Australasia and South Pacific Celebrate Tasmania as 2026 Best Island Honours Extend to Hobart and King Island

Tasmania has made it to the Best Islands in Australasia and the South Pacific list in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026. This destination is one of the most popular places among the world’s most influential travel magazines. It means that Tasmania is one of the most desirable masterpieces created by nature and offered to be explored by modern travellers. This island is famed for its opportunities to enjoy nature and unique luxury experiences. By winning this prize, Tasmania also managed to score two other categories: the Best Hotels in the World and the Best Resorts in the World. The awards included Hobart’s The Tasman Hotel and King Island’s Kittawa Lodge.

It was one of only two Australian islands included in this year’s ranking. Tasmania’s accommodation sector also earned international recognition, with Hobart’s The Tasman listed among the Best Hotels in the World, while Kittawa Lodge on King Island was named among the Best Resorts in the World.

The annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by travellers, with more than 750,000 readers across the United States sharing ratings based on their own travel experiences. The awards cover destinations, hotels, resorts and a wide range of other tourism experiences around the world.

Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark said: “What makes this recognition so special is that it comes from travellers who have walked our coastlines, eaten at our tables and experienced Tasmania first-hand.

“Being ranked among the best islands in Australasia and the South Pacific shows just how strongly Tasmania resonates with travellers, while the recognition for The Tasman and Kittawa Lodge speaks to the quality and character of the experiences they can have when they get here.

“From our landscapes and produce to our people and the places they’ve created, there’s a distinctly Tasmanian way of doing things that stays with people long after they leave, and these Readers’ Choice Awards are a testament to that.”

Recognised among the Best Hotels in the World, The Tasman showcases Tasmania through a blend of striking architecture, heritage-inspired interiors and a strong focus on local food and drink. The Hobart property combines high-end hospitality with a clear sense of place, drawing on Tasmanian produce, regional wines and locally crafted spirits. Its dining venues, including Peppina and Mary Mary, further strengthen the hotel’s connection to the destination by placing local flavours and contemporary Tasmanian hospitality at the centre of the guest experience.

Also named among the Best Resorts in the World, Kittawa Lodge delivers a private and immersive stay on King Island. Spread across 96 acres of unspoilt coastal land overlooking the Southern Ocean, the off-grid retreat is designed around seclusion, nature and locally rooted experiences. Guests can take part in private guided activities, wildlife encounters and in-house dining built around King Island’s celebrated produce, all while staying surrounded by dramatic coastal scenery and the island’s remote natural environment.