14 Best Hotels in Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

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.

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.

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.

Perched on the Port of Airlie Marina with enviable views of the boats bobbing in the bay, The Boathouse Apartments boasts generously sized two- and three-bedroom apartments, ideal for those looking for self-contained accommodations. It has ample amenities on-site, from a resort-style pool and Jacuzzi playground to a deck and tennis court.

A handful of simple but comfortable, solar-powered cabins sit among rambutan, mangosteen, and breadfruit trees on this 40-hectare exotic fruit farm. Each air-conditioned self-contained cabin has a kitchen with a full-size fridge, an en suite bathroom, insect screens, and a veranda with rain forest and mountain views. 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.

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.

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.

Located a stone's throw from the ferry terminal at Nelly Bay, this hotel has stylishly designed studio rooms, apartments, and penthouse suites, with high-end entertainment systems, luxe amenities, and balconies overlooking the port, the large 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.

Occupying prime position at the top of a hill overlooking the bay and the Whitsunday Islands, Pinnacles is a stylish retreat with plenty to offer those looking for self-contained accommodation. Spacious one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments have a tropical, laid-back feel. There's an infinity pool with stunning views, a gym, tour desk, and free undercover parking.

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.

Centered on a complex of interconnecting saltwater lagoon pools, the Sheraton Grand Mirage is a good choice for families. Its refurbished guest rooms and suites 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.

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.