Australia & Pacific Travel Guide
Destinations
By Juliet Kinsman and Chris Schalkx
Editor Hotel Recommendations: Bali
- Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve$$$ | Indonesia, Bali, Jl. Raya Kedewatan No.Banjar, KedewatanRead full reviewThis jungle property, one of a few Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world, achieves something rare—it feels pristine yet ancient.Readers Choice Awards
Gold ListPowered By: Expedia - Alila Villas Uluwatu$$ | Indonesia, Bali,Read full reviewThe striking latticework rectangles of this all-villa resort, set high on a cliff, has become an icon for contemporary Bali.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- Hotel Tugu Bali$$ | Indonesia, Bali,Read full reviewTugu was the first hotel in Canggu, a pioneer in what was, at the time, just fields of rice paddies running up to the edge of the ocean.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Booking.com
- Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort$$ | Indonesia, Bali,Read full reviewA serene Bali escape on a stunning stretch of seaside property.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- COMO Shambhala Estate$$$ | Indonesia, Bali, Banjar BegawanRead full reviewThis property reigns as a five-star refuge for luxury travelers seeking to say farewell to stress and hello to spiritual development.Readers Choice Awards
Gold ListPowered By: Expedia - Bisma Eight$$ | Indonesia, Bali,Read full reviewFollow a bumpy lane from Ubud’s center, and eventually you'll reach this tranquil all-suite hideaway, which is one with nature.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Booking.com
- The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, BaliIndonesia, Bali,Read full reviewSet within the larger, exclusive Nusa Dua resort region, and on one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- Capella Ubud Bali$$$ | Indonesia, Ubud, Jl. RY DalemRead full reviewAfrican-style riverside jungle camp evoking spice-trade romance, in a tucked-away part of the island.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape$$$ | Indonesia, Buahan Kaja, JlRead full reviewExperience the jungles of central Bali in their purest form—without having to rough it.Hot ListPowered By: Expedia
- Lost Lindenberg$$ | Indonesia, Bali, Banyar Yeh Kuning, Jl. Ngurah Rai, Pekutatan, Kec. Pekutatan, Kabupaten JembranaRead full reviewThis Balinese hotel is unlike any other surfer hangouts in the region.Hot ListPowered By: Table Hotels
- Six Senses Uluwatu$$$ | Indonesia, Uluwatu,Read full reviewAstounding clifftop wellness outpost at the island’s hottest surf spot, from an early-adopting champion of sustainability.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- COMO Uma Canggu$$Read full reviewThe modern architecture skews more South Beach than Bali, but offers a sanctuary from scruffy Canggu, a great surf school, and one of the coolest beach clubs in town.Readers Choice AwardsPowered By: Expedia
- How Australia's Kangaroo Island Is Recovering With Conservation-Minded HospitalityFour years after its wildfires, the pendant of primordial land churns onward.
By Chloe Sachdev
- The Blue Mountains of Australia Are Ready to Welcome Tourists BackAfter weathering years of relentless fires and biblical floods, the rugged region outside of Sydney has been reborn, with a booming food scene and new ways to access nature.
By Adam H. Graham
- On Its 50th Anniversary, the Sydney Opera House Remains a Beacon of Sustainable DesignFrom heat-reflecting tiles to a pioneering heating and cooling system, the Aussie landmark has always embraced sustainable thinking.
By Rachel Chang
- Sydney Is Going Greener—Here's How Visitors Can Get in on the ActionThe city is becoming a host for responsible tourism, thanks to eco-eateries, accessible cultural and historical resources, and thoughtful native ecosystems.
By Callie Radke Stevens
- A First Look at Seabourn's New Expedition Voyage Through the Kimberley, AustraliaIn 2024, the cruise line will set sail to this rugged region, home to some of the most unique land formations and wildlife on Earth.
By Meena Thiruvengadam
- Rose Byrne on the Euphoria of Snorkeling the Great Barrier ReefThe Aussie actress had not yet visited what is arguably her home country's most famous attraction.
By Charlie Hobbs
- The Best New Hotels in Australia and Asia: 2023 Hot ListThe best new hotels in Australia and Asia, from Sydney to Taiwan.
By CNT Editors
- The Best New Hotels in the World: 2023 Hot ListThe best openings of the past year, from sprawling eco resorts to design-focused boutique options.
By CNT Editors
- Ask a Local: Artist Gabrielle Penfold Shares Her Favorite Weekend Hangouts in SydneyFrom ocean-pool swimming to secondhand shopping—and the best gelato in the city.
By Noo Saro-Wiwa
- United Airlines Is Launching Dozens of New Flights to New Zealand and AustraliaSwitchings hemispheres will soon be even easier.
By Rachel Chang
- My Favorite Airbnb: A Three-Bedroom Apartment in Sydney's Ultimate Surf 'BurbThe beachside abode had a wraparound balcony and incredible ocean views.
By Zoe Westman
- In Tasmania, Bushwalks Help Conserve Native FloraOn a trek along the Australian state's scenic coast, Jayme Moye discovers how connecting with nature can help protect it.
By Jayme Moye
- Meet the Indigenous Women Leading Conservation Efforts in the Great Barrier ReefThe Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network is forging a path for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to protect the region's land and sea.
By Alicia Erickson
- Why United's Polaris Business Class Is Worth the Upgrade on Its New Nonstop Flight to AustraliaHere's what impressed me on the 17-hour flight.
By Chris Dong
More from Australia & the Pacific
By Chloe Sachdev
By Rachel Chang
By Nina Karnikowski
By Daniel Browning
By Caitlin Morton
By Charlie Hobbs
By Emily Zemler
By David Prior
By Lizzie Pook
By Travis Levius
By Josh Laskin
By Riley Wilson
By Jessica Puckett
By Chloe Berge
By Ashlea Halpern
More Destinations
- Cape Town Travel GuideAt the edge of the earth—and the cultural cutting edge
- Venice Travel GuideTrust us, you'll want to get lost
- Our Ultimate Italy Travel GuideAll of our best hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations in one place.
By CNT Editors
- Bangkok Travel GuideHow to do it right
- Tokyo Travel GuideSushi is just the beginning
- Hong Kong Travel GuideThat skyline though...
- Rome Travel GuideThe world's greatest outdoor museum
- Singapore Travel GuideThe Lion City is roaring these days
- Madrid Travel GuideBarcelona’s big rival has its mojo back
- Lisbon Travel GuideTiles, tiles, tiles
- Florence Travel GuideGet to know your Davids
- Edinburgh Travel GuideMore than just Fringe
- Dublin Travel GuideThe Irish capital is calling
Featured
- Australia Border Opening: International Travelers Will Be Allowed to Visit This MonthAfter nearly two years of being closed to international travelers, Australia is lifting restrictions and welcoming tourists once again.
By Rachel Chang
- Australia’s Borders Could Open By Christmas—Here’s What That Means for TravelersThe just-announced plan requires 80 percent of Australians to be vaccinated before borders can fully reopen to international travelers.
By Rachel Chang
- A Local’s Guide to AustraliaModel Nathan McGuire on his love of Western Australia and the rise of Indigenous fashion.
By Chloe Sachdev
- Going Off the Map in Tasmania’s Highlands and Forest LodgesWhere trees live for millennia, trout surf on lakes, and modernist hotels stitch together the past and future.
By Steve King
Photography by Adam Gibson
- 22 Best Things to Do in SydneyWhat to do when you're in town, from the best neighborhoods to wander to the coolest seaside strolls.
By Sophie Davies
- In Manly, Australia, Love for the Surf Goes DeepThough Manly, just a quick ferry ride from Central Sydney, has morphed in the last two decades from a scruffy commuter hub into the picture of antipodean easy living, it's still defined by the people who thrive along its shores.
By Toby Skinner
- How Australia Is Rethinking Tourism While Borders Are ClosedIt's created an opportunity for travel providers to rebuild from the devastating wildfires in an even more meaningful way.
By Jen Murphy
- A Museum of Underwater Art Is Opening on the Great Barrier ReefThe art installations are among the latest—and most exciting—in a series of new attractions in the area.
By Kris Fordham
- How a Wildlife Sanctuary Is Dealing With Australia's BushfiresVets and nurses are working around the clock to save koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, kookaburras, and more.
By Claire Gallam
- Despite Fires, South Australia Is Open for TravelersThe state is a microcosm of the entire country—and tourism dollars can help it recover from the devastating fires.
By Mark Ellwood
- 15 Best Hotels in MelbourneOur picks for where to stay in Australia's second city.
By Dan F. Stapleton
- Australia's First Underwater Hotel Lets You Sleep Next to Fish in the Great Barrier ReefAs exciting new developments crop up, the question about their impact on one of the world's most fragile environments remains.
By Kris Fordham
- The Australian Bushfires: What You Need to Know if You Have a Trip PlannedFind out what areas have been affected and if you need to adjust your Australian itinerary below.
By Carrie Hutchinson
- What You Can Do to Help During the Australia BushfiresMore than 14 million acres of land have burned already and fire season has only just begun.
By Meredith Carey
- How Koalas Are Impacted by Australia’s Wildfires—And What You Can Do to HelpAs fires damage koalas' natural homes, here's how you can help.
By Ali Wunderman