Sydney’s Capella hotel, which will welcome visitors from 1 March, is “what Sydney is missing”, said Nicolena Oborn, director of sales and marketing for the property. “We’re very excited to welcome a property at this level of luxury,” she added.

The hotel will comprise 192 rooms and suites housed in the original Department of Education Building, which was constructed in 1912.

Eight years in the making, the new hotel is adorned with 450 artworks by aboriginal and young artists, features a 200-metre suspended swimming pool exclusive to guests and houses Brasserie 1930, an Art Deco restaurant designed by Scottish architect George McRae serving farm-to-table fare.

Prices per night start from around AUS$600.

Discover Aboriginal Experiences has also announced it’s been working with operator partners to provide new trade-commissionable tours for 2023.

These include a Native Bushfood and Seafood Cruise and a Saltwater Cultural Tour, both lasting two hours, by Saltwater Eco Tours, which operates out of Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours is also new, with a Hands-on Country Eco Tour (three hours), two-day camping trip, and Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise (90 minutes) all options.

Meanwhile, after almost reaching capacity for 2023, Journey Beyond has launched its 2024 rail journeys for The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland. The Great Southern rail route, which made its debut in 2019 and runs from Adelaide to Brisbane, is also now on sale for 2024 with Journey Beyond.

This comes as Australia reports strong demand from consumers. As of August 2022 UK arrivals to Australia were up to 66% of where they were in 2019 and while initial demand was driven by the VFR market, holiday traffic is returning. In the same month, the destination welcomed more than 40,000 arrivals from the UK and Europe.

Robin Mack, executive general manager for commercial and business events at Tourism Australia, believes the destination’s continued success will be further boosted by the recently launched Come and Say G’day campaign.

“The campaign is aiming to get Australia firmly on the consideration list of the UK market,” he said. “Initially we saw pent-up demand driving arrivals but now early indications show the campaign is working.”