By From reef to rainforest, the best stays are closer than you think.
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When it comes to the best resorts in Australia, there’s a particular kind of luxury you won’t find anywhere else. It isn’t just about infinity pools and high-thread-count sheets, though many of these resorts and hotels certainly tick those boxes.
It’s the way each Australian resort is intrinsically tied to the landscape around it, offering experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the world. From barefoot mornings on a Byron Bay beach to sipping local pinot noir while gazing out at Tasmania’s granite peaks, Australian resorts are designed to immerse you in place. And for locals, this is part of the appeal: you don’t need to fly halfway across the globe to feel worlds away.
A weekend in the Southern Highlands might mean waking up in a re-imagined Edwardian estate surrounded by cool-climate gardens. A short flight north takes you to all inclusive resorts on island paradises where the Great Barrier Reef is your playground. Or you can journey inland to sleep beneath the desert stars while Indigenous-led storytelling enriches the experience. These stays aren’t just about indulgence, they’re about connection: to country, to culture, to the slow rhythms of nature.
But what makes Australian resorts truly special is their diversity. They span rugged wilderness and sleek coastlines, from design-forward lodges with eco credentials to boutique hideaways where the staff greet you by name. They’re world-class and attract visitors from all over the world, blending understated elegance with a distinctly Australian sense of ease.
Here, we’ve curated the best resorts in Australia to book for your next staycation.
The best resorts in Australia 2025
01
Peppers Broadbeach
Broadbeach, QLD
Best for: Urban-resort lovers who want both city access and resort experiences
Perched over the dining and shopping precinct of Broadbeach, Peppers Broadbeach offers a polished urban-resort escape. Its two architecturally striking towers house one- to three-bedroom suites, many with expansive balconies and spa baths. Interiors blend European appliances, imported stone finishes and generous layouts to give an overall impression of relaxed opulence.
Onsite, you’ll find dual outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room, gym, Zen garden, lap pool, and even a private cinema. Though centrally located, it still delivers resort calm in a vibrant coastal cityscape. The Gold Coast’s beaches, nightlife and hinterland are minutes away meaning you don’t have to sacrifice luxury for convenience.
Key features:
- One- to three-bedroom suites with kitchens
- Dual pools
- Sauna/steam rooms
- Gym
- Zen garden
- Onsite cinema
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02
InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef
Hayman Island, QLD
Best for: Reef lovers and families or couples seeking a dramatic coral-sea escape
Set on its own private slice of the Whitsundays, InterContinental Hayman is a coral-sea resort sanctuary reimagined. With 182 guest rooms, villas and residences across Pool, Lagoon, Beach and Pavilion wings, the property merges rainforest gardens with seascapes. With multiple restaurants delivering Pan-Asian, Italian, seafood and casual fare, you’ll feel spoilt for choice with dining options.
A standout feature is its connection to the reef: guests can snorkel off the resort, access the Reefworld pontoon, join guided marine eco-tours or fly over Heart Reef. A luxury spa and more than one infinity pool round out the indulgence.
Key features:
- Multiple wings (Pool, Lagoon, Beach, Pavilion)
- Reef access & marine tours
- Several on-site restaurants
- Luxury spa
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03
Silverwater Resort Phillip Island
San Remo, VIC
Best for: Families and groups wanting self-contained comfort near nature and coastal attractions
Silverwater Resort sits atop the rolling hills above San Remo, overlooking Westernport Bay and serving as a hub for Phillip Island adventures. With 170 rooms and self-contained multiroom apartments, your stay will include fully equipped kitchens and balconies to make your stay perfectly tailored to your needs.
There’s also a heated indoor pool, sauna, spa, solar-heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, games room, gym and Watermark Restaurant with bay vistas for maximum relaxation. Nearby you’ll find the Penguin Parade, coastal walks, surf beaches and wildlife parks, offering a relaxed but full-service coastal lifestyle.
Key features:
- Self-contained apartments
- Indoor & outdoor pools
- Tennis courts & games facilities
- On-site restaurant
- Proximity to Phillip Island
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04
Peppers Beach Club and Spa Palm Cove
Palm Cove, QLD
Best for: Couples or small families seeking beachside serenity with easy reef access
Nestled on Palm Cove’s palm-fringed beach, Peppers Beach Club & Spa offers a tropical resort experience with lush gardens, lagoon pools and rainforest rock-pool features. Suites and apartments overlook the Coral Sea, often with private balconies. Elsewhere, the spa (Paradise Day Spas NQ) provides holistic treatments that’ll leave you feeling anew, while La Mesa restaurant presents seasonal, ocean-fresh menus.
Leisure offerings include a swim-up bar, poolside bar, gym, tennis, and a tour desk to explore the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. This is a serene seaside escape that nicely complements tropical adventure.
Key features:
- Lagoon pools & swim-up bars
- Beachfront suites
- Full spa
- La Mesa restaurant
- Full-service tour desk for reef & rainforest experiences
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05
Southern Ocean Lodge
Kangaroo Island, SA
Best for: Wildlife enthusiasts wanting coastal wilderness with five-star comforts
Southern Ocean Lodge is an elegant testament to contemporary Australian design. Boasting twenty-five suites along the limestone cliffs of Kangaroo Island, each suite opens to ocean panoramas where colonies of sea lions and native birdlife are visible from the comfort of the room. Rebuilt after the bushfires of 2019/2020, the suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and a fireplace where you can enjoy a romantic or cosy night in after exploring the Island.
This eco-hotel has plenty to keep you occupied; guided walks through Flinders Chase National Park, wildlife encounters at Seal Bay, and a dining program that champions island produce and coastal flavours. The architecture and service are intentionally pared back so the land holds centre stage, perfect for travellers who want uncompromising design paired with awe-inspiring nature.
Key features:
- Clifftop suites
- Immersive wildlife excursions
- Secluded spa
- Private plunge pools
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06
Longitude 131º
Yulara, Uluru, NT
Best for: Travellers seeking an immersive, culturally sensitive luxury experience in the Outback
Longitude 131° is the definitive luxury camp for the Red Centre: low-profile, sustainably minded pavilions set to frame Uluru at sunrise and sunset, where Indigenous cultural experiences and guided walks are part of the itinerary. Interiors are warm and refined, with desert palettes, private outdoor decks and uninterrupted views of the monolith that alter with every hour of light.
Meals spotlight native ingredients, and optional guided cultural tours, astronomy sessions and scenic helicopter flights turn a stay into an educational encounter with Australia’s deepest landscapes and the world’s oldest living culture. There’s no better place to watch Uluru reveal itself slowly and meaningfully.
Key features:
- Tented pavilions with Uluru views
- Indigenous-led experiences
- Desert dining
- A genuine focus on sustainability
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07
qualia
Hamilton Island, QLD
Best for: Couples and honeymooners seeking privacy and rejuvenation
qualia is the Whitsundays’ benchmark for private-island luxury, blending tranquility and natural beauty. The 60 sculptural pavilions are perched above native bushland, providing the ultimate outlook of the Coral Sea and tropical surrounds giving you the impression of being totally secluded. The interiors balance contemporary Australian minimalism with tactile, organic finishes; each pavilion is its own calm, sunlit world.
With private plunge pools and service that is always one step ahead in anticipating your next request, it’s a resort of quiet rituals. Morning yoga at the cliff edge, private boat charters to Whitehaven Beach, and dining experiences that place reef-fresh seafood centre stage. Whether you’re chasing reef snorkelling or pure R&R, qualia’s combination of exclusivity and natural theatre makes it a perennial bucket-list stay.
Key features:
- Private pavilions and plunge pools
- Cliff-top spa
- Award-winning onsite restaurants
- Local activities and experiences available such as helicopter tours, private yacht charters and bushwalking tours
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08
Saffire Fraycinet
Cole Bay, TAS
Best for: Nature lovers who want five-star comfort amid rugged scenery
Overlooking Wineglass Bay, Saffire Fraycinet is understated luxury at its finest. This secluded gem has become a go-to spot for those searching for an experience that brings together elements of adventure and relaxation. It’s an immersive, slow-travel resort where every sightline and activity is designed to deepen your sense of Tassie’s wild luxury.
Across 20 suites, you can choose from three options. The Private Pavilions come with their own plunge pool and courtyard. The Signature Suites have a relaxing deck lounge and feature a bathroom overlooking Great Oyster Bay. Finally, the Luxury Suites are designed with a mix of traditional and contemporary locally-sourced interior furnishings.
As for what you’ll spend your time doing while there, the onsite program of experiences includes oyster farm visits and Tasmanian-devil conservation briefings. Anyone who’s been to Tassie will come back boasting about the food and here, the menu champions produce from the island state, matched with local Tasmanian wines. If you’re in the mood for some extra pampering, the spa focuses on restorative treatments inspired by sea and heathland.
Key features:
- All-inclusive signature experiences such as beekeeping and distillery tastings
- Nature excursions like the Connection to Country Indigenous beach and bush walk with local Palawa man, Mick
- Locally focused dining at acclaimed restaurant, Palate
- Free minibar
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09
Osborn House
Bundanoon, NSW
Best for: Creatives craving a boutique countryside retreat with design flair and luxury spa experiences
Tucked into the rolling hills of New South Wales’ Southern Highlands, Osborn House is a beautifully reimagined 1890s estate that feels as if it were plucked from an English countryside novel. Designed by former Soho House design director Linda Boronkay, its interiors playfully blend vintage flea-market finds with rich textiles and modern comforts. For your stay, you can choose from elegant suites in the main house or cosy “Forest Lodges” with outdoor baths and deck-access saunas.
And while this bespoke hideaway is brimming with creative flourishes, wellness is central. Be sure to indulge in spa treatments by LaGaia, start a morning with laps in the heated pool housed in the conservatory, or indulge in a Latin-American asado in the garden.
Key features:
- 25-metre heated pool under retractable conservatory roof
- Spa, sauna, steam room, Peloton-equipped gym
- Two onsite restaurants: George’s (lounge & bar) and Dinah’s (restaurant)
- Experiences include truffle-hunting, cycling, tennis court access and immersive nature experiences
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