on bookings, and Fifth Night Free stays to enjoy longer experiences for less. It’s free to join Hilton Honors, and the benefits (like free WiFi) begin the moment you sign up.

Plan your next trip and learn more about Hilton Honors.

Gourmet Traveller was a guest of Hilton at the Australian Grand Prix.

The post This hotel loyalty program unlocks top-class sporting experiences around the world appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

While it’s only been a month since we saw significant discounts from the likes of Etihad, Flight Centre, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and more in the Black Friday flight sales, if you missed out on your dream deal then you might just find it in the Boxing Day and the new year sales.

Here, we’ve compiled our research into Gourmet Traveller‘s 2025 guide to Boxing Day flight and holiday sales, with huge savings and flights for as little as $49. Whether you’re heading interstate or across the seas, these sales – as well as New Year’s flight sales – are ones to take advantage of.

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Best Boxing Day flight sales

While the majority of 2025’s Boxing Day sales are yet to drop, we can look to last year’s deals – from the likes of Flight Centre and Virgin Australia – to give insight as to what we could expect to see in the coming weeks. Here are the Boxing Day flight deals that can help you save your euros, dollars and yens for travel in the new year.

Virgin Australia Boxing Day sale

Virgin Australia is offering significant savings on domestic and international short-haul flights for Boxing Day – such as Sydney to Ballina Byron from $49 one-way, Melbourne to Queenstown from $285 one-way and Sydney to Bali (Denpasar) from $469 return.

Flight Centre Boxing Day deals

Flight Centre: Domestic, international and multi-stop flight deals from the likes of Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Finnair. So you could escape to Ballina/Byron from $57, Bali from $303 or Hawaii from $538 one-way, or take a round-the-world return economy trip from Sydney to Bangkok, Helsinki, Rome and Dallas from $2616.

We also saw also seeing return business class flights to Europe for under $10000 – including Sydney to Rome from $9474 and Brisbane to Paris from $9105, both with Qatar.

Etihad flight deals

While Etihad hasn’t traditionally participated in Boxing Day sales, the UAE airline extended their Black Friday sale with deals including return economy flights from Sydney to Barcelona starting at $1776, or Melbourne to Athens from $1690 when you book by January 10, 2025 and travel by March 31. And return business class from Sydney to London from $8792!

Etihad has also been known to offer New Year’s sales in the past. The airline offered some sweet round trip deals such as Copenhagen from $1745 and to Beirut from $1828.

Singapore Airlines flight deals

Fly from Sydney to Phuket for $1145 or Brisbane to Paris for $2121 and more deals on flights to London, Ho Chi Minh City and more with Singapore Airlines

Boxing Day tour and holiday deals

• Flight Centre: Save up to $866 on tours to Europe and up to $771 on tours to Asia
• Luxury Escapes: Up to 70 per cent off hotels and resorts
• Agoda: Offers a range of savings and deals on accommodation, travel activities and more

Boxing Day cruise deals

• Flight Centre: Discover Vanuatu with P&O Cruises from $1599 for nine nights or take a five night cruise from Sydney to Tasmania from $819 per person
• Luxury Escapes: Luxury Escapes offers discounts on luxe cruises year-round, with deals up to 56 per cent off when we checked for Boxing Day

The post Living la dolce vita abroad is sweeter with these Boxing Day flight sales appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

It’s about making the system work for you and being strategic about when to tack on an extra day to a nation or state-wide public holiday long weekend.

Consider this your guide to hacking the game of the ol’ AL calendar in 2026. Let’s start with the first long weekend post the new year period.

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January 26 public holiday 2026

January 26 falls on a a Monday this year.

Whether you’re laying low or wanting to get out of the city, using a day of AL on Friday 23 or Tuesday 27 will give you a four-day weekend. Alternatively, taking four days of AL Tuesday 27 to January 30 will see you have nine days off in a row.

Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays 2026

The public holidays making up the Easter period start from Good Friday on April 3 and goes to Easter Monday, April 6. Book five days of annual leave from April 7 to April 10 to score 10 days off in a row.Book in just three days of AL from April 23 to April 24 to score 10 days off in a row. ANZAC Day follows on Saturday, April 25, though only Western Australia gets a public holiday on Monday, April 27.

King’s Birthday public holiday 2026

The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on June 8 for most states and territories, bar QLD (October 5) and WA (September 28). Take a day or two of AL on the prior Friday or following Tuesday for a four-or-five-day long weekend.

Labour Day public holiday 2026

Labour Day falls on October 5 for ACT, NSW and SA (keep scrolling for the other states’ dates) in 2026. Just like the King’s Birthday holiday, take a day or two of AL on the prior Friday or following Tuesday for four or five days off. Heck, go wild and tack on another two or three for a eight-to-ten-day break.

Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 public holidays

While it has just arrived for this year, that lovely languid time in which you lose track of what day of the week it is will come around again sooner than you can say ‘I can’t wait for the shutdown period’. With Christmas Day falling on a Friday, Boxing Day on the Saturday and New Year’s Day the next Thursday, you’ll only need three days of AL in the 10-day period between December 25 and January, 3.

Other 2026 public holidays

While the aforementioned list isn’t exhaustive of all the states and territories’ public holidays, it covers the big hitters. Below, we take a look at some other key public holidays to base your annual leave around.

ACT

• Canberra Day, Monday, March 9
• Reconciliation Day, Monday, June 1
• Labour Day, Monday, October 5

NT

• May Day, Monday, May 5
• Picnic Day, Monday, August 4

QLD

• Labour Day, Monday, May 4
• Royal Queensland Show, Wednesday, August 12 (Brisbane area)
• King’s Birthday, Monday, October 5

SA

Adelaide Cup Day, Monday, March 9
Labour Day, Monday, 5 October
Proclamation Day, Monday, 28 December

TAS

• Eight Hours Day, Monday, March 9
• Royal Hobart Show (only certain areas of the state), Thursday, October 22
• Recreation Day (Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta), Monday, November 2

VIC

• Labour Day, Monday, March 9
• AFL Grand Final Friday, TBA
• Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday, November 3

WA

• Labour Day, Monday, March 2
• Western Australia Day, Monday, June 1
• King’s Birthday, Monday, September 28

The post How to maximise your annual leave in 2026, plus where to go on your long weekends appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

However, over the past few years there has been a trend towards Black Friday and Travel Tuesday flight sales, and other travel deals that can save you a lot of money on your globetrotting adventures.

This year we’re already seeing some incredible savings on flights, tours and cruises. If Fiji has been on your travel wishlist, it’s time to bite the bullet. Right now, Virgin Australia is offering return flights from Melbourne to Nadi from $645 Economy Lite, with up to 25 per cent off more destinations till December 2. And no need to stress about accommodation, as at Booking.com you can now save up to 40 per cent on select accommodation till December 3!

Singapore Airlines have also dropped some sweet deals, including Business class return from Melbourne for $3919, as well as flights to London Economy return from $1630.

The key? For the best Black Friday flight sales, you need to book before someone else swoops in on the best offers – and before Travel Tuesday ends on December 2. But with so many places to go, and so many experiences to explore, it’s hard to know what’s worth adding to cart for. So, we’ve done the hard work for you and asked the travel experts on where you should book your next trip during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday sales.

More Cyber Weekend sale guides:

• Best Black Friday luggage sales for 2025
• Save up to 50 per cent off cooking appliances & more this Black Friday
• Sail into Black Friday and save up to 50 per cent on your next cruise

Read on for Gourmet Traveller‘s guide to Black Friday flight sales for 2025.

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Travel Tuesday flight deals 2025

“Booking during a sale is the best thing you can do for your wallet. We booked our return flights to Seoul during the early Black Friday sales and saved over $1000 for the two of us – easily the best travel decision we’ve made all year” — Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor

Save on 2025 flights for this year and beyond with these Travel Tuesday deals.

• Booking.com: Up to 15 per cent off select flights till December 3
• Emirates: Various special offers available
• Flight Centre: Up to 50 per cent off till December 3
• Hawaiian Airlines: Various deals from Sydney to Honolulu, Lihue, Kona, and the Continental U.S.
• LATAM Airlines: Various deals on roundtrip services to Santiago de Chile, Lima and more South American services
• Mix & Match: Various cheap flights available
• Omio: Up to 50% off Asia travel deal (code: ASIA50), and 15% off Black Friday sale with code OMIOBF15
• Qatar Airways: Up to 20 per cent off flights, and 25 per cent off Flight + Hotel packages till December 2
• Singapore Airlines: Black Friday deals to more than 90 destinations till December 2
• Skyscanner: Use Skyscanner to find the best Black Friday deals on offer
• Traveloka: Up to $100 off Flights with code BLACKFLYDAY ($100 off with a minimum spend of $800, or $50 off with a minimum spend of $400, or $15 off with a minimum spend of $100)
• Trip.com: Black Friday mega sale on airline fares
• Virgin Australia: Up to 25 per cent off flights

Best Travel Tuesday tour deals

• Booking.com: Up to 20 per cent off select attractions and airport transfers from November 20 to December 3 2025, for travel through to December 31 2026
• Contiki: Lowest prices available
• Flight Centre: A variety of tours on sale now, including 50 per cent off sailing to the Canary Islands with G Adventures, as well as up to 30 per cent off India’s Golden Triangle
• G Adventures: Up to 30 per cent off select tours worldwide such as $630 off exploring the Best of Egypt from Cairo for eight days
• Trafalgar Tours: Weekly deals: Buy One, Get One 50 per cent off select trips till December 4, plus save 15 per cent off top tours in Italy, Ireland, Spain and more

Best Travel Tuesday cruise sales

• Celebrity Cruises: Up to 75% off a second guest, plus up to AUD $1,500 off select sailings till December 2
• Celestyal: Up to 70% off on 113 sailings departing between December 2025 and October 2027 till December 2
• Flight Centre: Up to 50 per cent off till December 3
• Luxury Escapes: Big savings on international and domestic cruises
• Princess Cruises: Secure your next cruise with a 50 per cent reduced deposit till December 9
• Qatar Airways: Up to 40 per cent off cruises

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Best Travel Tuesday accommodation deals

• All Accor: up to 25 per cent off stays over two nights worldwide
• Booking.com: up to 40 per cent off sitewide
• Expedia: up to 40 per cent off select hotels till December 2
• Flight Centre: Up to 50 per cent off
• InterContinental Hotels Group: Save 20 per cent on hotels, and IHG One Rewards members save 25 per cent
• Luxury Escapes: up to 75 per cent off select stays 
• Trip.com: up to 50 per cent off hotels till December 7

Best Travel Tuesday multi-stop flight deals

• Flight Centre: Multi-stop return deals available

Best Travel Tuesday round-the-world flight deals

Flight Centre: Round-the-world deals available now

Best Travel Tuesday domestic flight deals

• Flight Centre: Up to 50 per cent off till December 3
• Virgin Australia: Up to 25 per cent off flights

Airlines offering notable Black Friday and Travel Tuesday deals in 2025

Cyber Weekend, including Black Friday to Travel Tuesday, is the best time of year to save hundreds off flights and travel, with notable airlines often participating. The Black Friday sale will likely include Flight Centre, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and more with deals on both domestic and international routes.

The best practices for booking Travel Tuesday flight deals

“To make the most of Black Friday flight deals, travellers should start planning days or even weeks in advance so you get an idea of prices,” says Skyscanner Australia Travel Expert Jarrod Kris. We recommend to plan ahead and act fast, as the most popular routes and destinations tend to sell out quickly and prices can change at a moments notice. Most flight sales will be for flights that are due to depart the following year, however it’s important to be flexible with your departure date in order to yield major savings.

“Last-minute deals can pop up across the weekend, but it’s unpredictable,” adds Jarrod. “Some airlines may release flash sales or fill unsold seats with discounts. Setting price alerts can also help you be notified of price changes on the flights you are after. These deals are usually limited in quantity, so it’s all about checking frequently.” Always compare prices between multiple providers to ensure you’re truly getting the best bargain, and keep and eye on any hidden fees prior to booking.

Lastly, keep this page bookmarked as we will be updating it with the best Black Friday flight deals so that you can travel for less.

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Popular flight destinations and deals for 2025

“Booking our flights to Japan during last year’s Black Friday sales meant we could spend more on the trip itself. I wouldn’t book at any other time” — Phoebe Youl, Shopping Editor

“Popular flight routes and trending destinations, especially during peak travel periods, tend to sell out fast due to high demand,” says Jarrod Kris. “Some trending destinations based on last year’s Black Friday deals include Thailand, Japan and New Zealand. If you’re eyeing one of these hot spots, it’s best to do your research on your travel dates, set price alerts and act fast once deals drop.”

Additionally, Expedia research shows that several destinations are set to soar in popularity in 2026. Below are just a few destinations that are growing in interest – featuring a surprising Australian hotspot:

• Okinawa, Japan
• Sardinia, Italy
• Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Savoie, France
• Cotswolds, UK
• San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• Hobart, Australia

In the case for luxury travel, Egypt and Jordan are also topping trend lists for adventurous Australian travellers. Uncrowded destinations like Greenland, Iceland, Bhutan, and Antarctica have been trending upwards as a serene, grounding alternative.

FAQ on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday sales

GT picks: travel essentials

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The post The domestic and international flight deals dropping this Travel Tuesday appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

Fly from Sydney to Barcelona from $1353, Sydney to Rome for $1388 or Sydney to paris from $1525. Oui, s’il vous plaît.

More Black Friday sale guides:

• Travel experts reveal the best places to book during Black Friday flight sales
• Best Black Friday luggage sales for 2025
• Sail into Black Friday and save up to 50 per cent on your next cruise

Until November 30, the UAE-based airline is offering significant savings on flights between January 13 and June 24, 2026 from Sydney and Melbourne to select destinations. Read on for everything you need to know to jet-set for less with Etihad’s Black Friday sale.

Etihad economy return flight deals from Sydney

Some of Eithad’s economy class offerings from Sydney in the sale also include:

• Sydney to Abu Dhabi from $1783
• Sydney to Dublin from $1849
• Sydney to Manchester from $1622
• Sydney to Prague from $2042
• Sydney to Cairo from $1989
• Sydney to Athens from $1733
• Sydney to Paris from $1525

See all discounted airfares as part of the Etihad Black Friday sale.

Etihad economy return flight deals from Melbourne

Some of Eithad’s economy class offerings from Melbourne in the sale also include:

• Melbourne to Abu Dhabi from $1762
• Melbourne to Dublin from $1812
• Melbourne to Manchester from $1572
• Melbourne to Prague from $2228
• Melbourne to Cairo from $2180
• Melbourne to Athens from $1711

See all discounted airfares as part of the Etihad Black Friday sale.

Plus, if you’re flying via Abu Dhabi and booking through Etihad, you can add a complimentary two-night stay with Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme. Or kick up your heels in the lounges of Terminal A in Abu Dhabi which boasts dining experiences, the Constellation Bar, a First Lounge and relaxation rooms. Layover, schmayover.

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The post Etihad is offering up to 35 per cent off flights to Paris, Prague and Athens for your next escape appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

Just in time for the year-end rush, a variety of cruise deals, including some of the best Black Friday cruise deals, are becoming available, making it the perfect moment to plan a getaway.

Over the last few years, there has been a rise in new cruise trends, including interest in smaller ships, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and a surge in younger travellers embracing life at sea.

“Cruise has moved far beyond the clichés of the past and is now embraced by a much broader and younger audience,” says Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer, Celestyal. “A big driver of this trend has been the popularity of shorter itineraries packed with ports, a dynamic and unique offering that allows travellers the chance to explore six or seven destinations in just three or four days. This vibrant, fast-paced approach to cruising has attracted a different demographic from younger travellers to first-time cruisers keen to dip their toe in without committing to a longer stay at sea.

GT Black Friday 2025 guides:

• Best Black Friday sales for 2025
• Best Black Friday flight sales
• Best Black Friday luggage sales

Read on for Gourmet Traveller‘s guide to Black Friday cruise sales for 2025.

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Black Friday cruise deals 2025

• Celebrity Cruises: Up to 75 off off a second guest, plus up to $900 off select sailings including on Celebrity Xcel till November 12
• Flight Centre: Save up to $4000 on Europe cruises for a limited time
• Luxury Escapes: Big savings on international and domestic cruises
• Princess Cruises: Secure your next cruise with a 50 per cent reduced deposit till December 9
• Celestyal: Enjoy up to 50 per cent off on 2025, 2026 and 2027 sailings

Booking tip: Keep your dates and destinations flexible in order let yourself find the best value

FAQ on Black Friday cruise deals

The post Sail into Black Friday and save up to 50 per cent on your next cruise appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

“As the demand for premium travel increases, we’re creating more space, more dining options and a completely enhanced on ground experience,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.

This will be achieved with a design scheme by Caon Design Office and Akin Atelier inspired by the landscape surrounding Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Bondi Beach. Catering to the needs of various traveller categories, distinct functional zones will include quiet spaces to work, charger access for the majority of seats, and the addition of a 150-square-metre outdoor terrace offering access to fresh air and natural light. The Sydney lounge’s food and beverage offering will be enhanced with signature plated menu options, a barista-made coffee bar and a curated drinks menu.

During construction from 8 December, passengers can access a temporary Qantas International Business Lounge, or the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2027 — in time for the airline’s ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights to London and New York taking off.

Elsewhere, the new Qantas Auckland International Lounge will open on 17 December ahead of the holiday rush, featuring materials sourced from local New Zealand suppliers. 

The relaunch coincides with the airline recently introducing direct seasonal flights between Adelaide and Auckland, and its Perth–Auckland flights commencing on 7 December. Further projects include upgrades to the Los Angeles International Business Lounge, as well as domestic regional lounges including at Coffs Harbour, Mackay and Karratha airports.

For more of the latest restaurant news from Gourmet Traveller, sign up to receive our newsletter in your inbox.

The post Qantas is adding an outdoor wellness terrace to its Sydney International Business Lounge appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

Best travel deals, flight sales and holiday packages in 2025

Singapore Airlines is offering return fares from $700 to popular international destinations

While economy flights can cost you a pretty penny on average, you can now secure return tickets to international locations at a discounted price in Singapore Airlines’ early Black Friday sale.

Whether you’ve got a pile of beach reads at the ready for your next island vacation, or your Pentax serviced for exploring cobblestone streets in Europe, now is the time to book flights.

For a full list of the deals, check out Singapore Airline sales but the highlights include:

• Sydney to Singapore from $700
• Melbourne to Mumbai from $1000
• Sydney to Paris from $1400

Virgin Australia launches Vanuatu sale with up to 40 per cent off flights

Island dreaming? Virgin Australia is currently offering up to 40 per cent off flights to Vanuatu — but only until midnight on November 7.

Whether you’re planning a last-minute Christmas break or a romantic getaway, time is of the essence.

Fly return from Sydney to Bali and enjoy five nights accommodation at Seascape Resort Sanur from $1900

Let Luxury Escapes do the heavy lifting for you with this holiday package consisting of: return economy flights with Qantas; plus, five nights accommodation in a romantic, eco-conscious resort nestled near Sanur Harbour. Take the mental load out of holiday planning and put your feet up.

View more holiday deals at Luxuryescapes.com.au

Flight Centre New Zealand flight deals

Flight Centre’s Big Red sale includes flights from major Australian cities to New Zealand for as little as $355 via Jetstar, Qantas or Virgin Australia.

Other domestic highlights from the sale are:

• Sydney to Gold Coast from $75 one way on Jetstar
• Melbourne to Hobart from $85 one way on Jetstar
• Sydney to Ballina from $118 one way on Virgin Australia

For more flight deals, visit flightcentre.com.au/big-red-sale-aus-nz#holidays

APT Luxury Travel Kimberley Coastal Expedition

Experience all-inclusive, ultra-luxury with APT Luxury Travel and Seabourn on an exclusive small ship cruise. APT’s ten-day Kimberley Coastal Expedition reveals the majestic natural wonders of the region.

View more at aptouring.com.au

The post Best travel deals and exclusive holiday sales to know about this month appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

“From the beginning, our vision has been to create hotels that are rooted in their surroundings and full of character, rather than repeating a formula,” says Christoph Hoffmann, founder of 25hours Hotels. “The Olympia is a perfect match for that philosophy: a historic theatre with a colourful past, right at the intersection of some of Sydney’s most vibrant neighbourhoods,”

Starting in the lobby, where vintage film-themed furniture and memorabilia are on display, the hotel’s character-filled interiors are splashed with high-contrast colours, custom-designed furniture, graphic textiles and exclusive artworks by Sydney artist Kubi Vasak. Heritage elements like a ticket box, grand staircases and original brickwork have been retained, and there’s a retro video shop from which historical artefacts (yes, actual VHS tapes) can be borrowed for in-room movie nights.

Categories for accommodation range from courtyard-facing queen rooms through to a one-of-a-kind, 69-square-metre suite, with rooms (eight of them dog-friendly) following either the Renegade scheme with bold and moody styling, or the Dreamer aesthetic with a light, airy palette.

Led by culinary director Mitch Orr (Kiln, Acme, Sepia) the four-part food and beverage program at 25hours Hotel The Olympia adds a rooftop bar to the Paddington dining scene, plus three Down Under interpretations of concepts by London-based hospitality group Studio Paskin. Since 1995, siblings Layo and Zoë Paskin have developed on-trend dining and nightlife experiences with an eye on culture — Layo even played DJ sets in the Grand Pacific Blue Room in the early 2000s.

From Soho to Sydney, The Palomar is a satellite version of the duo’s London establishment of the same name, blending the sun-kissed flavours of southern Europe, North Africa and the Levant. With a wood-fired grill central to the style, Orr and head chef Luke Davenport (who joined The Palomar London in 2016 and has since worked at Noma in Copenhagen and London’s The Ledbury) are evolving The Palomar’s menu with the seasons, sourcing organic vegetables from Newcastle Greens, retired dairy cow beef from CopperTree Farms and line-caught fish from SouEast Seafoods.

Dishes on the opening menu include butterflied blue mackerel with chermoula; Berkshire pork chop with roasted grapes and sherry; and a pistachio ice cream baklava sandwich. The dining room features black and white photography of Paddington in the 1920s, with pink quartzite, navy leather and a marble mosaic.

Across from the restaurant, The Mulwray is a cocktail and wine bar led by sommelier Eleonore Wulf. A small bar snacks menu (Sydney rock oysters; beef tartare on toast; spiced onion rings with green chilli yoghurt) complements the drinks program, with a sophisticated and intimate atmosphere built by dark leather, brass floor inlays and original brick walls. Also on street level, Jacob the Angel recreates the welcoming and community-focused London cafe, with pastries from Lune Croissanterie, and Ona coffee.

On the newly built rooftop, Monica is a bar embracing themes of playfulness, socialising and personality. Flavourful snacks like devilled spanner crab on Jatz (a Mitch Orr staple), San Daniele prosciutto with roasted figs and rosemary; and a soy-glazed fried chicken burger form the food offering, while drinks include colourful cocktails, local spirits, a DIY mimosa bottle service and a sunset-friendly list of wines and beers. A central DJ booth sets the soundtrack for the indoor/outdoor space with sunbeds, lounging nooks and a firepit corner scattered among tropical foliage.

Over 1000 titles curated by nearby Berkelouw Books (themed around culture, cinema and local history) wrap around a 60-metre-long library wall in the lobby, and classes can be accessed at nearby fitness studio Flow Athletic, while six hire bikes open up the area to guests looking to explore a little further.

25hours Hotel The Olympia’s location establishes it as a new hub for cultural, sporting and lifestyle events like Sydney Mardi Gras, games hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground or Moore Park, and the Sydney Marathon or City2Surf. Rates start at $399 per night.

25hours-hotels.com/sydney/the-olympia

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There are several ways to make your journey across the Pacific, but what better way to experience the culture and charm of Hawaiʻi than with Hawaiian Airlines themselves? For the traveller who doesn’t like to wait, your holiday can start the minute you step foot on the aircraft at departure.

In today’s competitive travel market, finding an affordable deal on flights can be challenging, so we’ve made the search for you. Cheap flights from Sydney to Honolulu (HNL) have just dropped below $1000, making it more affordable than ever to experience the breathtaking landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands. Whether you’re planning to redeem points, book a quick inter-island trip, or begin a longer adventure from Australia to the U.S, these flight deals are worth exploring. Below are all the details.

The best Sydney to Hawaiʻi flight deals with Hawaiian Airlines:

• Fly Sydney to Honolulu return from $998 between 30 Oct 2025 to 8 Nov 2025

Book now

You might also like: The world’s finest Four Seasons hotels and resorts

Hawaiian Airlines flights to Hawaiʻi

• Sydney to Honolulu (HNL) return from $998
• Sydney to Lihue (LIH) return from $1132
• Sydney to Kona (KOA) return from $1132

Click here for the full list of flight options in the sale.

Hawaiian Airlines flights to the Continental U.S.

• Sydney to Los Angeles (LAX) return from $1347
• Sydney to San Francisco (SFO) return from $1497
• Sydney to San Diego (SAN) return from $1540
• Sydney to Las Vegas (LAS) return from $1647
• Sydney to Seattle (SEA) return from $1647
• Sydney to New York-Kennedy (JFK) return from $1942

Click here for the full list of fare deals in the sale.

Prices are subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. Please see https://www.hawaiianairlines.com.au/deals-and-offers/fares for details and updated pricing.

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This year’s most sought-after culinary event returns to Margaret River from 20–23 November 2025, and it’s already shaping up to be the hottest ticket in town. Selling out rapidly, the multi-day festival offers a backstage pass to the region’s finest, with a next-level line-up of feasts, tastings and music-filled experiences.

Here’s our pick of six unmissable highlights from this year’s calendar.

1. The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines: Saturday 22- Sunday 23 November

This is a rare chance to taste all the Margaret River Region’s iconic wine estates in one place. Spend the afternoon tasting your way through rare finds, iconic vintages and winemaker favourites, all poured in one beautiful setting at Howard Park Wines.

Acclaimed chef Matt Moran joins forces with Italian soprano and cookbook author Silvia Colloca to serve a menu of indulgent festival dishes.

Tickets: $154 per person

2. Burnt Ends & Friends: Friday 21 Nov

Singapore’s David Pynt (of Michelin-starred Burnt Ends) returns to his roots for a one-night-only fire feast at Wills Domain. He’ll be joined by Francis Mallmann, the ‘Godfather of Open-Fire Cooking’, viral food personality Andy Hearnden and a crew of flame-obsessed chefs. It’s smoky, savoury, and sizzling with flavour.

Tickets: $220 per person –Sold out, join the waitlist.

3. Ngilgi Reverie: Friday 21 November

An opera performance inside a limestone cave? Only at Pair’d. Set in the stunning Ngilgi Cave, this atmospheric session pairs regional drops, a beautiful didgeridoo performance by Wadandi Man Josh Whiteland, and a soaring live soprano performance from the multi-talented actress, cookbook author and opera singer Silvia Colloca. It’s intimate, operatic, and completely unforgettable.

Tickets: $125 per person –Sold out, join the waitlist.

4. Night Hawker: Saturday 22 November

This all-you-can-eat night market with a Hong Kong twist, transforms Chow’s Table into a vibrant feast of Cantonese-inspired flavours and modern Asian flair. Think dumplings, noodles, skewers and a special DJ set from Bangkok-based DJ and cook, Mendy Indigo. Plus craft beer and local vino to wash it all down.

Tickets: $167 per person (includes food and welcome drink) –Sold out, join the waitlist.

5. Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover: Friday 21- Sunday 23 November

Wrap up the weekend in barefoot luxury at Meelup Beach. Dine on a four-course menu by UK’s Michelin-Starred Seafood Chef Nathan Outlaw and Yarri’s Aaron Carr, or keep it casual at the beach bar with DJs, bites and local wines. It’s salty, sun-soaked bliss.

Tickets: from $80 per person

6. Cape Mentelle Cabernet Tasting: Friday 21 November

A Cape Mentelle tradition since 1982, this exclusive blind tasting is among the festival’s most prestigious events. Wine aficionados will get to sample 20 exceptional cabernets from the 2022 vintage, including benchmark labels from around the world, in a curated international line-up served blind.

Tickets: $750 per person

Plan Your Pair’d Trip

Getting around Pair’d is a breeze. Return bus services are available for selected events (complimentary or available for $20) or take advantage of the exclusive Pair’d discount with Budget car rental for travellers flying into Busselton or Perth Airports.  

Whether you’re a local on the west coast, craving a luxe weekender or flying in for a true gourmet getaway, Pair’d isn’t your average food and wine festival – it’s a feast for the senses.  

Discover the full line-up, book tickets and start planning your trip at pairdmargaretriver.com  

Pair’d Margaret River Region is proudly owned by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA.

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The resort’s dreamy white structure stands between lush rainforest slopes and the sparkling turquoise waters of the most northerly Whitsunday Islands. Think days spent lounging by the opulent pool, exploring neighbouring isles by boat, snorkelling and scuba adventures, and tranquil treatments at the world-class spa. Plus, Hayman Island is easily accessed via direct flights to nearby Hamilton Island, followed by luxury boat transfers or scenic helicopter flights.

The Whitsundays jewel remains at the forefront of modern resort luxury while retaining its original charm following a $135 million facelift in 2019, which included the addition of a beachfront infinity pool and private pavilions.

This year, Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef is celebrating its 75th anniversary with culinary collaborations, sunset concerts and reef-fringed revelry. From rooms on offer for $525 per night to exclusive bar takeovers and exciting culinary collaborations, the private island hideaway is the place to be this winter. 

Coming up on the culinary front, Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie is bringing his fiery flair to the tropics for a one-off seaside feast on Thursday, 17 July. The globally renowned chef will serve a five-course dinner with an unparalleled view of the Great Barrier Reef. Just 20 guests will enjoy Hastie’s flame-kissed signatures paired with rare whiskies from The Balvenie at this exclusive beach banquet.

Earlier in the month, Hentley Farm will trade Barossa Valley hills for Hayman’s pristine shores with a three-day program of tastings, rainforest dinners and wine-led experiences, highlighting the winery’s award-winning drops in a wholly different setting.

Then in August, the tempo will lift with iconic ’80s rock band Icehouse set to perform two open-air concerts on the sand, serenading guests with classics like ‘Great Southern Land’ as the Coral Sea shimmers at sunset.

In addition to the events, Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef is also renewing its sustainable efforts to help preserve the island and reef through its partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and continued funding for coral plantings. 

As it celebrates its diamond anniversary, Hayman proves that true icons never lose their lustre, entering a new era with renewed purpose and celebratory spirit. A septuagenarian has never looked so good.

To see all the upcoming events as part of Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef’s 75th anniversary celebrations — and to book — visit the Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef website. 

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The hotel’s design integrates the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5 into its structure, preserving elements like original wharf timbers. Meanwhile, biophilic design principles are integrated throughout its 277 rooms and shared spaces, its façade featuring more than 2000 living plants and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms are positioned to have views out to the Yarra River and skyline, and create a sanctuary-like feel with reclaimed timber finishes, locally-sourced bed linens and low energy LED lighting throughout. In-room wellness will include equipment available to hire combined with sound immersion and guided breathwork from Alo Moves; or you can also unwind at the onsite Bamford Wellness Spa, where offerings include Normatec recovery compression boots, dry sauna and holistic facial treatments.

The hotel also has its own 1 Less Thing initiative in partnership with a chosen charity, inviting guests to leave behind an item to donate to charity, so it can be repurposed. “Luxury these days is more about what’s felt than what’s seen,” says managing director, Damon Page.

From a food perspective, Sydney chef Mike McEnearney has been enlisted to execute his seasonal, low-waste dining approach at the hotel’s restaurant, From Here by Mike — with bookings now open here. Taking the producer-led approach that he’s honed as director of Carriageworks’ markets in Sydney and at his own restaurant, McEnearney’s locally sourced ethos will be deployed with Victorian producers showcased on the menu. “I wouldn’t be in a partnership if they didn’t share the same values as me,” says McEnearney.

Menu-wise, expect dishes to trade hotel dining standards for a fresher approach. Think freshly shucked oysters with pickled daikon and finger lime vinaigrette; twice-baked goat’s cheese soufflé with rosemary cream; or wood-roasted cockerel with vadouvan sauce, cime di rapa and and blackened leeks.

Reservations are now open for From Here by Mike. 1 Hotel Melbourne is slated to open on 19 June 2025. 1hotels.com/melbourne

The post Coming soon: 1 Hotel Melbourne is set to open next week appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

We’ve partnered with Island House to offer an exclusive four-day tropical, culinary-led getaway guest starring chef David Moyle, who’ll work alongside the House’s own Kimie Uemoto to champion local seafood and produce.

Here’s what to expect…

Landing on Lord Howe Island’s infamously short runway is like dropping into another world. As the Dash 8’s propellers slow, I’m glued to my phone, capturing the shadowy majesty of Mount Gower – a prehistoric monolith swathed in cloud and cloaked in forest moss. I was told it might be the most beautiful place on Earth and I’m beginning to believe it. Sapphire water laps at stretches of bleached sand. Jurassic-green paddocks spill into palm groves. The island’s palette – intense, saturated, surreal – is like a fever dream rendered in Kodachrome.

I’m here for a culinary retreat at Island House, the ultra-private escape setting the standard for barefoot luxury. While icons like Capella Lodge and Pinetree’s have long set the bar, Island House is cut from rarer cloth. A five-minute drive from the airstrip – through the rustle of Kentia palms – and we arrive.

Set between forest and reef, the property is a design-lover’s fantasy: two interconnected pavilions housing four bedrooms, sleeping a total of eight guests, in keeping with the island’s strict 400-person cap. Inside, it’s all clean lines and quiet luxury: original mid-century modern furnishings sourced in Copenhagen and Kyoto, copper soaking tubs, oak doors and dark timber floors.

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Sydney’s The Eve Hotel took top honours in the Best New Hotel category, recognised for its vibrant, urban resort glamour and sophisticated design. Meanwhile, Victoria’s acclaimed Lake House in Daylesford was recognised for Best Hotel Dining, fusing hyper-local produce, seasonal menus and elegant hospitality.

When it comes to cruising, Silversea was crowned Cruise Line of the Year, with judges agreeing it stands out for its refined service, all-suite ships and immersive culinary program.

Readers were also invited to have their say, voting for the People’s Choice Awards, which saw Emirates named Airline of the Year, while Qantas Frequent Flyer was voted the best loyalty program. Victoria’s Alba Thermal Springs and Spa was voted the Best Travel Experience in Australia.

Judged by an expert panel including Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and led by Hunkin, the awards highlight more than 50 of Australia’s most remarkable properties in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

The Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards are proudly supported by Malaysia Airlines and Flight Centre.

The winners

Hotel of the Year: The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne

Read hotel review

Resort of the Year: Southern Ocean Lodge

Read Hotel Review

Boutique Hotel of the Year: Raes on Wategos

Read Hotel REview

Best New Hotel: The Eve Hotel Sydney

Read Hotel Review

Best Hotel Dining: Lake House

Read hotel Review

Cruise Line of the Year: Silversea

Read More on Silversea

Best Travel Experience: Alba Thermal Springs and Spa

Read More on Alba

Best Airline: Emirates

Read more on emirates

Best Loyalty Program: Qantas Frequent Flyer

Read more on Qantas Frequent Flyer

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide

Celebrating the very best Australian hotels and resorts.

View the national Guide

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FEATURED IN: TOP 10 LUXURY HOTEL GUIDE

There’s an expectation that all new multi-starred, name-brand, luxury hotels will include a checklist of benchmarks. Day spa, signature pool, ambitious and/or name chef restaurant, king-size beds, oversized marble-clad bathrooms. All are now de rigueur in upscale hotel land, their absence more notable than their presence.

The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne emphatically met all those expectations when it opened in the city’s western end in 2023. But this link of the global Ritz-Carlton chain has avoided any cookie-cutter sameness that such box-ticking exercises can bring by consciously and cleverly embracing the culture of the city it calls home.

The Melbourne outpost currently holds the title of Australia’s highest hotel (it occupies the top 17 and the first three floors of an 80-storey skyscraper), meaning that one of its signature features is the spectacular views of Melbourne and beyond, captured and highlighted via steel-framed floor-to-ceiling windows in public spaces and every room and suite.

The outlook makes it impossible to avoid a sense of place, but rather than leaving the view to do all the heavy lifting, the hotel amplifies the local inside too.

An incredible art collection, almost entirely commissioned from local artists, a food and drink offer that taps into Melbourne’s strength as a drinking and eating powerhouse, and décor that references Melbourne’s history and architecture – bluestone features, gold accents, furniture and detailing made from local timber – brings a thoroughly appealing sense of the bespoke and the personal.

It starts with the tony street-level lobby with its glimmering brass staircase, circular reflecting pool and brilliant work from First Nation artists like Reko Rennie, Maree Clarke and Djirrirra Wununmurra. Alongside the efficient, friendly service from the entrance lobby crew, the art is a fitting drum roll before the ear-popping express elevator ride to the eye-popping double-height Sky Lobby on the 80th floor.

This level also contains the wonderful Atria restaurant, helmed by former Vue de Monde chef Michael Greenlaw, who does interesting, creative but never fussy work with Australian, and especially Victorian, produce. The restaurant also features a finely crafted 19-metre-long Victorian ash bench, ideal for solo and couple dining, that directly faces the windows. It’s one of the best locations for eating breakfast in the country.

Also on Level 80, Cameo bar taps into Melbourne’s creative laneway bar culture, from excellent signature cocktails to an impressive vintage spirits program so you can drink a Martini like it’s 1955.

The most eye-catching (and Instagrammable) award must go to the Level 64 infinity pool, part of the outstanding spa offer, with its lines of lounges pulled up to the triple-height glass walls, but the rooms and suites themselves, opulently spacious, are also in lock-step with the hotel’s superb blend of spectacular and discreet luxury. Marble, timber and velvet details, original art and walk-in robes add to the sense of being in a meticulously appointed sky-high eyrie where a subtle Melbourne vibe contrasts with the not-so-subtle Melbourne view.

Even with its somewhat lo-fi (some might venture sketchy) location on the CBD’s western fringe, The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne’s charming mix of international and local know-how makes it a sure-fire winner.

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

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FEATURED IN: TOP 10 RESORT GUIDE

If ever there was an appropriate time to employ a “phoenix rising from the ashes” metaphor, the second incarnation of Southern Ocean Lodge would be it. Destroyed by the 2020 bushfires, the luxury lodge running across a limestone cliff on the wild and isolated south-west coast of Kangaroo Island was rebuilt to the tune of $55 million, before re-opening in late-2023.

At first glance, the 2.0 version of this iconic property might appear to be an exact replica of the original, which is no bad thing. The 25 spacious split-level suites that follow the slope of the clifftop still capture the immensity of the wild ocean view through glass walls that emphasise the splendid isolation. The rooms, decked in limestone tile and timber, and featuring lounge areas with fireplaces, freestanding tubs and decks (some with heated plunge pools) are a masterclass in complementing rather than competing with the view.

A similar luxe-neutral colour scheme is deployed in The Great Room, the Lodge’s spectacular main public space with its 180-degree outlook that features a generous open bar, a variety of seating, a central suspended fireplace, the dining room and a paved outdoor terrace with views of the coastline’s secluded bays, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.

For previous guests there is a familiarity in all this that’s as comforting as the green regrowth spreading through the formerly fire-blasted terrain surrounding the Lodge. But look closer and the differences, upgrades if you like, begin to show.

The suites, for example, have been slightly repositioned to maximise both view and privacy while the spa has been shifted to the sheltered island side of the building and now features an outdoor sunbathing area and plunge pool. Extra accommodation has also been added in the form of the four-bedroom Baillie Pavilion, separate from the main building and including lounges, in-suite bars and two plunge pools.

What hasn’t changed is the friendly service from a dexterous young international team who might be serving you dinner one night and the next day taking you on one of the Lodge’s wilderness experiences to the Remarkable Rocks or an up close and personal encounter with colonies of seals and sea lions.

Also salvaged from the fire has been the communal experience. Those who want to stick to themselves are easily accommodated but evenings in The Great Room where guests can mingle around the fire over drinks add a house party vibe.

It’s the ideal place and time to express a little gratitude, relief and even wonder at how successful the rebirth of this island legend has been.

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

The post 2025 Resort of the Year: Southern Ocean Lodge appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

FEATURED IN: TOP 10 BOUTIQUE HOTEL GUIDE

Its sandcastle silhouette and Old Hollywood design is steeped in legend; Salvador Dalí is said to have designed the pool and gardens, while Liberace is rumoured to have played the piano during one stay. Is it true? Who cares. Raes on Wategos is a storied institution.

But where some institutions grow tired and stale, resting on their legendary chuff, Raes continues to evolve and innovate. Its breezy Balearic aesthetic – first envisioned by Tamsin Johnson in 2016 – has become the benchmark for Australian coastal luxury. In 2024, she returned to oversee the refurbishment of two new Guesthouses, ensuring every stylish nook and corner was given due consideration, layering rooms with custom furnishings and hand-picked artwork. As per the original Raes brief, no two rooms are the same, with every suite offering a distinct outlook and experience.

Located just a short stroll from the original Spanish Mission-style mansion, the Guesthouses have doubled the occupancy of the hotel, offering greater privacy with suites shrouded by lush tropical gardens. These also come with access to two lap pools, plus a shared dining terrace with an all-day menu curated by Raes executive chef Jason Saxby.

Whether staying in the main hotel or the Guesthouses, everyone is welcome to enjoy the hotel’s celebrated facilities, including Raes Dining Room, the popular Cellar Bar and the ethereal Raes Spa, where Rationale products come standard and guests can bask in the warmth of a eucalyptus wood infrared sauna.

In the Dining Room, Saxby brings a fine-dining flex to the menu, which champions the region’s exceptional seafood and produce, while elsewhere he leans into crowd-pleasing coastal classics. Think Bay lobster rolls, swordfish katsu sandwiches and fresh Ballina prawns with Marie Rose sauce.

All of that combined with frolicking dolphins and the verdant surrounds of Wategos Beach mean there’s little incentive to ever leave the serene enclave. Still, those who insist can take advantage of Raes’ complimentary e-bikes or simply ask the team to chauffeur them anywhere in the wider Byron area; it’s all part of the service.

Just like the signature aesthetic, details are everything when it comes to service at Raes. Returning guests might find their favourite Champagne or shampoo waiting in their suite. Mention how much you enjoyed the sweet treat left in your room the previous day and chef might offer to whip up another batch.

Unlike Dalí or Liberace, we can confirm these legends are true. And just one of the ways Raes continues to excel and set the standard for Australian boutique luxury.

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

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FEATURED IN: BEST NEW HOTEL GUIDE

It’s evening at The Eve Hotel and the place is bustling, not just with hotel guests but with Sydneysiders. Unusually for an Australian hotel, the locals are here to eat and drink – at Bar Julius, the all-day street-level bar warmed by the earthy tones of Louise Olsen’s ceiling mural, to roof-level Mexican restaurant and mezcaleria Lottie, and Olympus, the stylish and deservedly popular 200-seat Greek taverna that’s independently run but directly attached to the hotel.

The fact that the wider community is embracing The Eve is part of what makes this new hotel such an exciting place to stay. A central component of the casually chic Wunderlich Lane precinct in Redfern, the hotel embraces an excellent emerging trend that sees hotels consciously and deliberately designed to reflect and connect with the cities in which they open.

There’s a literal element to this embrace at The Eve. All the rooms and suites feature balconies (some Juliet, others larger terraces with outdoor seating), so that your accommodation can be open to fresh air rather than being hermetically sealed. You can even catch a breeze in the hallways where lush plants rustle in open windows as the elevator doors slide open.

Greenery is a big part of The Eve’s attraction, whether you’re talking the teeming planter boxes, gardens and vines that are a key ingredient of its design, the resort-style rooftop pool area with its cabanas and lounges shaded by palm trees and local plant life, or the 50-year-old bougainvillea that’s the centrepiece at Olympus. The urban resort vibes are strong in this one.

There’s a distinctly Australian mood in the rooms, too, decked out in either eucalyptus greens (including the bathrobes) or clay-toned reds. Though not palatially sized, the rooms feel spacious through clever design that invokes a distinctly local incarnation of casual luxury with soft curves, cool terrazzo, textured tiles and timber panelling and joinery. Surfaces are a delight to walk on barefoot, the rooms flooded with natural light. Excellent minibars further emphasise the local with top-notch snacks like salted caramels made by local butter powerhouse Pepe Saya.

The hotel is very much part of the Wunderlich precinct too, which not only offers some strong on-trend eating and drinking options (pan-Asian Island Radio, a branch of Gelato Messina) but also an outpost of The Parlour Room that acts as The Eve’s de facto salon and spa, providing everything from massages to tanning, dermaplaning and facials.

Like The Calile Hotel in Brisbane, with which it shares a passing resemblance, The Eve feels like something of a reset for what a Sydney hotel can be. The relaxed but efficient service style; Bar Julius where you can grab a suitably excellent coffee in the morning through to an expertly constructed cocktail at night; and the fresh air-embracing rooms all seem entirely logical given the location and the climate. More like this please.

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

The post 2025 Best New Hotel: The Eve Hotel Sydney appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

FEATURED IN: TOP 10 BOUTIQUE HOTEL GUIDE

As anybody with even a passing acquaintance of Daylesford’s Lake House knows, this pioneering luxury regional hotel started life more than four decades ago as a 40-seat, weekend-only restaurant. Owners chef Alla Wolf-Tasker and her late husband, the artist and builder Allan Wolf-Tasker, wanted to emulate the kind of high-end dining you’d find in regional France, a radical concept in 1980s Australia and one that has served as a template for the nationwide wave of destination dining that followed in its wake.

Since then, Lake House has expanded to include accommodation in the form of studios, suites and villas, a renowned day spa, 2.5 hectares of beautifully maintained gardens and, most recently, the nearby Dairy Flat Farm which offers stylish accommodation, a bakehouse and, being a working farm, an ever-increasing proportion of the produce that is served in Lake House’s still-renowned restaurant every day.

While there is much to enjoy about Lake House – the Narnia-like feeling of entering another world the moment you drive through the front gates, for starters – the fact that the culinary is still centred as the heart of the experience, its philosophical compass, is proof that the commitment to finessed, creative and regionally focused dining is as strong as it was on day one.

The restaurant is a charming, well-upholstered space, banks of windows flooding the place with light during the day while also providing serene views over Lake Daylesford and of the surrounding gardens. The opportunity for pre-dinner drinks, either in the clubby Argyle Library Bar or on the terrace overlooking the infinity pool adds to the sense of dining as an event, encouraging you to slow down and take your time.

It helps too that the service, led by the charming Robin Wilson (married to the equally charming Lake House manager Larissa Wolf-Tasker) is so assured. And that the lengthy and wide-ranging wine list, which embraces the local while still displaying a fondness for the Old World, is one that eliminates any chance of disappointment for novices and wine geeks alike.

Lake House menus change seasonally and have, in recent times, shown an increasing fondness for vegetables, many of which have been harvested at Dairy Flat Farm just hours before service. There might be a tartine of broad beans and snap peas served with burrata and preserved lemon or a potato pavé teamed with white asparagus and local morels. Local cheese and meat – excellent capretto, for example – sit alongside desserts that take advantage of the region’s affinity for fruit and berries. The overall impression is of a meticulously sketched portrait, both of this neck of regional Victoria and of the amazing ingredients that the surrounding farms and Australia more generally are capable of producing.

The restaurant is also the venue for breakfast which is another highlight of the Lake House experience. Is it just the setting or do the locally produced bread, pastries, eggs and honey served here really taste so thrillingly of the place you’re consuming them in? It’s more likely a winning combination of the two that has made Lake House such a standout.

2025 Best Hotel Dining: Highly Commended

All winners in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards have been determined via an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Goumet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin and seasoned travel contributors Michael Harden, Lee Tulloch, Alexandra Carlton and more. Led by Hunkin, the judges and an expert team of critics also reviewed and endorsed more than 50 hotels across Australia to deliver the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide.

How we pick the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards winners

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Huka reopened in March 2025 after a 10-month, $22.6 million renovation driven by owners Baillie Lodges (of Southern Ocean Lodge fame). The 100-year-old former fishing camp has retained its classic style and communal vibe but now gleams with contemporary polish. The most substantial new addition is to the main dining and lounge areas, with an expansive terrace offering epic views of the park-like gardens and the rushing river which flanks the property. The colour of the water is almost surreal – vivid emerald green and clear enough to spot the rainbow trout that inspired its former reputation as a fly-fishing mecca.

The interior designer behind the 1984 renovation which put the lodge on the global luxury hotel circuit, Virginia Fisher, returned to the project 40 years later. The result is a Kiwi take on a romantic aristocratic lodge with huge sliding windows taking in jaw-dropping views, Burberry-style tartans, autumnal red drapes, lush green sofas, gilt-framed oil paintings, double-sided fireplaces, and quirky curios throughout.

A zen wellness retreat has been built among the trees, with treatment rooms, a hot and cold plunge area, and a compact gym seemingly lifted from a celebrity mansion.

The 20 cabin-like suites linked by verdant stone pathways were also given a makeover, with four-poster beds, heavenly linen, cosy bathrooms and a generous minibar (all included) stocked with New Zealand wines and snacks. There are two private “cottages” for larger groups complete with kitchens, spacious living quarters and horizon pools for the ultimate getaway.

There are a few rules: no children under 10, no televisions in the rooms, and no room service. Meals must be taken in the main lodge, with each stay including one “signature private dining” offering. These intimate dinners are held at one of the property’s many charming nooks, such as the Queen’s library (her favourite spot to eat), the 4500-bottle stone cellar, or the hedged orchard. Each is straight out of a storybook – or perhaps the next season of The White Lotus.

Lavish food and drink is included on a rotating menu so guests don’t get bored. A four-course dinner might be a bright ceviche of snapper, or a saddle of “Bill’s lamb” (sourced from a local farmer) with cheffy foams and gels, finished with cheese and petits fours. À la carte breakfast and lunch options are casual and comforting, from scrambled eggs and smoked salmon to Caesar salad.

Huka – the Māori word for “foam” named for the spectacular waterfall a few hundred metres downstream – is both calm and exhilarating, simple yet indulgent. The down-to-earth staff can arrange outdoorsy activities such as hiking, biking, and boating, but it’s equally a place to unwind by the fire with a stiff whisky. Once visited, never forgotten, Huka Lodge is ready for another 100 years welcoming rockstars and royalty.

Rates start from $2900 per suite per night. 271 Huka Falls Rd, Wairakei, Taupō, New Zealand. Email reserve@hukalodge.com, call +64 7 378 5791, or online at hukalodge.com

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The project’s aim is to maintain the island’s raw beauty by preserving its heritage and delicate ecosystem through conscious design. Renowned immersive design firm Luxury Frontiers has been engaged for the project, which has been behind impressive locations across the globe, such as Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico; Eagle Island Lodge in Botswana by Belmond; and Camp Sarika by Aman. To this end, expect plenty of greenery and considered landscaping, sculptural curves inspired by the island’s natural landmarks, and the use of sustainable materials.

As for the cabins, six different accommodation types will be set amongst both forest and beachfront dwellings, each with distinctive interiors. Extensive tree surveys have guided locations for all the structures to preserve native plants and habitat.

The Hook Island resort will sit in harmony with the natural contours of the island and reflect its vibrant palette — from earthy browns, greens and cerulean blues to hues inspired by the island’s vibrant birds, coral and marine life. It will also be designed with cyclone-resistant, modular architectural practices in mind.

Hook Island is the second largest island in the Cumberland group and was impacted by Cyclone Debbie back in 2017. The island’s natural beauty is home to tranquil bays, fringing reefs and tropical forests. Construction will be underway soon, with a slated opening for 2027.

More details to come. For more information, visit epochalhotels.com.au

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The Eve is designed by a dream team of Surry Hills creatives; SJB architect Adam Haddow (responsible for those killer curves), interior architect George Livissianis (interior details and that glass roof) and 360 Degrees’ Daniel Baffsky (who engulfed the exterior in greenery). From the lobby to the roof, rooms to the restaurants, bold curves, site-specific art pieces and an omnipresent place-centric design ethos prevails.

Arching over Bar Julius, an original work by artist Louise Olsen (of Dinosaur Designs fame), Still Life, is upscaled and printed across a lit vaulted ceiling, transitioning the space from day to night. It’s a tactic that serves the marble- and burgundy-accented space well, given Bar Julius’ European all-day dining concept, which is poised to see hotel guests and locals through from morning espressos to late-night Negronis. Liquid & Larder, the Sydney hospitality outfit behind The Gidley, Bistecca, Alfie’s and The Rover, has pitched the new opening as a neighbourhood locale serving bistro classics.

The team is also steering The Eve’s in-room dining and its Mexican diner Lottie, up above. Because Sydneysiders and hotel aficionados all love a good pool moment, The Eve’s rooftop oasis has a 20-metre natural stone and tiled pool, hugged by bespoke cabanas and spiky palms. It’s here you’ll find Lottie, where Mexican fare and shaved-ice Margaritas come shrouded in alfresco ambience. The contemporary Mexican restaurant and mezcaleria will champion Australian produce through dishes inspired by the Pacific coastline of Mexico.

Think snacky plates of rockmelon and watermelon “gildas”; trout ceviche with tomato, Geraldton wax and avocado; and prawn and carrot aguachile, alongside larger plates of Swiss brown mushroom tamales; Murray cod pilbil baked in banana leaf; and aged beef chop with burnt pepper and salsa picante, all served with house-pressed corn tortillas. On the drinks side, tequila and agave spirits drive the bar while an impressive cocktail list includes three hero Margaritas: classic, spiced, and seasonal.

For wine, expect a vibrant list of natural and biodynamic drops selected to complement the kitchen’s Mexican flair. The 107-seat space sports a central marble bar with 27 seats for walk-ins; an open kitchen for culinary theatrics; and a retractable roof to ensure the good vibes continue no matter the weather.

To set the party in motion The Eve is also hosting the Reveal launch package, where guests will be amongst the first to stay starting from $519 per room for two guests.

Where to dine at the Wunderlich Lane precinct

The Eve Hotel

• Bar Julius: The Eve Hotel’s Euro-leaning lobby bar and bistro serves classic cocktails and all-day fare under an artful arched ceiling.
• Lottie: A rooftop Mexican restaurant and mezcalaria atop the hotel, serving tacos and tequila with a side of poolside cool.
• Room service: Led by the same team behind Bar Julius and Lottie (Liquid & Larder), in-room dining will be available from 6.30am–10pm daily, once The Eve opens in early February.
• Poolside dining: Led again by the Liquid & Larder crew, poolside dining will be available from 10am–6pm daily, once The Eve opens in early February.

Wunderlich Lane

• Olympus Dining: A Greek love affair from the team behind Sydney’s The Apollo and Cho Cho San and Brisbane’s Greca and Yoko.
• Regina La Pizzeria: An aperitivo and pizza spot from LuMi Dining’s talented Federico Zanellato.
• Island Radio: Fun, bright and vibey, this Southeast Asian haunt from the House Made Hospitality team is already proving popular.
• Baptist St Rec. Club: Also from the House Made team, the imminent arrival of this quirky Australiana bar is one to watch. It’s set to open on 4 February.
• R by Raita Noda: A new Japanese haunt from Raita Noda Chef’s Kitchen delivers upscale Japanese by day and omakase dining at night.
• Gelato Messina: Australia’s cult-favourite gelateria has found yet another home in Sydney, serving scoops from 12pm till late daily.

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Season One saw duos such as Masterchef‘s Melissa Leong and actor Ben Lawson uncover NYC’s hidden speak-easies, Cameron Daddo and Melissa Leong safari in South Africa, and chef Miguel Maestre truffle hunt with Cameron Daddo in a Tuscan private forest.

A partnership between luxe travel site Luxury Escapes and Foxtel, each episode sees a pairing of two Australian personalities and actors holidaying together somewhere beyond the ordinary.

Speaking to Gourmet Traveller on the show’s evolution, actor and presenter Cameron Daddo said, “We’re getting better at it – telling the stories of these incredible locations… What I get to do is so exciting and I know that my job is to relate that excitement to the viewer.”

Where is Season 2 of Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays set?

With a spotlight on holy grail travel destinations such as Japan, Greece, Canada, Mexico and Istanbul, there’s surely inspiration for your next sojourn to be found in this season of Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. The series is also highlighting hidden and more widely known gems in Bali and Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Washington, Germany, Singapore, Istanbul, UK and Queensland.

Daddo spoke exclusively to Gourmet Traveller ahead of the show’s Japan episode wherein himself and Holly Kingston circumnavigate the main island of Japan and wrap up in Osaka.

“Osaka was bustling,” he said of the port city. “Walking through the main street down the middle of the mall, shopping and eating the street food…it’s vibrant and sensorially exciting because there’s so many different aromas and flavours.”

While not stopping in Tokyo this time around, Daddo also reminisced on his time living in 1980s Tokyo – particularly his fondness for Omoide Yokocho (colloquially known as Piss Alley). “The yakitori, the Kirin beer out of a vending machine…the street food there is also pretty sensational”.

Who is starring in Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays?

Cameron Daddo, Rebecca Gibney, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Miguel Maestre, Holly Kingston, Jane Hall, Hannah Hollis and Neale Whitaker star in Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays – with newcomers Mike Reid, Karen Martini and Gary Mehigan.

Where to watch Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays?

You can stream seasons one and two of Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays on Foxtel, Binge and Hubbl.

Stream Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays on Foxtel Now from $35/mth, with a 10-day free trial.

Related articles:

• These Luxury Escapes deals are GT-approved for your next holiday
• Six stylish Airbnb Tokyo stays for a trip to Japan’s capital

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Known for its talcum powder-white sand, swaying palm trees and overwater bungalows, the Maldives has long topped many a traveller’s list of dream destinations. But for Australians, getting there has never been easy, with long stopovers and late-night arrivals proving a major deterrent. That is until now. 

Launching on Thursday, 1 August, Malaysia Airlines’ new service will let travellers catch an overnight flight out of Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, and land in time to check into their luxury Maldives resort by lunchtime, with just a short layover in Kuala Lumpur.

The route is one of three new services launching in the coming months, including direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang in Vietnam and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

In addition to the new flights, the airline is also unveiling its new A330neo business class cabin, which will see travellers cosseted in their own individual suites with privacy doors and wireless charging pods, among other amenities. 

The airline, which is part of Oneworld Alliance (meaning, yes, you can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points) already operates multiple flights a day from Australian centres to Kuala Lumpur, where you can now connect with two daily flights to Malé, departing at 10.10am and 12.30pm.

With a flight time of four hours and 20 minutes (plus a three-hour time difference), you’ll find yourself on the ground in paradise by late morning if you catch the first flight of the day. 

From there, it’s over to you to choose your own adventure and head for one of the Maldives 100-plus resorts, each with its own unique personality and style. For some of our favourite resorts, check out our luxury guide to the Maldives and start planning your next getaway now. 

Malaysia Airlines will launch its daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Malé with its inaugural flight on Thursday 1 August 2024. Introductory fare prices for round-trip flights from Australia to the Maldives start at $869, and are on offer until 31 August 2024.

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Victoria’s second biggest city hasn’t powered up its visitation game alone. It’s embedded in a regional ecosystem that includes the celebrated wines of the Moorabool Valley and the producers from land and sea of the Bellarine Peninsula.

They coalesce at Felix, where spanner crab profiteroles and leek and Gruyère croquettes can be enjoyed with a glass of chardonnay in a dining room that’s a study in casual chic.

It’s not the only precinct in which Geelong is getting its groove on. Five minutes’ drive away on Pakington Street in the city’s trendy Newtown, Two Noble is the elegant paper lantern-strung home of a punchy mod-Asian menu – think betel leaf-wrapped octopus, fiery chicken larb and beef short rib rendang –  executed by former Coda chef Mario Tambajong.

The culinary jewel in the crown of the Sawyers Arms, a classic pub reinvented with cosmopolitan èlan by owner Paul Upham, the newcomer restaurant represents the latest turn of the city’s dining wheel. “I grew up in Geelong and it’s certainly come a long way,” says Upham. “There’s a solid core of 20 really great restaurants to visit.” Upham has just added a third restaurant to his mix, opening Eileen’s Charcoal Grill, with a steak-forward menu and an interior peppered with nostalgic Geelong photos and footy memorabilia.

Want proof? Head further up “Pako”, as it’s locally known, to its village-like Geelong West end. It’s here you’ll find the celebrated restaurant Tulip, a pioneer still going strong after 11 years.

Across the street the new guard is ably represented by the compelling Singaporean flavours of Baah Lah! Chef-owner Brian Anderson is attuned to Geelong’s dining algorithms: “Fun and not too fluffy. Just really delicious food.”  He channels his heritage through locally grown produce and a knack for updating classic dishes with flair: look no further than the signature dry-aged roasted duck with sticky hoisin caramel and pickled fennel, or his Singaporean chilli crab doughnuts, which are best enjoyed with the complex, dry and sassy rosé from leading Moorabool winery Lethbridge Wines.

You don’t have to travel far to get a taste of the broader region. Just 30 minutes’ drive from Geelong at the far end of the Bellarine, imposing modern restaurant TARRA at the newly built Queenscliff ferry terminal practically has its toes in the sand – which works well for chef Michael Demagistris, who forages for beach succulents such as samphire, bower spinach and the brown algae he uses in a bone broth consommé anchoring free range pork sui mai.

An added bonus of dining at this striking new landmark? You might spy dolphins or whales from your table. “It’s amazing what I get to see each day from the open kitchen,” says Demagistris. “It really is an incredible part of the world that gives back on so many levels.”

Feeling inspired? You should be, because this new drinking and dining frontier is just waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

The post The exciting food scene on Melbourne’s doorstep appeared first on Gourmet Traveller.

It begins the moment you board the platform at Woodlands Station in Singapore, stepping out of reality and into a jewel-toned world of decadent intimacy, where every considered detail promises to delight. From the elaborate floral carpets, which change colour between carriages, to the wood panelling and marquetry that line every wall, the craftsmanship of the fit-out will stop you in your tracks. Push on, and you will arrive at your cabin, a small but perfectly formed sanctuary that defies modern standards of luxury, which demand excessive space and seclusion, instead, cosseting you in a beguiling oasis of warmth and comfort.

As the train leaves the station, snaking alongside busy motorways and Malaysia’s urban sprawl, the vistas soon change to open fields and verdant palm plantations. Fat tropical rain lashes the windows as we make our way towards Taman Negara National Park, only adding to the hypnotic comfort of the experience. Afternoon tea provides our first introduction to chef André Chiang’s culinary direction for the journey – a spice-scented twist on a classic high tea. Think Manjari chocolate tarts with green pepper and strawberry, and orange confit with osmanthus. All served in the museum-worthy splendour of the Malaya dining car, complete with plush scarlet velvet chairs and silk brocade flourishes.

Old-school opulence

The most impressive space, however, is the Piano Bar, where mustard and chartreuse furnishings marry with live jazz and silver cocktail service to complete the time-travelling effect. It’s here, over aperitif, you will meet your fellow passengers and, in some cases, form lifelong friendships. Several of the guests on board met on a previous Belmond train journey and have kept in touch ever since.

Such conviviality and social grace can be a rare occurrence in the world of modern travel, where luxury and opulence often breed entitlement and, let’s be frank, obnoxiousness. But such is the magic of this locomotive, everyone is instead transformed into their most gracious, charming selves. The evening rolls into a dinner party, full of fascinating conversations and raucous storytelling.

The fun is amplified on this particular adventure, as it’s part of Veuve Clicquot’s Solaire Journeys program – a series of three Belmond train itineraries that follow the sun from east to west, with the final journey set to depart for Machu Picchu in October.

Alongside Chiang’s bespoke menus (a new, permanent feature of the Eastern & Oriental Express service), guests on board this route get to take part in an additional time travelling experience, as Veuve Clicquot’s cellar master Didier Mariotti opens the vault and shares some of the Maison’s most sought-after vintages. From the 2004 La Grande Dame Rosé to magnums of 1989 Cave Privée, the experience comes bathed in gold.

A new culinary direction for the Eastern & Oriental Express

For Chiang, setting the culinary direction for the Eastern & Oriental Express presented a new challenge for the superstar chef (Chiang currently holds five Michelin stars across three restaurants in Singapore, Taiwan and Macau). Before he could even begin thinking about flavours and menus, he had to understand the unique logistics of cooking on board a moving locomotive.

“The most significant challenge is the limited kitchen space on board,” Chiang explains. “The kitchen must be meticulously organised and planned to deliver a seamless culinary journey.”

That involves chefs switching between two separate kitchens between each course. As one course is plated and served, the second kitchen is heating up another set of pans ready for the chefs to jump in and start the next course. This kitchen shuffle can happen up to four times in a service, as the team delivers refined five-course dinners and four-course lunches throughout the three-day itinerary.

With each menu, chef Chiang also thinks carefully about where his diners will be in their travels. “The cuisine should interact with the landscape and history, enhancing the overall experience. When I created the train’s menu I had to forget my experience in restaurants and start from the actual journey: What do guests see when they eat my food? What excursions have they done before sitting at the table?”

Those excursions might take you into the jungle to explore bat-filled caves, learn about tiger conservation in the Taman Negara National Park, or walk high above the treetops to spy gibbons, snakes and hornbills (if you’re lucky). Other days you might venture into the bustling streets of Penang’s capital George Town, or take a traditional Malaysian cooking class.

Ultimately, Chiang decided to use spice to centre his menus and take diners on a journey to complement the changing landscape around them. “It’s not a piece of beef or a piece of lobster that’s going to transport you from one place to another, it’s the spices. Once we recognise the combination of spice, we can be in India, or Europe, or Southeast Asia.”

Chiang’s nuanced use of spice is a masterclass in itself, delivering balanced layers of flavour and restrained heat. Never more so than with his makrut lime consommé with chilli, galangal and lemongrass. Other standout dishes include a Penang duck curry with muscat grapes and pineapple, and an umami-packed miso bisque with clams, tofu and wakame.

Chiang is part of the new era for the Eastern & Oriental Express, along with its new route (previously it ran between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok), new staff, and new décor. Those who have experienced the train previously will find an all-new journey awaits – but rest assured, the train’s time-travelling magic remains the same.

Booking info

The next Veuve Clicquot Solaire Journey will take place over three days from Vienna to Reims aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in July. In October, guests can join Veuve Clicquot cellar master Didier Mariotti as they traverse Peru’s Sacred Valley, before ending their journey at Machu Picchu, travelling on the iconic Hiram Bingham and the Andean Explorer. Priced from $13,200 per person, based on twin share, inclusive of all meals and wine pairings.

The Wild Malaysia itinerary on the Eastern & Oriental Express starts from $5760 per passenger, based on twin share, inclusive of all excursions and meals.

Getting there

Qantas and Singapore Airlines operate daily direct flights between Singapore and Australia’s main centres. The Eastern & Oriental Express departs from Woodlands Station in Singapore and returns to the original departure point.

Eastern & Oriental Express video

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