Hot beds

Art-break hotels, Art Series Hotel Group

In Sydney we saw the arrival of the Storrier Hotel (now Quest Potts Point) a couple of years back, and it was hoped the chain would roll-out the proposed series of art-themed hotels around town. Well, that never happened, and again Melbourne has trumped the Harbour City with a series of hotels that are as cool as the city itself. The Art Series Hotel Group made its debut in late October 2009 when the 115-room Cullen Hotel opened its doors in Prahran, featuring 450 pieces of prominent artist Adam Cullen's artwork. Up next for the group is the Olsen Hotel on Chapel Street, South Yarra, paying homage to one of Australia's greatest living artists, John Olsen. When it opens next month (March), the 241-room Olsen Hotel will be the group's flagship property and will be followed by the Blackman in June, and soon after the Larwill, the Whiteley and the Knight, which are also under construction. "A number of art hotels have opened in recent years around the world, but our group is the first to name hotels after individual artists and bestow the artist's style and character so thoroughly throughout each hotel to create a total art experience for guests," says Art Series Hotel Group CEO Will Deague.

Australia

The Byron at Byron, Byron Bay, NSW

Nestled 15 minutes away from the heart of Byron Bay is a resort that continues to be the toast of the NSW far north coast. The Byron at Byron, the creation of retail whiz Gerry Harvey, has all the elements for a perfect weekend away - chic hotel rooms, gourmet restaurant, great wine list, rainforest walks, quiet sandy beaches and a pool surrounded by deckchairs and daybeds.

Crown Metropol, Melbourne, Vic

The third hotel in the Crown Melbourne complex, Metropol features a Gordon Ramsay restaurant that even does room service. There's a pool and day spa atop the 658-room
property and the spa villas will set a standard for Australian city hotels when it comes to relaxation.

Diamant Hotel Sydney, NSW

Atop the Diamant Hotel in Kings Cross is quite possibly Sydney's best kept secret. The Diamant Penthouse is a stunning three-bedroom suite with two balconies overlooking the Sydney, a large dining room with seating for 12 and a gourmet kitchen. So forget cleaning up: have your next dinner party here.

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort, NSW

The Middle East airline's newest 5-star luxury resort in the Blue Mountains carries a hefty price tag, but for good reason. This is one of the most luxurious resorts Australia has ever seen and is up there with the likes of
qualia on Hamilton Island and Longitude 131 opposite Uluru.

Emporium Hotel, Brisbane, Qld

This hip five-star property has won more awards over the last two years than any other boutique hotel in Australia and it continually raises the bar for an amazing city hotel experience. The surrounding Emporium complex is loaded with bars, restaurants and fashion boutiques - what more could you ask for? A rooftop pool? That's featured as well.

Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, Qld

From 3.5-star hotels to the uber-luxurious qualia and the new Yacht Club Villas, Hamilton has something for everyone. In fact, Hamilton does truly offer something for all budgets and a week on the island certainly won't break the bank. The new golf course is exceptional and the bar on the edge of the Yacht Club will leave you speechless at sunset.

Hayman Island, Whitsundays, Qld

One of the Whitsundays' great escapes, Hayman Island just seems to get better with age. A new offering on the five-star island is a chef's table dinner with the country's top hotel chef, Glenn Bacon, which highlights any stay there, as does a two-hour body scrub and massage in the day spa.

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Vic

Proving that grand is what five-star hotels are all about, this Melbourne hotel has been redefining what the ‘traditional' hotel experience should be. InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto doesn't just also boast a brilliant location in the heart of the CBD, it can also lay claim to being one of Australia's greenest buildings.

Limes Hotel, Brisbane, Qld

The newest member in the hip Eight Hotels Australia collection, Limes Hotel features a rooftop bar complete with cinema and hot bartenders. Nespresso pod coffee machines, Samsung LCD screen TVs and super-comfortable beds also highlight the property, which is highlighted by its eclectic, urban design.

Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW

With the greatest view in Sydney, the Park Hyatt will always be on the hot list for the city's visiting celebrities, rock stars and royalty. Grab a martini at sunset, a meal in harbourkitchen&bar then retreat to your harbour view suite for champagne and strawberries with loads of cream.

Pinctada Cable Beach, Broome, WA Marilynne Paspaley, of the pearling family fame, opened the stunning Pinctada Cable Beach resort in August 2009 to much fanfare. But the $33 million property is living up to expectations thanks to its stunning location, luxury touches and green credentials. Broome may be over six hours' flight from Sydney, but more than worth the trip to stay at what will soon become an iconic property.

Quay West Resort and Spa Falls Creek, Vic

When the property opened in mid-2009, it set a new benchmark for what alpine hotels should be all about. What Quay West has brought to Victoria's Falls Creek is large apartments with balconies and hot tubs, ski-in and ski-out facilities, and a range of new restaurants and bars. Exactly what snowbunnies have been waiting for!

Saffire, Freycinet Peninsula, Tas

Tasmania's newest luxury jewel, Saffire lodge on the Freycinet Peninsula, is expected to be amongst the country's finest high-end properties when it opens for business in April. Expectations were raised recently when former Darley's (at Lilianfels Blue Mountains) executive chef Hugh Whitehouse was appointed to lead the kitchen.

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, NSW Offering the city's latest hotel day spa, there's never been a better time for a naughty weekend at the Shangri-La. Blu Horizon has been a leading Sydney hotel bar since its inception thanks to the incredible views overlooking the harbour, while the room service is on par city the city's best.
 

Urban St Kilda, Vic

Get out of the Melbourne CBD and hit St Kilda's grungy streets for a rockin' Friday night out. The rooms in this chic property feature spa baths, luxury amenities and plush beds. This is the original property in the Urban Hotels chain and sets the benchmark for what to expect across the country.

New Zealand

Hilton, Lake Taupo

With new, direct Sydney-Rotorua flights launched by Air New Zealand in December, it's never been easier to get to Lake Taupo, a 45-minute drive from the airfield. The place to stay is the Hilton, which has just changed name and undergone and extensive refurbishment.

Kaimata, Dunedin

Featuring just three cosy rooms, an extensive cellar stacked with Pinot Noir, your own private chef and amazing views of the Otago Peninsula, this will be one of the most talked about New Zealand South Island lodges in 2010. And, the world's rarest penguins are only a 20-minute drive away.

Sofitel, Queenstown

The region's adventure capital features hotels and resorts at both ends of the spectrum. If it's a luxury getaway you're after without the $1,000 price tag, then definitely consider Sofitel Queenstown, with its elegantly appointed rooms, central location and French-inspired drinks and service. Massages and treatments also don't get any better in town than what's on offer at Le Spa.

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