• News

    Coming Soon: Queenstown's New Lakefront Hotel Is Built for Snow Days, Spa Sessions and Sunset Drinks

    Queenstown's hotel scene is welcoming a fresh lifestyle escape that combines lake views and social spaces with more than a little deep relaxation.

  • Hotel

    Peppers Silo Launceston

    89 To 91 Lindsay Street, Invermay

    Four decommissioned grain silos on the banks of Kanamaluka/River Tamar have been reborn as one of Launceston's most striking hotels — complete with an award-winning restaurant from Tasmanian food director Massimo Mele.

  • News

    Lancemore Mansion Hotel Is Serving Up Gourmet S'mores (and Your Third Night For Free) This Month

    There are plenty of ways to relax at this opulent estate in the unexpected suburb of Werribee.

  • News

    Your Lombok Holiday Could Come with a Rafa Nadal-Approved Forehand When This Luxury Coastal Resort Opens in 2028

    This sprawling luxury destination will feature serious sporting credentials when it opens in 2028, including Southeast Asia's first Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre.

  • Feature

    The Luxury Traveller's Guide to Brisbane to Inspire Your Next Indulgent Escape

    From helicopter wine tours to luxury hotel stays, there are plenty of ways to live the high life in Brisbane.

  • Feature

    Your Essential Guide to Memphis, Tennessee

    Memphis is a veritable playground for music fans. It's not only the home of blues and soul music but also the birthplace of rock 'n' roll.

  • Feature

    Nine Luxury Experiences in Tropical North Queensland That Are Also Environmentally Responsible

    Head north for an eco-friendly escape that doesn't skimp on luxury.

  • Feature

    Into the Wild: Go off the Beaten Path at These Fascinating Regional Destinations

    Get out of town — literally — and do your weekend differently.

  • Feature

    Green Playground

    Tropical North Queensland is the destination that should be perched at the top of your responsible travel hit list.

  • Feature

    Taste of Tasmania: Discover the Delicious Charm of the Apple Isle

    Australia's island state boasts the perfect conditions for producing top-quality, flavour-filled produce — and an exceptionally talented roll call of passionate people doing spectacular things with it.

  • Feature

    A Southern Edge Road Trip: Follow a CP Writer's Ambling Foodie Adventure in Tasmania's South

    "While I love a scenic road trip with good company as much as the next person, this road trip truly rivalled almost every journey I can recall."

  • Feature

    A Northern Forage Road Trip: Follow a CP Writer's Tasting Tour Across Tasmania's North

    Proceed with an empty stomach, an open mind and a readiness to build a more meaningful relationship with what’s on your plate.

  • News

    Meet The Culinary Tastemakers Championing Tasmanian Produce

    Meet the passionate advocates and entrepreneurs who deal in flavours of the wild and tastes of terroir with the finest produce the earth and sea can offer.

  • News

    A Weekender's Guide to Byron Bay

    Where to stay, eat, drink and play around one of Australia's most-loved coastal towns.

  • News

    Gastronomy, Festivities and Frivolity: A Weekender's Guide to Adelaide During Mad March

    Heading to Adelaide for Mad March? Here’s how to spend a weekend during Fringe and WOMADelaide — including where to stay, eat, drink, play and wander.

  • News

    A Weekender's Guide To Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale

    Less than two hours from Melbourne, whisky bars, mineral baths, coastal hikes and a huge art festival await.

  • News

    A Weekender's Guide to Kangaroo Island

    The South Australian island's wineries, beaches, oyster farms and accommodation are as beautiful as ever.

  • News

    A Weekender's Guide to Queensland's Bundaberg Region

    Watch baby turtles hatch, swim at the Southern Great Barrier Reef, then sample award-winning local gin and rum.

  • Guide

    The Ten Best Hotels in Brisbane

    From resort-style pools and design-led suites to heritage stays and boutique hideaways, these hotels prove that a great stay in Brisbane can be as much about atmosphere as it is about location.

  • Hotel

    Grand Hyatt Melbourne

    123 Collins Street, Melbourne

    A Collins Street landmark since 1986, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne continues to balance old-world grandeur with skyline views, updated dining, and classic five-star amenities.

  • Hotel

    The StandardX

    62 Rose Street, Fitzroy

    Fitzroy's The StandardX boasts 125 luxury rooms, a rooftop bar and a contemporary restaurant with rotating chefs in residency.

  • News

    The Best Glamping Sites Around Australia

    Stay in luxury tents scattered among remote deserts, lush rainforests and tropical islands at these Australian glamping sites.

  • News

    Ten of the Most-Unique and Relaxing Stays You Can Book Around Auckland

    From sprawling rainforest escapes to chic inner-city lofts, Auckland's Airbnb game is set to impress.

  • Guide

    The 16 Best Hotels In Melbourne for 2025

    Whether you're vacationing or staycationing, this lineup of the best hotels in Melbourne will help you live your best life — fine restaurants, premium spas, rooftop pools and pillow menus await.

Travel

Get Concrete Playground's take on the latest travel news, events, places and trips
  • Travel & Leisure

    Buses Will Replace Trains on Some of Melbourne's Train Lines Again This Autumn

    Parts of the rail network will be closed throughout March, April and May in a massive construction blitz.

  • Travel & Leisure

    The Best Out-of-Town Events Worthy of a Road Trip This Autumn

    Get out of the city and visit festivals dedicated to potatoes, oysters and blues music.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Japan Might Soon Be Home to a Dedicated 'Harry Potter' Theme Park

    Taking over an existing 94-year-old amusement park, it'll feature 'Harry Potter' sets that visitors can tour.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Melbourne's Tram Network Is Gearing Up for Six More Strikes Next Month

    The Rail Tram and Bus Union is ramping up its strikes in response to failed negotiations with Yarra Trams.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Two Shipping Container Hotels Are Popping Up on Victorian Wineries This Autumn

    The Wine Down Pop-Up Hotel eco pods will make appearances in Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Rutherglen.

  • Travel & Leisure

    This Luxe and Leisurely Trip Will Take You Across the Outback on One of Australia's Oldest Trains

    It's the Spirit of Progress' longest-ever journey — after first carrying passengers back in 1937.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Atari Is Opening Its Own Chain of Video Game-Themed Hotels

    From the company behind 'Asteroids', 'Centipede' and 'Pong', they'll feature plenty of gaming — and will be designed to make you feel like you're staying inside an Atari console.

  • Travel & Leisure

    A Weekender's Guide to Bilpin and Surrounds

    Now's the perfect time to take a drive along the Bells Line of Road for summer fruits, garden walks and cute cabins stays.

  • Travel & Leisure

    The Top Outdoor Adventures You Can Have in California's Sonoma County

    Beyond this Northern Californian region’s reputation for good food and wine, there’s stunning and richly diverse scenery just waiting to be explored.

  • Food & Drink

    How to Eat and Drink Your Way Around California's Sonoma County

    Centuries-old wineries, award-winning restaurants and a dedication to keeping things local and sustainable — Sonoma County is the very antithesis of pretentious and glittery wine country.

  • Design & Style

    Why You Should Visit California's Sonoma County If You're Passionate About Sustainability

    The locals of this Northern California region are proving that living and travelling sustainably isn’t a trend — it’s something they’ve been doing all along.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Discover Sonoma County

    One moment you could be sipping vino from California's oldest winery. The next, you could be soaring through monstrous redwood trees on a zipline.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Melbourne Is Getting a New Hotel Above a Bunnings So You Can Rise and Snag

    A rooftop pool, 183 rooms and easy access to weekend sausage sizzles.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Five Nature Trails to Complete When You Visit Japan's Stunning Tohoku Region

    Head north of Tokyo to hike epic mountains, swim in luminous lakes and chase soaring waterfalls.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Melbourne's Tram Network Is Gearing Up for Another Two Days of Strikes

    The two four-hour, network-wide strikes follow failed negotiations between Yarra Trams and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Sydney's Old Clare Hotel Now Has Pet-Friendly Suites Complete with 24-Hour Room Service

    Your furry mate can relax in luxury with handcrafted bowls, a retro lounge, toys and free snacks.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Four Things You Didn't Know You Could Do on New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu in Summer

    The North Island's largest mountain comes to life in the warmer months with a high-speed gondola, spectacular short walks and dining options in the clouds.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Seven Niche Arts and Culture Festivals Worth Travelling Overseas for This Year

    If you're not keen on joining the crowds at Coachella or the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, these smaller arts festivals might help you schedule some travel plans.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Seven Things You Didn't Realise You Could Do in Japan's Tohoku Region

    Participate in an ancient mountain pilgrimage and become a sake expert in Japan's underrated northeast region.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Buses Will Replace Trains on Some of Melbourne's Train Lines Again This Summer

    Parts of the rail network will be closed throughout January and February to complete further upgrades for the Metro Tunnel.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Qantas Has Been Named the World's Safest Airline for 2020

    The Aussie carrier has topped the list seven years in a row.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Sugar Republic Is Opening Its First Sweets-Themed Retreat in Daylesford

    The rooms will be decked out with private ball pits, free candy and cherry-scented wallpaper.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Ten Must-Visit Places to Plan Your 2020 Travel Adventures Around

    It's time to hike through Armenia, sleep in a floating ecolodge on the Amazon and ride rollercoasters at a wind-powered theme park in Sweden.

  • Travel & Leisure

    The World's First Fully Electric Commercial Aircraft Has Completed Its First Test Flight

    The six-passenger seaplane took off from Vancouver.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Sweden's Ice Hotel Has Revealed Its Latest Batch of Frosty and Imaginative Artist-Created Rooms

    The hotel's 30th annual incarnation features a golden room, an icy kaleidoscope and a frosty depiction of Santorini.

  • Travel & Leisure

    All Public Transport Will Be Free on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve 2019

    So you can get to and from the city (and your family lunch) without spending a penny.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Qantas Has Delayed Its Decision On Direct Flights From the East Coast to New York and London

    The airline has chosen its preferred aircraft, but won't make a call on whether the flights will come to fruition until March 2020.

  • Travel & Leisure

    NSW's Cabarita Beach Has Been Named Australia's Best Beach for 2020

    Two inland beaches have made the Tourism Australia list for the first time, too.

  • Travel & Leisure

    A Heap of Flights Will be Cancelled This Weekend Due to an Industrial Strike

    Jetstar pilots, baggage handlers and ground crew will take industrial action over three days.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Cabn Lets You Stay in Your Own Tiny Solar-Powered House in the Victorian Wilderness

    Pack a book, turn off your laptop and escape to this solar-powered, secluded tiny house.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Australia's Airways Could Be Affected by an Industrial Strike Over the Christmas Holidays

    Jetstar workers have voted in favour of industrial action that could see see pilots, baggage handlers and ground crew walk off the job in the coming weeks.

  • Travel & Leisure

    A Vegemite Jar-Shaped Tiny House Is Popping Up in NSW

    Spend a night here and you'll be a happy little Vegemite.

  • Travel & Leisure

    This 'Game of Thrones'-Themed Cruise Will Sail You to the Show's Real-Life Locations

    It's planning to set sail in 2021, cruising through Iceland, Northern Ireland, Spain, Malta and Croatia.

  • Travel & Leisure

    The Great Barrier Reef Is Now Home to Australia's First Underwater Hotel

    Cruise the Whitsundays on a floating pontoon — and sleep below sea level.

  • Travel & Leisure

    The Grampians Is Getting an Epic New 160-Kilometre Multi-Day Walking Trail

    The hiking track will be complete by the end of 2020.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Melbourne's New Regular Commuter Ferry from Geelong to Docklands Launches Next Week

    With an on-board licensed cafe (for pre-work coffees and post-work wines).

  • Travel & Leisure

    A Snow-Filled Winter Wonderland Has Descended on Singapore's Changi Airport

    Head on a snow walk, visit a festive light show and a join a workshop at a market — all inside the airport.

  • Travel & Leisure

    You Can Snag Yourself a Bargain This Weekend with 30 Percent Off Travel to Tasmania

    Spirit of Tasmania is offering some serious discounts on travel for next year — and right in time for Dark Mofo.

  • Travel & Leisure

    Melbourne's Tram Network Is Gearing Up for Another Day of Strikes

    The four-hour, network-wide strike will follow failed negotiations between Yarra Trams and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

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