5 Best Hotels in Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef

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.

Set on 145 acres with private beach access, 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.

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.

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.