The first Soho House in Australia will open at 256 Crown Street, promising to be a new dynamic creative hub. Here’s what we know so far.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: C Valdez/Unsplash]

Soho House to debut first Australian location in Sydney

The new House will be located at 256 Crown Street, between Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. Found a short walk away from Sydney’s Oxford Street, the location will be part of the area’s revival from a historic thoroughfare to an exciting cultural and creative hub. The building redevelopment itself looks to offer a variety of both indoor and outdoor spaces for members across five floors.

The new announcement comes as Soho House prepares a week-long residency at The Old Clare Hotel for SXSW Sydney. During the week, the club will occupy the ground floor bar, main restaurant, and rooftop pool, providing international and Cities Without Houses members events designed to recreate the full Soho House experience. Happenings at the hotel include a Secret Sounds performance, dinner with British Chef Darren Robertson, and art installation with artist Paul Davies.

Soho House will also be hosting a number of industry events and projects, including partnering with not-for-profit Women In Music Australia to bring its Soho Fellowship program to the coastal metropolis.

“It’s possibly one of the worst kept secrets, but we’re so excited to confirm that we will be opening a Soho House in Sydney in the future,” writes Membership Director, Dominique Bellas. “While we don’t have more details to share at this time, we continue to grow our Cities Without Houses community in Australia and are looking forward to bringing our members a week-long Soho House experience for Sydney’s first South by South West”

Creatives currently residing in Sydney and Melbourne can apply for Cities Without Houses which allows members to make meaningful connections with each other in cities where there is no physical house. The membership will offer access to monthly local events hosted by Soho House as well as entry to Soho House locations globally. Soho House currently operates in 80 cities globally across North America, UK, Europe, APAC, Africa, and Latin America.

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Planning an itinerary for Australia? We’ve listed down unmissable destinations across Australia for you to include in your travel plans, from unseen wildlife to world-class cuisine.

There’s a lot to love about Australia. After all, this massive country boasts of gorgeous coastlines, unique wildlife, amazing foods, and some of the most memorable experiences any traveller can enjoy. But when you’ve got so many alluring gems packed into one nation, it can be tough to narrow down on the must-visit few. Fret not! we you covered. When planning your itinerary, make it a point to add these unmissable destinations in Australia to make it a truly fulfilling holiday.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Caleb/Unsplash]

Unmissable Destinations in Australia

Sydney

Think of Australia, and visuals of the iconic Sydney Opera House shining against the Harbour Bridge instantly come to mind. Proudly crowned as the largest city in the country, Sydney is the apt starting point for any traveller visiting the nation. Beyond the usual tourist hotspots though, the city is also home to many rooftop bars, theatre shows, and designer shops that add to its charm. For instance, consider unwinding over drinks at the Opera Bar after a mesmerising performance at the Opera House. Or visit Nelson Brewery Hotel, the country’s oldest pub brewery, for natural ales. Looking for something sweet? Head to Black Star Pastry and whip out your camera for snapping the Strawberry Watermelon Cake, a record-holder for being the world’s most Instagrammed cake.

But beyond culinary delights, this city in Australia also boasts of unmissable beaches. The Bondi Beach is one such iconic spot. The incredible waves here make this shore a surfer’s delight, while the many surf schools and equipment on hire help novice surfers get into the game. On land, head straight to Bondi Icebergs, one of the world’s most photographed ocean pools. Munch on poolside delicacies while soaking in the expansive Pacific vistas. With plenty on offer, Sydney is best explored on guided tours. Embark upon a Sydney Highlights flight to Shark Island to get an aerial view of the city’s splendour. Get an insight into the local Aborginal culture, one of the oldest living cultures dating back at least 65,000 years, at the Barangaroo Reserve; taste bush foods at Royal Botanic Garden, or even see the spiritual side of Sydney Harbour at The Rocks with Dreamtime Southern X. Irrespective, be assured to be floored!

Melbourne

When it comes to coffee, few places can upstage Melbourne. Home to over 2,000 coffee shops, this city in Australia proudly boasts of some of the most unmissable caffeine stops in the world. Think Ali in South Melbourne, Seven Seeds in Carlton, and Dukes Coffee Roasters in Flinders Lane, to name a few. At each spot, go beyond the traditional espressoes and flat whites, and sip on pour-overs, siphons, and cold-drip brews. Gin, too, is a favourite drink of the city. Innovative cocktails rule the bar menu at 1806 on Exhibition Street, The Everleigh in Fitzroy, and Four Pillars in Yarra Valley, among others. Foodies can sample the city’s offerings with the Ultimate Foodie Tour at Queen Victoria Market. This guided walking trail takes gourmands through shopping and cooking tips, fresh produce samplings, and a chance to meet traders from heritage-listed food halls.

Beyond culinary brilliance, though, Melbourne also wows with the Hidden Secret Tours that meanders through the city’s signature lanes, arcades, and photograph-worthy street arts. Sports fans can take the behind-the-scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and catch live matches, too.

Canberra

Canberra, Australia’s capital, is always brimming with excitement and experiences for all ages. When here, find yourself choosing from countless museums, national galleries, historical sites, and culinary delights. Begin your initiation to the city at the Parliament House where a guided tour takes guests through the Great Hall Tapestry, Senate and House of Representatives chambers, architecture, art, history, and iconic events. Don’t miss out on a visit to the LEGO Parliament House, an unmissable replica of the Australian landmark. This colourful structure, made using 1,52,690 bricks, took over 740 hours to build!

Between your explorations, squeeze in a visit to ONA Coffee, an Australian Barista Championships winner. Caffeine lovers will find themselves spoilt for choice. Think variations like single origins, espressos, milk-based, and filter coffee. If you’re visiting in the winters, head straight to The Truffle Farm Canberra for a guided tour of the prized fungi. These group tours, accompanied by dogs, come packed with foraging, live cooking demonstrations, and a six-course degustation menu to round the experience. By night, retire to the Jamala Wildlife Lodge. The Jungle Bungalows here feature suites adjoining to different animal enclosures. Sleep in the company of lions, sun bears, and other wild animals with only glass barricades serving as a partition.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is famed for its sparkling beaches, and rightly so. But beyond beach bums, this unmissable destination is also a magnet for adrenaline junkies visiting Australia. Take SkyPoint Climb, for instance. Located at Q1, the country’s highest external building climb at 885 feet above sea level, this spot commands 360-degree views of the coastline. For adventures a little higher up, get in touch with Gold Coast Helitours who pride in being the only operator in the country to offer tandem skydiving from a helicopter at over 10,000 feet.

Australian Outback Spectacular promises an authentic Australian Outback adventure, while Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub at Broadbeach assures world-class entertainment with four resident productions, swanky art-deco décor, and a five-star rating. Inspired by the original 1920s Spiegeltent and the NYC Cabaret Club district, it oozes first-class theatre comfort. After dusk, visit Miami Marketta which comes to life with global street food, free live music, and other ticketed events thrice a week. This night market–widely credited as the Gold Coast’s original street food market–offers visitors a laneway dining experience from around the world under one roof.

Related: All The Reasons You Need To Visit Australia And Say ‘G’day!’ To Its Many Wonders

This article first appeared on Travel + Leisure India.

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Listen close because this brand-new luxury could be on your next hotel stay to the harbour city of the Oceania. Capella Sydney now opens its doors to the unique heritage building that took years to renovate.

After a seven-year restoration and renovation process, Capella Hotels has announced that Capella Sydney will officially open. The hotel is also Capella’s first property in Australia.

Modern and luxurious

Capella Sydney occupies a city block near Circular Quay, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, making it accessible to all of Sydney’s best attractions and activities.

Housed within the Department of Education building, the property was initially designed in the 1900s by NSW government architect George McRae. With the expertise of Pontiac Land, the restored and reimagined legacy building has breathed life back to the prestigious Sandstone Precinct.

The brand new Capella Sydney hosts 192 appointed guestrooms and suites across nine levels. As with its sister properties, staying in any one of them is a luxurious experience. All rooms have been outfitted with deluxe textiles, standalone tubs, Italian Frette linen, and a bespoke collection of vegan, sustainable in-room amenities, designed in partnership with natural skin care and wild fragrance company Haeckels.

Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group, says: “[Capella Sydney] represents a significant opportunity for Capella to showcase its refined and curated offerings to Sydney and its visitors, and we look forward to amplifying the stories, culture and experiences of the city through a uniquely Capella lens.”

Art fills the halls of Capella Sydney

Upon arrival at the Farrer Place lobby, guests can marvel at the property’s collection of acquired and commissioned art. This ground-floor collection includes vibrant works by Australian artists Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread and Georgia Bisley, as well as Dutch art duo DRIFT, who are currently showing a massive robotic lighting installation.

Titled Meadow, the installation by DRIFT suspends in the central gathering space. This voluminous lounge area, now known as Aperture, occupies the original courtyard of the old building, acting as a core leading to various amenities.

Lush facilities and amenities

Capella Sydney offers two dining experiences – the charming anchor restaurant Brasserie 1930 and contemporary art-deco McRae Bar, which feature cuisine in collaboration with The Bentley Group. Furthermore, guests can indulge in rejuvenating treatments at Auriga Spa or swim in the 20-metre heated indoor pool on level six.

Guests also can unwind in the private ground-floor section, The Living Room, a signature space of all Capella properties. This space is also where culture and experience programs happen, facilitated by Culturists. They also personally shape the guest experience from pre-arrival to departure.

One such experience is a two-hour storytelling tour of a bygone era. Guests will head on a walking tour, which starts from the hotel to the laneways of The Rocks. Intriguing anecdotes and stories about the history of the Department of Education building, now Capella Sydney, and the Sandstone Precinct, are shared here, making this tour an enriching one for the whole family.

To celebrate the opening, Capella Sydney is offering this experience as part of the Capella History Journey package. This also includes overnight accommodation in a deluxe guestroom for two guests priced at AUD1,500.

(All images credit: Timothy Kaye)

Capella Sydney is now open and currently accepts reservations. It is at 35/39 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.

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Get ready to dance and party at the biggest circuit event in Australia. Swing by the main stage and see Bangkok’s own Tackthai as the first Thai and only Asian performer to grace the festival.

Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride came together to create a pride event like no other—a full-on festival spanning two weeks with parades, fair days, parties, drag performances, and many many more. You can attend the opening and closing ceremonies, listen to the human rights conferences, learn more about local cultures in the First Nations gathering, walk along with their Pride March across the Sydney Harbour Bridge—there’s simply something for everyone.

[Hero and featured image credit: Sydney WorldPride 2023/Facebook]

Tackthai to be first Thai and only Asian performer at Sydney Worldpride 2023

This year, the theme is titled “GATHER, DREAM, AMPLIFY,” acknowledging the original people of Australia, as well as uplifting all in the name of equality and inclusion. The festival is also developed in partnership with LGBTQ+ and First Nation communities to ensure that everything is as anticipated.

Much anticipated people at the event include Kylie Minogue, Peaches, stars of Drag Race Down Under Coco Jumbo and Kween Kong, and more.

Most importantly, it’s all about shining the spotlight on people of the Asia-Pacific region—and for Thailand, DJ Tackthai, resident DJ of White Party Bangkok and Circuit Festival Asia, will be representing on the main stage.

He’s certainly no stranger to festivals, and he’ll be bringing his iconic circuit music sets to the Domain Dance Party event on 26 February 2023. Tackthai will be sharing the stage with other DJs both local and international, as well as the legendary Kelly Rowland. The event also promises dancers onstage and surprise acts happening all around.

If that sounds like fun, you can find more information and ticket prices on the Sydney Worldpride website.

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New Zealand is ready to “welcome the world back” next month as stated by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. By Moyena Parikh

“Now that we’re highly vaccinated and predicted to be off our omicron peak, it’s now safe to open up”, she said.

Vaccinated Australians will be allowed to enter the country without the need for isolation or quarantine from 11.59 pm on 12 April. Visitors from 60 countries on the visa-waiver list, including Singapore, the UK and US, will be allowed entry from midnight on 1 May.

Travellers who already have a visa, but come from countries not on the visa-waiver list, will be allowed to enter New Zealand 1 May onward. As of now, no decision has been made on allowing migrants and visitors that require a visa to enter.

But all tourists will still need to provide negative pre-departure Covid test and take two antigen rapid tests within the first week of their arrival in the country.

[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Sophie Turner/Unsplash]

Details of New Zealand reopening borders

Earlier in February it was announced that New Zealand’s border would be open to Australians by July and to other tourists by October this year.

As of 16 March, the pandemic death toll of the country is 141, though the Omicron outbreak is increasing fatalities. But over 95% of people aged 12 and above are fully vaccinated and over 70% of adults have received a booster shot.

Opening up borders will definitely boost the island country’s tourism industry which used to be its biggest export earner before the two-year lockdown.

The end of border restrictions will also boost the supply of migrant labour, thereby reducing its wages and fueling inflation.

With this announcement, travel stocks received a boost with Auckland Airport gaining 1%, Air New Zealand rising 3.3% and Tourism Holdings rallied 0.7%.

“Reopening in time for the upcoming Australian school holidays will help spur our economic recovery in the short term and is good news for the winter ski season,” Ardern said. “I am proud that New Zealand is a country able in this moment in time to provide a safe place for our tourists to return to.”

This article first appeared on Travel + Leisure India.

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Australia is reopening at the end of this month. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning a trip soon.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the opening of the country to all vaccinated visa holders starting 21 February.

In a media briefing on 7 February, Morrison said that all double vaccinated visa holders will now be able to enter Australia.

“It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia,” Morrison told reporters. “Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on the 21st of February of this year.”

What did Prime Minister Scott Morrison say about Australia’s reopening?

1. Emphasis on double vaccinated travellers

“The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,” Morrison underlined.

“If you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” he said.

The Prime Minister informed the media that the National Cabinet took the decision based on the declining cases of COVID-19 and ICU admissions.

“We have been progressively opening our borders since November of last year,” he underlined.

According to 9News, the Prime Minister said that the planned programmes between Australia and countries such as New Zealand and Singapore have “proceeded very successfully”.

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2. A comment on Novak Djokovic case

While stressing on the double vaccinated clause, Morrison also commented on the deportation of Novak Djokovic following the ‘exemption’ controversy granted to the unvaccinated tennis star ahead of the Australian Open.

The Prime Minister said that Djokovic’s case “should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that is the requirement to enter into Australia”.

3. Hopes up for tourism industry

Australia shut its borders to the outside world in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic started spreading across the world.

The country gradually started opening its doors in recent months, allowing only citizens, residents, international students, backpackers, some seasonal workers and skilled migrants to enter.

Tourism in Australia, one of the major revenue earners for the country, has suffered greatly due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The restrictions had to be extended repeatedly as new and potentially more transmittable variants emerged, including the recent Omicron surge.

Earlier in January, Morrison expressed hope that Australia would be able to reopen completely before Easter.

According to 9News, around 300,000 people have visited Australia since November when restrictions began to be relaxed in a staggered manner. As Australia reopens borders, that number is expected to go up.

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Have you made plans for end-of-year travel yet? Sydney joins the list of countries welcoming fully vaccinated travellers from around the world.

Sydney will scrap all quarantine requirements for travellers from next month, officials said Friday, an abrupt step toward reopening Australia’s long-shuttered borders.

In a surprise announcement, Premier Dominic Perrottet of New South Wales said that from November 1 vaccinated travellers would be allowed to enter the state without quarantine of any kind.

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“For double vaccinated people around the world, Sydney, New South Wales, is open for business,” Perrottet said.

“Hotel quarantine will be a thing of the past. This is a significant day for our state.”

The decision was a head-snapping turnaround for a country that slammed shut its borders 19 months ago and introduced some of the world’s toughest Covid-19 restrictions.

But Perrottet’s suggestion that tourists and students could be weeks away from returning to Australia was promptly slapped down by the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison — whose government controls borders, while quarantine rules are a state issue.

“All we are talking about now is Australian citizens, residents and their immediate families,” Morrison said, insisting he would not open the borders to visitors just yet.

Australians abroad have been ‘stuck overseas’

Since March 2020, travel to and from Australia has been virtually banned and anyone who gains permission to enter must fork out many thousands of dollars and agree to be locked in a hotel room for 14 days.

The rules meant tens of thousands of Australians were stuck overseas and tourism ground to a halt. Critics dubbed the country a “hermit state”.

Perrottet — recently appointed as premier of Australia’s most populous state when his predecessor resigned in a corruption scandal — has been quick to put his stamp on the Covid response.

Regardless of mixed messages from state and national governments, airlines and the travel industry welcomed the news as a major step toward normalisation.

‘Fantastic news for travellers’

Flag carrier airline Qantas said it was bringing forward the resumption of international flights, putting on five flights a week from Sydney to London and four from Sydney to Los Angeles.

A spokesperson for Virgin Australia said it was “fantastic news for travellers, the aviation industry, and the thousands of businesses and communities in the state who rely on open borders and the economic injection that tourism provides”.

The last 19 months have been devastating for Australia’s tourism industry, with visitor numbers down 98 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to Tourism Australia statistics.

New South Wales’ plan is expected to allow more Australians to return, but is likely to lead to tensions with other states.

Under a national post-pandemic road map, borders were to gradually reopen in November, with only Australians and permanent residents allowed in with mandatory home quarantine.

Friday’s announcement raises the prospect that Sydney residents will be allowed to visit Paris but not Perth, given Western Australia’s borders with the rest of the country remain closed.

Sydney’s 100-plus-day lockdown lifted last week and lingering rules are gradually being phased out as vaccination levels for adults approach 80 percent.

Medical experts have predicted a spike in cases once restrictions are lifted, and have urged policymakers to move slowly.

This article is published via AFP Relaxnews. 

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In an era that’s dialled up a growing interest in haute cuisine, Taipei has steadily made its way to the top of fine dining destinations in Asia. The city’s Michelin-calibre culinary innovations are helmed by home-grown talent, and gaining much international acclaim. Shedding a closer spotlight on this, KOR Taipei set out to disrupt the course of modern drinking and dining, with a monthly KOR Social that pairs rare libations with five haute cuisine bites, by some of the city’s most acclaimed chefs. 

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The one-of-a-kind pairing bolsters its distinction by sourcing a different rare spirit for each occasion, which KOR’s mixologists use as a base to scheme up a round of specialty cocktails just for the event. They brainstorm the flavours together with a chef of the month, always from one of Taipei’s most revered dining rooms, of which many have since received Michelin stars (the coveted classification only entered Taiwan in 2018). After a tasting session, the chef then develops an esculent menu where each bite is designed to enhance the flavour of its corresponding cocktail. This way, guests can feel out the kitchen’s noteworthy creations but reimagined in a way that is elevated by the beverage, making for a more indulgent experience. This summer, we visited a KOR Social session, for a tasting courtesy of Kitcho, that was served alongside sake. Read on for our full review. 

[All images courtesy KOR Taipei]

Kitcho is the vision of Chef Kyo Hsu, who just retained his Michelin star for the second year running. From the way the food was prepared to the quality of ingredients and the flow of different courses, Hsu maintained the same standard that you’ll find at his Taipei-based restaurant — an under-the-radar sushi joint that seats just 15 people and flies its ingredients in straight from Toyosu Market in Tokyo (formally the legendary Tsukiji Market). Hsu is, in fact, one of the only Taiwanese chefs to be praised by his peers in Japan, such as sushi sensei Hiroyuki Sato from two Michelin-starred Umi in Tokyo. Regardless, for this event, he felt challenged by other factors like the environment, a greater number of guests, how the meal would be consumed, how to serve a dish in coordination with the hosts, and most importantly, how to pair it with the sake. “At KOR Social, we first chose the sake, and then discussed the dishes. Together, we brainstormed with the sommelier to set a direction, and then designed the menu to find the perfect combination.”

The little culinary bombs that graced our plates were built around the unique and versatile flavours of Japan’s most popular sakes, which ranged from special limited releases to those consumed at state banquets. The procession began with a subtle yet remarkable welcome drink by Phoenix Sparking, a sake named after Grammy Award-winning French rock band Phoenix. It was paired with octopus sashimi that played in unison with Taiwanese seasonal bamboo shoots, Japanese mountain pepper, and white miso. Next up was the second bottle from the Phoenix collection, a smooth and silky limited-edition premium sake. It was served alongside bonito that was smoked using a method that’s unique to Japan’s Kochi area and finished off with tangy yuzu vinaigrette.

Next came the Yamamoto Akita Royal Straight Flush, a sake that uniquely incorporates five Akita rice varieties and five Akita yeasts in one bottle. With it came a seemingly ordinary steamed egg dish that revealed a luxurious taste thanks to a combination of rich foie gras and decorative flakes of truffle. A nigiri bowl followed that combined a variety of seasonal seafood like shrimp, squid, and amberjack into a little pink universe, and was complemented by the flavours of Toyobijin Ichibanmato sake. The elegant and lightly citrus-y sake uses rice that is polished to 40% of its initial size resulting in a pure rice flavour. The final number resembled a Western-style snack but was Japanese to its core. Fresh sea urchin was married with bluefin tuna sandwich style, and served with Senkin Nature 4 sake. The orange-hinted sake started strong and finished with a mellow sweetness, reminiscent of the wooden barrels the sake was brewed in.

While this was all being rolled out, hosts Elroy Tay and Steven Lin steered patrons along the culinary course in both English and Chinese whilst in equal parts educating and entertaining. Both the chef du jour and the local distributor came out from behind the shadows to stand in the spotlight for a few minutes and talk to guests about the unique pairing process. The approach encourages guests to elevate their tastes, enrich their minds, and meet a few people along the way in a casual yet sophisticated dining style.

KOR has previously collaborated with chefs like Michelin-starred Chef André Chiang and his creative team at RAW, Michelin-starred Chef Yoji Tokuyoshi from TABLE, and Chefs Eric Liu, Hansong Cho, and Melanie Garcia from the hugely imaginative Gēn Creative. Featured spirits have seen concoctions by Islay Scotch Whisky, Yamazaki 18 Whisky, Louis XIII Cognac, Maotai Baijiu, and Crystal Head Vodka, to name a few. Through these extraordinary pairings and through story-telling and sharing, culinary vacationers are experiencing a whole new world of rare lifestyle indulgences in Taipei.

The venue itself is lauded for being Taipei’s go-to destination for sophisticated socialising. KOR recently took home the award for Best High Volume Cocktail Bar by The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. It’s also the only venue in Asia to take home the prestigious iF Design Award for its glamorous black, white, and gold interior design complemented by a custom-designed VOID Acoustics sound system finished in a shiny chrome gold. On Friday and Saturday, KOR turns into a what is best described as a nightclub for modern millennials (you won’t find a dance floor or any EDM here), but on one Wednesday every month, it’s transformed into an immersive, educational, and multi-sensory experience for a limited number of guests: KOR Social.

The next KOR Social event will be held on September 25th in Taipei and will feature champagnes by Pommery Champagne, cocktails by KOR Taipei, and food by Chef Xavier from Muzeo. Owned and operated by Taiwanese entertainment powerhouse theLOOP, the brand will also be debuting its first outlet outside of Taiwan with the opening of KOR Shanghai later this year. The KOR Social concept will also carry over to its mainland location.

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Margaret River has always been synonymous with Western Australia’s wine region. However, Margaret River is also at least a three-hour drive away from Perth City, which means more time on the road and less time enjoying wine. Too many visitors to Western Australia tend to overlook the fact that there actually is a much closer wine region to the city: Perth Hills. In fact, it’s so close that it’s only a 30-minute drive away from the city.

Perth Hills finds its home within the Darling Range and is home to many of the city’s best-kept secrets including wineries owned by generations of families, cideries, amazing restaurants, and cafes. If you look hard enough, you’ll be able to find wineries and cellar doors scattered all around from the Chittering Valley, to central Perth Hills, Bickley Valley, and Serpentine Valley. In fact, Bickley Valley is so saturated with wineries and cideries that it is possible to do a wine trail with over 15 places to visit.

One of the best ways to experience the cellar doors of Perth Hills is to either hire a driver to bring you around or rent a car and drive yourself around. However, there are strict alcohol regulations in the country and the staff at the cellar door will likely not offer you any wine should you be the designated driver. If you want to fully experience everything that the cellar doors have to offer, it’s best to hire a driver.

Now that you’re equipped with the know-how on getting around Perth Hills, here are several notable cellar doors and wineries you’ll need to visit during your time up there.

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New Zealand’s natural landscape is almost second to none. The lush greenery framed by a backdrop of mountains is a site that many gapes over, but not many realise that other than Hobbiton, this country is also home to more than several interesting hotels. These art and design hotels in New Zealand will amaze you, from its stunning architecture to contemporary art, and also art collections.

Do you fancy yourself as an art and design enthusiast? Then you’ll be checking in to the right places. Some of these hotels — such as The Lindis in Ahuriri Valley — are designed that they blend seamlessly into nature’s architectural landscape. If you were flying overhead the hotel, you might actually miss it because the building follows the natural undulations of Ahuriri Valley. Now doesn’t that reminds you of a certain Speyside distillery?

Closer to the city, hotels don’t have the luxury of real estate to be as innovative with their building architecture. Nonetheless, they make do in other ways with interior design and art collections. So/ Auckland hotel teamed up with fashion innovator WORLD’s Benny Castles to create a bold interior design, while QT Wellington — formerly Museum Art Hotel — features original artworks by local and international artists.

Now you see, New Zealand isn’t just famed for its natural archetypes, but also its manmade architecture and design hotels. Read on to see more art and design hotels that you can find around the land of the Kiwis.

(Images: Tourism New Zealand) 

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