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Best Hotel & Resort pools in Australia

Feature Image from my hotel room window at Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas

This is a ‘researched for you’ article to help streamline your holiday planning. I may not have personally visited or used all included products. This blog is reader supported – I may make a commission if you purchase from links – Privacy Policy.

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!

How to get there: To visit Port Douglas you fly into the Cairns airport and transfer by rental car, uber/taxi or shuttle service.

Getting outdoors nearby: Port Douglas is a great central point for adventure day trips to the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Atherton Tablelands and is also a departure point for lots of Great Barrier Reef trips.

Sheraton Grand Mirage rating
Booking.com

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!

How to get there: Fly to Hamilton Island then travel to the Island via boat (or helicopter). Booking a package with boat transfers included can help save you money.

What kind of holiday is this? A long-time favourite with Honeymooners and those looking to treat themselves for birthdays or similar Hayman can be as relaxing or active as you choose.

Getting outdoors nearby: You can jump on paid tours to the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven and nearby Islands from Hayman Island, fishing, jetski tours, and non-montorised watersports. The resort also offers guided bushwalks and nocturnal walks to spot wildlife.

Hayman Island Resort rating
Booking.com

Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove

Image opens on Agoda

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
Booking.com

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

The beautiful pool is glorious to float around in all day with sunny and shady spots most of the day ( i know I’ve tested it)! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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.

How to get there: To visit Palm Cove you fly into the Cairns airport and transfer by rental car, uber/taxi or shuttle service.

Getting Outdoors nearby: Palm Cove is conveniently located to tour the Atherton Tablelands

Drift Palm Cove Rating
Booking.com

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!

Colonial Club Cairns Rating
Booking.com

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
Booking.com

Peppers Beach Club Palm Cove

Peppers Palm Cove Guest rating & booking links
Booking.com

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.

How to get there: You fly to Coolangatta Airport for the gold coast or visit on an east coast road trip.

What kind of holiday is this? The Goldcoast is a long time beach, party and shopping destination and the theme parks are an iconic family holiday. Staying here means you can also get a resort holiday, explore all the great cafes that have popped up recently and there is actually a lot to do outdoors nearby.

Getting outdoors nearby: The Gold Coast hinterland is full of subtropical national parks to bushwalk and visit waterfalls. The gorgeous rainforest and waterfalls of the Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park are about 1-hour drive away. Jump on a tour or grab a rental car (links to rentalcar.com owned by booking.com) if you don’t have your car with you.

Looking for more Goldcoast Hotels: Read this list of the best hotels with heated pools on the goldcoast

Marriott Gold Coast Rating
Booking.com

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.

Eco Beach Resort is around 130km drive from Broome which you can fly to from Perth and direct from some capital cities seasonally during the busy winter months of the year.

From fishing tours to a day spa and special long-table beachfront dining events, this remote resort is a unique experience for couples and groups even if you have different interests – although an appreciation of nature is a must.

Ecobeach Guest rating & booking links
Booking.com
Book via booking.com Book Direct Book via Expedia

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
Booking.com


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

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