10 Best Hotels in Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

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.

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.

The huge lagoon-style pool—complete with swim-up bar—is the star of the show at this stylishly refurbished resort. But it also gets points for its location; close enough to the Esplanade to be convenient but far enough away to feel removed. The pool has day beds and cabanas to aid with relaxation, and a sandy beach where kids can play. It also has a great open-air restaurant, MOKU Bar & Grill, and a terrace bar.  

This attractive, two-story colonial-style hotel in the heart of town is the best bet in Cooktown. There are plenty of on-site facilities, including a large swimming pool, laundry facilities, car rental outlet, free Wi-Fi, the town's most upscale restaurant, and a sociable bar. With a wide front veranda and horizontal wide-slat shutters, the resort has the air of a plantation house. Guest rooms and apartments are simply but smartly outfitted with tiled floors, lounge areas, flat-screen TVs, and balconies with views. The Balcony Restaurant and Cocktail Bar is particularly good, serving classic Aussie dishes and showcasing local seafood. 

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 flat-screen TVs, bar fridges, and tea/coffeemaking 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.

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.

The only resort on the island, Fitzroy Island Resort has a range of accommodation options, including studios, two-bedroom suites, bungalows, beach cabins, and a four-bedroom penthouse apartment ideal for families and groups. There's also a pool with a swim-up bar, a kids' playroom, air hockey, and a general store. Dine alfresco at the à la carte Zephyr Restaurant, or soak up the beach vibes at the more casual Foxy's Bar and Cafe. 

Opened in 2020, the Oaks is a much newer hotel than many in Cairns—and it shows, with smart and spacious rooms and one of the city's few rooftop bars and restaurants in Oak and Vine. This hotel is comfortable rather than luxurious, but service is friendly and efficient, and it's in the heart of the CBD opposite the lagoon.

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.