Two Australian hotels have just made it to the world's 50 best
Plus, three other things Explore is loving this week.
The World's 50 Best Hotels have been revealed, with two Australian properties making the cut. One of Sydney's most elegant addresses, Capella joins the prestigious list for the first time, appearing at No. 12, while Calile Brisbane, which has appeared on this list since its launch in 2023, has been ranked 32 (down from No. 25 last year). Other hotels that have made it to the top of the list and are a direct flight from Australia include: Rosewood (No. 1) and Upper House (No. 10) in Hong Kong; Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River (No. 2), Capella (No. 3) and Mandarin Oriental (No. 7) in Bangkok; Raffles (No. 5) in Singapore; and Atlantis the Royal (No. 6) in Dubai. theworlds50best.com/hotels/list/1-50
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Explore's winning spree
Two Explore contributors have been recognised at the 2025 Australian Society of Travel Writers Awards for Excellence. Kellie Floyd's colourful account of Arkaroola in South Australia - published in Explore in March - is the Best Australian Travel Story Under 1000 Words; while Anabel Dean's highly evocative piece on a cruise through New Zealand's Fiordland - published in Explore in June - took home not one but two gongs: Best Adventure Travel Story and Best International Story Over 1000 Words.
Sky spectacular in Canada
Solar maximum - when the sun's activity peaks in its 11-year cycle - is unfolding around the world, making Canada a great place to visit this northern winter for northern lights, when the auroras are brighter, bolder and more frequent. Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Whitehorse in Yukon and Churchill in Manitoba are the three best places to go before March 2026 (when solar maximum peaks), or plan your visit around the Geminid meteor shower (from December 13-14) when vivid streaks are visible nationwide. travel.destinationcanada.com
Seafood by the sea
There are many great places you can devour the famous Moreton Bay bug but G'day Adventure Tours brand-new Sea to Table Experience on Queensland's Bribie Island is perhaps the most exciting new way to taste it. Explore the island in a 4WD and then on a kayak, before enjoying a seafood feast on the beach as part of the six-hour tour (from $179 per person). gdayadventuretours.com
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
Travel's Top Picks
Travel's Most Viewed
Hidden in plain sight: why this gorgeous town in NSW is my new holiday favourite
Australia's most loathed airport security rule is about to come to an end
Hazard on board: why airlines are cracking down on your personal technology
We've found the easiest holiday ever - no planning, no stress, just fun
The brand-new - and pocket-friendly - Sydney hotel that's turning heads right now
