The ultimate Maui guide, from a local

Maui’s farm-to-table restaurants, colourful plantation towns and eco-friendly ocean adventures reveal an island that thrives on resilience and community. Spend a day exploring like local – and education director of Maui Ocean Center – Tiara Fernandez.

Maui’s rhythm flows with the ocean. From the gentle swells of Wailea to the legendary surf breaks of Honolua Bay, the waters invite both seasoned surfers and curious beginners. Sunset here is a daily spectacle, with fiery reds and molten golds melting into the horizon best savoured from Lahaina’s waterfront or the quieter shores of Makena.

Beyond the beaches, upcountry towns like Makawao and Kula evoke old plantation days, with art galleries, boutique farms and fragrant orchards tucked between rolling hills offering a striking contrast to the thriving surf culture along the coast.

Maui is a sensory feast, and on her downtime from working with Hawaiʻi’s marine life, Tiara loves to take it all in.

Maui restaurants and bites

1. SixtyTwo MarKet

Signature Eggs Benedict at SixtyTwo MarKet maui guide hawaii — Try the Signature Eggs Benedict at SixtyTwo MarKet.

This Wailuka eatery is a real treat for anyone who loves fresh, local eats. As its name suggests, the menu rotates every 62 days according to what’s in harvest. Chef Marc McDowell, who honed his skills at New York’s prestigious Culinary Institute of America, crafts thoughtful dishes presented in a light and airy space adorned with natural timber accents and greenery.

2. Flatbread Company

Founded by avid surfer Jay Gould, this pizzeria in the charming surf town of Pā‘ia serves thin and crispy woodfired pizzas crafted with ingredients, free from unwanted chemicals and pesticides. Guests can watch the magic unfold in an open kitchen, where each pizza emerges perfectly blistered from the flames. As well as supporting local organic farmers, Flatbread gives back with benefit nights for local non-profits.

3. Kalei’s Lunchbox

From its humble beginnings as a food truck in 2016, Kalei’s Lunchbox has blossomed into a bricks-and-mortar spot in the heart of Lahaina, serving fresh, affordable meals with a side of aloha. The family-owned restaurant is the perfect place to dive into classic local comfort food such as loco moco (a hearty hamburger patty smothered in brown gravy atop steaming white rice, crowned with a sunny-side-up egg), garlic shrimp, saimin (noodle soup), seared ahi burgers and generous smoked meat plates.

Maui guide

Morning

Fuel up with a take-away coffee from Luxe Latte in Wailuku before boarding one of Pacwhale Eco-Adventures’ low impact catamarans for a snorkelling tour to the crescent-shaped Molokini Crater and Turtle Arches, along South Maui’s coast. Here the snorkelling reveals dramatic underwater lava formations, colourful coral, an array of fish and docile green sea turtles. If luck’s on your side, you might also catch a glimpse of majestic manta rays or sleek white-tip reef sharks.

Afternoon

couple in tunnel at Maui Ocean Center — Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Maui Ocean Center.

After disembarking head to Maui Ocean Center for a behind-the-scenes tour to see the aquarium’s conservation work in action and gain fresh insights into the marine life you may have just snorkelled with. Exhibits like Hawaiians and the Sea explore the strong cultural ties between islanders and the ocean, from traditional fishing practices and ancient navigation techniques to the legends that have shaped Maui’s seafaring heritage.

Evening

couple looking at sunset from Haleakalā maui guide — Watch the sunset from Haleakalā. (Credit: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority)

Catch one of Maui’s legendary sunsets, either from a sandy beach or by winding your way up to the dormant shield volcano Haleakalā, which means ‘House of the Sun’ in ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi, in Upcountry Maui. On your descent, stop by Kula Bistro, perched on the slopes of the volcano, where the menu ranges from coconut shrimp and homemade crab cakes to hearty prime rib sandwiches.

If your timing aligns, don’t miss the First Friday celebration, a lively showcase of music, art, food and community spirit, lighting up Maui’s towns on a different Friday night each month.

Maui accommodation

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

1. Maui Eco Retreat

Maui Eco Retreat is a sustainably-focused hideaway set on land blessed by a kahuna (Hawaiian priest) in Haiku, a verdant pocket of Maui’s North Shore, around 30 minutes’ drive from Pā‘ia. Accommodation includes a bamboo cottage complete with an open-air shower and hand-crafted furniture.

2. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

Closer to the ocean, Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows is set on the powdery white sands of North Kāʻanapali Beach, with pools, restaurants and the island’s longest-running lū‘au.

Shopping on Maui

woman shopping at Kula Country Farms Kula Maui guide — Peruse local homewares and jewellery. (Credit: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority)

Maui’s plantation towns brim with independently owned boutiques that celebrate the island’s creative spirit. Seek out distinctive homewares and jewellery at Maui Ocean Arts. House of Mana Up champions Maui’s makers and emerging entrepreneurs, stocking island-crafted treats from lip balm to hot sauce.

More ways to explore

humpback whale breaching in hawaii — Keep an eye out for whales. (Credit: Getty/ Kon Art)

Stroll the paved walkways to scenic lookouts and discover the Polynesian plants brought by early Hawaiians in the lush botanical garden of ʻĪau Valley State Monument. Experience traditional Hawaiian music and dance paired with Hawaiian dishes such as taro, roast pork and fresh poke at the Old Lāhainā Lūʻau.

Take to the water with locally-owned and operated Ultimate Whale Watch & Snorkel, whose small-group tours also support marine researchers through the donation of their vessels and time.

Start planning your Maui adventure at gohawaii.com.

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.

Your guide to the local’s favourite places on Maui