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Call of the wild
Family-founded experiences group, RealNZ, has released a brand-new Milford Sound Business Class product that allows you to visit Fjordland in a previously unheard-of level of luxury. Guests can sail through ancient landscapes, hear stories passed down through generations and savour a chef-curated tasting menu that captures the wild essence of the region.
Milford Sound Business Class offers guests one of the most luxurious ways to see this wild frontier.
They are collected from their accommodation in custom Mercedes X-Clusive with bespoke touches such as wellness shots and woollen blankets. The first stop is the exclusive Milford Sound Business Class Lounge in Te Anau for coffee and morning tea, before continuing to Milford Sound. There, guests board the newly remodelled MV Sinbad, which has been transformed into an intimate floating restaurant.
The onboard menu is the passion project of Michelin-trained, award-winning New Zealand chef, Tom Hishon. Tom is the co-founder of sustainable seafood restaurant kingi, DAILY BREAD bakery and conservation-led wild food company WithWild. Dubbed “A Taste of Murihiku”, his menu champions the best Southland has to offer.
“The menu was inspired by the natural elements of Southland and my connection to the land,” says Tom. “It celebrates the region’s natural beauty through the selection of key produce and the expression on the plate, whether it be wapiti/elk from the mountains of Fiordland National Park, tĪtĪ from the remote Mutton Bird Islands, freshwater eel from the braided rivers of the Southland Plains, or sustainably farmed blackfoot pāua grown in the cold, clean waters from the Foveaux Strait in Bluff.”
The Mulberry Group to launch five new venues inside new Hannah St Hotel in Melbourne
Hannah St Hotel, one of Melbourne’s most anticipated openings, has announced five new hospitality venues in collaboration with The Mulberry Group. The partnership will see The Mulberry Group operate five distinct spaces under one roof, each designed to reflect Melbourne’s layered food culture. From morning coffee runs to late-night soundtracks, these venues will be seamlessly woven into the rhythm of the hotel and the city beyond.
The line-up of venues includes:
- Hannah St Coffee: A hole-in-the-wall café serving Melbourne-made Square One Coffee, alongside fresh pastries, warm cinnamon scrolls and savoury bites.
- Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar: A produce-led, European-inspired neighbourhood bistro, open from early breakfasts to late suppers.
- Terrace Lounge: A rooftop space overlooking Southbank, serving lunch by day and cocktails with live music by night.
- Bar Hannah: A reimagined take on the classic hotel lobby bar — a space for locals and hotel guests that transforms into a plush cocktail bar with bar snacks and a curated wine list.
- The Carriage Lounge: A destination for aperitifs, digestifs and everything in between, designed to feel like an elegant private living room.
Nathan Toleman, founder of The Mulberry Group, says, “From a young age, I’ve been obsessed with hotels – the excitement of checking in, exploring every corner, and discovering the magic of each space… With Hannah St, we wanted to capture that same sense of wonder and excitement, but with a Melbourne heartbeat. A place that feels alive, authentic, and inclusive – not just for travellers, but for locals too.”
The 188-key Hannah St Hotel is slated to open this summer and is the latest project from acclaimed interior architect David Flack and his award-winning Melbourne studio. The hotel forms part of the landmark Queensbridge precinct, an initiative set to revitalise Melbourne’s Southbank.
Key to success: Brisbane’s The Calile Hotel scores Michelin honour
Brisbane’s already popular luxury hotel The Calile Hotel has been awarded One Key in The Michelin Guide’s inaugural global Key award ceremony in Paris. The hotel is among the first in Australia to receive the prestigious accolade that is awarded to “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.”
The hotel equivalent of the famous Michelin restaurant Star, with Three Keys also the highest level that can be achieved, the Keys were introduced in 2024 but limited to 15 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. The 2025 Michelin Keys have now expanded to encompass every region — honouring the world’s most outstanding hotels in its first-ever global Key reveal.
In Paris to accept the award, co-owner of The Calile Hotel Catherine Malouf said it was an honour to be among the first to be included in the expansion into new regions. “To have been awarded a Michelin Key in this inaugural ceremony marks a significant affirmation of The Calile’s place on the global hotel industry stage and reflects the dedication of our team, our collaborators, and our loyal guests,“ she said.
Some of Australia’s other recipients of Michelin Key recognition include The EVE Hotel (Sydney) and The Interlude (Melbourne).
Doing it for the kids: new Anantara kids’ spaces
Family-friendly resort, and The White Lotus star, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, has revealed a range of immersive new spaces to keep the kids entertained.
With its position on Koh Samui’s Bophut Beach, a short walk from the buzzing local fishing village and a range of F&B, this Anantara resort has always been popular with families. The Bill Bensley-designed gardens enhance the tranquil setting, and now a series of new creative spaces for young VIPs mean there is even more to do for young travellers.
The newly renovated Tree House Kids’ Club offers a great base for arts, crafts, cooking and beach adventures like palm leaf fishing treasure hunts. Meanwhile, older kids will love the Lounge Active Zone, a dynamic space that offers Thai boxing, local language lessons and body alignment workshops.
These new kids getaways mean that there is more time for adults to play. The award-winning Anantara Spa – the very same one that the guests of The White Lotus season three relax and do yoga in – offers six standalone treatment suites and a lotus-inspired massage that will have you feeling like a TV star. Kids can also get in on the spa fun with the Little Prince Massage and Little Princess Party.
Smooth flying: Emirates makes air travel easier for all
Emirates has unveiled a suite of new services and products for people with disabilities at the 7th edition of AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai World Trade Centre. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for inclusivity starts with access to the relevant information, so Emirates new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on emirates.com aims to fix this with access to accessibility requirements enabling customers to plan their journey by specific need.
Customers can choose to options like Mobility Assistance, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Hidden Disabilities. They can also break down the information for different parts of the journey like: Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai and Arriving in Dubai.
Onboard, Emirates is offering a range of sensory products and fidget toys for customers of all ages in all cabin classes, from November 1 2025. Sensory products and fidget toys are recognised for their ability to offer controlled stimulation for neurodivergent minds. On Emirates latest aircraft, the Airbus A350-900, a new user interface on ice – the Emirates inflight entertainment system – has been designed in partnership with Thales and advocacy groups for customers with visual impairment, to ensure all customers have an intuitive, high quality inflight entertainment experience.
Who’s cooking? Hilton exclusive chef and bar residencies
From now until early 2026, Hilton Asia Pacific is debuting a series of six exclusive chef residencies and bar takeovers, spotlighting talent recognised by the Michelin Guide, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
“Food and beverage is such a powerful form of storytelling, and at Hilton, we’re proud to champion our chefs, bartenders, and the creative forces shaping the future of food and drink,” says Marvin Alballi, vice president, Food & Beverage, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “With so much talent across the region, every collaboration amongst our own chefs and with celebrated chefs and mixologists brings our team and guests a range of fun and novel experiences.”
Highlights include guest chef residencies with Chef Zor Tan of Born Singapore at Hilton Tokyo and Chef Kelvin Cheung of Jun Dubai at Hilton Sydney. Bar takeovers will feature Yokoboku at Waldorf Astoria Osaka as well as Night Hawk and Bar Benfiddich at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
One of the first examples of the new takeovers was when celebrated Dubai-based Singaporean chef Reif Othman (pictured above) brought his award-winning concept REIF Japanese Kushiyaki (MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, No.47) to Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. Guests experienced his signature flame-grilled skewers, Wagyu Katsu Sando and Truffle Udon with Tiramisu Boba, in a month-long residency featuring live outdoor grilling.
Play time: AGNSW unveils “anarchic” new installation
This October, Sydney-based artist Mike Hewson transforms the Nelson Packer Tank at the Art Gallery of New South Wales into a wildly inventive art park in a new installation, Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat.
The first solo art museum presentation by the New Zealand-born artist, sculptor and playground-maker, The Key’s Under the Mat converts the Tank into a combined park, play space and even construction site – an anarchic sculptural neighbourhood where visitors can meet, dwell, play, make, perform and explore.
“Mike Hewson is a disruptor, continually testing the edges of possibility and reimagining the Art Gallery as a site where boundaries dissolve and where art can unfold in ways once thought impossible in an art museum,” says Art Gallery of New South Wales director Maud Page. “We have embraced his vision without hesitation and are sure visitors of all ages will too.”
Feature image: Hannah St Hotel, supplied.
