01-05-2025
A surprising regional gem just claimed the title of Australia's best hotel for 2025
Australia's highest-rated hotel isn't in Sydney or Melbourne – or even Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast or any major city, for that matter. It's tucked away in Orange, a charming regional gem in New South Wales known for its fine wine, fresh air and stunning scenery.
The ranking comes straight from millions of real travellers who voted in Tripadvisor's 2025 Travellers' Choice: Best of the Best Hotel Awards. These annual awards spotlight properties that received the highest number of "above-and-beyond" customer reviews across the platform's 1.6 million listings over the past 12 months, and also rank the best in categories, including luxury, boutique, B&Bs, family-friendly, pet-friendly and all-inclusive.
Leading the way as Australia's highest-rated overall hotel is Quest Orange, which currently has a stellar 4.9-star rating from more than 440 reviews. Time Out Sydney's Food & Drink Editor, Avril Treasure, recently stayed at this regional gem during Orange Food Week – Australia's longest-running regional food festival – and gave it her stamp of approval.
Treasure says, 'Quest Orange has 77 room options, ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments – making it an ideal and affordable option whether you're travelling solo for fun or work, on a friend's trip, or away with the gang on a family holiday.
'It's walking distance to the centre of town, so the only driving you'll need to do is to the nearby wineries. Got a furry best friend? Quest also lets you bring your dog – just be sure to let them know when booking. As well as the modern, clean and light-filled rooms, I'm also a fan of the complimentary fruit and tea on arrival.'
(Heading to Orange? We recommend hitting up Hey Rosey – winner of Time Out Sydney's Best Destination Award 2025 – while you're there.)
Australia's second-highest-rated hotel in the Tripadvisor awards is the spectacular MACq01, which sits on prime real estate in Hobart's stunning waterfront district. It boasts an impressive 4.8-star rating from more than 3,200 reviews, and I also awarded it five stars after my stay in mid-2024.
MACq 01 is proud to be Australia's first 'storytelling' hotel and immerses you in its narrative from the moment you arrive. The hotel's 114 rooms and suites are each named after a prominent Tasmanian personality, sharing stories of Hobart's colourful past to the present day. Guests particularly love MACq 01's seafood-focused Old Wharf Restaurant and award-winning Evolve Spirits Bar, which doubles as a fascinating fossil museum.
Rounding out the top three was The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove, which was recently crowned the country's top luxury hotel in the Australian Tourism Awards. It was also voted Tripadvisor's best hotel in Australia and the South Pacific in 2024.
Want to see which other Aussie hotels cracked the top 25 this year? Check out the full Australian list below, or browse through the other categories here.
These are the 25 best hotels in Australia, according to TripAdvisor
Quest Orange, NSW
MACq 01 Hotel, TAS
The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove, QLD
Quest South Perth Foreshore, WA
Mount Lofty House and Estate Adelaide Hills, SA
Emporium Hotel South Bank, QLD
Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Island, NSW
Quest Perth Ascot, WA
Treasury On Collins, VIC
Royal Mail Hotel, VIC
Quest North Sydney, NSW
Zagame's House, VIC
Kingsford Smith Motel, QLD
Black Gold Motel, NSW
Quest on Dorcas, VIC
The Henry Jones Art Hotel, TAS
Deco Hotel Canberra, ACT
Goonoo Goonoo Station, VIC
Laneways By Ovolo, VIC
Avani Broadbeach Gold Coast Residences, QLD
Quest Bella Vista, NSW
East Hotel, ACT
Quest Echuca, VIC
Element on Coolum Beach, QLD
The Grace Sydney, NSW
