16 of the best honeymoon destinations in Queensland

The couples-only Bedarra was made for honeymooners. If you’re seeking a sun-drenched sanctuary, you’ve come to the right place, with a maximum of 20 guests allowed on the island at any given time.

Each villa is nestled amongst 45 hectares of protected rainforest and come with its own plunge pool with breathtaking views of the bay. No one should have to make big decisions on their honeymoon, so all meals, beverages, and a plethora of outdoor activities are coordinated and organised on your behalf,. Think stand up paddle boarding through the bay, snorkelling the coral bommies around the island or even a game of tennis on the resort’s court.

For the ultimate romantic expedition, have a champagne picnic prepared and take a motorised dinghy to explore the island’s private beaches. You’ll have a slice of paradise literally to the two of you.

Orpheus Island, Townsville

Hosting a maximum of 28 guests at any one time and only accessible by helicopter, Orpheus Island is the luxury honeymoon destination your newly married selves need.

Just off the coast of Townsville, Orpheus Island is blessed with year-round sunshine and dozens of secluded beaches for you to laze on, while the warm waters of the Coral Sea make for some of the most impressive diving and snorkelling sites in the world.

The long, lazy days here are made for loved-up newlyweds, and an afternoon unwinding at the island’s award-winning Gwandalan (meaning “rest and peace”) Day Spa will have you settled in no time. Drawing inspiration from the island’s unique Indigenous history, the spa’s Li’tya product range uses sustainably wild-harvested, pure Australian botanicals and organic ingredients to make you feel grounded, balanced, and beyond relaxed. Post-treatment, order a cocktail and enjoy cocktails by the pool at sunset.

Their ‘xoxo’ package includes four nights’ accommodation, meals, drinks, a signature Dining with the Tides experience, private beach picnic, French champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries upon arrival, as well as Orpheus experience daily (snorkelling, fishing, island cruise), unlimited use of motorised dinghies, fishing equipment, paddle boards, kayaks, catamarans and snorkelling equipment. All the hard work’s been taken care of on Orpheus, all you have to do is enjoy it.

Lizard Island, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

One of three true coral cay resorts in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island is known for powdery white beaches and shady palms, making it a picturesque honeymoon destination in Queensland. Boasting 24 private beaches and a handful of world-class dive sites, newlyweds with the taste for adventure will revel in Lizard Island’s affinity with nature.

Their Romance Package—which can be added to a minimum two-night stay—adds on champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries, a sunset cruise with champagne and cheeses, a one-hour indulgent spa treatment per person, private beach day with motorised dinghy and gourmet picnic hamper, and a private beach dining experience.

Sailing through The Whitsundays

If you can’t decide on just one island, explore 74 of them by chartering a bareboat. It’s easier than you think. You can opt to charter the seas with or without a skipper, giving you the freedom to explore the region at your leisure.

Moor overnight at Hamilton Island; stop for an afternoon picnic on the iconic Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island; or stock up on supplies, leave the islands and crack fresh oysters straight from the rocks as dine on your deck under the stars. It doesn’t get much more romantic.

qualia, Hamilton Island

It was the only hotel in Conde Nast Traveller‘s annual Best Hotels in the World Travel Awards to receive perfect scores. It also won the title of Best Coastal Resort in the World in 2017. It’s no wonder qualia on Hamilton Island consistently tops the wish lists of honeymoon destinations in Queensland everywhere.

Exquisitely envisaged by Australian designer Chris Beckingham, qualia’s open design and liberal use of materials sourced from and inspired by nature creates a unique connectedness with both the land and the electric-blue Coral Sea at its doorstep. Intuitive guest services and state-of the art facilities ensure you can be as blissfully immersed in your surroundings as possible.

Add some extra touches of luxury to your stay at qualia with intimate wine masterclasses, hop over to Dent Island for a game of golf on the Great Barrier Reef‘s only island course, or indulge in the dreamy in-house spa. Experience the literal version of your love with Journey to the Heart: a scenic helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the stunning heart-shaped Heart Reef, then land on the Heart Island Pontoon helipad for a secluded afternoon at the Great Barrier Reef.

Kingfisher Bay Resort, K'gari (Fraser Island)

Most people don’t come to World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island) to retreat to their rooms, but after a full day of exploring this world-famous location you’ll be blessed with tranquility all around you at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Whether you’re staying in the hotel or holed up in one of the island’s chic beach houses or villas, this is the ideal honeymoon destination for couples who want to connect with nature. K'gari comes with the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experiences only a World Heritage-listed island can offer: 4WD along miles of beach, hike through ancient forests, soak in freshwater lakes or go sand dune surfing. It’s an adventurer’s playground.

In the resort, unwind at the day spa, multiple pools, and the private beach, or make use of activities like paddle boarding, kayaking and guided hikes. Be sure to take in the sunset with champagne at the Jetty Hut, devour a degustation inspired by local Indigenous ingredients at Seabelle restaurant, and take as many long romantic walks as you can handle.

Honeymoon in the rainforest

The world’s oldest rainforest makes for a beautiful alternative honeymoon escape—especially if you go far north enough to lose phone reception. Disconnect from the day-to-day at these romantic honeymoon destinations in and around the Daintree Rainforest.

Silky Oaks Lodge, Port Douglas

On the banks of the Mossman River, Silky Oaks Lodge has long been regarded as our tropical north's most luxurious stay - and its even more inviting than ever after a huge revamp in 2021.

Hidden away in the lush rainforest less than an hour from Port Douglas, whisk your other half to one of the most idyllic locations on earth. Once you’ve had your fill of swimming in the pristine waters of the Mossman River, canoeing along the banks of ancient rainforests, taking morning yoga classes, indulging in spa treatments at the Healing Waters Spa and exploring bushwalks, kick back on the deck of the Treehouse Restaurant and sample some of the local native fare.

Daintree Wilderness Lodge, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Hide away deep in the rainforest in one of seven exclusive cabins at Daintree Wilderness Lodge. It’s the ideal honeymoon location for guests seeking the peace and quiet of the tropics, with easy access to Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation. This is a little slice of ancient Australia—with a few modern luxuries.

This eco-accredited property has been perfectly designed for complete privacy; boardwalks lead to each cabin, which feature a unique viewing sunroof so you can lay in bed and watch the world of the rainforest playing out above your head.

Cassowaries, Boyd’s forest dragons, striped possums, monitor lizards and other unique wildlife are regular features in and around the lodge, giving you an utterly unique experience of this magnificent part of the world.

Honeymoon by the beach

You don’t need to search hard for a beautiful beach in Queensland—the coast and neighbouring islands are literally bursting with them.

Thala Beach Resort, near Port Douglas, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Looking for an eco-conscious honeymoon experience? Cairns offers plenty of luxurious, sustainable escapes - but none quite like Thala Beach Nature Reserve, 45 minutes' drive from the city. Tucked in behind a coconut plantation and facing its own private beach just shy of Port Douglas, this magnificent resort faces out into 58 hectares of pristine nature reserve.

Thala’s main lodge offers a massage studio, restaurant, bar, art gallery, and two natural rock pools for when you feel like being around other guests. But it’s their eco-bungalows, built high within the forest canopy, that will make you feel like you’re immersed in your own private paradise.

Their Honeymoon package features four nights’ accommodation in a Eucalypt Bungalow with breakfast daily, a cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, dinner for two at Osprey’s Restaurant, and return transfers. It also includes on-site guided tours by specialist staff such as bird watching, nature walks, and outdoor star gazing.

Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Situated along the world-famous Four Mile Beach in northern Queensland’s most sought-after township, the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa is the ultimate honeymoon statement.

This is a mainland resort that pulls out all the stops, with sleek studio rooms, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and villas for those seeking a more secluded stay. The Balinese-style lagoon pool is at the heart of the property and is the perfect place to settle in for an afternoon of sun, sleep and swimming.

A five minute drive away is the beautiful Port Douglas town centre, which also happens to be your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and surrounding natural wonders for honeymooners keen to explore.

Go all-out and stay in their exclusive penthouse suite, complete with a rooftop spa and alfresco dining area (and some magnificent views to the ocean).

Oceans Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast

For a prime luxury beach position with views up and down the Sunshine Coast, a penthouse apartment at Oceans Mooloolaba will make your honeymoon unforgettable.

With the beach on your doorstep and plenty to explore in Mooloolaba, you can keep as busy or as relaxed as you like. Book a romantic package for extra special touches like champagne and chocolates on arrival and high tea hampers, and sink deep into holiday mode with a spa treatment.

QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

Famed for its retro fit-out and knockout dining and bar offerings, QT Gold Coast is in the heart of the Gold Coast, making it the Queensland honeymoon location for anyone wanting to feel the energetic vibes of the GC.

Hire one of QT’s retro cruiser bikes, sip homemade lemonade around the pool, book yourself in for an afternoon of individually-tailored treatments at the SpaQ, and work up an appetite for Yamagen's decadent omakase menu. 

Hinterland Honeymoons

If all the chaos of the wedding planning has caused you to yearn for a complete retreat, take to the mountains for a romantic hinterland hideaway. Bushwalks, fireplaces and spa bathtubs with views beckon from these beautiful properties.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Scenic Rim

Wind your way up to Lamington National Park to be welcomed to your home away from home: a private villa at O’Reilly’s. Fill a basket with some local produce, cheese and wine from around the Scenic Rim on the drive up, then settle into your self-contained villa, perched high above the rainforest canopy.

With a BBQ and jacuzzi on your private deck, a fireplace inside and full kitchen to cook up romantic dinners for two, you could easily spend a week tucked away inside, but there’s a restaurant and bar up at the main lodge and plenty of world-class walking tracks and hikes in this neck of the woods.

The villas are also just a short stumble to the Lost World day spa and one of the most picturesque infinity pools you’ll ever set eyes on.

Nightfall Camp, Scenic Rim

Nightfall Camp will exceed all your glamping expectations; this is National Park luxury and you’ll never want to leave. Limited to only six guests, this handful of super secluded private safari tents provide the perfect environment to sleep off the wedding and spend the rest of your time unwinding.

Take full advantage of the prime position, nestled next to the headwaters of Christmas Creek in Lamington National Park, where you can book a spa treatment right at the water’s edge. Organic food is prepared on the fire each night for you and on special occasions, hosts Steve and Heidi Ross will pop on a film to enjoy under the stars.

Spicers Peak Lodge, Scenic Rim

The Scenic Rim is pure, unadulterated romance country: picture achingly pretty villages, sweeping vistas, big orange sunsets and country walks. And one of the best spots to take it all in is luxurious Spicers Peak Lodge, Australia’s highest non-Alpine lodge.

Splash out on one of the private lodges with its own infinity pool with views out over the breathtaking valley. All lodges mirror the heritage homestead of the main building, where their award-winning restaurant, The Peak, serves some of the best food in the country (so make sure you book at least one degustation while you’re there).

There’s the Anise Day Spa for the requisite pampering and 4WD wilderness tours for when you want to get those hearts beating even faster, with the property’s 10,000 acres of tranquil countryside to roam at your leisure.

Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Montville, Sunshine Coast

There are dozens of picturesque lodges and cottages dotted throughout the Sunshine Coast Hinterland; Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat is a prime example of how to combine honeymoon privacy with the peaceful surrounds of nature.

With just six fully self-contained pavilions placed around Narrows Escape, each has a double spa and fireplace – the essential honeymoon ingredients - along with a sprawling deck to appreciate being truly among the trees.

The Honeymoon Heaven package includes four nights’ accommodation, champagne and chocolates on arrival,  tasting menu at award-winning nearby The Tamarind, gourmet cheese platter, fresh flowers in your cottage, a breakfast hamper on arrival and freshly baked croissants delivered daily.