This peaceful hotel is just steps from the sand and a two-minute stroll from the heart of Port Douglas. It combines the friendly service of a boutique hotel with the comfort and convenience of apartment living. Modern beachfront suites feature kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi and stunning views. Facilities include tiered heated swimming pools, a Jacuzzi and an oceanfront restaurant.
On the beachfront at the southern end of Palm Cove, wrapped in Asian inspired design, the Pullman Palm Cove Resort & Spa is a blissful retreat. There is a signature lagoon pool, plus direct beach access and a day spa. The restaurant serves contemporary Asian-influenced Australian cuisine and a poolside bar offers a selection of cocktails.
Five minutes' drive from the centre of Port Douglas, this deluxe resort centres around a palm-fringed lagoon pool. The contemporary restaurant offers Australian cuisine with Asian and Pacific Rim influences, and there is also a bar and pool bar. Other facilities include a children’s pool, spa, fitness centre and a Golf & Country Club.
Experience the ancient wonder of the Daintree rainforest at this elevated eco lodge, where the clever design makes the most of the stunning views whilst being considerate of the natural environment. Meals here are served in the open-sided Treehouse Restaurant, which has an exceptional location perched high above the Mossman River in the rainforest canopy. The menu is fresh and local, and there’s a choice of fine Australian wines from the wine cellar. The tranquillity of the rainforest and a variety of locally based treatments are the inspiration for the calming Healing Waters Spa. It’s the ideal way to unwind. But there’s plenty to do if you’re feeling active, too. Take a stroll along the riverbanks, hike to Figtree rapids, canoe down the Mossman River, join a guided rainforest walk or take an invigorating dip in the swimming pool. Individual treehouses are spread throughout the grounds. All have floor-to-ceiling windows and a lovely wide balcony (complete with hammock for lounging) to showcase the rainforest views, and offer welcome air-conditioning and a spacious en-suite marble bathroom.
Tucked away on a wooded headland alongside the Coral Sea, this sensitively constructed resort offers a memorable experience within rich habitats of rainforest, sand dunes, mangroves and woodland. During a stay here there’s every chance you’ll spot kookaburras, striped possums, flying foxes and red-eyed green tree frogs; and offshore, ospreys, dugongs and rare dolphins inhabit the waters. A number of nature-based experiences are included, with knowledgeable rangers and guides on hand to teach you all about Thala’s wildlife. These range from guided bird walks and nature walks to Australia’s only coconut tour. For dining, Ospreys restaurant offers a fresh seasonal menu accompanied by spectacular sea views. It’s particularly lovely at breakfast time, when the forest wildlife awakens. The Masked Plover bar has comfy sofas overlooking the main pool, enjoy a cocktail at Curlews Lounge with magnificent coastline views. You can also order a picnic hamper to be delivered and enjoy a relaxed lunch at the beach. The deluxe timber bungalows sit on stilts and are uniform in size and style, with just the setting defining the different room categories. Jungle Walk Bungalows are deep within the woodland forest, while elevated Eucalypt Bungalows are perfectly placed for experiencing the rainforest and its birdlife. Coral Sea Bungalows peep out over the top of the forest canopy to wonderful sea views and come highly recommended.
Allow yourself to be indulged in this blissful beachfront hideaway which offers casual elegance and supreme service and is within walking distance of a number of shops, restaurants and bars. Set opposite a sandy beach in gardens that encompass bougainvillea and tropical palms, facilities include a waterfall, three swimming pools, Jacuzzis, a spa and restaurant, and Wi-Fi throughout.
Natural and wild, this is Australia's northernmost resort and it lies right on the Great Barrier Reef. As a private island, there are no day trippers – so the 24 powdery beaches, lagoon and 1000 acres of national park are all exclusively for guests to explore. There are coral gardens ideal for snorkelling just moments from the shore, and sensational diving includes nearby Cod Hole. Be sure to look out for the monitor lizards that inspired Captain Cook to give the island its name. The resort itself exudes laid-back luxury and its facilities are fresh, elegant and understated. Dine at Salt Water Restaurant alongside the Driftwood Bar, serving superb seafood and fresh local produce, arrange a gourmet picnic hamper, or request the seven-course degustation menu with matching wine selection at your choice of two beach locations. The new international Wine Cellar is a visual focus, with a menu created exclusively for Lizard Island by Australian wine critic, Jeremy Oliver. The rooms, villas and suites have a gorgeous ‘beach chic’ design with muted tones. Choose between various settings – in the tropical gardens close to the beach, along Anchor Bay, or high up on Sunset Bay with views over Anchor Bay or Sunset Beach. Oceanview Plunge Pool Villas are perfect if you enjoy taking a dip, while The Pavilion and The Villa offer the ultimate in secluded luxury.
Ideally located on the Esplanade overlooking the waterfront, this welcoming hotel is just a stone's throw from the Esplanade Lagoon and Parklands, The Reef Casino and the Reef Fleet Terminal for trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Facilities include a small pool and a restaurant serving Brazilian-inspired Australian style barbecue dishes.
Five minutes’ drive (or a ten-minute cycle courtesy of the hotel’s free retro bike hire) from the centre of Port Douglas, the Oaks Resort Port Douglas has contemporary quirky decor, with bright splashes of colour and retro furnishings. The large lagoon pool is a hub of the hotel, surrounded by plenty of white sun loungers. There’s also a spa, gym with lap pool and two tennis courts. In winter months (June to October), an outdoor cinema hosts movie nights by moonlight on the lawn. For dining, Bazaar is inspired by international street stalls and souks. It’s a traditional marketplace with a modern twist, featuring the likes of wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood and spicy Asian dishes. The tropical cocktail bar, Estilo, specialises in rum and is a popular weekend spot. Light, bright rooms have a balcony or terrace with garden or pool views. There’s also a range of one and two-bedroom villas which have a kitchenette, lounge area and separate bedroom.
This fun yet refined hotel opened in November 2018 and sits within easy walking distance of the beach and the buzzing Esplanade Boardwalk. Part of the luxury Crystalbrook Collection, this hotel has been designed to give guests an enriching experience, combining a playful, modern design with indulgent amenities. The outdoor swimming lagoon is a real highlight, with its own man-made beach and outdoor cabanas, while the personalised treatments at the stylish Eléme Spa will really help you to relax and unwind. The dining options here are delicious, with Paper Crane serving a modern Asian menu, and Greenfields jumping on the healthy eating bandwagon – think raw menus and guilt-free treats. Boasting the highest bar in Cairns, Rocco will offer you sweeping views of the city, as well as share-style food dishes inspired by the earthy tastes of the Mediterranean. The rooms and suites are stylishly indulgent, and will feature smart TVs with complimentary films and an in-room iPad, as well as a luxurious en-suite bathroom and generous balcony.
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa is a secluded retreat, set in 33 acres of lush rainforest amongst a natural oasis of coastal lagoons attracting birds, butterflies, wallabies and resident monitor lizards, and sweeps all the way down to the private beach. The freeform swimming pools are a focal point, set in the heart of the gardens. The main pool features a waterfall spa and secluded cove, and there’s a second seasonally heated rock pool ideal for a quiet swim. Wake to the sound of birdsong and begin your days with a relaxed breakfast at Paperbark restaurant, on the open-air terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens. The menu here focuses on fresh local produce, and there’s also a charming beach shack (seasonal) right on the water's edge. Rooms are dotted throughout the gardens. The signature bungalows are either concealed in the rainforest, beside the lagoon or on the beachfront and are ideal for couples, while the Rainforest Suites are more spacious, set around a water feature with an expansive patio deck.
Set in a prime location right on the doorstep of the spectacular Marina waterfront, the stylish Shangri-La Hotel offers outstanding service, fine facilities and breathtaking views of the mountain range. The North Bar and Kitchen restaurant serves modern innovative Australian cuisine.
The Sheraton fronts the glorious Four Mile Beach, a five-minute drive from the centre of Port Douglas. This large resort has a light and modern beach-chic design and huge grounds that feature a network of sparkling lagoon pools, as well as a freshwater pool with swim-up bar. The contemporary Feast Restaurant serves up Australian dishes alongside international cuisine, with buffet stations, à la carte options and show kitchens. The poolside deck is a great spot for breezy breakfasts. Next door to the resort, the Mirage Country Club has an 18-hole resort golf course, tennis courts and a 25-metre lap pool. Recently refurbished rooms and suites are light and modern, with a spacious sitting area, marble bathroom and views of the gardens, lagoon pools or golf course. Lagoon Edge Studio Suites come with swim-out balconies, offering direct access to the pool.
Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel
Pullman Palm Cove Resort & Spa
Pullman Port Douglas Resort & Spa
Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest
The Reef House – MGallery by Sofitel
Lizard Island
Pacific Hotel Cairns
Oaks Resort Port Douglas
Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa
Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns
Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas
