Checked In | The Australian Travel News Worth Knowing Right Now

Australia’s travel landscape is evolving rapidly in 2026, with a new wave of hotels, resorts and experiences opening across the country. From major international brands making their Australian debuts to unique design-led stays in some of Australia’s most sought-after destinations, there’s plenty worth knowing about.

This is the inaugural edition of Checked In, our new rolling roundup of the domestic travel news on our radar. We'll be updating this article regularly with the latest Australian hotel openings, destination news and experiences shaping where we’re travelling next, so consider this your excuse to check back often. 

Know about a noteworthy hotel opening, destination or travel experience? Email our Australian Travel Editor at rardoncoppinger@theurbanlist.com or our Travel Editor at icroker@theurbanlist.com. 

Veuve Clicquot Is Taking Over A Luxury Australian Outback Lodge For The First Time Ever

Image Credit: Veuve Clicquot | Rhiannon Taylor

Veuve Clicquot is heading deep into Far North Queensland for its first-ever outback Sun Escape, taking over Mt Mulligan Lodge for a luxurious Champagne-filled luxury escape from 1 October.

Set on a vast 28,000-hectare property northwest of Cairns, Mt Mulligan Lodge accommodates just 28 guests and is surrounded by ancient mountain ranges, rugged bushland and seemingly endless outback skies. The award-winning, all-inclusive lodge is the perfect location for Veuve Clicquot Sun Escape with experiences including ATV adventures, waterhole swimming, guided sunrise excursions and stargazing.

The Veuve Clicquot takeover adds a series of decadent Champagne-fuelled experiences to the stay, from Sunset Hour with flowing Champagne (of course) to an open-fire dinner by Mt Mulligan Lodge Head Chef Alex Muus, with the menu centred on Queensland produce cooked over flame. Of course it wouldn't be a Veuve Clicquot experience without one of the brand’s global signature experiences: Le Picnic, featuring a sun-inspired menu by chef Audrey Shaw with the likes of linguine with coral trout and a dark chocolate terrine. 

There are two ways to experience the takeover: a two-night couples stay in the lodge’s top-category Outback Pavilion, including private return helicopter transfers from Cairns, or a three-night full-lodge takeover for up to 28 guests. Packages start from $27,300 per couple, with the experience running until 31 August 2027, excluding the lodge’s seasonal closure. For more details, click here.

The Tweed Has Just Been Named One Of The World’s Best Travel Destinations For 2027

Image Credit: Cabarita Beach | Lonely Planet

The Tweed has been named one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel destinations for 2027, making it the only Australian destination to feature on the global list of 25 destinations and 25 experiences. The Northern Rivers region was recognised for its beaches, ancient rainforests, incredible culinary scene and growing lineup of outdoor experiences, including the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk.

It also ranked second in Lonely Planet’s Oceania destinations list, behind Dunedin & the Waitaki in New Zealand and ahead of New Caledonia. If you've ever ventured to The Tweed, you'll get the hype; not just the stunning natural landscape but its authentic charm and laidback pace (and top-tier cafe scene). And if you haven't been yet, consider this your sign.

Australia also scored a huge nod in Lonely Planet’s experiences list, with the Red Centre named first in Oceania for its Outback storytelling and jaw-dropping art experiences. Read the full list here.

The Camping Spots Australians Loved Most In 2026 Have Just Been Revealed

Image Credit: Jarvis Estate Winery & Camping | Supplied

Looking for a new place to pitch up? Hipcamp has revealed its 2026 Australia Awards, highlighting the campsites campers rated and booked most highly over the past year. The unranked winners span everything from riverside camps and working farms to waterfall hideaways and off-grid cabins, with 12 winners selected across each state and territory alongside category winners for tent camping, caravans, glamping, farm stays and more.

Among the standouts are a multi-generational riverside cattle property in NSW, a Sunshine Coast campsite with complimentary kayaks, a farm with fresh water fishing beneath Victoria’s Cathedral Ranges, a creekside spot with waterfalls in Tasmania, and even vineyard camping near Margaret River. Because everyone knows good wine and good camping are two of life's greatest pleasures. Read the full list here.

Melbourne Is Set To Score A Huge New Hybrid Hotel-Hostel With 775 Beds

Image Credit: Drifter | Supplied

Australian-founded accommodation brand Drifter is seriously levelling up its hybrid hotel offering, with new properties in the works coming to Wellington, Auckland and Melbourne. The biggest of the three will land in Melbourne in late 2027, transforming the existing 118-room Little Drifter on Franklin Street into a 775-bed property.

The concept is designed to sit somewhere between a traditional hotel and hostel, combining boutique hotel-style private rooms and premium shared accommodation with food and beverage, wellness and co-working spaces all part of the mix.

The Melbourne outpost will also feature a public bar and social club with all-day food, late-night vinyl, DJs and karaoke, alongside a podcast studio, co-working spaces, wellness facilities and a year-round program of music and community events. The wider expansion will see Drifter open its first Wellington property in late 2026 and Auckland in 2027. For more details, click here.

These Two Off-Grid Cabins Are Getting A Dog-Friendly Upgrade For A Limited Time

Image Credit: Unyoked x Lyka | Nikita Brown

Taking your dog on a weekend away just got a whole lot more appealing. Unyoked and Lyka have teamed up to transform two off-grid cabins into 'Lyka Lodges', designed around spending restorative time in nature with your four-legged best friend.

Available to book only from 21 September to 25 October, the two dog-friendly—nay, dog-first—cabins are in Pokolbin, around two hours north of Sydney, and Tarra Valley, around 2.5 hours from Melbourne. Both come stocked with Lyka treats, dog puzzles, books, cosy beds and matching green bedding for you and your doggo, plus complimentary poo bags (essential, of course)—and, perhaps most importantly, a dedicated dog stick library.

The Tarra Valley cabin also comes with an outdoor bath for humans, while both off-grid stays are surrounded by the kind of stunning bushland that makes switching off feel considerably easier. Guests can bring their own dog food or order Lyka dog food (and score a complimentary cooler bag). For more details and to book, click here.

You Could Score $500 Towards Your Next Red Centre Road Trip

Image Credit: Red Centre Drive | Supplied

The Red Centre just got a little more tempting for road trippers, with 600 interstate Australians, including West Australians, able to score $500 towards accommodation on a trip through Central Australia.

Tourism Central Australia has launched the new Red Centre Drive Vouchers to encourage travellers to make the long drive, stay a little longer and explore beyond the big-ticket sights. The vouchers can be put towards accommodation at participating caravan parks, campgrounds and roadhouses across the region. And $500 can go surprisingly far. Depending on where you stay, it could cover up to 10 nights at a powered caravan site, a couple of nights in a cabin or even an eight-night road trip through Alice Springs, the West MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and Uluru.

Applications are currently open and run until 30 September, but there’s a catch: the 600 vouchers are strictly first come, first served. Eligible travel runs from 5 October 2026 through to 30 June 2027, so there’s plenty of time to map out your trip. If the Red Centre has been sitting on your Australian travel list, this is the nudge to finally do it. For more details, click here.

South West House Is About To Become WA's Hottest Stay

Image credit: Margaret River Region | Website

WA, add this one to your summer hit list. South West House is landing in Australia’s South West this summer, bringing 54 beautifully considered rooms and suites to one of our favourite corners of the state. Expect relaxed, refined interiors inspired by the region, plus acclaimed chef Aaron Carr heading up the kitchen with a ton of stunning local produce on the menu to higlight that glorious rugid coastline. Think slow mornings, long lunches and easy access to towering forests, vineyards and of course, our world-class beaches. Right now you can only join the waitlist, but we're keeping our eyes peeled *very closely* for when bookings swing open.

Andaz Is Making Its Australian Debut On The Gold Coast

Image Credit: Andaz | Supplied (Render)

Broadbeach is set to welcome a major new hotel later this year, with Andaz Gold Coast bringing the global lifestyle brand to Australia for the first time. The 202-room property will sit moments from the beach, Pacific Fair and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with a focus on connecting guests with the destination beyond the resort strip.

The hotel will channel the Gold Coast through warm, sun-inspired interiors, local artwork and a lineup of spaces designed to shift from day to night. There will be be Mediterranean-inspired dining at Nove, cocktails at Verde Bar, a social lounge and an expansive pool club with cabanas, while Andaz hosts will connect guests with the people, places and experiences shaping the modern Gold Coast. Reservations are now open, with the hotel expected to welcome its first guests later this year.

The Alva Hotel Brisbane Is Fortitude Valley's Hottest New Stay

Image Credit: Alva Hotel Brisbane | Supplied

The Alva Hotel Brisbane has emerged from the former Hotel X with a renewed focus on Fortitude Valley’s creative energy, pairing light-filled rooms with original artwork, a personalised sleep menu, Grown Alchemist amenities and curated guides to the neighbourhood.

There's a new Sounds of Alva programme featuring Brisbane artists on vinyl, selected dog-friendly rooms and spacious balconies and complimentary postcards in the lobby can be written during your stay and posted by the hotel. Add in a 15-metre rooftop pool, Iris Rooftop Bar & Restaurant for Spanish-inspired fare and skyline views, plus French bistro Bisou Bisou downstairs and Alva Hotel is truly ticking all our boxes. Check out more of Brisbane's best hotels and for more details, click here.

Temple Hangars Is Bringing A New Kind Of Design-Led Escape To The Northern Rivers

Image Credit: Temple Hangars | Jessie Prince

There’s a new reason to head to New South Wales' Northern Rivers (as if you needed any more persuading), with Temple Hangars introducing four striking stays on a golden-lit ridgeline in Nashua. Created by the team behind Temple Farmhouse, each Hangar has been designed around the surrounding Northern Rivers landscape, with floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights and private courtyards framing uninterrupted hinterland views.

The four suites each have their own distinct personality, from Japanese-inspired Sassafras to the pared-back, fully accessible Coolamon. Outside, a communal pavilion, cedar hot tub and sauna make it easy to settle in for a few slow days, with the likes of local skincare, lighting and linen adding a distinctly Northern Rivers touch. Check out more of Byron's best accommodation and for more details, click here.

Elysium Manly Has Officially Opened On Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Image Credit: Elysium Manly | Elise Hassey

Manly’s beachfront has a new luxury stay, with Elysium Manly officially opening its doors following a $40 million transformation of the former Manly Pacific. The 213-room hotel sits directly opposite Manly Beach, combining contemporary coastal design with destination dining, wellness and a distinctly elevated approach to service.

The real draw is just how much of the experience has been designed around that prime beachfront position. There’s a rooftop magnesium mineral pool overlooking the Pacific, new Wellness Suites with private infrared saunas and the 167-square-metre Elysium Suite with its own ocean-facing terrace. Downstairs, Chef Hatted Italian restaurant Cibaria anchors the dining offering, making this one to bookmark for a seriously luxe Manly escape. Check out more of Sydney's best hotels here and for more details, click here.

Karlu Karlu Becomes Northern Territory’s First International Dark Sky Sanctuary

Image Credit: Karlu Karlu | Tourism & Events NT, @domandjesso

There’s a new reason to head into the Northern Territory after Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) Conservation Reserve was recently officially designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Located around 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, the ancient granite boulders are now the first certified dark-sky site in the NT and only the third in Australia, after the Sunshine Coast and Winton.

The designation recognises the reserve’s exceptionally dark skies and helps protect them for generations to come. For travellers, that means some seriously spectacular stargazing, with the chance to camp beneath the Milky Way and explore the landscape along self-guided walking trails. And if you need another reason to make the journey, Karlu Karlu will sit directly in the path of totality for the 2028 solar eclipse. Fore more details, click here.

Amora Adelaide Has Just Opened Following A $73 Million Transformation

Image Credit: Amora Adelaide | Supplied

Amora Hotel & Resorts has made its South Australian debut following a $73 million redevelopment of a landmark Victoria Square property. Opened on 1 July with 380 redesigned rooms and suites, Amora Adelaide caters to everyone from couples to families and groups, with plenty of twin and interconnecting rooms.

There’s plenty to keep guests at the hotel, too, from a heated outdoor pool and state-of-the-art gym to more than 2,200 square metres of event space, including Adelaide's largest pillar-free hotel ballroom. For dining, you don't need to leave the hotel as you can choose from  Victoria's Table, a brasserie-style cafe, and a contemporary grill backed by a 500-label wine cellar, making this one to watch as Adelaide's hotel scene gets another serious upgrade. For more details, click here.

Le Méridien Is Bringing A New Luxury Resort To The Whitsundays

Image Credit: Le Méridien | Supplied (Render)

A new luxury resort is heading to Queensland's Whitsundays, with Le Méridien Lindeman Island Resort & Spa set to open in late 2027 following a $60 million redevelopment. The 70-hectare beachfront property will mark the brand's debut in the Whitsundays, just a 20-minute boat ride from Hamilton Island Airport.

The resort will feature 200 guest rooms and nine suites, alongside two restaurants, a spa, water sports and an archery range. Essentially, t's shaping up to be the kind of tropical escape where you could quite happily check in, switch off and forget what day it is. We'll have more details here soon. 

Main Image Credit: Veuve Clicquot | Rhiannon Taylor