Luxury Escapes: Three dreamy hotels in Bowral, Singapore and Fiji you must visit before you die
From reimagined heritage stays to next-level island escapes, here’s what’s new in travel luxury.
ESCAPE TO BOWRAL
Bowral, tucked behind some privet hedging off the Hume Highway south of Sydney, is a cutesy town of former C-suite bankers and TV execs navigating a third marriage and retirement.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It’s a town that proudly sports a certain sense of Britishness — tweed, tea, a gentle touch of superiority. It also sells scones. And there’s likely one venture spelling things “shoppe”.
And that’s great. But what’s working to get ROAM excited is the anticipated reopening of the historic Ardour Milton Park Bowral — and insight into its new culinary offering.
Hordens Restaurant, as led by chef Mark Holland, will showcase refined, seasonal European cuisine alongside expanded views over the estate, with the reworked Polo Bar said to be a sophisticated all-day setting featuring a dedicated charcuterie room.
Ardour Milton Park Bowral — which will also hold a selection of boutique accommodation across 44 lavishly renovated rooms — is to open in early 2026.
See you there for a scone and some salumi.
URBAN EDGE IN SINGAPORE
There’s a discernible (granted, steamy) buzz about Singapore, led by the proximity to Australia and a city that covers a lot — notably a broad and exciting food and bar scene, rooftop pools, luxury hotels and experiences that encourage easy family breaks.
Adding to the allure is this month’s opening of METT Singapore — a multimillion-dollar redesign and refurbishment of a former neoclassical heritage building parked atop Fort Canning Hill.
It means “colonial charm with contemporary soul” as set within the lush, historic grounds, design work by Jeffrey Wilkes (Mandarin Oriental Singapore and Bangkok, among others), 86 rooms and suites, four dining venues (overseen by Michelin-starred restaurateur and chef Daniele Sperindio), pools, padel and pickleball courts, gym, Madison House private members club and a Longevity Suite where “biohacking meets holistic indulgence”.
HELPING HANDS
Six Senses Fiji has launched a unique new program enabling guests to aid local conservation efforts.
The ingeniously named Become a Coral Gardener initiative allows resort guests to add a meaningful touch to any sojourn by joining marine biologists in actively restoring local coral reefs.
The hands-on conservation experience, in partnership with global NGO Coral Gardeners, informs the property’s work in planting more than 20,000 coral fragments in underwater nurseries surrounding Malolo Island since December 2023.
