Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses is one of those rare stays that manages to feel both wildly remote and completely refined. Set just outside Kaikōura on New Zealand’s South Island, this contemporary country lodge is framed by the Kaikōura mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. And then there are the tree houses—yes, actual tree houses—elevated 10 metres above the ground and nestled in a grove of native manuka trees.
Hidden deep in the Marlborough Sounds—only accessible by boat or helicopter—Bay of Many Coves is the kind of place you come to truly disappear. No roads. No rush. Just a scattering of architecturally pared-back apartments tucked into native bushland, with every room angled towards the water.
Set on a 28,000-hectare heritage site in Far North Queensland, this all-inclusive luxury lodge sits in the shadow of its namesake mountain: an ancient sandstone escarpment that towers above eucalyptus forest, golden savannah, and sacred Indigenous sites. But what really sets Mount Mulligan Lodge apart is its stillness. You come here to breathe slower, to reconnect, and to experience the outback in a way that’s entirely unfiltered – with a touch of indulgence thrown in, of course.
In the heart of Perth’s historic Cathedral Square, surrounded by galleries, gardens and some of the city’s best restaurants, COMO The Treasury offers a quietly luxurious base for exploring Western Australia’s capital. Housed within a carefully restored series of 19th-century state buildings, the hotel blends heritage character with COMO’s signature calm — minimalist interiors, a tranquil COMO Shambhala spa, and service that’s polished but never overbearing.
Tucked away at the northern tip of Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, Qualia is the kind of place that makes you wonder why you ever put up with ordinary. This adults-only hideaway is all about stillness, space, and views that seem to go on forever — a salt-sprayed blend of laidback luxury and pinch-me moments.
Secluded, soulful, and surrounded by nothing but reef and sea — Lizard Island Resort feels like the edge of the world in the best possible way. Days begin with golden light spilling over the horizon and end with barefoot dinners under star-strewn skies. As the northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, it offers rare access to one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems — 24 white-sand beaches and coral gardens teeming with life, just footsteps from your villa.
Gili Lankanfushi is the ultimate expression of barefoot luxury in the Maldives, where rustic charm meets eco-conscious design. Set on a private island in the North Malé Atoll, this resort offers a truly immersive experience with overwater villas that blend effortlessly into the turquoise lagoon. Guests can expect exceptional privacy, with no more than 45 villas, many with their own private pools and direct lagoon access.
COMO Maalifushi is one of those places that feels different. There’s a stillness here that starts the moment you step off the seaplane — no motorised water sports, no over-the-top glitz, just elegant villas, exceptional food, and the kind of slow, healing atmosphere that’s hard to manufacture.
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