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We’re officially less than 250 days out from Christmas (wild, right?), which means it’s time to start planning your summer vacays. It's hard knowing where to start when there are almost 6,000 hotels to pick from in Australia – but that’s where Tripadvisor comes in.
The world’s largest travel site just released its annual Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Hotel Awards for 2024, spotlighting places that received the highest number of ‘above-and-beyond’ customer reviews in 2023. Tripadvisor sifted through ratings of more than 1.6 million hotels listed on the site and also organised the hotels into categories, such as best all-inclusive, luxury, family-friendly, B&Bs, boutique, pet-friendly and sustainable options. But what we’re most interested in is the best of the best: the top hotels in Australia.
Claiming first place was the exclusive, adults-only Reef House Boutique Hotel and Space in Palm Cove, North Queensland. If the ‘adults-only’ tagline hasn’t hooked you, then how about the sound of two crystal clear pools, sparkling wine on arrival, complimentary poolside sorbet, beachfront yoga, mixology classes, marine facials and seafood platters under the stars? This isn’t the first time The Reef House has appeared on Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best list, having been voted as the second-best hotel in Australia and the South Pacific in 2023.
Snagging the silver medal was Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel South Bank, which our editors recently gave a glowing five-star review. There’s nothing minimalist about the family-run hotel. If you don’t notice it the moment you enter the foyer, decorated with big, bold prints and colour, you’ll notice it in the selfie-rific lifts, the 143 luxe rooms, the infinity pool and the level 21 bar with spectacular views of Brisbane River. Better yet, this is the first Australian hotel to be EarthCheck design certified.
Hobart’s MACq01, housed in a former shipping shed on the River Derwent, was ranked as the third-best hotel in Australia, while Next Hotel Melbourne and Quest Orange rounded out the top five. It’s worth noting that all 25 Australian hotels featured in Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Hotel Awards belong to the top one per cent of properties that consistently earn rave reviews from travellers on the site. Here is the full list of winners in 2024:
- The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, QLD
- Emporium Hotel South Bank, Brisbane, QLD
- MACq01 Hotel, Hobart, TAS
- Next Hotel Melbourne, VIC
- Quest Orange, NSW
- Zagame’s House, Melbourne, VIC
- Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Island, NSW
- Element on Coolum Beach, QLD
- Terminus Apartment Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
- The Tasman, Hobart, TAS
- Goonoo Goonoo Station, Tamworth, NSW
- Adina Apartment Hotel, Sydney, NSW
- The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, TAS
- Treasury On Collins, Melbourne, VIC
- Quest South Perth Foreshore, Perth, WA
- Majestic M Suites, Adelaide, SA
- Quest Echuca, VIC
- Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury, SA
- Alycone Hotel Residences, Brisbane, QLD
- Vibe Hotel Hobart, TAS
- Little National Hotel Sydney, NSW
- Lancemore Crossley St, Melbourne, VIC
- East Hotel, Canberra, ACT
- Deco Hotel Canberra, ACT
- Park Hyatt Melbourne, VIC