Into the blue: the best hotel pools in Queensland

South East Queensland is renowned for its accessible beaches and great surfing, but there are so many more ways to enjoy water play than spending a day at the beach.

Wade through your holidays at QT Gold Coast’s ‘The Spring’. Expansive in offering, but so intimate in nature, The Spring will transport you to a destination where skyscrapers disappear, and there’s no responsibility waiting for you beyond a swim in the water, before heading off to explore one of the loveliest stretches of sand on the coastline.

The Wave Resort, Broadbeach

Water in name, and water in nature, The Wave Resort sports an infinity pool that’ll have you and your family feeling on top of the coast.

Pop up to level four and find yourself amidst the famous Gold Coast high rises to plunge headfirst into your holiday. During your stay, enjoy access to a spacious infinity pool, spa, sauna and BBQ entertainment area, or pop up to the exclusive sky pool on the rooftop to make the most of the skyline.

The Wave is a great option for holiday makers looking to keep the budget down but still soak in all that Queensland has on offer. It’s ideal for couples, families, or even the experience-seeking business traveller.

Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast

The epicentre of the Gold Coast’s fashion and wellbeing means even a weekend stay at Palazzo Versace will leave you feeling more cultured than you arrived. While the pool that runs through the middle of this designer complex is everything you’d image, there’s something extra special hidden within its walls.

The Spa at Palazzo Versace is first of its kind, a tranquil space where reconnecting with yourself is encouraged and inner balance is enabled. With the design inspired by baths of ancient Rome, there’s no doubting this hotel pool is one for your holiday history books. Take your pick of the waters at Versace, with their resort pool, indoor relaxation pool, as well as the hot and cold plunge pools available to ignite your senses and get your blood pumping. While family holidays are available at this resort, this opulent experience is best enjoyed between you and the waters beneath.

Spicers Hidden Vale, Ipswich Area  

While you might only be just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane, you’ll feel worlds away as you slow down and slip into one of the glorious pools of Spicers Hidden Vale.

Surround yourself by local wildlife and Lockyer Valley views, all from the comfort of a lagoon-style rock pool and infinity-edge lap pool. Ideal for those wanting to release a little over a weekend or short getaway, these farm stays are designed for you to digitally detox and immerse yourself in our rural counterparts.

Tip your toes into North Queensland

Sheraton Grand Mirage, Port Douglas

Better described as an oasis, than merely a resort, the pool at Sheraton Grand Mirage offers up countless hours of enjoyment from sunrise to sunset.

This Great Barrier Reef resort north of Cairns boasts an incredible two hectares of saltwater lagoon pools, surrounded by 25 full serviced cabanas available for daily hire so you can relax out of the direct north Queensland sun. Sink into your own private poolside paradise with a lagoon-edged room or suite with direct access to the waters’ edge from your balcony.

This resort has all the comforts to feel right at home, with a handful of luxury offerings for a special occasion stay. While it’s the perfect getaway for couples looking for an extra special retreat, it’s also appropriate for families who love a day on the water without worry of stingers and sunburn. No matter your idea of water immersive enjoyment, there’s plenty of room for everyone to take a dip at Sheraton Grand Mirage, Port Douglas.

Bedarra Island Resort, Bedarra Island

Be barefoot in paradise at Bedarra Island Resort and wade in your own luxury villa plunge pool.

Become better acquainted with nature at this all-inclusive retreat off the coast of Mission Beach. Bedarra is luxury with a heartbeat, investing in off-grid solar energy and replacing their desalination for natural spring water collection on the island, small environmental touches that make your stay a more sustainable story.

Hidden amongst the lush rainforest canopy, the outdoor decks of the Villa North-East, The Beach House, The Point and The Pavilions all feature exclusive wet-edge pools, overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. Retreat from the world and each of your responsibilities at one of the reef’s most thoughtful havens.

Rambutan, Townsville

The real insider’s choice among Townsville hotels, Rambutan has made its name on providing a luxurious resort-style stay that won’t break the bank. Setting the benchmark for ‘backpackers resorts’ around Queensland, Rambutan offers up everything from dorms to self-contained villas and is a popular stop for young and old along Australia’s north-east coastline.

With its rooftop bar and cabana lined pool, Rambutan has become a popular haunt for a moment’s rest on the road, where you can feast on South American eats and sip on cocktails until you’re reset for your next immersive Queensland adventure.

Island-hop the Whitsundays

Daydream Island Resort

See it to believe it, Daydream Island Resort will have you pinching yourself for days.

Their recent resort refurbishment has meant a brand-new pool on offer which winds its way through the centre of the island. This Great Barrier island resort is a popular family friendly destination. Children love the lagoon, but the sheer size of this resort pool means there’s plenty of room for everyone if you’re looking for some kid-free moments of your own. Revel in a pool-side cocktail or enjoy a visit from one of the locals – the cockatoos and wallabies on the island are frequent visitors of the poolside and very approachable.

If a one-of-a-kind encounter with Whitsundays’ wildlife strikes your fancy, Daydream Island’s Living Reef is a highly regarded experience among visitors. Even the staff at the lobby will tell you it’s their favourite Whitsundays activity to-date. An incredibly interactive snorkelling experience through the dedicated lagoon, this eco-friendly, educational, and protected pool features 200m of coral, baby stingray, starfish and over 100 unique species of marine fish. If you’re looking for a hands-on experience to balance your relaxation, this resort pool with a difference is a beautiful way to see, touch, and learn.

Read our guide to Daydream Island here.

InterContinental Hayman Island Resort

There’s no denying why one of the Whitsundays most iconic luxury escapes is increasingly drawing visitors to its shoreline. Hayman Island’s InterContinental Resort offers up a pool seven times larger than that of an Olympic size. After a recent substantial refurbishment, InterContinental boasts a boutique atmosphere that’s both child friendly, and intimate for every kind of holidaymaker in the Whitsundays.

Whether you arrive by ferry, sailboat or yacht, Hayman Island presents so many reasons to enjoy your time on land. Surrounded by verdant cliffs, crescent-shaped white beaches and celestial-blue sea, Hayman Island presents a spectacular sensory experience teeming with natural beauty and mindful enrichment.

qualia, Hamilton Island

Queensland gives you plenty of reasons to holiday within its state lines, but few come close to Hamilton Island’s crown jewel, qualia. Renowned for its indulgent offerings, qualia has your choice of individual pavilions, perfect for an intimate, adults-only escape.

Recline into a couple of sun-soaked days in your private haven, all overlooking views of either the Whitsundays or spectacular tropical bushland, a defining characteristic of the local area. Each of the north-facing Windward Pavilions comes complete with their own private plunge pool. Surrender to the unmistakable feeling the Whitsundays gives you, leaving your heart full and your body a little breathless – a couple of opulent days appreciating it from qualia will be absolutely no exception.