Condé Nast Traveller UK readers rank qualia among the world’s best resorts

07 Oct 2026

Hamilton Island retreat takes No. 2 in Australasia and the South Pacific – the highest-ranked Australian resort in the category 

Hamilton Island’s private luxury adults-only retreat qualia has been named among the best resorts in the world in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking No. 2 in Australasia and the South Pacific and the highest-ranked Australian resort in the category 

With an overall satisfaction score of 98.58 per cent, qualia placed just behind Six Senses Fiji, with the regional top 10 also including Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, The Brando, Southern Ocean Lodge, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora and Longitude 131°.  

Now in their 29th year in the UK, the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards are voted for by readers, reflecting their experiences of hotels, resorts and destinations around the world. 

“We’re fortunate to have wonderfully loyal guests, so recognition that comes directly from the people who have experienced qualia means a great deal,” said Aron Farrell, Assistant General Manager, qualia. 

“What brings people back is the combination of privacy, intuitive personalised service and our place in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Every stay can be different, but it’s our team who make it feel genuinely personal. 

“To be ranked alongside some of the world’s most respected resorts by Condé Nast Traveller readers is something the whole qualia team can be incredibly proud of.” 

The result adds to a significant year for qualia, which received Condé Nast Traveler’s inaugural Triple Crown, recognising hotels that have appeared across its Hot List, Gold List and Readers’ Choice Awards since their inception. qualia also retained its MICHELIN Key for a second consecutive year. 

qualia was also recognised in the Condé Nast Traveler US 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, placing No. 7 in Australia and the South Pacific.  

Described by Condé Nast Traveler as “an island resort that’s so cinematic, it belongs in a Bond blockbuster”, qualia sits on the northernmost tip of Hamilton Island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Complimentary experiences include private beach drop-offs and guided nature walks. Dining spans Long Pavilion and Pebble Beach, while wellness experiences include Spa qualia and a bespoke collaboration with Fluidform founder Kirsten King. 

The full UK results are published at cntraveller.com/gallery/best-resorts-world-2026. 

For more information, visit qualia.com.au. 

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

About qualia 

qualia is a private, adults-only retreat on the secluded northernmost tip of Hamilton Island, offering an intimate expression of Australian luxury in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. 

Accommodation spans Leeward, Seaward and Windward pavilions, alongside Sunset Pavilion and two exclusive-use residences. Private plunge pools feature in the Windward and Seaward pavilions, while Sunset Pavilion offers additional space and self-catering facilities. Known for exceptional privacy and intuitive personalised service, qualia is designed around its natural setting and views across the Coral Sea. 

Guests have unique access to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays, including the iconic Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. Experiences range from Journey to the Heart and Cultural Island Discovery with Ngaro man Robbie Congoo to complimentary private beach drop-offs and guided nature walks. Cultural Island Discovery explores rock art and native flora through a direct connection to Country. 

Dining and wellness experiences include Long Pavilion, Pebble Beach and Spa qualia, with recent additions including Executive Chef Joshua Hingston’s Pebble Beach Collection and a bespoke, guest-led wellness collaboration with Fluidform founder Kirsten King. 

A member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, qualia’s recent international recognition and selections include Condé Nast Traveler’s inaugural Triple Crown 2026, MICHELIN Keys in 2025 and 2026, La Liste – World’s Best Hotels 2026, 50 Best Discovery 2026 and

Newsweek’s World’s Most Extraordinary Spas 2026. Pebble Beach and Long Pavilion each received an Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat in 2026. 

For more information visit qualia.com.au 

About the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 

The Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate the hotels, resorts, destinations and travel experiences rated most highly by the publication’s readers. 

Now in their 29th year in the UK, the awards reflect readers’ own travel experiences, with scores expressed as percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction. 

In 2026, qualia ranked No. 2 in Australasia and the South Pacific with an overall satisfaction score of 98.58 per cent. The regional top 10 also included Six Senses Fiji, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, The Brando, Southern Ocean Lodge, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, Longitude 131°, VOMO Island, Huka Lodge and Silky Oaks Lodge. 

About Hamilton Island 

Hamilton Island is Australia’s Tropical Island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and the only Whitsundays island with its own commercial airport, with direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The island provides access to Whitehaven Beach, Heart Island, Heart Reef and the wider Whitsundays. 

Accommodation ranges from qualia, The Sundays and adults-only Beach Club to Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and self-catering holiday homes. The island also offers more than 20 restaurants and bars, two spas, a marina and more than 60 activities and experiences. 

For more information visit hamiltonisland.com.au 

MEDIA CONTACT 
Caroline Denyer | Group Communications Manager 

pr@hamiltonisland.com.au | +61 433 995 947 

Images: Available here and Hamilton Island image gallery (registration required) or on request.