Best Luxury Hotels in Australia

Hobart is the island’s capital and home to the Islington Hotel. A little out of the city, the 19th century, Regency-style boutique establishment affords guests tranquillity, with its own garden. Inside are antique furnishings and fine art works in what resembles an urban lodge. There are 11 characterful bedrooms with iPads, Islington Dream beds, a mini-bar and daily house-made treats; also a restaurant – the Islington kitchen – serving seasonal, organic food, a wine cellar, meeting rooms and excellent views of Mount Wellington. The Islington Hotel caters exclusively to adult guests.

Laidback luxury is the philosophy at this guest house in the centre of Byron Bay. It offers TV-free accommodation for over 21s only, with the option of a private plunge pool, lighthouse view, outdoor showers and claw-footed tubs. Owner and interior designer Deb Garske has created a slow living feel, incorporating wellness touches like local beeswax candles, Hunter lab skincare and an immune-strengthening Grander water system, as well as a personally curated local guidebook. Breakfast here is typical of Byron, with paleo granola, organic yoghurt and moonshine coffee appearing on the menu. Guests at 28 Degrees have shared access to a gourmet kitchen, a pool area and a reading room.

Hidden in the Hinterland of Mullumbimby Creek, beside Mount Koonyum, this adults-only estate is made up of low rise pavilions. The site was originally a banana plantation and many of the original materials have been salvaged and reused in the build of Blackbird. Its resulting aesthetic is earthy and simple, yet stylish. Accommodations come with Egyptian cotton linen, burnished concrete floors, reclaimed timber joinery and Moroccan tiled bathrooms A magnesium lap pool was built into the mountainside and provides enviable ocean vistas, Named in Tatler’s 2020 annual travel guide as one of the ‘Top 101 Hotels in the World’, Blackbird is one not to miss.

Those preferring a self-catering option can book a one, two or three-bedroom suite sleeping up to seven, with optional water views and paired car hire. All have private terraces and require a minimum two-night stay (larger apartments have five and seven-day minimums). Right next to the Waterfront Precinct, many wining and dining establishments are found on the property’s doorstep, although the fully equipped kitchen and BBQ facilities ensure you can cook up at feast in-suite. The venue is ideal for families with a wave pool on the grounds, plus porta cots, high chairs and strollers available on request.

Like so many Aussie cities, Darwin has great beaches. This resort places guests right beside a stretch of golden sand. But if you’d rather take a dip within the confines of the hotel, you can enjoy the infinity pool, which provides an adults-only beach-club experience complete with bar and beats (DJs play at the weekend). There are walking and jogging tracks through the area, three restaurants, four bars, a spa and Mindil’s main event; the casino. This is open from 10 am to 4 am with pokies and ritzy table games. All of the resort’s bedrooms come with a private balcony or patio, minibars and some with direct lagoon pool access.

This luxurious resort is the perfect place for golfing fanatics to stay as it comes complete with its very own 27-hole golf course. The enchanting sands of Surfers Paradise Beach are also just a short stroll away, while guests are provided with stunning views of the beach from the picture windows and balconies of their spacious double guest room. The RACV Royal Pines Resort 5.0 boasts more than three hundred rooms to choose from and in addition to a large and lovely swimming pool guests are invited to make full use of the tennis courts, fitness centre and other perfectly maintained amenities.

Imperial Hotel Gold Coast offers a luxury hotel experience, with an exclusive waterfront setting, award-winning restaurants and lavish accommodation. Boasting all the style and opulence of a classic Roman villa, eaah of the 200 rooms and suites within this grand hotel are dramatically decorated with rich tapestries and mosaics, while the huge beds are waiting to receive guests at the end of a busy day. Guests can enjoy diverse dining experiences including fine dining, high-tea and buffet breakfasts at a choice of award-winning restaurants. Leisure facilties include The Beauty Room, a fitness and wellness centre, a private marina, along with the first water salon cabana experience in Australia. Meeting and event spaces are also available for business or guests hosting a special event.

The brightly coloured retro colour scheme helps to set the hotel apart from many of the subtler luxury options and people who are young at heart are sure to love unwinding here. The whole establishment boasts a ‘50s beachside vibe from the lobby to the cute and charming coffee shop on the ground floor. Each of the guest rooms features the same charming pop art theme with big and brightly coloured posters on the wall and furnishings in yellow, pink and red. While style plays a key role, luxury certainly has not been overlooked and there are plenty of great spots for guests to relax such beside the huge outdoor pool and in the spa.

Set on the banks of the gently flowing Nerang River, this elegant hotel provides guests with a warm welcome and plenty of class. The northern end of Surfers Paradise Beach is just a few steps away, while a number of other impressive attractions are also within easy reach. The style of the hotel boasts a marriage of wood and cast iron, while the rooms are decorated in soft tones and feature huge marble bathrooms. Dining in one of the two chic onsite restaurants is an experience that should not be missed and diners are treated to stunning coastal views as they work their way through the extensive menu.

Despite the fact that it was established more than three decades ago, the Sheraton Mirage remains the epitome of luxury and the ocean facing rooms are difficult to beat with their huge picture windows and balconies that offer uninterrupted views. In fact, the hotel boasts some of the largest and most comfortable guest rooms in the area and there are 25 different configurations to choose from. For the best that money can buy, guests should make sure they select one of the 18 private villas, which often play host to visiting celebrities. In addition to first rate rooms, guests are also treated to a range of very luxurious amenities and the Oasis Pool is the perfect place to unwind. With 250 sun loungers to choose from guests never have to worry about fighting for their place in the sun.

This is the third of the brand’s esteemed properties to arrive down under, perched in a prime position on Surfers’ Paradise. Three angular glass skyscrapers house the 169-bedroom hotel – along with a number of swish residences – making it a significant landmark on the horizon. The interior design, by Studio Aria, fuses coastal and city living. Inside is the Chuan Spa, the 26 & Sunny cafe, Akoya restaurant, Palm Court for afternoon teas, a lobby bar and the Cantonese T’ang Court. Outside is a sky terrace with palm trees, an ocean-view infinity pool bar and the open-air Coral Moon Bar.

A sanctuary of luxury, this hotel is decadent, different and just a little bit wild. Its quirky architecture makes its mark on the Fortitude Valley skyline. While inside you’ll find facilities including a chic French bistro (Bisou Bisou), a Mediterranean rooftop bar and restaurant (Iris), a pool bar, a gym, around-the-clock concierge and room service, a secretarial service for business travellers and nanny hire for parents who want to party (or rest). The cutting-edge design incorporates bold art and avant-garde lighting with a striking monochrome palette. Bedrooms are equipped with tablet control systems, double-headed showers and minibars.