The best winter accommodation in Queensland

Whether you’re escaping the cooler season altogether for the tropics, or craving a cosy country lodge escape, the Sunshine State can provide.

This isn’t a place well acquainted with cold weather, but one that tends to attract mild temperatures all year through — though you might find snow on a couple of days in the year if you look in the right places.

Looking for solace when the thermometer dips? Check out this guide to the best winter accommodation in Queensland for inspiration.

Spectacular islands and beaches

Chase an endless summer up north in the Queensland tropics, a place that hops, skips and jumps winter. What we mean of course, is that temperatures in Tropical North Queensland don’t tend to stray from being balmy, making Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Townsville and the idyllic Whitsundays the ideal places for a quick mid-year getaway. 

Set sail among the crystalline waters of The Whitsundays with a bareboating adventure with friends — it’s one of the only places around the globe you can do this without a licence. While you’re welcome to park yourself on dry land too, why not make the most of the solitude with a stay at the Elysian Retreat, the most secluded island stay in The Whitsundays, and the first solar-powered resort on the Great Barrier Reef. There’s also privacy in spades on the tiny Wilson Island, with nine permanent Reef Safari Tents to choose from.

If island life appeals, you have many options available to you, each as tempting as the next. But stand-outs include the family-friendly (and budget-friendly) Bungalow Bay Koala Village on Magnetic Island outside Townsville. On the other end of the spectrum sits Lizard Island Resort, a true taste of paradise that can claim to be the northernmost resort on the reef, and has the best diving sites around.

Marine life-lovers are best suited to a getaway along the Fraser Coast. July marks the start of whale watching season in Hervey Bay (the world’s whale watching capital), just 3.5 hours north of Brisbane. Embrace the opportunity to see herds of humpback in the flesh as they migrate to the protected waters of this region. Make yourself at home right in the heart of town at Oaks Hervey Bay Resort & Spa with its one, two and three-bedroom suites for whale-loving visitors to enjoy.

If you prefer something a little more rugged, there’s also K’gari (Fraser Island), home to some of the best winter accommodation in Queensland. It’s here you’ll find the ever-popular Kingfisher Bay Resort, a place with ample amenities, and still conveniently close to Hervey Bay.

But winter isn’t just a time of whales, but a time of rays. If you base yourself at the esteemed Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, you’ll be best-placed to enjoy peak manta ray season, when these giant sea creatures (measuring up to seven metres in length!) gather in large numbers to feed.

Glamping getaways and family farm stays

You may find the Queensland desert comes calling mid-year when Outback temperatures reach far more welcoming levels for exploration. It’s a comfortable season to visit the vibrant red desert out west and make the most of its handful of places to rest your head — some of which firmly fall into the best winter accommodation in Queensland category.

If you fancy a splurge, indulge with a stay at the Mount Mulligan Lodge sitting on a private 28,000-hectare heritage site. The luxury Outback station doesn’t just boast opulent rooms (and elegant safari tents among them) but adventure aplenty, from mountain hikes to goldrush tours and ATV explorations. Further west in Longreach, is Mitchell Grass Retreat, a glamping-focused stay - one integrating power, air conditioning, an ensuite and an outdoor deck.

The Gulf Country is where you’ll find Herbertvale Station, a working cattle property that now hosts hikers as a part of a trek-based tour group dubbed Trek West.

Though of course, you can also have a taste of rural life without travelling quite so far with a farm stay. These types of holiday getaways are ideal for those with young kids, thanks to the immersive opportunities. Take a look at Splitters Farm in Bundaberg, a rural camping and farm stay experience residing on a 160-acre property. The place is a sanctuary for rescued farm animals and offers a slew of accommodation options from campsites to a vintage glamper van.

Luxury resorts in nature

No guide to the best winter accommodation in Queensland is complete without a special mention of the luxury lodges scattered across the state. Curl up by the fire at one of these opulent residences which provide a cosy retreat in corners of the Sunshine State that see cooler temperatures.

The Spicers Group is famous for its growing population of lodges, all within an easy drive of Brisbane. Spicers Hidden Vale is the Grandchester gem spread across 12,000 acres of Australian bush and boasting an award-winning fine diner, while Spicers Peak Lodge sits perched on a mountain top among the picturesque (and rather cold come winter) Scenic Rim.

Or why not reset your mind, body and soul at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat or switch off from the daily grind at Cedar Creek Lodges at Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Further north in Mossman sits Silky Oaks Lodge, a luxury escape situated in the midst of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. Similarly tucked under the rainforest canopy is the Daintree Ecolodge, which is a favourite among green-minded holidaymakers. If this part of the world strikes your fancy you may also want to take a look at Mt Quincan Crater Retreat on the rolling hills of the Atherton Tablelands, which consists of a gathering of treWarm up with these 10 reasons to visit Queensland in winter.ehouses situated among thick foliage.

If you crave more privacy (and ample romance), there’s the exclusive Alure in Stanthorpe, as well as Nightfall Camp’s cluster of four grand safari tents tucked into the national park of the Scenic Rim.

Looking for more things to do in the cooler season? Warm up with these 10 reasons to visit Queensland in winter.