5 Best Hotels in The Gold Coast, Queensland

Gwinganna means lookout in the local Yugambeh language, and true to its name, this 500-acre property sits high on a plateau in the Tallebudgera Valley, with views out to the ocean—just 60 minutes from Brisbane Airport. The focus here is health and wellness, but accommodation in this ecotourism certified retreat is far from spartan; all rooms are light, comfortable, and airy and many have private decks, some with ocean views and plunge pools. Meals are served communally, with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients, many of which are grown on-site. The Spa Sanctuary offers and enticing array of treatments in a serene setting; all the facilities, from two infinity-edge pools, yoga and activity studios, and a gym—where part-owner Hugh Jackman has trained in the lead-up to his movies—are world class. Packages are all-inclusive, with a two-night minimum stay.

One thousand meters (3,280 feet) above sea level and immersed in the subtropical rain forests of World Heritage–listed Lamington National Park, the eco-certified O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat boasts a range of accommodation options, from simple garden- and mountain-view rooms, to one- and two-bedroom canopy suites, and luxury, multiroom mountain villas (complete with balcony Jacuzzis). Daily activities include wildlife presentations, bird-watching walks, Segway tours, and the famous after-dark glowworm walk. Packages are available, which include breakfast, morning and afternoon tea, and a free wine tasting at the property's nearby vineyard.

Set on 12 acres of privately owned rain forest, this secluded, couples-only resort comprises 10 spacious tree houses with timber floors, French doors opening onto verandas, fireplaces, hot tubs, and open-plan interiors furnished with Asian antiques. Undercover walkways link each house with the main lodge: a stunning building with 16-foot-high glass walls affording rain-forest views. You can while away the hours in the library, enjoy a massage or facial under the trees, or hike through the surrounding forest trails, where you might even be lucky enough to spot wallabies and koalas.

This massive, glitzy resort in Broadbeach houses The Star Grand and The Darling hotels: the former offering tasteful rooms with a calming palette and the latter, spacious suites and penthouses designed with decadence in mind. There is a total of nine restaurants, including the award-winning Kiyomi, specializing in modern Japanese fare, the light-filled Garden Kitchen and Bar, and the rooftop Nineteen at The Star. Other treats include a luxury day spa, massage center, hair salon, tennis court, and gym (including free fitness classes for guests), and an oasis-style pool and Jacuzzi area, complete with private bungalows and cabanas.

This ultramodern high-rise apartment resort is one of Broadbeach's most luxurious. Its beachfront location translates into superb ocean or Gold Coast views (try whale-watching from your balcony!). Sleek, spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and luxe subpenthouses (31st floor and above) all have private, furnished balconies designed to maximize the sweeping views. Each is well equipped, with a full kitchen, quality neutral-tone furnishings, flat-screen TVs (including one in the master bedroom), and firm beds. Those staying eight days or more get a mid-stay miniservice (daily servicing costs extra). There's a well-equipped gym, sauna, and steam room in the complex; a large infinity-edge pool, deckchairs, and a stainless-steel barbecue on level four. A guest lounge, heated "sky pool," Jacuzzi, and second barbecue area are on level 34.