There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping onto a boat knowing you’re not just heading to a hotel, you’re heading to your own private island.
Just 800 metres off Coles Bay on Tasmania’s east coast, Picnic Island Tasmania has officially reopened after a major refresh. The private retreat, sitting in the shadow of Freycinet National Park, now features a brand-new primary suite and upgraded copper-clad accommodation, sleeping up to eight guests across four separate spaces.
But let’s be clear. this isn’t about squeezing as many people in as possible. It’s about having the place entirely to yourself. Book it and the whole island is yours, complete with a dedicated host and skipper, a private chef championing Tassie produce, and a new custom-built boat for transfers and coastal adventures. It’s all-inclusive, but done in a way that feels considered rather than over-the-top.
The owners have capped stays at just 100 nights per year to protect the island’s delicate ecosystem, including its resident Little Penguin colony. It runs off-grid on solar power and rainwater, and the focus is firmly on privacy, space and letting nature set the pace.
You’re within easy reach of Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet coastline, but far enough away that the loudest thing you’ll hear is the wind.
It’s AU$16,000 per night for the entire island, with a three-night minimum. Which is hella pricey. But when checking in involves your own boat ride to your own island, it hits a little differently.
There are two types of people in this world: those who watched Heated Rivalry and moved on with their lives, and those who immediately googled “Is that cottage real?” at 1am. If you fall into the latter camp (like us), congratulations, your unhinged dedication has been rewarded.
The lakeside escape from Heated Rivalry – yes, that Barlochan Cottage – is now bookable on Airbnb. The slow-burn tension might have been fictional, but the setting very much isn’t. Tucked along the shores of Lake Muskoka in cottage country, it’s all pine trees, still water and silence that forces you to confront your feelings (or at least how much time you’re spending in front of the screen.
The three-bedroom retreat leans hard into that classic Canadian lake-house energy: oversized windows, timber finishes, a fireplace built for dramatic stares, and a dock that basically insists on a sunrise swim. There’s a proper kitchen for post-kayak feasts, a fire pit primed for late-night debriefs, and enough space to bring friends, though you may prefer to keep it a two-person storyline if ya know what we mean.
And the best part is, it’s only gonna set you back around AU$255 a night or CA$248 (a neat little nod to the main characters’ jersey numbers). Subtle.
Look, you don’t have to be an ice hockey obsessive to appreciate this place. But if you do find yourself standing on that dock, staring across the water like you’re about to confess something life-altering, just know: you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever looked at a rainforest and thought, “Yeah, but what’s going on up there?”, this one’s for you.
Luxury adventure outfit Cookson Adventures has just launched what it’s calling the world’s first hanging camp in Borneo, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. For up to three days, your feet won’t touch the forest floor. Instead, you’ll live 30 metres up in the canopy, strung between some of the tallest tropical trees on Earth.
This isn’t glamping with a good view. It’s a fully suspended, leave-no-trace setup in a protected conservation area, accessed only by rope. Think sleeping platforms, communal hangout spots and even rainfall showers, all connected by a web of zip lines and climbing lines. And instead of hours sitting in traffic, your morning commute is a short traverse across the treetops.
What really gets ya though, is what’s happening around you. The rainforest canopy is still largely unexplored (often called the planet’s “eighth continent”), and guests will join scientists studying this complex ecosystem. You could be helping set light traps for insects, observing bats and birdlife, or collecting plant samples, all while hornbills, gibbons and orangutans move through the branches nearby.
But before you head skyward, there’s a weekend of rope training. By the end, you might even leave with a recognised qualification. Not to mention some pretty serious bragging rights.
It starts from AU$475,000 for four nights, for up to six guests. Pricey? Yes. But sleeping in the treetops of Borneo doesn’t exactly come with a ‘budget’ option.
West Yorkshire has never been short on wind, wild skies and stories that gnaw at your imagination, but Airbnb’s latest drop leans right into the moor’s uneasy charm. To celebrate the release of Emerald Fennell’s much-anticipated Wuthering Heights film, they’ve recreated Cathy Earnshaw’s bedroom at Thrushcross Grange – yes, the same fever-dream space from the movie – and are offering a handful of couples the chance to sleep there for free.
The room isn’t your typical cosy countryside bolthole. It’s been styled to reflect Cathy’s inner world, think textured walls, layered fabrics and that uncanny feeling you’re part of something larger than a bed and a pillow, all against the backdrop of Brontë Country where the film was shot.
Beyond the bedroom, the experience leans into the moors rather than the cliché. Guests can wander the landscape on horseback, sip a proper Yorkshire afternoon tea, and settle in for a candlelit dinner that wouldn’t feel out of place next to a roaring hearth. There’s even a curated soundtrack moment featuring music written for the film, plus a vinyl to take home if you’re lucky.
Travel-obsessed romantics, and the plain curious alike, have turned their eyes north, with UK Gen Z searches for stays in West Yorkshire spiking and the region quietly emerging as an unexpected getaway pick.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to press pause on your own story and slide into someone else’s, this might just be the closest you get; gothic vibes included.
Strahan’s Risby Cove has always had a soul – raw, untamed, and perched on the edge of Macquarie Harbour. Now, after a multi-million-dollar transformation, that soul has been given a wardrobe of bespoke Tasmanian timber, curated artworks, and just the right amount of glamour.
Twelve suites now read like a love letter to the West Coast: decks spilling over harbour and rainforest vistas, cedar hot tubs and private infrared saunas promising long, slow soaks, and a “cinematic” gold-class suite nodding to the hotel’s theatre past. It’s a place where fireplaces glow on rainy afternoons and king-sized beds invite mornings without alarms.
Wellness isn’t an afterthought here, it’s in the air, in the light, in the way each space nudges you into stillness. Stand on a deck at sunrise with tea in hand, and the world feels a little quieter, a little softer. Owner Jacinta Young calls it a sanctuary, but really, it insists you slow down whether you like it or not.
Risby’s restaurant, long a Strahan favourite, has been reimagined too. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame shifting moods of Macquarie Harbour while dishes tell stories of land, sea, and the region’s history, from salvaged Huon pine to fire-finished Tasmanian oak tables. Every detail whispers West Coast pride.
A stay here is less about ticking boxes and more about surrendering to place, letting the harbour, forest, and a little Tasmanian magic work their slow, restorative charm.
Perched above Loch Hope on Scotland’s rugged northern coast, Hope Lodge is poised to be one of the most compelling hospitality openings of 2026. No, it’s not just a hotel, but a thoughtful reimagining of what it means to stay in the Highlands.
Opening in May 2026, this remote retreat is part of WildLand’s conservation-led vision, where every detail, from the architecture to the daily rhythms, responds to the land it sits within.
At its heart sits a restored 19th-century Highland hunting lodge, reinvented as an intimate hotel with just seven bedrooms. Each room carries a Gaelic name embodying qualities like light, freedom and soul, quietly nodding to the cultural and natural heritage of the region.
Surrounding the lodge are restored cottages and a striking woodland cabin called An Cala, complete with a private wood-fired hot tub, an appreciation of rustic luxury that feels utterly of place amid the pines and sky.
More than bricks and beams, Hope promises an immersive experience. Days unfold in the open; guided hikes, wild swimming, conservation activities and mindful moments that blur the line between guest and landscape. At the centre of it all is The Clachan, a stone-built hub where adventure begins and stories are shared.
Yes, this place is polished escapism, but it’s also Highland hospitality on nature’s terms.
Hidden down a quiet lane in Umalas, where rice fields still outnumber smoothie bowls, Magia de Uma feels like Bali before the volume got turned up. Recently opened and now part of the Design Hotels family, this low-slung retreat isn’t really about grand gestures. It’s more about letting history, craft and nature do the talking.
The vision of husband-and-wife duo Jacopo and Rosa Sertoli, Magia de Uma was designed around preservation rather than polish. Rooms are spread across a central villa and a cluster of bungalows, some built around 150-year-old Javanese joglo structures that bring serious gravitas to an otherwise laid-back setting. Original wooden floors, high ceilings and simple white linens keep things calm, while Indonesian craftsmanship runs deep; carved timber doorways, vintage furniture and ancient farming tools repurposed as sculptural details.
Downstairs, the open restaurant-bar blends natural textures with subtle industrial touches, nodding to Bali’s layered past. Food leans proudly Indonesian, with an imaginative menu by Bali-based Michelin-star chef Fernando Trump. Vegetables come from the garden, rice from the owners’ own fields, and long lunches tend to drift into sunset sessions by the mosaic-tiled pool.
Wellness here isn’t flashy, but it is thoughtful. The timber-built spa houses a sauna, ice bath and yoga shala overlooking the paddies, while treatments tap into Balinese traditions (think warm spice body wraps, sound healing and full moon ceremonies). Creative energy flows through artist-led workshops, dance classes and hands-on cooking sessions that turn dinner into a shared ritual.
Sustainability underpins it all, from recycled materials and biodegradable mattresses to partnerships with local artisans and eco-focused brands. Magia de Uma doesn’t try to reinvent Bali, it simply reminds you why it was magical in the first place.
We’ve all been there: the “eco-friendly” hotel stay that mostly involves reusing your towel. Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West is aiming a little higher than that.
The boutique coastal retreat in Kep, Cambodia, has launched The Regenerative Stay: a year-long initiative that turns every booking into direct, on-the-ground environmental action. For all 2026 stays, Knai Bang Chatt will fund the planting of ten mangrove seedlings per booking, working alongside Marine Conservation Cambodia and local mangrove community members.
It’s simple. You book a stay. Mangroves get planted. The coastline gets stronger.
Mangroves are quiet overachievers. They protect shorelines, support marine life, and help coastal communities deal with the realities of climate change. Each tree planted through the program will offset around 308kg of CO₂ over its lifetime, meaning your holiday is doing more than just topping up your tan. Score.
The initiative builds on Knai Bang Chatt’s long-held belief that travel doesn’t have to be extractive. As founder Jef Moons puts it, regeneration only works when guests are invited to be part of it, not just spectators.
Partnering with Marine Conservation Cambodia ensures the work is locally led, properly managed, and rooted in real outcomes rather than good intentions.
So yes, you still get the ocean views, the slow mornings, and the Cambodian coastal charm. You just leave knowing your stay helped keep Kep’s coastline standing. And that’s a big win.
Sri Lanka’s Hill Country is about to get a serious upgrade in the “sit back and pretend your life is always this scenic” department. Enter Uga Ghiri, the newest Uga Resorts retreat, set to open in July 2026 in Ella. Perched on 10 acres of terraced hillside, the boutique property gives panoramic views of tea-draped valleys, distant peaks, and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge where you can watch trains chug along (wholesome AF).
The estate’s main house is a restored manor that somehow balances century-old charm with modern luxury, while 15 standalone villas each come with floor-to-ceiling windows, private jacuzzis, and design details that’ll have you calling an interior decorator asap.
Spa time is also serious business here. Uga Ghiri pairs Balinese wellness traditions with highland calm in two treatment rooms overlooking Ella’s peaks. Plus there’s a sauna, steam room, and that glorious feeling of staring at clouds while someone rubs your shoulders. In other words, it’s heaven.
Foodies and culture buffs won’t be left behind either. Guests can roll up their sleeves for Sri Lankan cooking classes, artisanal tea experiences, or guided tastings of Ceylon arrack. Adventurous types can hop on a bike along the Namunukula Ridge or join Rewild the Hills, a conservation-focused walk that makes biodiversity feel like the ultimate Instagram backdrop.
Nightly rates start from AU$1,795 AU which, considering the scenery and the jacuzzis might just feel like a bargain (sorta).
Queenstown has never been short on good views, but it has just levelled up its lounging game. Say hello to Coronet Ridge Resort, a freshly opened alpine hideaway perched above the Shotover River in Arthur’s Point – close enough to town to keep things convenient, far enough away to avoid the noise, queues and general chaos of central Queenstown.
Following a multi-million-dollar glow-up, the 41-room resort leans into what it does best: understated luxury without the attitude. Rooms are big, calm and beautifully considered, with warm timber, soft textures and balconies designed specifically for staring at mountains while ignoring your inbox. Entry-level rooms start at a generous 37sqm, while suites stretch out to 70sqm if you’re feeling expansive (or travelling with someone who takes up a lot of wardrobe space).
Food and drink happen at Elevation Bar & Restaurant, where Executive Chef Dominic Dsouza puts seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to good use from breakfast through to dinner and après-ski. There’s terrace dining for bluebird days, an open kitchen for dinner-and-a-show energy, and a Library Bar with a fireplace for winter nights that demand a decent whisky.
A Roman-inspired spa, hot tubs, squash courts, a gym and a private cinema round out the amenities (you don’t always have to ski when you visit Queenstown). And while the breathtaking Coronet Peak is less than ten minutes away, you could just as easily not leave the property at all.
Opening rates start from AU$650 a night, with a bottle of bubbles on arrival. Honestly, Queenstown’s new sweet spot might be staying in.
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