The Olsen Hotel - Melbourne
Opened in 2010, The Olsen is a lovely city oasis on Chapel Street, right in the centre of the shopping and cafe action in South Yarra but wonderfully removed from the hustle and bustle. One of Melbourne’s three Art Series hotels - along with the Cullen and the Blackman - it showcases many original works by leading Australian artist John Olsen, both in the rooms and public areas. A massive canvas representing the Yarra River and its flora and fauna dominates the lobby area. This is a boutique-style hotel despite its 229 rooms and suites – and has two on-site restaurants; the casual Blue Bottle and upmarket Steer Bar and Grill, as well as a day spa. There is a gym and spectacular glass-bottom pool for those wanting exercise, while all accommodation has large flat-screen TVs, wireless internet access and kitchenettes. The beds are awesomely comfortable. Several of South Yarra’s best restaurants are but a short stroll away. The level of service at The Olsen is outstanding – the staff could not have been more helpful. Art lovers may want to book a tour with Art Series curator Jane O’Neill, who runs a selection of tours under the Art Aficionado Tours brand.
The Olsen Hotel, 637-641 Chapel Street, South Yarra. (03) 9040 1222. www.artserieshotels.com.au/Olsen
Pullman Reef Casino - Cairns
Want to get away from it all but keep active? Cairns’ revamped Pullman Reef Hotel Casino offers plenty of options. Situated in the heart of Cairns, overlooking Trinity Inlet, it has a range of dining and entertainment choices just a short stroll from the wharf where visitors catch dive boats to the Great Barrier Reef. Each of the 128 rooms features its own private garden balcony and spa bath, and there is a rooftop swimming pool and full gym. Charming rooms have a tropical ambience with plantation shutters, light timbers and plenty of space. The adjacent casino complex houses the Vertigo Bar, a popular spot for cocktails, and the Velvet Underground nightclub along with a range of gaming tables. The hotel’s signature restaurant, the stylish Tamarind, features an Asian/Western fusion menu and is regarded as a local “must do”. It is open nightly. Check out dishes like Vietnamese rice paper rolls, a salad of prawn and blue swimmer crab, or Penang duck curry. There’s a good wine list and the service, too, is spot on. Other on-site options include Flinders Bar & Grill and Cafe China while there is free computer access in the lobby.
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, 35-41 Wharf Street, Cairns. (07) 4030 8888. www.reefcasino.com.au.
Grand Mercure Mount Lofty House – Adelaide Hills
Grand Mercure Mount Lofty House is one of the best places to stay in the Adelaide Hills – and it’s just a 15-minute drive from the city centre. A landmark building with spectacular views of the Piccadilly Valley and its vineyards, the elegant country house-style boutique hotel is set in five acres of English-style gardens and has just 29 rooms. There’s a lovely pool area – the ideal spot to relax after a hard day of tasting - along with a floodlit tennis court. Several of the very comfortable rooms have spa baths and verandas and the on-site Piccadilly restaurant has a good reputation with new chef Girard Ramsey building an impressive reputation. While the gorgeous old hotel has all modern luxuries like complimentary in-room wireless broadband, sleek LCD TVs and an Italianate swimming pool – it’s the authenticity of the 1850s country manor that resonates with those lucky enough to stay there. Rooms are double the size of modern day hotel rooms and are furnished with comfy throw cushions, plush duvets, and opulent Victorian-era style furnishings.
Grand Mercure Mount Lofty House, 74 Mt Lofty Summit Road, Crafers. (08) 8339 6777. www.mtloftyhouse.com.au.
Shangri-La Hotel - Sydney
Sometimes it can be quite a treat staying in th heart of a vibrant for a weekend of indulgence – and you certainly can’t beat the quite extraordinary views from some of the newly refurbished rooms at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks. There’s a bird’s eye look at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and unobstructed views of the Opera House and the ferries moving in and out of Circular Quay. It is a quintessentially Sydney scene – one of the most famous views in the world. Within walking distance of most city attractions, the hotel boasts some of the city’s largest rooms – and all have water views. Altitude restaurant, 36 floors above the city, was awarded a hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and the Shangri-La also houses Australia’s first CHI spa. There are 563 rooms and suites in all, but service remains slick and friendly, making this a great base from which to enjoy a break just a few kilometres from home.
Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney (02) 9250 6000. www.shangri-la.com/en/property/sydney/shangrila
The Hotel Charles - Launceston
Businessman Josef Chromy is something of a legend in Tasmania; a penniless Czech migrant who made millions through smallgoods and started several of the state’s leading wineries, including the one that bears his name, which boasts a spectacular cellar door facility and on-site restaurant at Relbia, just down the road from Launceston Airport. His latest venture, opened last year, is the Hotel Charles in Launceston, on the fringe of the CBD and with many of its rooms offering views of the Tamar River. Part of a new complex on the site of what was an old hospital the building has an Art Deco exterior with modern, well-equipped rooms and apartments at sensible prices. On-site facilities include a restaurant, guest lounge, function/conference room (for up to 100 delegates), private dining room and boardroom - all with Wi-Fi/internet connections. Restaurant Esca specialises in using local produce when possible –think dishes like Cape Grim rib fillet, wilted Swiss chard, spinach and hand-cut chips.
Hotel Charles, 287 Charles Street, Launceston. 03)6337 4100. www.hotelcharles.com.au.
