Tasmania has been named ‘Best Island in Australasia and the South Pacific for 2026’ in the coveted Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
Tasmania is the only Australian destination to feature on this year’s Island list, while two Tasmanian stays also took out accolades in the annual awards.
Hobart’s The Tasman was named among the ‘Best Hotels in the World’ and King Island’s Kittawa Lodge among the ‘Best Resorts in the World’.
The annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are voted by travellers themselves, with more than three-quarters of a million readers across the United States rating their travel experiences around the world, spanning destinations, hotels, resorts and other travel experiences.
The Tasman Hotel. Picture by Sean Fennessy
“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,” said Sarah Kingston Clark, Tourism Tasmania CEO.
“Being named the best island 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.”
The Tasman brings Tasmania’s character to life through its award-winning architecture, heritage-rich design and celebrated food, wine and cocktail offering.
Home to acclaimed dining destinations including Peppina and Mary Mary, the hotel champions local produce, spirits and hospitality, combining international luxury with a distinctly Tasmanian sense of place.
Kittawa Lodge pairs luxury and seclusion with a deep connection to King Island.
Set across 39 hectares of pristine coastline overlooking the Southern Ocean, the off-grid retreat offers private guided adventures, wildlife encounters and in-house dining centred on the island’s renowned produce, all surrounded by its remote coastal landscapes.
The full list of Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winners can be found here.
Main image: Kittawa Lodge. Picture by Oscar Sloane
