The new guide to Kaua‘i’ - The Garden Isle

The oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain is draped in rainforest-clad emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs with cascading waterfalls, in short some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery in Hawaii.

The Waimea Canyon and the majestic fluted sea cliffs of the Napali coast have featured in many a Hollywood movie. Nicknamed the Garden Isle thanks to its fecund vegetation, Kaua‘i’ also has an alternative vibe.

Best things to do on Kaua‘i’

Scenic flights on Kaua‘i’

Much of Hawai‘i’s Kaua‘i’ is inaccessible so take to the air to marvel at its panoramic vistas. See the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Manawaiopuna, Waialeale shield volcano crater, Hanalei Bay and more via a helicopter or small plane tour.

Kaua‘i, Hawaii Malama — Marvel at the untamed beauty of Kauai.

Explore the Napali Coast of Kaua‘i’ by water and land

There are numerous options for water-based tours including yacht cruises, catamaran and snorkel tours, sunset sails, and rafting tours. Adventurous souls will enjoy a one-day kayak trip along the 28-kilometre coast. Experienced hikers can hike the spectacular but dangerous 18-mile Kalalau Trail with a pre-booked permit. The Hanakapiai Falls Trail is a 13-kilometre round-trip day hike, half of it along the Napali coastline and the other half up to the stunning 100-metre Hanakapiai Falls. It does not require a permit.

Wailua Kayak, Kauai, Hawaii — Adventurous souls will enjoy a one-day kayak trip along the 28-kilometre coast.

More hiking on Kaua‘i’

The hiking is world class and can be challenging. Kaua‘i’ Hiking Tours, the island’s only certified Sustainable Tour Operator, offers guided hikes of the Waimea Canyon and Napali cliff top, Nounou Mountain (Sleeping Giant), Kuilau Ridge Trail to Mt Wai ale ale Viewpoint and more as well as four-wheel-drive tours of the island.

Napal Cliff top, Kauai, Hawaii USA — Kauai Hiking Tours offers guided hikes of Nāpali cliff top (Image: Jeremiah Felsen)

Best Beaches on Kaua‘i’

There are so many sublime beaches including the wide beach at horseshoe-shaped Hanalei Bay, framed by the pretty township of Hanalei, Haena Beach overlooked by Mount Makana (Bali Hai in the movie South Pacific), (see previous reference that advance reservations are required to visit the Haena State Park ) Lydgate Beach whose lagoon is a popular snorkelling spot, and Poipu Beach with a natural wading pool. Kekaha Beach on the west coast is a great surfing spot. Many beaches do not have lifeguards. Only swim when the waters are calm, generally during the warmer months.

Other adventures on Kaua‘i’

With all that dense vegetation, some of the longest courses and the most breathtaking views, Kaua‘i’ is a superb place to go ziplining over the rainforest.

Kaua‘i’ is also home to the only navigable rivers in Hawai‘i: the Hanalei River, Huleia River, and the tranquil Wailua River, which is the most popular for kayakers.

Explore Hawai‘i’s National Tropical Botanical Garden at its three sites: Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden just west of Kōloa, and Limahuli Garden on the North Shore.

Na Pali Coast Kauai Island Canyons Hawaii — Kauai is home to some of the most breathtaking views.

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Best food experiences on Kaua‘i’

Visit Sunshine farmers’ markets all over the island. Sample homemade ice cream at Lappert’s Hawai‘i.

Tasting Kaua‘i’ offers fun educational food tours to help visitors learn how food is grown on Kaua‘i’, discover specialty fruits and vegetables unique to Hawai‘i, taste local specialties and support local farms and chefs.

Malama Taro lifestyle

Fifth-generation taro farmer Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama is passionate about working her loi kalo (taro patch). “I’m trying to preserve something for generations to come. Our farm is also home to native Hawaiian water bird species. Our priority is to not only provide food for the community but to keep endangered birds safe as well."

taro fields agriculture, hawaii islands agriculture in hanalei, island of kauai, hawaii islands — Fifth-generation taro farmer Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama says, “I’m trying to preserve something for generations to come."

Lyndsey also runs a food truck called Hanalei Taro and Juice Company, which serves her family recipes for taro mocha cake, zesty taro hummus, taro veggie burgers and taro smoothies as well as other more authentic Hawaiian food such as laulau, kālua pig, poi, lomi salmon, and kulolo. “Many people have a negative connotation of poi if they didn’t grow up eating it, but after they enjoy our dishes they walk away with a whole new appreciation of taro and its importance to Hawaiian culture."

For all your Hawai‘i travel information visit Go Hawai‘i, or download the GoHawai‘i app.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The new guide to Kaua‘i’ – The Garden Isle