Lapping up luxury: escape to these Hotels by Design in Queensland

Want a window seat to the reef, from the comfort of your plush king bed? Welcome to Australia’s first underwater hotel.

Reefsuites is the Great Barrier Reef experience you’ll remember for a lifetime, located 39 nautical miles off the coast of Airlie Beach. By day, cruise through the Whitsundays Islands to arrive at Hardy Reef, and spend your day snorkelling, diving or sightseeing to famous Heart Reef. Come evening, watch the sunset over the reef, devour a starlit dinner on the pontoon’s top deck, then venture four metres below sea level to watch the water come alive in nocturnal glory from the comfort of your accommodation. Waking up to the underwater world is a sight to behold.

Crystalbrook Vincent | Brisbane

Further along the Brisbane River, Crystalbrook Vincent sits magnificently between the Story Bridge and rugged cliffside at Howard Smith Wharves.

While the hotel design pays homage to its unique surroundings, walking into the lobby feels like entering a gallery. You’ll notice a few familiar faces when you check in; thanks to the works of namesake artist Vincent Fantauzzo that line the walls – he’s well known for showcasing candid moments with famous Aussie subjects.

Luxury meets industry in room design, with accents like raw cement ceilings, statement lighting and matt-black bathroom finishes, accented with jewel tones and gold touches in furnishings. Add stunning rooftop infinity pool and bar Fiume, with the smorgasbord of dining and nightlife at ground level along Howard Smith Wharves, and this is one hotel you won’t want to check out of.

Ovolo Valley | Brisbane

Inner-city accommodation has a whimsical touch at Ovolo The Valley.

Inspired by its location in the heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, Ovolo brings a little Alice in Wonderland to the nightlife quarter; with quirky details found from bold print wallpaper and eccentric furnishings to the rooftop swimming pool’s pop of colour.

A stay here is a certain escape from the every day; even more so if you book the Rock Star Suites, where music, pop culture, original artworks and design collide in a stunning David Bowie tribute.  

More than a hotel, Ovolo The Valley is about the experience: from check in, to social happy hour, to included breakfast. It’s also home to one of Brisbane’s newest dining hits: Za Za Ta, which continues the whimsy while serving up soulful Tel Aviv inspired eats with a 100% vegetarian menu.  

Mount Mulligan Lodge | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef 

While the star of this show is the newest addition to the Luxury Lodges of Australia, its backdrop of rugged outback and towering Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan – which is ten times the size of Uluru) is award-worthy in itself. Getting here is just the start of your journey: accessible via a 35-minute helicopter flight or 2.5-hour 4WD adventure from Cairns.

A stay here will leave you changed – and in awe of Queensland’s most vivid landscapes. Located on a 28,000-hectare working cattle station, Mount Mulligan Lodge invites just 16 guests to experience the spirit of the outback with equal parts adventure, luxury and history. The land here bears 37,000 years of indigenous significance, with gold rush and pastoral history too. 

Your experience doesn’t start and end with your luxurious digs. Take guided nature walks or tours of the goldfields, historic Mount Mulligan coal mine and abandoned township; explore the surrounding property on an ATV adventure; indulge in chef-prepared picnics; go barramundi fishing; splash out on a scenic helicopter flights; and experience the operations of a working cattle station.

Daintree Ecolodge | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Escape to an eco-paradise that leaves no luxurious touch left behind, while being the first 100% solar powered resort on the Great Barrier Reef.

Perched in its own private bay on Long Island in the Whitsundays, Elysian Retreat offers 10 beautifully appointed oceanfront island villas with sweeping ocean, mountain and rainforest views; and it’s the perfect spot to experience your Whitsundays bucket list without the crowds.

Best yet, this retreat is all-inclusive, so your stay here includes three gourmet meals daily, pre-dinner canapes, unlimited use of water sports equipment, daily yoga and more. When you want to do a little more than soak up the serenity, you can swim, snorkel and scuba dive amongst the brilliant tropical fish and diverse corals of the fringing Blue Pearl Bay and Fairey Reef: you might even spot humpback whales, dolphins, turtles and dugongs.

The Calile | Brisbane

The Calile has stolen the hearts of Brisbane locals and travellers since it opened in 2018. This urban oasis in the epicentre of James Street’s designer shopping and dining precinct is undoubtedly the hottest address in town – and its iconic geometic façade a permanent fixture on the social scene.

Renowned local architects Richards and Spence designed this $100million resort, and its contemporary design draws on natural elements while celebrating Queensland’s environment. Its minimal yet playful design utilised natural pink, blue and green marble surfaces, timber panelling and brass fixtures, with open corridors welcoming a breeze through balmy Brisbane summers.

Check into your room overlooking the pool lined with palm trees and cabanas and you’ll step right into holiday mode. Attention to detail doesn’t stop at design though: from the restaurants – including award-winning Hellenika – to the onsite spa, every part of your experience will feel five-star.

The Darling | Gold Coast

Boutique design meets luxury at The Darling. A short stroll from the sands of Broadbeach, you’ll find this masterpiece at The Star Gold Coast, on the doorstep of the precinct’s signature restaurants, rooftop bar, a gravity-defying infinity edge pool, world-class theatre and 24 hour casino. Whether you’re here to dine out, be entertained, or kick back in opulence; the stunning architecture, custom artworks, water features and grand chandeliers are just the beginning of a six-star experience.

What makes this property extra special is the suites-only design, each beautifully appointed with elegant décor and modcons like Bluetooth sound systems and state-of-the-art coffee machines. Check into the property’s pinnacle Penthouses and you can choose between a dedicated Billiard, Media or Exercise room – perfect if you’re here for work or play.

Bedarra | Cairns and Great Barrier Reef

There’s possibly no better place on earth to go off-the-grid than beautiful Bedarra, Australia’s most unique resort.

10 kilometres off the coast of sleepy Mission Beach, Bedarra Island Resort comprises of just twelve private villas hidden amongst 45 hectares of tropical rainforest. If you’re looking for solitude and sublime Great Barrier Reef views, this is where you’ll find it.

There’s more than a few reasons you need to make the journey here. The uninhabited beaches, private plunge pools, open bar and restaurant serving an exquisite and ever-changing menu are also met with incredible bespoke experiences: a candlelit dinner on a private beach; pack a chef-prepared gourmet hamper and take the dingy for your own private picnic on a nearby island; book the entire island for a private soiree; deep sea fishing charters and personalised Great Barrier Reef expeditions.

The W | Brisbane

The W chose the River City as its first Australian outpost, turning up the heat on Brisbane CBD accommodation. Boasting 312 stylish guestrooms and luxe suites, all brimming with river views, stellar design and laidback Aussie style; and the spaces throughout the complex will strike you with its bold flair.

Renowned Australian interior design agency, Nic Graham & Associates brought “A River Dreaming” to life in The W’s design; an ode to its location on the riverside and within Brisbane’s bustling art precinct. Fun, bright and modern, enjoy yourself at tropical poolside oasis WET® Deck (where you can listen to your favourite tunes underwater), slip into the Living Room Bar for high tea, or dine on paddock-to-plate fare at Three Blue Ducks’ Brisbane outpost.

Makepeace Island | Sunshine Coast

Your private island sanctuary lies nestled into Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Just moments from bustling Noosa, but feeling like a thousand miles away, time runs at its own pace on Makepeace Island.

If you’re planning a lavish group escape, plan it here. Owned by a number of famous faces (Sir Richard Branson included), this heart-shaped island is available for exclusive hire for groups of up to 20 guests. And you don’t get just the island: you’ll have your own private chef, a spectacular lagoon pool, giant hot tub and an open plan entertaining area that spans the riverfront.

There’s 25acres to explore and do as much or as little as you like. Stroll the gardens and walking trails, circumnavigate the island on stand up paddleboard, play tennis, or head out on a fishing expedition. When you’re ready to retire to your accommodation, you’ll have every luxury at your fingertips – set amongst a calming, contemporary design that fuses Australian wilderness with a tropical Balinese retreat.

Ready to plan your luxury escape to Queensland? These incredible islands, resorts, holiday houses and experiences are waiting for you.