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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
One of the Most Beautiful Island Chains in Australia Just Got a New Hotel for the First Time in 2 Decades
This resort is Australia's Whitsundays Islands' first new hotel in nearly two decades. Catseye Pool Club, led by Josh and Julie Niland, serves up a rare feat: family-style dining that's as fun as it is flavor-forward. From moonlight movies to baby gear on arrival, thoughtful family touches are seamlessly built into the guest experience. Located just five minutes from the airport and within walking distance to the marina and resort center, the hotel offers easy access to Hamilton Island's best. Guest rooms are thoughtfully designed with practical features like blackout blinds, a built-in bench that converts into a bed, and a mini kitchenette stocked with curated essentials. As an American expat living in Australia, married to an Australian, and now raising our two small children, I've come to appreciate a few cultural truths. Chief among them: Aussies take their holidays seriously (they'll think nothing of flying six hours with toddlers in tow). So when I heard whispers of a new design-forward, family-friendly boutique hotel opening in the Whitsundays—a group of 74 islands along Queensland's central coast—I was on the next flight north. The Sundays is a 59-room boutique hotel perched on Hamilton Island, the only one in the Whitsundays with its own commercial airport and direct service from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It is the first new hotel to open on the island since 2007, and it's already reshaping how travelers are experiencing the Great Barrier Reef—not just as a once-in-a-lifetime snorkel stop, but as the relaxed, kid-inclusive base to explore it all. Built on the bones of one of the island's original structures, The Sundays feels like the laid-back little sibling to Qualia, the famously child-free resort just across the island favored by the likes of Taylor Swift, Oprah, and Paul McCartney. The Sundays, by contrast, invites the chaos and the kiddos in, offering barefoot luxury, but with highchairs and baby monitors. It takes its name—and its attitude—from the best day of the week: slower starts, shared meals, and no pressure to do much of anything at all. Getting there was refreshingly painless. A short flight from Brisbane and, crucially, a solo one—I was part of the first group of journalists invited to preview the hotel—I stepped off the plane and into a postcard: turquoise water, palm trees swaying, cockatoos squawking overhead. The Sundays staff met me at the Hamilton Island Airport, collected my bags, and a seamless transfer had me from tarmac to check-in in five minutes flat. Technically, I could've walked—the island is that compact. Once home to the Outrigger Restaurant and Allamanda Lodge back in the '80s, the hotel has been thoughtfully reimagined by local interior designer Carrie Williams. The result is a space that feels both fresh and familiar, rooted in its surroundings, but entirely redefined. Sculptural stonework, natural textures, and sun-faded tones feel right at home in the tropics, while a meandering boardwalk connects guest rooms to the ocean. Inside, curved walls and airy, open layouts create a gentle flow throughout, while bespoke pieces by First Nations-Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg infuse the space with vibrant color and cultural richness. Every room includes either a private balcony or terrace that opens up to lush gardens or Coral Sea views. The Sundays is just removed enough to feel like a retreat, but close enough to the island's center and marina to walk (or buggy) everywhere. As Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling put it: 'The Sundays brings something truly special to the island—boutique escape that reflects the warmth and ease of Australian hospitality.' In other words: You can sip a cocktail in your swimsuit while your kid faceplants into a sundae, and nobody bats an eye. One of the hotel's biggest draw cards is Catseye Pool Club, the on-site restaurant helmed by culinary power duo Josh and Julie Niland (of Saint Peter and Fish Butchery fame). This marks their first foray into Queensland, and arguably one of Australia's most exciting culinary openings of 2025. Known for their fin-to-tail approach and Sydney's most ambitious seafood, at The Sundays, the Nilands flip the script with a menu that leans seasonal, crowd-pleasing, and delightfully family-friendly. 'I wanted to create family-style dining that didn't feel disingenuous, conducive to how a child actually wants to eat,' Josh Niland told me. For kids, that translates into build-your-own flatbreads with a selection of antipasti and charcuterie. For adults, the batter-fried wild fish tacos with bush tomato salsa and fermented pineapple hot sauce were outrageously good—more Baja than Barrier Reef. Breakfast is reserved for hotel guests (and very much worth waking up for), but the real magic happens between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. when the sundaes appear. I opted for a mix of all three options—Queensland strawberry, Daintree chocolate, and Cassowary Creek vanilla with soft cream, a waffle, and chocolate sauce for good measure. From the design to the details, The Sundays manages to fill a long-standing gap in Australian travel: a high-end hotel that welcomes kids without compromising on taste. It's not just family-friendly, it's family-forward, down to the very last sun lounger and soft-serve cone. And whether you show up with a stroller brigade or solo (as I did, blissfully), it's a welcome reminder that elevated doesn't have to mean adults-only. Here, everything you need to know about The Sundays. The view from the balcony rooms. I stayed in a balcony room that opened up to a direct view of Passage Peak. Compact but beautifully designed, it centered around a cloud-like king bed, which included a trundle disguised as a bench, perfect for children up to age 12. A small kitchenette was stocked with curated Aussie brands, a Nespresso machine, and a hidden microwave (ideal for warming bottles), along with a welcome gift of house-made rocky road candy. The bathroom featured a walk-in rain shower, stocked with Leif products, and a freestanding tub big enough for two (three, if one of them still fits in a swim diaper). Warm neutrals, tactile textures, and Herczeg's artwork kept the space feeling calm and elevated without overpowering it. Family Connect rooms offer interlinking layouts that sleep up to six, perfect for bigger broods. Behind the bed, a retractable wall revealed a generous dressing area with thoughtful storage: a wide bench for suitcases, deep drawers, hangers, and just enough extras: yoga mats, oversized beach towels, umbrellas, buckets, and spades. From Left: the view from Catseye Pool Club; the food at The Sundays. It's rare to find a hotel restaurant that feeds both your child and your inner food snob. At Catseye Pool Club, the vibe is relaxed and the menu is elegant but unfussy: dishes meant to be shared, passed, picked at, and genuinely enjoyed. 'We didn't want to make Saint Peter up here,' Josh Niland said, refering to his acclaimed Sydney seafood eatery. And it's not. Unlike Niland's more buttoned-up outposts, this one's full-on holiday mode. You can swim, snack, or settle in for a long, lazy lunch by the water's edge. Cocktails, which toe the line between elevated and playful, come courtesy of Saint Peter alum Samuel Cocks. On the plate, there are nods to the Nilands' seafood roots—BBQ Bowen line-caught coral trout and Tweed Heads Eastern rock lobster—but much of the menu is built for relaxed, share-style dining. As Josh Niland said, 'Each item is designed for the whole table, with all the trimmings.' Kids can enjoy grilled chicken skewers, fries, and a scoop of sorbet to finish. For adults, dishes like Berkshire porchetta and Bowen mud crab pies are flanked by bright seasonal sides that more than hold their own. For dessert, the flambé pineapple tart for two arrives theatrically, still warm from the oven, topped with a scoop of sugar cane rum ice cream. The pool of The Sundays hotel. Held twice weekly on the deck, the sunrise yoga classes are low on pressure and big on ocean views. If you prefer lounging to lunging, the pool at The Sundays is exclusive to guests and has daybeds, cabanas, mild water temps, and cocktails. The hotel sits just steps from the Hamilton Island Resort Centre, where The Sundays guests have access to tennis courts, a bowling alley, additional pools, a gym, and Spa Wumurdaylin, a wellness sanctuary that makes up for The Sundays not having its own wellness area. For the more energetically inclined, complimentary paddleboards, kayaks, catamarans, and snorkelling gear are available to rent. For something unforgettable, book the Journey to the Heart helicopter experience. The $1,400-per-person flight soars over the Great Barrier Reef's iconic heart-shaped coral formation before landing on a private pontoon in the middle of the ocean for a guided glass-bottom boat tour and snorkelling session. It's very Bond-fantasy meets The Blue Planet , and absolutely worth the price tag. I also joined a Cultural Island Discovery tour with Ngaro guide Robbie Congoo, which was a memorable experience in the company of someone deeply connected to the land. We cruised aboard a private vessel to nearby Hook Island, explored ancient rock art sites, and ended the day with gourmet canapés and drinks infused with native Australian ingredients. The Sundays make traveling with kids feel—dare I say it—easy. Evenings kick off with moonlight movies on the deck, where family-friendly flicks are screened under the stars with bean bags and popcorn. Just next door, there's a brand-new playground for post-breakfast energy releases and the Clownfish Kids Club, open to children aged six months to 12 years, staffed by professionals who make the AUD 80 rate for a half-day feel like a bargain. A full day is AUD 160 with activities ranging from face painting to wildlife park visits. To lighten your load (and your suitcase), The Sundays also offers a range of baby gear on request: portable cots, highchairs, diaper bins, strollers, and more. The building's bones were repurposed, and the hotel incorporates eco-conscious materials and systems throughout: smart cooling, energy-efficient LED lighting, and bamboo-lined ceilings. Even the tapware is locally made and lead-free. Accessibility has been handled with the same level of care. Three dedicated accessible rooms, a pool lift, and shaded, wheelchair-friendly cabanas ensure all guests can enjoy the space in comfort. The Sundays sits at the northern end of Catseye Beach, an arc of white sand on Hamilton Island. Located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, it's about as close to remote paradise as one can reasonably reach by direct flight from Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne (all under two and a half hours). The island is also a prime launching pad for two of the region's must-do experiences: Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef. For travelers coming from the U.S., the simplest route is via Sydney or Brisbane, with a same-day connection straight to the island. No cars are allowed on Hamilton Island, so guests can get around on foot or by buggy or shuttle. The hotel itself is perfectly positioned: just steps from the Hamilton Island Resort Centre, offering shops, cafés, and restaurants. While The Sundays isn't part of any loyalty program or premium credit card booking platform, there are still ways to unlock extra value. The Hamilton Island website is your best bet as it features offers and exclusive island-wide deals. You'll also find curated recommendations on where to eat, what to do, and insider tips. Nightly rates at The Sundays start from AUD 891/night ($577). Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
World's 50 Best Restaurants awards: Sydney's Saint Peter named in the longlist for a second year
For the second year running, only one Australian restaurant has been named in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist. Josh and Julie Niland's innovative fish-focused fine diner Saint Peter ranked at 66th place in the annual countdown from 100 to 51. It is a move up the ranks from last year, when Saint Peter placed at number 98. 'What an outstanding achievement,' wrote Josh Niland on Instagram. '[Julie Niland] and I couldn't be more grateful and proud of the superhuman efforts of the entire team … Alongside our own team, we celebrate the long list of suppliers, producers and artisans that make [Saint Peter] the special place it is.' The Paddington fine diner relocated from its original site of eight years at the end of 2024. It is now housed in the Grand National Hotel, a revamped boutique hotel also owned by the Nilands. 'Not every restaurant can legitimately claim to be spearheading a movement,' writes World's 50 Best. 'Yet this uber-cool concept from Josh Niland takes the great Australian seafood tradition to previously unexplored heights.' The extended list features restaurants in 37 cities across the world. It is compiled from votes by 1,120 independent culinary experts, including chefs and food writers. This year marks the first time a New Zealand restaurant has placed in the longlist; Queenstone's Amisfield Restaurant ranked at 99. The highest new entry in the 51 to 100 list is Mexico's Arca in Tulum, coming in at 67. Last month Bundjalung restaurateur and former MasterChef Australia contestant Mindy Woods won the World's 50 Best Restaurants' Champions of Change award for her contribution to community through food. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony will be held in Italy on 19 June.
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
JUST IN: This game-changing Sydney restaurant was just named in the World's 50 Best extended list for 2025
Saint Peter – Josh and Julie Niland's pioneering seafood restaurant, housed in Paddington's Grand National Hotel – has landed at 66th place on the esteemed World's 50 Best extended list for 2025, announced overnight (Thursday, June 5). That's a huge leap from last year's ranking at 98. Saint Peter – which showcases the best local seafood using a scale-to-tail ethos – is the only Australian restaurant to make the global list. I know there are lots of lists and awards flying around – but trust me, the World's 50 Best is the biggie. So: you beauty! The annual extended list of the world's 51–100 finest restaurants is decided by a voting academy made up of more than 1,000 global restaurant critics, chefs and restaurateurs. The top 1–50 list will be announced live from Turin, Piedmont on June 19. Josh wrote on Instagram: "WHAT AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. @julieniland and I couldn't be more grateful & proud of the superhuman efforts of the entire team — not just @saintpeterpaddo but @saintpeterbar @thesaintpeterhotel & @fishbutchery. Alongside our own team, we celebrate the long list of suppliers, producers and artisans that make @saintpeterpaddo the special place it is." In Time Out Sydney's five-star review of Saint Peter, I wrote: "Across nine exquisite courses, Niland celebrates seafood in all its glory, while championing sustainability with each convincing bite." Some of the courses might include: an exquisite and bright fish soup featuring noodles made from the bones of coral trout; a plate of fish charcuterie that turns offcuts into wine-bar delights; fettuccine-like calamari twirled through a bolognese-style tuna 'nduja; and line-caught blue mackerel with a sublime salt and vinegar sauce. As well as a lemon meringue tart of your citrus-laced dreams. View this post on Instagram A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) While the set menu at dinner is the best way to experience Saint Peter in all its glory, if you don't have as much cash to splash (it'll set you back $275 per person, plus drinks), you can order à la carte at lunch. Or drop in to the more casual – but equally excellent – Saint Peter Bar (and order the yellowfin tuna cheeseburger). And a huge congratulations to our Kiwi mates: Amisfield Restaurant – located in the picturesque Central Otago region, just 15 minutes from Queenstown – also made the list, coming in at 99th place. It's the first time a restaurant from Aotearoa has made it onto the World's 50 Best. Time Out tip: Amisfield is also home to an excellent winery with some of the most beautiful views I've enjoyed alongside a glass of pinot noir — add it to your next South Island road trip. Congrats to Josh, Julie and the whole team. You can see the full list of restaurants and find out more here. Bring on June 19!
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- News.com.au
Two Aussie restaurants named best in the world
The Australian dining scene has been recognised by Conde Nast Traveller as being among the best in the world, as two restaurants of our very own made the 2025 Hot List. Restaurateur power couple Josh and Julie Niland's innovative venue Saint Peter at The Grand National Hotel in Sydney has made the list of the best new or reborn restaurants. The 'nose-to-tail' seafood restaurant moved into the Paddington venue in mid-2024, an upgrade from its previously much smaller location on Oxford St. The Grand National has 14 luxury bedrooms within the boutique hotel as well as a walk-in bar for those who may desire a nightcap. Although in a new location, Saint Peter has the same ethos of making great food with less waste, with menu items such as Coral Trout bone noodles, and bone marrow fudge. Revolutionary Australian cooking born from our multiculturalism has also been celebrated, with Supernormal Brisbane another Hot List inductee. Opened by seasoned hospitality pro Andrew McConnell, who is also behind beloved institutions such as the Marion, Apollo Inn and the Gimlet, the riverside venue has an undeniable Asian influence that brings a kick of flavour to every dish. It is a sibling of the original Melbourne Supernormal but has evolved to reflect the riverside setting of sunny Brisbane. Classics such as the New England lobster rolls transferred to the new venue, but there has also been a plethora of new additions only available for the Sunshine State. Here is the full list of the best new restaurants in the world: 19 Saint Roch, Paris Acamaya, New Orleans AngloThai, London Arami, La Paz, Bolivia Clandestina, São Paulo Clara, Quito, Ecuador Banng, Delhi NCR Bar Vitrine, Copenhagen Bungalow, New York City Caleña, Ávila, Spain Ciel Dining, Ho Chi Minh City DÅ�gon by Kwame Onwuachi, Washington DC Esperit Roca, Girona, Spain Il Carciofo, Chicago Jan Franschoek, Franschoek, South Africa Jee, Hong Kong Kaia, Boston La Tapa del Coco, Panama City Le Veau d'Or, New York City Mr Panther, Lagos, Nigeria Notori, Mount Fuji, Japan OpenHouse, Kuala Lumpur Osip, Bruton, UK Rua Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda Saint Peter at the Grand National, Sydney Somma, Singapore Stüvetta, St Moritz, Switzerland Sufret Maryam, Dubai Supernormal, Brisbane TerrÄ�i, Hyderabad Vinai, Minneapolis Voraz, Mexico City Sunny's, Miami
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Perth Now
Aussie restaurants named best in the world
The Australian dining scene has been recognised by Conde Nast Traveller as being among the best in the world, as two restaurants of our very own made the 2025 Hot List. Restaurateur power couple Josh and Julie Niland's innovative venue Saint Peter at The Grand National Hotel in Sydney has made the list. The 'nose-to-tail' seafood restaurant moved into the Paddington venue in mid-2024, an upgrade from its previously much smaller location on Oxford St. The Grand National has 14 luxury bedrooms within the boutique hotel as well as a walk-in bar for those who may desire a nightcap. Two Aussie restaurants have been named best in the world. Credit: Supplied Although in a new location, Saint Peter has the same ethos of making great food with less waste, with menu items such as Coral Trout bone noodles, and bone marrow fudge. Revolutionary Australian cooking born from our multiculturalism has also been celebrated, with Supernormal Brisbane another Hot List inductee. The signature duck at Supernormal Brisbane. Credit: Supplied Opened by seasoned hospitality pro Andrew McConnell, who is also behind beloved institutions such as the Marion, Apollo Inn and the Gimlet, the riverside venue has an undeniable Asian influence that brings a kick of flavour to every dish. Spanner crab and hand-rolled noodles at Supernormal Brisbane. Credit: Supplied It is a sibling of the original Melbourne Supernormal but has evolved to reflect the riverside setting of sunny Brisbane. Classics such as the New England lobster rolls transferred to the new venue, but there has also been a plethora of new additions only available for the Sunshine State. The dining room at Supernormal Brisbane. Credit: Supplied Here is the full list of the best new restaurants in the world: 19 Saint Roch, Paris Acamaya, New Orleans AngloThai, London Arami, La Paz, Bolivia Clandestina, São Paulo Clara, Quito, Ecuador Banng, Delhi NCR Bar Vitrine, Copenhagen Bungalow, New York City Caleña, Ávila, Spain Ciel Dining, Ho Chi Minh City Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi, Washington DC Esperit Roca, Girona, Spain Il Carciofo, Chicago Jan Franschoek, Franschoek, South Africa Jee, Hong Kong Kaia, Boston La Tapa del Coco, Panama City Le Veau d'Or, New York City Mr Panther, Lagos, Nigeria Notori, Mount Fuji, Japan OpenHouse, Kuala Lumpur Osip, Bruton, UK Rua Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda Saint Peter at the Grand National, Sydney Somma, Singapore Stüvetta, St Moritz, Switzerland Sufret Maryam, Dubai Supernormal, Brisbane Terrāi, Hyderabad Vinai, Minneapolis Voraz, Mexico City Sunny's, Miami
