Checking In: Nine Hot New Australian Stays Poised to Open in 2026

Little National, Adelaide

Little National’s fourth hotel brings its signature blend of minimalism and good design to the South Australian capital. Across 237 rooms, a consistent design logic prevails: refined, precisely planned, with a focus on simplicity over excess. Each room is anchored by a wooden-framed king bed set within a full-height picture window that frames the North Terrace skyline. In a first for Little National, the Adelaide outpost will offer larger rooms with bathtubs and kitchenettes, ideal for longer stays, as well as two penthouse apartments. Communal spaces include a lounge, a library with room to work and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city, hills and coast.

Little National is due to open September 1, 2026.

Mount Monument Winery and Sculpture Park, Romsey

After opening two design-led private retreats in June, Mount Monument Winery and Sculpture Park will expand its offering with two additional residences. Though small in footprint, the residences have been thoughtfully designed by owner and architect Nonda Katsalidis to feel much larger, with floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings and a light-reflecting palette. Outside, private decks have views of the Macedon Ranges and the winery’s sprawling grounds, where olive groves and vines are interspersed with more than 30 contemporary sculptures.

Mount Monument’s Siska and Ondine Retreats are due to open late 2026.

Levantine Hill Hotel, Coldstream

The Yarra Valley is getting a new luxury stay in Coldstream, with Levantine Hill winery’s soon-to-open 33-suite hotel, designed by renowned Australian architects FK (formerly Fender Katsalidis). The building will be partially embedded in the hillside, with a facade dominated by concrete, bronze metallic screening and floor-to-ceiling windows. All suites will feature private balconies and generous living areas (some have oversize baths) appointed with timber joinery and leather upholstery. There’ll be an on-site gym, outdoor exercise spaces and a new 1.5-kilometre sculpture walk featuring works by Australian and international artists.

Levantine Hill Hotel is due to open late 2026.

Yumakiah Coastal Retreat, Warrnambool

Stepping lightly on the landscape, Yumakiah Coastal Retreat will sit on undulating hillside overlooking the Southern Ocean and surrounding farmland, with views back to Warrnambool and Port Fairy. Just three off-grid residences make up the retreat, each powered by renewable energy and kitted out with eco-luxury amenities. Nearby Warrnambool restaurants Lost Cat and The Dart and Marlin are worth a visit.

Yumakiah Coastal Retreat is due to open late 2026.

QT Parramatta, Parramatta

The QT hotel group, known for its offbeat interior design and playful approach to hospitality, will open its newest outpost in Parramatta – making it the first five-star hotel to open in the Greater Western Sydney metropolis. Occupying 18 floors of the unique 8 Phillip Street tower that appears to twist as it rises, the hotel’s 65 design-led suites will be decked out in collaboration with local artists, complemented by a yet-to-be-announced destination restaurant, multiple wellness spaces and a rooftop infinity pool with views over Parramatta River.

QT Parramatta is due to open late 2026.

Grand Saddles Lodge, Mount White

The New South Wales Central Coast is getting a new luxury stay, with destination diner Saddles Mount White expanding into accommodation. Twenty private villas, designed by White & Dickson Architects, will take inspiration from the colours and textures of the landscape, with interiors of sandstone, spotted gum and warm brass. Each villa will have separate living spaces, an open fireplace, a private terrace and a plunge pool, while outside, a communal infinity pool will overlook acres of bushland. In the main building, there’ll be a restaurant, an intimate bar with live music, and a spa with five treatment rooms.

Grand Saddles Lodge is due to open late 2026.

Andaz Gold Coast, Broadbeach

Part of Hyatt’s lifestyle portfolio (which also includes in-the-know properties The Standard X and JDV), Andaz opens in Australia in December. Opening on a stretch of coast with no shortage of hotels, Andaz Gold Coast will distinguish itself with rooms designed to showcase the unique changing light of the region as it evolves each day with sunrise over the Pacific Ocean to sunset across the hinterland. Across the 202 rooms and suites, sun-drenched living spaces – some with outdoor terraces – overlook Gold Coast vistas, with easy access to the region’s rainforests, beaches and blossoming dining scene.

Andaz Gold Coast is due to open December 2026.

Saffire Freycinet Jewell Private Villa, Coles Bay

Saffire Freycinet changed Australia’s luxury hotel game when it opened in 2010. The Coles Bay lodge, on Tasmania’s pristine Freycinet Peninsula, will soon open its latest addition – the three-bedroom Saffire Jewell Private Villa. Designed to cater to families and small groups, the villa has its own infinity pool and spa, as well as a terrace, replete with outdoor fireplace, with views overlooking the granite peaks of The Hazards mountain range. Interiors mix charred timber, travertine and marble with works by Tasmanian artists.

Saffire Freycinet Jewel Private Villa is due to open December 2026.

The Leea, Darwin

The Leea, located in Darwin’s CBD, is entering a new era as it relaunches with the Prendiville Group – whose credits include restaurants such as Tigerfish and accom like Samphire Rottnest – as operators. Design agency Collectivus has been tapped to bring a breezy, contemporary aesthetic to the hotel’s interiors and shared spaces. A refreshed, resort-style pool, swathes of tropical greenery and a locally led food offering round out the transformation.

The Leea is open for bookings now, with the new pool opening in late 2026.