Feature Image from my hotel room window at Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas
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Nothing screams holiday more than a lush hotel pool, and this list collates some of Australia’s best hotel and resort pools.
From the largest area of pools at Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas (Expedia link), to pools with a view or tranquil rainforest gems, find a place where you can switch off and relax poolside.
While it includes a few sneaky city bests, this list is predominantly destinations where you can explore parts of regional Australia before lazing by a glorious pool.
Also Read: Best pools in Cairns & Far North Queensland
Best Hotel Pools Image Gallery from Expedia
All about the pictures? Click the image to see the hotel on Expedia or keep reading below for hotel & resort detailed ideas!
Some of the best Pools in Australia by features
The biggest resort pools in Australia
Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas
The biggest area of hotel pools is without a doubt the gorgeous lagoon pools at Sheraton Grand Mirage (booking.com) in Port Douglas north of Cairns in Queensland. While maybe not technically the singularly largest, there is over 2 hectares of swimmable salt water lagoon pools so combined they are the biggest and by combined size the best resort swimming pools by far!
Sheraton Grand Mirage rating
Intercontinental Hayman Island
Images open on Agoda – Click to book
Boasting one of the largest resort swimming pools in Australia, Hayman Island also has the option to splash out on a Pool Access Suite (where you can swim out into the pool straight from your room deck) for the ultimate tropical holiday experience!
Hayman Island Resort rating
Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove
Intercontinental also boasts a huge 1-acre lagoon pool at Sanctuary Cove in the north of the Goldcoast. It is a destination resort for Golfers and those who value being close to the Marina and is around 15 minutes from other attractions in the area.
It also has plenty of inhouse dining so you never have to leave the relaxing resort unless you want to!
Sanctuary Cove Guest rating & booking links
Great value resorts with lush pools
Compared to nearby resorts offering similar facilities these options with amazing pools can be great value when booked in advance.
Drift Palm Cove – Queensland
Image opens in Agoda – Click to Book
Drift Palm Cove (previously Imagine Drift) offers great value rooms (ranging from cheaper studios up to 2-bedroom apartments) with a beautiful lagoon pool surrounded by paperbark trees right over the road from the beach in town. There is no swim-up bar but there are bottle shops and lots of restaurants nearby or you can cook in your room if you prefer to self-cater.
Drift offers a great value holiday without compromising on the nice pool or location.
Drift Palm Cove Rating
Colonial Club Cairns
Images open on Agoda
Despite the unfortunate name, the Colonial Club Cairns is one of the best value ways to stay in Tropical North Queensland with a pool.
It is however about 5km away from the Marina and other attractions in Cairns so be prepared to Uber or use a hire car or use the local bus a 500 metre walk away and pay for meals out with all the money you save!
Read More: Cheap resort options in Cairns
Colonial Club Cairns Rating
Pools with a Swim up Bar
The Langham Goldcoast
Images from Expedia Affiliate – Click to see more
The Langham is one of the newest luxury hotels in Australia having thrown open its doors in mid 2022. Their pool not only has a swim-up bar but ocean views and the hotel has an indoor pool for the days when the weather isn’t ideal. As a cherry on top, you can also book a room with a spa!
The Langham GoldCoast Rating
Peppers Beach Club Palm Cove
Peppers Palm Cove Guest rating & booking links
Read More: See resorts around Port Douglas, Palm Cove & Cairns with a swim up bar.
The most unique Resort Lagoon Pool in Australia
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Image opens on Agoda
This huge saltwater lagoon is complete with a sandy beach, artificial reef and sun lounges for the full mini beach-like experience minus the waves! It’s 1.7km from Cavill Avenue so a good option for the resort experience while being walking, uber or bus distance from the action.
Marriott Gold Coast Rating
Quiet lowkey Beachfront Resorts with Pool views
Eco Beach Resort – Kimberley WA
One of the more accessible remote resorts in Australia, the pool at Eco Beach Resort has pool views of aqua water and creamy sand. It is best visited in the dry season (Australian Winter) to have the full range of activities and dining on offer.
Ecobeach Guest rating & booking links
Cape Gloucester Resort – Whitsundays QLD
Cape Gloucester Resort is a very casual beachside resort tucked away on the coast about 50-minute drive north of Airlie Beach.
I would never have discovered this resort if it wasn’t for an invite to join a friend for a holiday here – at the time I visited about 6 years ago they didn’t even have an Instagram!
It is a pool view treat to watch the sunset from the pool as the ranges north along the coast silhouette against the last side light.
Some of the best Pools in Australia by location
Sydney
The best hotel pool views in Sydney
W Sydney
Images open on Expedia
W Sydney opened brand new in late 2023 and boasts a stunning tropical resort-inspired deck with a heated infinity pool with views over the harbour. You can even order poolside cocktails while relaxing on a day bed – a great place for a winter resort holiday without leaving southern Australia. As a bonus there is also a 24 hour heated indoor pool.
W Sydney Guest rating & booking links
FAQ’s about Resort Pools in Australia
Where is the biggest pool in Australia
I don’t know the official biggest pool in Australia however some of the biggest resort and hotel pools in Australia include:
Sheraton Grand Mirage: Over 20,000m2/2 Hectares of swimmable Lagoon Pool
Hayman Island: Likely the biggest island pool in Australia
Other Big Swimming Pools in Australia
Cairns Lagoon Pool: The 4800m2 Lagoon pool is great place to watch the sunset
Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon: The 4000m2 Wave Lagoon is a great croc free place to cool down in Darwin