Champagne Bar it may be, but the mixologists tending bar at Sydney’s hottest new hotel, the Sofitel Darling Harbour, have mastered the art of imbibable alchemy when it comes to gin, too. Adding to the appeal, the bar combines old world French joie de vivre with stunning city views from its perch high above Darling Harbour. Elegant and sophisticated, this is the place to don your finest threads and sip your gin cocktail in the company of your equally well-appointed friends.

A well-kept secret among the cocktail cognoscenti is sophisticated Zeta Bar in Sydney CBD. It is a destination for unorthodox cocktails and not for the faint of heart when it comes to boundary-pushing booze. Sit alfresco on the terrace, with its magical city views over the copper domes of the Queen Victoria Building, or lounge in a leather Chesterfield by the open fire to indulge in your gin cocktail of choice. Insider tip: be sure to ask for the St Germain de Pres cocktail while you’re at it, made with Hendrick’s Gin.

A day frolicking in the sun, sand and surf calls for a refreshing Hendricks G&T (garnished with cucumber, of course) as the sun goes down. Sip yours at botanical-inspired Glasshouse bar at The Steyne in Manly, where the gin-heavy drinks list and lush garden setting – complete with leafy palms and white cane furniture – make for quite the summer sensation.

This is the destination for the thirsty traveller looking to escape the ordinary. Styled with vintage music posters and fringed light shades that dangle like peacock feathers from the ceiling, Jangling Jacks is a neighbourhood drinking den dedicated to Kings Cross’ flamboyant characters. Sip a late-night gin cocktail and snack on delicious food as the blues band plays its soulful tunes every Thursday evening. Insider tip: ask for the Archangel cocktail – a concoction of Hendrick’s Gin and citrus flavours.

From March 21, the Greenpark Hotel in Sydney’s Darlinghurst will host an unusual and brilliant new event series in collaboration with Hendrick’s Gin. Experience the popular premium gin at the iconic pub as it hosts a weekly ode to the spirit. Think creative and surprising G&Ts and cocktails, a series of interactive gin events, including sensory meditative martini experiences, as well as masterclass sessions. Insider tip: Don’t pass up ordering the Pocket Full of Green cocktail made with cucumber and aloe vera juice, mint and Hendrick’s Gin.

Nip in to Melbourne tipple institution The Everleigh on Gertrude Street in Australia’s most European city for old-school elegance and delightful libations. American oak timber panelling, vintage tessellated tiles, gilt-framed Victorian portraits and hunting-lodge taxidermy adorn the handsome space, which has waistcoated bartenders and a hushed drawing room ambience. Cheers, old boy!

What could be more enticing than a discreet laneway bar styled like a Victorian doll house? Step off Flinders Lane and into the vintage charm of Trinket Bar where mystery and fantasy abound. For gin fiends wanting to well and truly tumble down the rabbit hole, a hidden staircase beyond an ornate wooden wardrobe leads to a candlelit cellar filled with chic velvet furniture and jazz music.

Take your next tipple to dizzying heights at the enchanting Lui Bar, which floats on the 55th floor of the Rialto Tower overlooking the city of Melbourne. Whether you seek an intimate tête-à-tête on a luxe chaise lounge or an elegant bar-side cocktail, every seat enjoys spectacular panoramic views. And then there’s the bar, nestled under sculptor Mikala Dwyer’s ethereal bubble installation, where drinks are shaken and stirred in the spirit of adventure, ice is meticulously hand-carved and bar snacks include a cheeky ‘Midnight Snack’ for those out past their bedtime.

Too hipster to worry about following a trend, the Howling Owl was serving up small batch gins long before it was fashionable. The casual café-style bar is situated in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD and houses over 80 carefully selected gins from across the globe, including local Kangaroo Island Spirits. All drinks are garnished with handpicked spices, herbs or fruit and may be accompanied by the Howling Owl’s signature grazing board, featuring a selection of South Australia meats, cheeses and vegetables. 10 Vaughan Place, Adelaide, SA. thehowlingowl.com.au.

Glimmering pendant lights hang above the bar, an ornate gilt mirror reflects the swift movements of savvy bar keeps, and the inescapable gaze of the Mona Lisa watches over the smart drawing room, plush with period art and solid leather lounges. Welcome to Bar Lafayette in Perth CBD where you can wet your whistle with smart drinks – gin perhaps? – and the golden ambience of a bygone era.

There’s a breezy US West Coast vibe at Perth’s Sweetwater Bar. It could be the alfresco rooftop location (with views across Freo Port and the Swan River), the effortlessly elegant white-on-white furniture, the lush hanging plants, the mid-century modern design accents or the bright fresh flavours that bounce out of thirst-slaking cocktails and Asian-inspired share plates. Did we mention there’s a dedicated gin and tonic menu and special tasting events where you can pair your GnT with gin-infused canapés?

Inspired by the diminutive tapas bars of Madrid and Barcelona, it’s not hard to picture Hemingway perched at the bar here clinking glasses with one of the locals. Gerard’s Bar is a well-kept secret in the heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that serves its unique form of conviviality with a thick Spanish accent. Charcuterie hangs in the front window, while the long counter disappears into the space’s shadowy depths, where wood panelling, backlit shelves lined with bottles, and wooden bar stools nab the appeal of Spain’s historic drinking spots.

Would you like an infinity swimming pool overlooking the lush Byron hinterland with that? Boutique BnB Blackbird Byron Luxury Accommodation near Australia’s most easterly point spruiks itself as a luxury “home away from home”, but if home was this other-worldly, there’d be no reason to leave in the first place. Rest your head in the blissful seclusion of a stand-alone pavilion – all open-plan wood, steel, copper and concrete with views over the surrounding sub-tropical landscape where waterfalls gush and birds coo – but not before you say cheers with a Hendrick’s in hand as you paddle your feet in the magnesium mineral swimming pool with your head in the clouds and the rain forest canopy spreading beneath you in all directions.

With flamingos, fairy lights and pop-up food stalls and bars, the Gold Coast’s first street food market has a theatrical Birdcage-meets-warehouse party vibe. Come for a cocktail (Hendrick’s, naturally), stay for slam poetry, live music and art exhibitions. This rollicking creative precinct is just a hop from Broadbeach, but you’ll immediately be transformed to the buzzy creative hubs of Brooklyn in New York or Hackney in East London when you cross the neon-lit threshold.