Add in two planned hotels – the edgy QT Parramatta and the high-rise InterContinental Parramatta (exact opening dates have yet to be announced) – as well as the new Western Sydney International airport, which will open in the second half of 2026 and is expected to become Sydney’s primary airport, and Parramatta is fast-moving beyond day-trip territory. —Ute Junker
Perth, Australia
Go for: revamped coastal and cultural hubs
Long overlooked in favour of Australia’s east-coast capitals, Perth, one of the world’s most isolated cities, is coming into its own. Licked by the Indian Ocean, Western Australia’s sun-soaked capital is known for its electric-blue beaches and laid-back lifestyle. Opening in late 2026, Perth’s first man-made ocean pool will be a game changer for this area, where the surf is famously rough and shark-prone. Meanwhile, the city’s vibrant cultural scene is evolving fast and ready to take centre stage.
The Perth Cultural Centre is undergoing a major transformation and is primed to reopen in 2026 with a fresh new look (the exact opening date has yet to be announced). Anchored by a central plaza, the precinct is being reimagined not just as a place to visit but hang out – shaded, walkable and alive with public art, bars, cafes and after-dark projections. Joining it is a state-of-the-art campus for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, featuring world-class rehearsal and performance spaces. While you’re there, catch the final days of WA Museum Boola Bardip’s “Terracotta Warriors” exhibition, running until February 26.
For a stylish stay, check in to Garde, a hotel within the historic mid-19th-century Fremantle Police Headquarters. Opened in September 2025, the hotel offers 83 rooms and suites, and houses Anglesea, a modern Australian restaurant already creating serious buzz. Over in East Victoria Park, Baillie Hill – a charming new cluster of restaurants, artist studios and a farmers market – opens in December 2025.
On the coast, Bert’s, a retro-chic revival of a 1950s beach kiosk, opened on City Beach in October 2025, just in time for summer. Nearby, Perth’s first ocean pool is set to make a splash in 2026, and if rumours are to be believed, the city could be home to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wave pool by 2027. —Sarah Reid
Port Stephens, Australia
Go for: family holidays with endless beaches and elevated new stays
Port Stephens still knows how to do a classic Aussie holiday: barefoot days, dolphin sightings and beaches that stretch on for miles. But nowadays, alongside the family caravan parks and takeaway joints, there is a crop of smarter places to bed down. Just two hours north of Sydney, this coastal favourite is now also a place where you can find a decent pinot or a boutique stay.
