French connection: Sofitel’s luxe Trans-Tasman triangle

Three cities, three distinct stays – this stylish Sofitel circuit between Sydney, Auckland and Wellington brings Parisian poise to the Pacific, blending heritage, harbour views and boutique charm in one seamless journey

For the well-heeled traveller with a taste for refinement, Sofitel offers more than just a place to rest your head. Sofitel’s tri-city itinerary offers a polished path across the Tasman that feels both curated and connected – where French art de vivre meets the distinct spirit of the Pacific.

From Sydney’s sandstone icons to Auckland’s waterfront calm and Wellington’s artful energy, each Sofitel property across the Pacific carries the brand’s signature French style – but with just enough local flavour to make it feel rooted, not replicated.

This is high-end hospitality with a sense of place: where duck confit meets pāua, where Haussmannian design rubs shoulders with New Zealand woodgrain, and where every check-in greets you not just with a smile, but with a perfectly placed macaron.

Sydney: A grand hotel with heritage grace

The adventure begins in Sydney, where the iconic Sofitel Sydney Wentworth delivers timeless elegance in the beating heart of the city. As Sydney’s first international five-star hotel, this heritage-listed property fuses classic French hospitality with Australian sophistication.

Opened in 1966, the hotel’s tiered sandstone curves remain a landmark in the city’s legal and financial district. But a recent refurbishment has recharged this classic, pairing mid-century bones with soft, modern elegance.

The newly updated rooms embrace understated luxury – think MyBed bedding, tea-infused turndown service and curtains drawn just-so. Meanwhile, Club Millésime access adds a layer of exclusivity for Accor Live Limitless (ALL) elite members, including canapes and champagne as the day ends and a private breakfast spread as it begins.

Beyond the lobby’s candle-lighting ritual and signature Sofitel scent, the hotel offers seamless access to Sydney’s cultural icons: the Art Gallery of NSW, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, luxury boutiques and harbourfront fine dining. It’s the hotel itself, however, that invites you to indulge at your own pace.

At the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, dining is a tale of two cuisines. At one-hatted restaurant Tilda, the menu leans local, spotlighting seasonal Australian ingredients in unfussy, elegant dishes. The bread-and-butter service is a highlight, served tableside with accompaniments of cultured butter, macadamia, buffalo ricotta, wildflower honey and wattleseed. Other standouts range from delicate spanner crab capelli to dry-aged duck with endive and native Australian muntries. End your meal with a cocktail at Tilda Bar, where martinis are stirred not shaken by a dapper mixologist with a roving trolley.

Meanwhile, Delta Rue offers an inventive take on Vietnamese French fare, reinterpreting classics like bánh xèo and duck confit through a contemporary lens. It’s a bold pairing that mirrors the city itself – dynamic, diverse and always evolving.

Auckland: Harbour views and Parisian poise

A short flight across the ditch lands you at the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, an urban oasis where marina views and resort-style relaxation redefine waterfront luxury. The low-slung building offers a gentle counterpoint to Auckland’s vertical skyline, with an atmosphere that oozes quiet sophistication.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the marina indoors, while soft lighting and organic textures create a calming, almost coastal feel. Rooms and suites are generously sized, many with balconies that overlook the yacht-lined harbour. More water awaits at the serene spa and indoor lap pool, the former favouring targeted products by prestigious French brand, Biologique Recherche, global British skincare, Elemis, and New Zealand brand, Nellie Tier. Dining, too, is focused on capturing place with global overtures.

At La Marée, French culinary artistry meets the best of New Zealand’s seasonal produce: Ōra King salmon, Coastal spring lamb loin, Pan-seared scallops. Service is polished yet personal – and yes, every “bonjour” is paired with a Kiwi “kia ora.” The sun drenches waterfront bar Grape & Olive, meanwhile. This is the ideal perch to order a spritz or glass of wine, paired with tapas plates and light bites like freshly shucked oysters and truffle fries. 

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour is a retreat, but also a launchpad – ideal for discovering the city’s galleries, fashion precincts and vibrant food scene.

Wellington: Boutique chic with a French accent

The final leg of this trans-Tasman triangle brings you to Sofitel Wellington. This harbourfront city may be New Zealand’s capital, but it’s Wellington’s creative pulse that defines it – and Sofitel reflects that beautifully. Boutique in scale but big on style, the hotel channels art deco glamour through a New Zealand lens.

Tucked within a historic neighbourhood just steps from Parliament, this property brings drama and design together in ways that feel both daring and deliberate. The interiors are rich and textural: velvet armchairs, burnished gold accents, moody lighting and dark timber walls give the hotel the feel of an elegant 1920s salon. It’s a seductive setting for sipping whisky by the fire, or sinking into a leather couch with a book from the library. Guest rooms echo this mood, with smoky mirrored walls, tactile furnishings and an indulgent minibar that reads more like a concept store edit than a hotel amenity tray.

It’s a perfect base for exploring the city’s cultural institutions and artisan laneways. But dinner at Jardin Grill is an experience in its own right – especially if you opt for the now-legendary Monnaie de Luxe Whisky burger. Served on a 24-carat gold brioche and topped with everything from black garlic-poached crayfish to French caviar, it’s a decadent expression of Sofitel’s flair for indulgence.

Whether you’re travelling for business, leisure or a little of both, a Sofitel escape is never just a stay. It’s a sensory journey of elegance, ritual and connection – French luxury, reimagined for the Pacific.