Plans for Aussie Winter Season?
EMBRACE OR ESCAPE
As the seasons begin to turn, April is the perfect time to start planning for the months ahead. Whether you’re dreaming of snow-covered peaks and fireside evenings, or looking to trade cooler days for sunshine somewhere far away, we’ve curated two paths for the season ahead.
From alpine escapes across Australia and New Zealand to effortless resort getaways beyond the cold, consider this your starting point for winter planning.
MT. BULLER
Victoria
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MOUNT BULLER CHALET
STAY
Charming alpine retreat offering cozy accommodation. Located conveniently near the slopes, it features a restaurant and bar. Guests can enjoy stunning mountain views and easy access to ski lifts, making it an ideal choice for winter sports. -
BREATHTAKER HOTEL
STAY
Ski-in, ski-out alpine luxury in the heart of Mount Buller. Contemporary rooms, a heated pool, spa treatments, and warm hospitality create the perfect base for relaxing after a day on the slopes.
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KAPTANS RESTAURANT
DINE
A cozy dining spot known for its warm ambiance and stunning alpine views. Famous for its signature Wiener Schnitzel, the restaurant offers a diverse menu celebrating seasonal and local produce. It's a popular choice among skiers for both casual meals and special occasions.
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BLACK COCKATOO
DINE
Refined alpine dining at Mount Buller, pairing seasonal Australian produce with an elegant, fireside setting. Expect beautifully presented dishes, a thoughtful wine list, and a sophisticated atmosphere after a day on the slopes.
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Alpine Helicopter Picnic
EXPERIENCE
Take a private helicopter tour over the Victorian Alps, landing for a gourmet picnic on a secluded snow-covered plateau. Ski-in/ski-out access and breathtaking alpine views make for an unforgettable mountain adventure.
FALLS CREEK
Victoria
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ST FALLS RESORT
STAY
Boutique alpine hotel with self-contained apartments right at the base of the ski slopes. It offers direct access to ski lifts, mountain views, restaurants, and facilities like a pool, sauna, and gym, making it a popular place to stay for skiing. -
LAKESIDE
STAY
Lakeside at Falls Creek is a ski-in/ski-out lodge-style hotel (snow permitting), just 200 metres from the Village Bowl and Eagle and Summit Chairs. Cozy interiors and alpine charm make it ideal for mountain stays.
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ASTRA
DINE
Modern alpine dining experience with a menu inspired by Modern Australian and European cuisine, along with craft beers, cocktails, and an award-winning wine list. It is known for its cosy atmosphere with fireplaces and mountain views, and it is especially popular for après-ski drinks and dinner during the winter snow season.
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SUMMIT RIDGE
DINE
Summit Ridge Restaurant offers elegant alpine dining with sweeping panoramic mountain views. Guests enjoy thoughtfully crafted dishes, seasonal ingredients, and a curated selection of fine wines, creating a refined and memorable mountain dining experience.
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Snowshoe & Fireside Degustation
EXPERIENCE
Enjoy a full-day guided snowshoeing and alpine photography experience, followed by a fireside degustation lunch. Expert guides share hidden trails and vistas, combining adventure, relaxation, and indulgence in pristine alpine surroundings.
PERISHER
New South Wales
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THE STABLES RESORT
STAY
Boutique self-contained apartments and chalets with kitchens, living areas, and mountain views. The resort is close to the ski lifts, making it convenient for skiing and snowboarding in winter, and it is open year-round for other alpine activities. -
SMIGGINS HOTEL & CHALET
STAY
Smiggins Hotel & Chalet Apartments offers cozy alpine accommodation combining lodge-style warmth with modern comfort. Ski-in/ski-out access, spacious rooms, and inviting lounges make it an ideal base for winter adventures and mountain relaxation.
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STALLIONS
DINE
A cosy alpine restaurant located inside The Stables Resort in Perisher Valley. It offers Australian-style meals such as burgers, pizza, steaks, and bar snacks, along with drinks and happy hour. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere with an open fireplace and is popular for relaxing after a day of skiing.
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SNOWGUMS
DINE
Snowgums Restaurant at Falls Creek offers relaxed, stylish alpine dining with a focus on seasonal Australian cuisine. Guests enjoy beautifully presented dishes, a warm lodge atmosphere, and panoramic mountain views, perfect after a day on the slopes.
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Private Snowcat Adventure
EXPERIENCE
Charter a luxury snowcat for an exclusive backcountry skiing or snowboarding adventure, complete with hot chocolate and snacks. Experience untouched slopes and panoramic alpine scenery in comfort and style.
QUEENSTOWN
New Zealand
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ROSEWOOD MATAKAURI
STAY
Luxury lakeside resort located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. It offers elegant suites and villas with mountain and lake views, along with fine dining that focuses on fresh, local New Zealand ingredients. The resort is known for its peaceful setting, luxury facilities, and easy access to outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and wine tours.
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QT QUEENSTOWN
STAY
Stylish boutique hotel located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. It offers modern rooms with lake and mountain views, along with dining options like Bazaar Restaurant and Reds Bar. The hotel is known for its bold design and convenient location close to Queenstown’s main attractions and outdoor activities.
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EICHARDT’S PRIVATE HOTEL
STAY
An architectural beauty on Lake Wakatipu, Eichardt’s Private Hotel has welcomed travellers through its doors since 1861. Awarded a Michelin Key in 2025, the hotel is recognised for its exceptional standard of luxury, service and hospitality.
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THE CARLIN HOTEL
STAY
A five-star luxury boutique hotel located above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. It offers spacious suites with private terraces, spa pools, and panoramic views of the lake and mountains. The hotel is known for its personalised service, fine dining restaurant, and exclusive, high-end accommodation experience.
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BOTSWANA BUTCHERY
DINE
Your popular fine-dining restaurant located by Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. It is known for its premium steaks, seafood, and locally sourced New Zealand ingredients. The restaurant has a warm, luxury atmosphere with fireplaces and lake views.
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ARYBURN
DINE
Scenic food and wine precinct near Queenstown, offering multiple restaurants, bars, and outdoor spaces set on a restored 19th-century farm. It’s popular for dining, drinks, and socialising with lake and mountain views.
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AMISFIELD
DINE
Winery and restaurant near Queenstown, located by Lake Hayes. It’s known for its award-winning wines, seasonal New Zealand cuisine, and elegant dining in a vineyard setting.
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RATA
DINE
Fine-dining restaurant in Queenstown, founded by celebrity chef, Josh Emett. It offers contemporary New Zealand cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients in a stylish, modern setting.
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Exclusive Remarkables Ski Adventure
EXPERIENCE
Hit the slopes in style with a private ski guide in the Remarkables or Coronet Peak. Enjoy personalised coaching, untouched powder, and panoramic alpine views, finishing the day with a fireside gourmet lunch and champagne.
PORT DOUGLAS
Queensland
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SHERATON GRAND RESORT
STAY
five‑star beachfront resort in set on famous Four Mile Beach with lush tropical gardens and large lagoon‑style pools. It offers luxury rooms, villas, multiple restaurants and bars, and plenty of space for families to relax. The resort’s location also makes it easy to explore the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest on day trips.
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SILKY OAKS LODGE
STAY
A luxury rainforest lodge set along the Mossman River on the edge of the World Heritage‑listed Daintree Rainforest. It offers secluded treehouse‑style accommodation, fine dining in an open‑air restaurant, a Healing Waters Spa, and activities like yoga, guided rainforest walks and shuttle access to Port Douglas. The setting is peaceful and immersed in nature, making it ideal for a relaxing tropical getaway.
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COCONUT GROVE
STAY
Self‑contained apartment‑style resort, just a short walk from Four Mile Beach and the shops and restaurants along Macrossan Street. It features spacious premium apartments with private terraces, plunge pools or spas, ideal for couples and families looking for a relaxed tropical stay right in the centre of town.
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LUXURY HOMES
STAY
Hiring a luxury home on Wharf Street in Port Douglas offers the ultimate tropical getaway. These high-end properties feature stunning ocean views, private pools, and spacious living areas. Being just steps from Macrossan Street, guests have easy access to boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, while still enjoying the privacy and comfort of a secluded luxury home.
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SALSA BAR AND GRILL
DINE
Popular tropical‑style restaurant on Wharf Street overlooking the water and parklands. It’s known for its relaxed Queenslander vibe, creative menu blending local and global flavours, tasty cocktails, and friendly service, making it a favourite with both locals and visitors. Open for lunch and dinner, Salsa offers a varied menu with fresh seafood, steaks, small plates, and more in a breezy, open‑air setting.
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NAUTILUS
DINE
Iconic open‑air fine‑dining destination set beneath towering palm trees in a lush tropical garden. Established in the 1950s, it’s known for its elegant Modern Australian degustation menus showcasing local seafood and produce, an extensive wine list, and relaxed yet memorable atmosphere. The restaurant is entirely outdoors (with clever canopies for rain), making dining feel like a tropical experience under the stars.
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MELELEUCA
DINE
Highly‑rated modern Australian restaurant, known for its creative, seasonal menu featuring local seafood and produce with subtle global influences. The dining experience includes waterfront views, a lovely alfresco courtyard under mango trees, and an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, making it a great choice for lunch or dinner in town.
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WATERGATE
DINE
Contemporary tropical dining in a stylish, relaxed setting. With fresh, locally sourced ingredients and expertly crafted dishes, it’s ideal for casual lunches, elegant dinners, and memorable tropical culinary experiences.
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Luxury Reef Sailing
EXPERIENCE
Embark on a private luxury sailing and snorkeling tour along the Great Barrier Reef, enjoying champagne, gourmet canapés, and vibrant marine life in crystal-clear tropical waters.
HAMILTON ISLAND
Queensland
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QUALIA
STAY
A world‑class luxury resort located on the secluded northern tip of Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands, overlooking the Coral Sea and close to the Great Barrier Reef. Guests stay in private pavilions with ocean or bushland views, many with plunge pools or expansive decks and can enjoy fine dining at Long Pavilion and Pebble Beach, a rejuvenating spa, private golf buggy access, and personalised experiences like helicopter flights to nearby reefs or Whitehaven Beach.
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THE SUNDAYS
STAY
Premium luxury accommodation experience on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia. It offers stylish, modern villas and suites set on a peaceful hillside above the Coral Sea with panoramic ocean and sunset views. Guests enjoy spacious, design‑led interiors, private balconies or terraces, and easy access to Hamilton Island’s beaches, dining and activities. The Sunday's blends relaxed island living with high‑end comfort, perfect for couples or anyone seeking a tranquil base while exploring the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef.
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BEACH CLUB
STAY
Adults‑only luxury beachfront resort on Catseye Beach on Hamilton Island overlooking the Coral Sea. It’s known for its tranquil, boutique vibe with contemporary beach house‑style rooms, each with a private terrace or balcony and direct access to the sand and sea. The resort includes a private infinity‑edge pool, exclusive lounge, beach club restaurant with ocean views, and concierge services for reef trips and island activities.
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PEBBLE BEACH
DINE
A premium waterfront restaurant and bar at the luxury qualia resort on Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia. It’s known for contemporary Australian cuisine, elegant tasting menus and stunning views of the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands, making it a standout fine‑dining experience on the island.
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CATSEYE POOL CLUB
DINE
Stylish waterfront restaurant and bar on Hamilton Island’s Catseye Beach. It offers modern Australian share plates, cocktails, and poolside dining with ocean views, focusing on a relaxed, resort-style atmosphere rather than billiards. Menus by acclaimed culinary duo Josh and Julie Niland bring together Australia’s best seasonal ingredients. Josh Niland is particularly well‑known for his work at Sydney’s famed three‑hatted restaurant Saint Peter.
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BOMMIE
DINE
Bommie is Hamilton Island’s signature fine‑dining restaurant located inside the Hamilton Island Yacht Club on Front Street, overlooking the Whitsundays and Dent Passage, a standout destination for modern Australian cuisine in the Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia.
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HAMILTON ISLAND GOLF CLUB
EXPERIENCE
Hamilton Island Golf Club is an 18‑hole championship golf course just off Hamilton Island on nearby Dent Island, the only island‑based course in Australia, designed by five‑time British Open winner Peter Thomson with spectacular views over the Whitsundays. It’s suited to both serious and resort golfers, with a modern clubhouse restaurant/bar, pro shop and ferry access from Hamilton
BYRON BAY
New South Wales
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RAES GUESTHOUSE
STAY
Exclusive, boutique accommodation just steps from Wategos Beach in Byron Bay. Guests enjoy this beautifully designed suite, personalised service and a serene coastal atmosphere, creating an intimate and luxurious retreat by the ocean.
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BASQ HOUSE
STAY
32-room boutique hotel is inspired by Moroccan riads, with a temperature-controlled magnesium pool, a rooftop retreat, and stunning interiors. Generous rooms feature warm earthy tones and natural timber joinery for a relaxed mood.
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LIGHT YEARS
DINE
Modern Australian cuisine shines with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced produce. Elegant, relaxed interiors, inventive dishes, and a curated wine list create a sophisticated yet welcoming coastal dining experience in Byron Bay.
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PIXIE FOOD & WINE
DINE
Coastal Italian flavours with city polish are on the menu at this sleek all-day diner. Come early for produce-driven brunches and tropical Bloody Marys, or later for house-made pastas and snacks with Sicilian energy. A handsome design channels ’70s Milan via beachside Byron Bay.
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Private Whale-Watching Cruise
EXPERIENCE
Experience a private luxury whale-watching cruise with champagne breakfast, guided by marine experts. Witness majestic humpbacks in their natural habitat while cruising the pristine Byron Bay coastline in comfort and style.
DARWIN
Northern Territory
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MINDIL BEACH RESORT
STAY
Mindil Beach Casino Resort offers relaxed tropical luxury overlooking the Arafura Sea. Featuring stylish rooms, multiple dining venues, a vibrant casino, lagoon-style pools, and easy access to Mindil Beach markets, it’s ideal for leisure and entertainment.
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PALMS CITY COVE
STAY
Palms City Resort offers relaxed tropical accommodation in central Darwin, set among lush gardens and palm-lined pathways. Guests enjoy villa-style stays, a resort pool, and easy access to the waterfront, dining precincts, and city attractions.
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STONE HOUSE
DINE
Stone House delivers refined modern Australian dining in the heart of Darwin. Elegant interiors featuring natural stone create a sophisticated atmosphere, while seasonal menus highlight premium local produce, complemented by attentive service and an impressive wine selection.
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HANUMAN
DINE
Hanuman delivers vibrant Asian fusion dining in Darwin, blending Thai, Indian and Nonya influences. Expect bold flavours, fragrant spices, elegant interiors and a lively atmosphere, complemented by attentive service and a well-curated wine and cocktail list.
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Crocodile Cove Encounter
EXPERIENCE
Charter a private sunset cruise along Darwin Harbour, complete with gourmet seafood platters, premium drinks, and spectacular tropical sunsets, combining wildlife spotting, relaxation, and luxury in the heart of the Northern Territory.