Halcyon House has earned a place among a select group of global hotels after receiving the inaugural Triple Crown from Condé Nast Traveller, a new distinction recognising sustained excellence across the publication’s three most influential awards.
The Cabarita Beach property now stands among a small number of hotels worldwide—and one of only a handful in Australia—to achieve recognition across the Hot List, Gold List, and Readers’ Choice Awards.
Since opening in 2015, Halcyon House has redefined Australian boutique coastal hospitality by transforming a former surf motel into a design-led luxury destination built around place, detail and experience.
A benchmark for sustained excellence
Condé Nast Traveller created the Triple Crown this year to recognise hotels that consistently deliver at the highest level over time, rather than through one-off accolades.
The award combines three benchmarks, including the Hot List for the world’s most exciting hotel openings, the Gold List for editors’ global favourites and the Readers’ Choice Awards, based on international guest voting. Together, they reflect both editorial authority and real-world traveller experience.
A coastal stay shaped by design, food and experience
Located in Cabarita Beach in the Northern Rivers, Halcyon House occupies a former 1960s surf motel reimagined into a 19-room boutique hotel with additional suites, each individually designed by Anna Spiro in her signature eclectic style. Rooms feature antique furnishings, fabric-lined walls, king beds and private balconies or terraces.
Food plays a central role at the property’s restaurant Paper Daisy, where Executive Chef Baxter Newstead builds seasonal menus shaped by produce from the Northern Rivers region and experience in kitchens including Noma Australia, Vue de Monde and Michelin-starred Ekstedt in Stockholm.
The broader guest experience extends beyond dining and accommodation, with beach walks along Cabarita’s coastline, cycling through the village and surrounding shoreline, and wellness offerings including sunrise yoga, cold plunges and spa treatments.
The hotel also highlights its coastal cocktail programme, which it describes as “Best Cocktail List 2025,” mixing creativity with regional character.
From surf motel to global recognition
Once a modest roadside motel, Halcyon House now operates as one of Australia’s most recognisable boutique hotels, shaped by a strong design identity and a focus on immersive, place-driven hospitality.
The Triple Crown recognition places it alongside a small group of hotels globally acknowledged for sustained excellence across both editorial selection and guest feedback by reinforcing its position as a long-standing leader in Australia’s independent luxury sector.
In a competitive international market, Halcyon House continues to stand out as a coastal stay built around design, experience and a distinctly Australian sense of ease.
