The Ritz-Carlton, Perth

This ritzy, five-star stay is set on the banks of Perth’s calming Swan River, but trust us, you’ll never want to actually leave the hotel. The lobby is as impressive as any Australian art gallery, featuring 10,000 pieces of Kimberley sandstone and dried native plants displayed in large earthy pots. Natural light sprawls through the floor-to-ceiling windows, with each of the 205 guest rooms and suites offering stunning vistas of the city, river and surrounding parklands.

Time Out tip: Watch the sun dip below the river from a sun lounger, perched by the fifth-floor infinity-edge pool.