33 Best Hotels in Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Background Illustration for Hotels

Most inhabited islands have just one main resort, typically offering a range of lodging types and prices. Choose island destinations based on your budget and the kind of vacation you want—active or relaxed, sociable or quiet, or a mix. Offerings range from luxurious enclaves with upscale facilities (Lizard, Orpheus, Bedarra, Hayman islands) to small, eco-focused retreats (Long Island) to activity-packed, family-friendly resorts (Long, South Molle, Daydream, and Fitzroy islands). The more rustic, remote resorts may lack modern conveniences such as telephones, televisions, and Internet access. Even on some Barrier Reef resorts close to the mainland, Internet connections can be slow and mobile phone coverage limited or nonexistent, and critters may infiltrate your room.

Airlie Beach Hotel

$ | 16 The Esplanade, Airlie Beach, QLD, 4802, Australia

With the town's small beach at its doorstep, three eateries and bars downstairs, and the main street directly behind it, this hotel makes a comfy and convenient base. The modern rooms and spacious suites have free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs, bar fridges, and tea/coffee-making facilities; most open onto big balconies overlooking the palm-lined waterfront or town. You can also stay in smaller, ground-level motel-style rooms. There's a nice pool, a guest laundry, and a tour desk on-site.

Pros

  • Interiors rebuilt in 2018
  • Lots of on-site food and drink options
  • Close to main strip, Airlie Lagoon, and waterfront

Cons

  • No room service
  • Rooms can be noisy
  • Basic hotel with basic facilities
16 The Esplanade, Airlie Beach, QLD, 4802, Australia
07-4964–1999
hotel Details
80 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore

$$$$ | 1 Veivers Rd., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia Fodor's Choice

Fine landscaping, pools, barbecues, and sunny areas for relaxation enhance this classy colonial-style vacation complex fronting a palm-shaded white-sand beach. The resort's vast apartment-style suites have large verandas, comfortable lounging and dining areas, large flat-screen TVs, and up to four capacious bedrooms. There are also full kitchens and laundry facilities. The spa's open-air and indoor pavilions offer several soothing treatments. Nu Nu Restaurant serves fine modern international cuisine, excellent wines, and tropical cocktails.

Pros

  • Terrific location
  • Upscale restaurant
  • Free Wi-Fi

Cons

  • No elevators
  • Pools on the chilly side
  • Wi-Fi weak in some rooms
1 Veivers Rd., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia
07-4055–3000
hotel Details
67 suites
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Bay Village Tropical Retreat & Apartments

$ | 227 Lake St., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

The sociable public areas at this family-friendly complex include a lovely lagoon pool, a guest laundry, and the terrific Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant & Bar. The main complex offers simple but spacious double, family, and studio rooms, some with balconies. The second-floor rooms are quieter, if you don't mind lugging your bags upstairs. Across the road are two- and three-bedroom apartments that are slightly more modern and larger and have their own, more private pool, internal laundries, and fully equipped kitchens.

Pros

  • Excellent restaurant on-site
  • Clean, generously sized rooms
  • A lovely central courtyard with pool, surrounded by tropical gardens

Cons

  • Pool area and ground-floor rooms can be noisy
  • Standard rooms lack ambient lighting and all but simple amenities
  • No elevator access to second floor
227 Lake St., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
07-4051–4622
hotel Details
81 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

Recommended Fodor's Video

Bedarra

$$$$ | Bedarra Island, QLD, 4852, Australia Fodor's Choice

Billing itself as "the ultimate in barefoot luxury," the laid-back, exclusive, child-free Bedarra Island Resort hosts no more than 20 guests in modern, eco-friendly accommodations, spoiling them with fine food and service, and upscale amenities. All 10 villas have large private balconies, comfy king beds, ceiling fans, minibars, espresso machines, and LED TVs; some have outdoor showers, daybeds, and plunge pools. Guests congregate in the open-sided restaurant for tropical buffet breakfasts, varied lunch offerings, and multicourse dinners that showcase seafood and regional produce. All meals and drinks are included in the rate. Nature-based activities and use of water-sports equipment are complimentary.

Pros

  • Relaxed but attentive service
  • Sailing trips can be arranged
  • Secluded, spectacular environs

Cons

  • Wi-Fi can be slow and cell phone signals intermittent
  • Reception only open 7 am to 7 pm
  • No room service
Bedarra Island, QLD, 4852, Australia
07-4068–8233
hotel Details
10 rooms
Rate Includes: Closed late Jan.–early Mar., All-Inclusive

Quick Facts

Cape Tribulation Farmstay B&B

$ | 3939 Cape Tribulation Rd., Cape Tribulation, QLD, 4873, Australia

A handful of simple but comfortable, solar-powered cabins sit among rambutan, mangosteen, and breadfruit trees on this 40-hectare exotic fruit farm. Each cabin has an en suite bathroom, insect screens, and a veranda with rain forest and mountain views. Three are air-conditioned—though as cooling breezes blow off Mount Sorrow, you may not need it. In the central farmhouse are a guest lounge, kitchen, and laundry. There is also a communal kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven for guests' use and a shed full of free coconuts (if you can crack them). Commune with fellow guests around the nightly campfire, and wake to a chorus of birdsong.

Pros

  • Beach and rain-forest trails adjoin the property
  • Breakfast basket of fresh tropical fruit
  • Free Internet (but only in the central farmhouse)

Cons

  • Few in-room modern conveniences
  • No swimming pool
  • Modest accommodations
3939 Cape Tribulation Rd., Cape Tribulation, QLD, 4873, Australia
07-4098–0042
hotel Details
5 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $

Cockatoo Hill Retreat

$$$ | 2060 Cape Tribulation Rd., Diwan, QLD, 4873, Australia

The elegant solar-powered tree houses at this impeccably run boutique retreat invite relaxation and romance. All come with king-size, Balinese-style beds swathed in white mosquito-netting, under-floor lighting, fridges, and sea-breezy balconies overlooking the rain forest and out to the Coral Sea. There are no TVs or karaoke nights here; just a cacophony of birdcalls and several quiet walking trails, rain-forest waterholes, and unspoiled beaches to explore. Mingle with fellow guests around the infinity-edge pool and at low-key evenings around the Lodge's Python Bar, crafted from rosewood mahogany. Continental breakfasts include tropical fruit salad, cereals, organic yogurt, and warm croissants with homemade jams, but after that you're on your own foodwise, though there are several restaurants and cafés in the vicinity (bringing a vehicle, or at least provisions, is a must). Your host can arrange tours, reef trips, jungle surfing, horse-riding, rain forest walks, and restaurant bookings.  For best results, book your stay directly through the property's website.

Pros

  • Helpful, thoughtful host
  • Eco-friendly
  • Magnificent views

Cons

  • Phone/Internet access only if you have Telstra service
  • 4WD required after heavy rain for the steep driveway
  • No on-site food apart from breakfast
2060 Cape Tribulation Rd., Diwan, QLD, 4873, Australia
07-4098–9277
hotel Details
4 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Coconut Grove Port Douglas

$$$$ | 56 Macrossan St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia

These well-appointed luxe apartments and penthouses perched above Port Douglas's main strip have state-of-the-art furnishings and appliances, freestanding spa baths, and large entertaining spaces including big, furnished balconies or decks, some with outdoor barbecues and plunge pools. For couples and small groups, the three-bedroom set-ups can be reconfigured as one- or two-bedroom accommodations. In-house massages and tours are easily arranged and there are catering options—from having your fridge stocked on arrival to arranging a special dinner (and, if you like, a chef to cook it). There's a helpful reception and tour desk, undercover parking, and a 20-meter (66-foot) lap pool in the compact but landscaped grounds. Cafés, bars, boutiques, and the beach are a mere stroll away.

Pros

  • Immaculate living areas
  • Central location
  • Free undercover parking

Cons

  • Fees for daily housekeeping
  • Reception closes after business hours
  • 10 am checkout
56 Macrossan St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia
07-4099–0600
hotel Details
33 suites
Rate Includes: Reception closes daily 5 pm–8 am, No Meals

Quick Facts

Daintree EcoLodge & Spa

$$$ | 3189 Mossman-Daintree Rd., Mossman, QLD, 4873, Australia

At this 30-acre boutique eco-resort in the ancient Daintree rain forest, elevated boardwalks protect the fragile environs and link the day spa, heated pool, restaurant/bar, and 15 freestanding tree houses or "bayans." All are air-conditioned and equipped with ceiling fans, satellite TVs, and king-size canopy beds. Every bayan has a balcony with mosquito screens. Julaymba Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serves modern Australian food (average main course A$38) incorporating local seafood and fresh seasonal produce. There's an adjoining bar/lounge, a small gallery-gift shop, and a large outdoor dining deck. Activities here include guided rain-forest walks, relaxing treatments in the day spa, longer excursions with Indigenous-owned Walkabout Cultural Adventures, and Daintree River wildlife-spotting cruises. Note that no kids under six are allowed at the resort.

Pros

  • Alfresco spa treatments
  • Eco-friendly
  • Lower rates with longer stays or early bookings

Cons

  • No in-room Internet access
  • Noise from public areas carries to proximate rooms and spa
  • No one at reception desk from 8 pm to 8 am
3189 Mossman-Daintree Rd., Mossman, QLD, 4873, Australia
07-4777--7377
hotel Details
15 suites
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Hamilton Island Beach Club

$$$$ | 9 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia

The upscale amenities and no-kids policy mean this hotel swarms with couples, who can cool off in the infinity-edge pool, enjoy meals poolside, or admire the Catseye Beach and Coral Sea views from their private balconies or courtyards. Rooms, which all have ocean vistas, are adorned with chic modern furnishings and high-end entertainment systems. Public areas are spacious and stylishly appointed. Nightly rates include the use of the 24-hour buggy chauffeur service (including free airport and marina transfers); a small library stocked with magazines, books, and games; all non-motorized watercraft; and sports-fitness facilities nearby. The staff is friendly, but don't expect them to go that extra mile.  Ask for a higher room to get a Coral Sea view.

Pros

  • Beachfront location
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Adults only

Cons

  • Service standards vary
  • Checkout time is 10 am
  • Rates are quite high
9 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia
02-9007–0009-HI accommodation
hotel Details
57 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Hamilton Island Holiday Homes

$$$ | Front St., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia

Part of the Hamilton Island resort, Hamilton Island Holiday Homes manages more than 100 self-catered one- to five-bedroom vacation properties in prime locations around the island, including studio, split-level, and two-story designs. All have air-conditioning, TVs, balconies, ocean views, and access to the resort's communal swimming pools and fitness center. Some—such as the 10 salubrious Yacht Club Villas (from A$980), with landscaped outdoor areas, private plunge pools, and concierge service—are truly luxurious. Homes sleep between one and 12 people. Each rental comes with island airport transfers and the use of a four-seater golf buggy, nonmotorized watercraft at Catseye Beach, the Hamilton Island sports complex facilities, and, in some cases, access to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club gym. Rates vary according to property, guest numbers, and season. Book well ahead to get the best properties at the best rates.

Pros

  • Privacy
  • Full kitchen and laundry facilities
  • Complimentary use of many resort facilities
  • Kids under 13 can eat free with their parents at selected HI restaurants

Cons

  • Minimum four-day stays in holiday periods
  • Two- or three-night minimum at other times
  • No housekeeping
  • Minimum four-day stays in holiday periods, two- or three-night minimum at other times
  • No housekeeping
Front St., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia
02-9433–0444
hotel Details
More than 100 properties
Rate Includes: No meals

Quick Facts

Hamilton Island Palm Bungalows

$$$ | 3 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia

Spacious, self-contained, and with a relaxed island vibe, these steep-roofed, freestanding bungalows are great for families and self-sufficient travelers. Each Polynesian-style hut has a private furnished balcony with a hammock, cool tile or polished-wood floors, a basic kitchenette with cutlery and bar fridge, a king-size bed and divan, air-conditioning, and ceiling fans.

Pros

  • Free use nonmotorized watercraft
  • Complimentary airport transfers
  • Close to main pool, beach, and wildlife park

Cons

  • No ocean views
  • Up a steepish hill
  • No Wi-Fi in rooms
3 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia
02-9007–0009-HI accommodation
hotel Details
49 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel

$$$ | 12 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia

All hotel rooms here are comfortable, with private balconies, but only hotel rooms on the fifth floor and above live up to the name, with their unbroken Coral Sea vistas. Meanwhile, rooms on lower levels overlook a landscaped, tropical garden and pool. One- and two-bedroom Terrace and split-level suites on the 17th, 18th, and 19th levels in particular have fantastic ocean views. Guests get complimentary use of Hamilton's windsurfers, catamarans, paddle skis, and snorkeling gear as well as sports club facilities and return airport transfers. There's an on-site tour desk and a well-equipped business center.

Pros

  • Good buffet breakfast
  • Some suites have private patios with plunge pools
  • Better-than-usual service

Cons

  • Lower-level rooms can be noisy
  • Cockatoos fly in open windows
  • Rooms a little dated
12 Resort Dr., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4803, Australia
02-9007–0009
hotel Details
363 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Hilton Cairns

$$ | 34 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia Fodor's Choice

This attractive hotel has an enviable location near the waterfront, a flotilla of services, and classy on-site drinking and dining options. Built around a central, open-air atrium, Hilton Cairns has large, stylishly furnished rooms and suites with all the amenities you'd expect of a modern business hotel and some pleasant additions you might not, including big, breezy furnished balconies. Spa rooms have large hydrotherapy tubs for postdive-trip pummelings. Enjoy a sundowner at Gin Social, or partake from the eclectic menu at Mondo Café Bar and Grill, overlooking Trinity Inlet.

Pros

  • Modern rooms with comfortable beds
  • Good dining and drinking options
  • Friendly, helpful service

Cons

  • Business hotel can feel a little corporate
  • Steep fees for parking
  • Tour groups can create crowds in public areas
34 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
07-4050–2000
hotel Details
262 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $$

Hotel Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa

$$$ | 5 Triton St., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia

The well-appointed studio rooms and apartments at Pullman’s gorgeous Palm Cove property have private balcony or terrace areas, high-definition flat-screen TVs, and comfortable beds with memory-foam pillows. Those who have business to do will appreciate the in-room work desk, ergonomic rolling chair, and free Wi-Fi access. The resort has a state-of-the-art business lounge, a well-equipped gym, and day spa. There's a golf course and a beach with jet-skis nearby. You can rent bicycles from reception.

Pros

  • Gorgeous grounds and pools
  • Excellent on-site restaurant
  • Five-star service

Cons

  • Occasional noise from wedding parties
  • Five-minute walk from Palm Cove’s main strip and beach
  • Busy pool area when lots of children staying
5 Triton St., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia
07-4059–9600
hotel Details
126 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa

$$ | 80 Kewarra St., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia Fodor's Choice
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa, Palm Cove
Reception with living wall

This beachfront property just south of Palm Cove has its priorities right: Kewarra's sensitively designed bungalows and restored pioneer's cottage overlook rain forests teeming with wildlife, free-form pools, or a private white-sand beach. The eco-friendly lodgings bring comfort with their silky wood floors, custom furnishings, high-tech appointments, and simply furnished balconies or terraces. There's a glorious restaurant, bar, and airy lobby; a beach shack; and a lovely day spa, and there are various on-site activities such as guided morning nature walks, sunrise yoga, and tai chi sessions. Browse the boutiques, book a spa treatment, take a dip, go sea kayaking, or do some serious lounging. If you must venture off-site, the helpful concierge and Adventure Desk can arrange customized excursions and transfers via car or helicopter to Cairns, Palm Cove, and the airport. The resort also offers good-value multiday packages, some including dinners with wine, spa treatments, and reef, rain-forest, and tablelands tours.

Pros

  • <PRO>eco-friendly ethos</PRO>
  • <PRO>spectacular grounds</PRO>
  • <PRO>free Wi-Fi</PRO>

Cons

  • <CON>a drive from Palm Cove's cafés</CON>
  • <CON>no on-site gym</CON>
  • <CON>rain-forest environs can mean the odd critter gets into your room</CON>
80 Kewarra St., Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia
07-4058–4000
hotel Details
44 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals, Credit cards accepted

Quick Facts

  • $$

Lazy Lizard Inn

$ | 121 Davidson St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia Fodor's Choice

The clean, spacious, self-contained studios at this friendly low-rise motel just outside of town make it a practical base for those who don't mind a short walk or cycle to Port Douglas's center. The studios come with fridges, microwaves, tea/coffeemaking facilities, and a minibar with milk and soft drinks, replenished daily. All are air-conditioned, with kitchenettes, desks, ceiling fans, free Wi-Fi, cool tile floors, and small patios. There's a spotless guest laundry, lovely tropical gardens, a free-form heated pool and bikes for guests' use. Continental breakfasts can be delivered to your door. Lazy Lizard is conveniently close to the beach, town, bars, and restaurants, but far enough away to be a restful retreat.

Pros

  • Friendly hosts
  • Free cable TV and Wi-Fi
  • Easy parking outside your door

Cons

  • Reception closes at 6 pm
  • No on-site bar or restaurant
  • Slightly out of town
121 Davidson St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia
07-4099–5900
hotel Details
22 studios
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Lizard Island Resort

$$$$ | Lizard Island, Lizard Island, QLD, Australia Fodor's Choice

Beloved by honeymooners, divers, and well-heeled travelers, this outer Great Barrier Reef resort ticks all the high-end tropical-island vacation boxes: luxurious beachfront accommodation, fine food and wine, and world-class diving and fishing. The beachside rooms, suites, and sumptuous villas have sail-shaded, furnished decks and views of the turquoise bay. Simple but comfortable rooms reflect the beachy environs with restful oceanic blue, sand, and white color palettes, polished wood floors and blinds, tropical ceiling fans (as well as air-conditioning), and private, furnished verandas. A freshwater swimming pool, day spa, a compact gym, a small boutique, and a guest library and lounge are just some of the facilities that await guests.

Pros

  • Superb diving and fishing
  • Quality food and wine (included in the rate)
  • Use of nonmotorized watercraft and dinghies

Cons

  • Successive cyclones have damaged the island's vegetation
  • Lighting inadequate for reading
  • No cell-phone coverage
Lizard Island, Lizard Island, QLD, Australia
07-4043–1999-resort
hotel Details
40 suites
Rate Includes: All-Inclusive

Quick Facts

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

$$$ | Garrick St. at Beryl St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia Fodor's Choice

With beautiful Four-Mile Beach just outside and shops and eateries a brisk walk away, these comfortable, expansive, fully equipped apartments are in an excellent location. The regular units are large, but the pricier "Beachfront" units, which have two-person spa tubs and are closer to the shore, are huge. One-bedroom apartments are actually two-bedroom units with one bedroom locked off (available for the same rate as a two-bedroom during high season). Every apartment has a kitchen with all appliances, including a dishwasher, stove top, full-size refrigerator, and a washer-dryer. Families can rent strollers and highchairs. There are also two on-site pools and a tennis court. Make sure you meet Milo the dog, who might join you on a beach walk or curl up on your sofa if you want some company.

Pros

  • Reasonable rates
  • Plenty of space
  • Close to the beach

Cons

  • Street outside is poorly lit at night
  • No reception in off-peak hours
  • No restaurant on site
Garrick St. at Beryl St., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia
07-4099–0100
hotel Details
41 apartments
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Oaks Metropole Hotel

$ | 81 Palmer St., Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia

The smartly configured studios and suites at this hotel are a five-minute walk from Palmer Street's bar and dining precinct, and an easy stroll across the footbridge from Flinders Street and the ferry port. Podlike accommodations are long and narrow but cleverly designed, with laundries, compact kitchens, and work desks. All have balconies and fast Wi-Fi. There are some useful guest facilities, too: a small gym, an outdoor pool, a business center, and free on-site parking. Don't expect five-star service, but if you're looking for a good base, this ticks the right boxes.

Pros

  • Excellent in-room facilities
  • Central location
  • Discounts for longer stays

Cons

  • Feels a tad clinical
  • Service standards vary
  • Smokers in outdoor common areas
81 Palmer St., Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
07-4753–2900-reception
hotel Details
104 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

Orpheus Island Lodge

$$$$ | Orpheus Island, QLD, 4850, Australia Fodor's Choice
James Walshe Photography

This unpretentious, eco-friendly resort epitomizes laid-back luxury, with sleekly appointed beachfront rooms, suites, and villas; romantic alfresco dining; boutique wines; and numerous outdoor activities included in the rate. Beachfront rooms come with sleek modern furnishings and private patios, air-conditioning, and plenty of creature comforts, including well-stocked minibars, coffeemakers, iPod docks, and flat-screen LED TVs. The property has a maximum of 28 guests, so no one competes for watercraft at the beaches or sun lounges around the infinity pool. Rates, discounted for longer stays, include all meals, select Australian wines, beers and soft drinks, unlimited use of dinghies, nonmotorized watercraft, light fishing tackle and snorkeling gear, and one nature-based island activity a day.

Pros

  • The signature alfresco "Dining with the Tides" experience
  • Free Wi-Fi in public areas
  • Excellent underwater sites nearby

Cons

  • No in-room Internet
  • Occasional geckos and insects indoors
  • No fitness center
Orpheus Island, QLD, 4850, Australia
07-4777–7377
hotel Details
14 rooms
Rate Includes: All-Inclusive

Quick Facts

Palm Bay Resort

$$$ | Long Island, QLD, 4741, Australia

This beachfront property houses self-catering travelers at alluringly reasonable rates. Relax in simple but stylishly furnished bures (tropical-style bungalows), A-frame bungalows, villas, and suites, all with balconies and hammocks or daybeds, strung along a palm-fringed, white-sand shore and scattered around the tropical grounds. While there, you'll have free rein of the resort, including its kitchen, dining room, lounge, media room, day spa, tennis courts, saltwater pool, and kayaks. The resort is mostly self-catering, though staff are on hand 24/7 to clean up and make drinks at the bar, and Azure restaurant does basic lunches and dinners five days a week. While the island shop has food supplies, it's cheaper to bring your own from the mainland. Cooking is a cinch in the resort's guest kitchen. With few tourists and no TVs, piped music, or organized activities, the ambience here is peaceful. Wallabies, goannas, brush turkeys, and big-eyed curlews wander freely about the grounds, and kookaburras cackle from the trees. If you're keen to explore neighboring islands, beaches, and the reef, scenic flights, day cruises, and diving can be arranged through the resort.

Pros

  • Friendly, helpful staff
  • Island grocery/food store and bottle shop
  • Lovely accommodations in glorious tranquil environs

Cons

  • Can be noisy at night
  • Self-catering, though staff clean your dishes
  • Restaurant closed some days
Long Island, QLD, 4741, Australia
1300-655--126-toll-free in Australia
hotel Details
25 suites
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Peppers Airlie Beach

$$ | Mt. Whitsunday Dr., Airlie Beach, QLD, 4802, Australia

The expansive one- to three-bedroom apartments at this high-end hillside resort are tailored for comfort, with spa baths the size of small cars, designer decor and appliances, high-end entertainment systems, free Wi-Fi, and big, furnished balconies with great views of the bay and yacht club. The resort is a steep trek (or about a A$12 taxi ride) from Airlie's main strip (or before 11 pm take the resort shuttle, but it only runs every two hours). In-house dining at Tides restaurant is sophisticated, if pricey, offering breakfast, pool-side lunch, and Modern Australian dinners. On-site facilities include a licensed bar, a wet-edge pool, a well-equipped gym, and an endota spa that offers detox, destress, and anti-aging treatments using organic Australian ingredients. Reef trips and water sports are at your doorstep, but there's plenty of incentive to stay put.

Pros

  • <PRO>classy decor, food, and service</PRO>
  • <PRO>buggies to ferry you up the resort's steep driveways</PRO>
  • <PRO>free undercover parking</PRO>

Cons

  • <CON>fee for Wi-Fi use</CON>
  • <CON>not close to Airlie's main street</CON>
  • <CON>no in-room heating in winter</CON>
Mt. Whitsunday Dr., Airlie Beach, QLD, 4802, Australia
07-4962–5100-reception
hotel Details
102 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals, Credit cards accepted

Quick Facts

  • $$

Peppers Beach Club & Spa

$$$ | 123 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia

Its beachfront location, excellent on-site dining, and tropical suites make this laid-back resort popular with city dwellers seeking upscale relaxation. With three magnificent lagoon pools and a day spa, it's not hard to find a spot to relax. The open-air lobby opens onto compact but well-landscaped grounds and the largest of the Club's three pools, with a soothing waterfall nearby. All rooms and suites have contemporary furnishings, flat-screen TVs, ceiling fans, minibars and/or fridges, and large balconies or courtyards; spa rooms have balcony two-person spa baths, and deluxe rooms have rooftop Jacuzzis. You can rent a quad bike, chill out with a cocktail at the swim-up bar, or receive a treatment at the Day Spa, which does everything from detoxifying body treatments to Vichy showers and massage.

Pros

  • Terrific on-site dining
  • Multiple pools including a quiet pool zone and Serenity wing
  • Well-equipped, air-conditioned gym

Cons

  • Patchy Wi-Fi in places
  • Main pool area can be busy
  • May be too loud for couples looking to relax
123 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove, QLD, 4879, Australia
07-4059–9200-direct line
hotel Details
150 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Peppers Blue On Blue Resort

$ | 123 Sooning St., Magnetic Island, QLD, 4819, Australia

The hotel and studio rooms, apartments, and penthouse suites at waterfront Blue on Blue are stylishly designed, with high-end entertainment systems, luxe amenities, and balconies overlooking the ferry port, pool, or the island's private marina. Apartments and penthouses also have full kitchen and laundry facilities. There are two lagoon pools, a restaurant serving Mod Oz fare, and a full-service day spa. Nearby are shops, eateries, water-sports outlets, a marina-front boardwalk, and a supermarket. It's a 20-minute walk (or bus ride) to Alma Beach.

Pros

  • Fine on-site food and wine
  • Big buffet breakfasts include eggs made to order
  • Convenient launchpad for excursions

Cons

  • Some suites lack full elevator access
  • Lower-floor, ferry-side rooms can be noisy
  • Not all rooms suitable for self-catering
123 Sooning St., Magnetic Island, QLD, 4819, Australia
07-4758–2400-reception
hotel Details
60 twin rooms, 127 apartment suites and penthouses
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

Pullmann Cairns International

$$ | 17 Abbot St., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

This practicality-meets-luxury hotel near Cairns's waterfront has an impressive three-story lobby, an elegant day spa, and smartly outfitted guest rooms and suites, all with furnished balconies. Classy in-room touches include fluffy bathrobes and Roger & Gallet toiletries. Higher-floor executive suites also have separate lounge areas. On weekend evenings and Sunday lunchtimes, there's live music in the Lobby Bar. Coco's Restaurant is open for big buffet breakfasts, long or speedy "power" lunches, high teas, and Modern Australian dinners, including a nightly seafood buffet showcasing the region's best produce.

Qualia

$$$$ | 20 Whitsunday Blvd., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4802, Australia Fodor's Choice

Catering to a privileged few, Hamilton Island's most exclusive resort has a tranquil and decadent ambience, private beach, infinity-edge pools, and a complex of luxe, well-appointed freestanding pavilions. The pavilions, handcrafted from Australian timbers, stone, and glass, harmonize beautifully with the tropical surroundings and have expansive, flow-through lounge areas with designer furnishings and high-end entertainment systems opening onto large private decks. Activities include guided walks, kayaking and snorkeling tours, diving, fishing, sailing, scenic flights, golfing, and catered, crewed cruises. Dozens of resort facilities and services are included in the price—breakfasts, room and concierge service, nonalcoholic drinks, the use of water-sports equipment, wireless Internet, 24-hour chauffeur service, and buggies to get to the resort complex.

Pros

  • Windward Pavilions have their own plunge pools
  • Fine food and wine
  • High-end everything

Cons

  • Two-night minimum stay in peak periods
  • Located well away from the main resort complex and marina
  • Service not as polished as some may expect
20 Whitsunday Blvd., Hamilton Island, QLD, 4802, Australia
02-9007–0009
hotel Details
60 suites
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

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Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina

$$ | Pierpoint Rd., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

With chic modern decor in blues and blue-grays reflecting the waterfront location and buzzing on-site bars and eateries, this marina-side resort is among Cairns's hippest. Outdoor areas are suitably sleek, with extensive wooden decking, palm-shaded swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, and a poolside cocktail bar. Spacious rooms and suites have muted decor, balconies, and flow-through views of the pool area and gardens, or the mountains, bay, or marina. Paying extra for a Horizon Club room or suite buys you extra amenities and services, including free Horizon Club breakfasts, and sunset drinks and canapés. There is a well-equipped business center, valet parking, and a helpful tour desk that can arrange off-site activities. The Backyard restaurant, featuring fine fresh regional produce, makes it worth dining in-house.

Pros

  • Great views
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Proximity to the marina

Cons

  • Lower-floor pier-side rooms above the bar can be noisy
  • Horizon Club breakfast can be underwhelming
  • Guests have to pay for parking
Pierpoint Rd., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
07-4031–1411
hotel Details
184 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

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Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort

$$$ | Ave. of Palms, Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia

Centered on a complex of interconnecting saltwater lagoon pools, the Sheraton Grand Mirage is a good choice for families. Recently upgraded guest rooms, suites, and villas are light, modern, and beachy, with sleek wood furnishings and appointments, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docking stations. The landscaped grounds front a white-sand beach, and there are lots of on-site dining and drinking options. It's a big resort, with all the pluses and minuses size can offer, but thanks to the clever configuration of the pools, you can almost always find a lounge chair.

Pros

  • Magnificent saltwater lagoon pools and steps from the beachfront
  • Modernized rooms and suites
  • Plenty of on-site facilities

Cons

  • It's a fair distance from Port Douglas's restaurants and shopping
  • Cost of on-site food and other extras can add up
  • It can feel overwhelmingly large
Ave. of Palms, Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia
07-4099–5888
hotel Details
394 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

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Silky Oaks Lodge

$$$$ | Finlayvale Rd., Mossman, QLD, 4871, Australia Fodor's Choice

This beautiful, retreat-like resort and Advanced Ecotourism–certified hotel in the heart of the rain forest has luxe tree houses and suites clustered around an expansive open-sided lodge, day spa, and lagoon pool. All accommodations have recently been upgraded, and have minibars, aromatherapy-oil burners, and balconies. Tree houses and suites come with polished timber floors, large hot tubs, rain-forest showers, and bigger balconies with hammocks and daybeds. The Lodge's open-sided Tree House bar and restaurant serves gourmet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Full breakfasts and a raft of activities (river snorkeling, bicycles, tennis, and, in season, guided walks and morning yoga) are included in the price. The tour desk can arrange excursions by horseback, helicopter, or hot-air balloon, as well as cruises, Indigenous-guided rain-forest walks, and adventure activities.

Pros

  • Really special and unique property
  • Helpful tour desk and lots of included activities
  • Well-marked walking trails around the resort

Cons

  • No in-room Internet
  • Steep paths to some rooms (though you can call for a buggy pickup)
  • Access road can flood after heavy rain, January through March
Finlayvale Rd., Mossman, QLD, 4871, Australia
07-4098–1666
hotel Details
43 suites
Rate Includes: All-Inclusive

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Thala Beach Nature Reserve

$$$ | 5078 Captain Cook Hwy., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia Fodor's Choice

Set on 145 acres of private beach, coconut groves, and forest, this eco-certified nature lodge is about low-key luxury. Guesthouses, linked by meandering, stone-lined paths, are comfy, eco-designed refuges with polished-wood floors and forest or ocean views. Open-sided, canopy-level Osprey's Restaurant, bar, lounge, and reading room have stupendous vistas of the Coral Sea and rain-forest-clad mountains. Sunset cocktails and buffet breakfasts here are accompanied by colorful parrots in the canopy and a cacophony of birdcalls. There are two natural swimming pools (one split-level, with waterfalls and grottoes), bush-walking trails, a serene wellness center, and areas for secluded sunbathing. Eco-friendly activities include wildlife, bird-watching, coconut plantation walks, cultural performances, and turtle-spotting from sea kayaks.

Pros

  • 2 km (1.25 miles) of private access beaches
  • Free activities include guided walks and bird-watching
  • Free Wi-Fi in the restaurant and lobby

Cons

  • No in-room Internet access
  • Hilly property is unsuitable for limited mobility guests
  • 15-minute drive to Port Douglas
5078 Captain Cook Hwy., Port Douglas, QLD, 4877, Australia
07-4098–5700
hotel Details
83 suites
Rate Includes: No Meals

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