If you haven’t heard of them before a swim out room is a hotel or resort room that opens straight into the shared hotel pool – you can literally swim out from your room.
Swim out rooms are as tropical holiday feels as you can get without the private villa price tag.
Is a swim out room for you?
Price-wise, swim out rooms are usually a higher price than an entry-level room as they’re more exclusive because there are fewer of them. However, they are generally far cheaper than a private villa with a pool and mean you still have all the benefits of a resort such as restaurants and/or swim up bars.
Pros: The convenience of being able to swim any time you like without having to pack a bag with towels, sunscreen clothes, books etc make a swimout hotel room an amazing option. You can swim from your deck to the swim-up bar or head back to your room top up your drink or take a sip on the balcony.
A Con for some: As the pool is close to the room, if people swimming past will bother you you may prefer a different choice such as a garden view or higher floor
Who is this holiday best for?
There are a really fun option for couples and friends with instant access to the pool to cool down – there is definitely a novelty to swimming from your deck into the pool. It’s also a great place to sit your plastic booze-filled cup while you float about 🙂
From a safety perspective, it may be best to not book these rooms with small children (in fact they are often adults only) so families need to make sure you pick a swim out room with a pool fence
Where in Australia can you book a swim out room?
Swim out rooms are predominately throughout tropical parts of Australia, mostly Queensland, where the weather is warm enough most of the year to take advantage of your swim out pool access.
Island Resorts with Swim Out Rooms
Hayman Island – Luxury Island Resort
This long time favourite luxury Island Resort (my parents honeymooned there over 30 years ago) had a $135 million refurbishment in 2019, ensuring it stays iconic for many more years.
One bedroom Pool Access Suite
The huge pool access suites are the swim out room option on Hayman Islands. They give you direct access to one of Australias most lush and largest resort pools so you can alternate between the deck and a swim – or swim across to the beach!
The rooms are massive, with a separate bedroom and bathroom (with bath for wine/beer and book time!) and are adults only because of the pool access. It is also peace of mind to know that it has a rating of 9 ‘supurb’ on booking.com, 9.1 ‘exceptional’ on Agoda and many trip advisor reviews calling it the best island resort in Australia
Images link to Agoda
Resorts with Swim Out Rooms Queensland
The vast majority of swim out hotel rooms are in Queensland so you have plenty of great choices!
Also Read: Adults only accommodation in Tropical North Queensland
Swim out rooms Port Douglas
The resort capital of Australia, Port Douglas is home to some of the most luxurious swim out rooms in Australia.
Not only does it boast great resorts but it’s only an hour from the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef Trips leave directly from the Port Douglas Marina.
Sheraton Grand Mirage
Famous for its truly amazing sprawling network of lagoon pools, the recently renovated Sheraton Grand Mirage in Port Douglas has more than one type of luxurious swim out room to choose from!
You can choose a Pool Access Room with either a King or 2 doubles and choose to be on either a small lagoon or large lagoon pool.
The Sheraton is out of town a bit but right on the beach front and with its many food and pool options its the kind of resort you don’t need to leave unless you want to! It is also one of the resorts in Port Douglas with a swim-up bar!
Images link to Agoda
Pool Resort Port Douglas
The 2 bedroom swim out rooms and 3 bedroom swim out rooms at Port Douglas are a great family friendly swim out room option as they have a fenced deck. They can also be cheaper or more cost effective option for a swim up room for groups as the price can be split between friends or couples.
Images link to Agoda
Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa
Another long time favourite resort for many Australians the Pullman Sea Temple Port Douglas boasts a 3000m2 pool! Like the Sheraton, this is an out of town resort that has direct beach access and they usually run a shuttle bus to town if you would like to explore (hit up the Marina for drinks with a view).
When you book a swim-out apartment you never have to worry about getting a lounge by the pool!
Images link to Agoda
Mantra Aqueous Port Douglas
One of two Mantras in Port Douglas with swim out rooms, the Mantra Aqueous is a a great option if you would like to be close to the beach (270m) but also walking distance from restaurants and bars in town.
It also has plenty of swim out room choices for singles/couples, friends and families with studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom swim out apartments.
Mantra Heritage
If your more of a pool, foodie and bar person the Mantra Heritage is centrally located to walk to town as well as the Marina for the much loved Hemmingways Brewery and Barbados for food and cocktails. Both restaurants have stella water views and nearly perfect 5 star rating on google.
In reviews of the Mantra Heritage both the central location and swim out rooms are frequently mentioned as what people love the most.
Swim out rooms Cairns Northern Beaches
There are several smaller beachside towns between Cairns and Palm Cove forming the Northern Beaches. Towns like Trinity Beach can be a great choice if you want to stay in a tourist town that is a little smaller than other options but still busy enough to offer your choice of restaurants.
Sea Change Beachfront Apartments – Trinity Beach
With beach town vibes and gorgeous coastal views, Sea Change Apartments is a great option for a tropical holiday. It has fantastic reviews from visitors on both Agoda and Booking.com who love the quieter location, nearby restaurants and ‘magnificent’ rooms that are clean and large.
Images link to Agoda
Swim out rooms Palm Cove
Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa
Not to be confused with its Port Douglas namesake, Pullman Palm Cove is a blissful resort walking distance from the beach and waterfront restaurants. Most of its swim-out apartments are private rentals, please see the information below.
Images link to Agoda
A quick note: In some of these resorts there are also private holiday rentals like these highly rated swim out apartments on booking.com.
They can be a great option and are sometimes cheaper than resort rooms, but always check they have the same inclusions and hotel services you want before booking.
Swim out rooms Cairns
Cairns is a fun tourist town and starting to get its pre covid vibrance back.
You fly into Cairns airport for the Tropical North so it’s a good stop to include in a road trip at the start or end or as a base for day trips to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Fitzroy/Green Island, Atherton Tablelands and the Daintree.
Waters Edge Cairns
Waters Edge is one of only a few options to have a swim out room and also stay close to the action in the city of Cairns. Located on the foreshore you can walk along the esplanade into town and enjoy the views and then catch an uber back at the end of a long dinner.
Images link to Agoda
Swim out rooms Sunshine Coast
Rolling Surf Resort – Caloundra
With 2 bedroom pool access rooms starting from $230 some nights of the year this can be a great value option to be close to the pool and at a beach front resort in Caloundra.
Images link to Agoda
Resorts with Swim Out Rooms in NSW
Port Stephens Swim Out Rooms
Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort
Images link to Agoda
Kingcliffe Swim Out Rooms
Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort
While strictly not technically a swim out, Oaks offers the next closest thing in Kingsliffe with a deck that opens straight onto the pool deck, just steps from the pool!
Alternatively, there are a number of private rentals in Drift Apartments in Kingscliffe that offer swim out options. Check out all the choices here on booking.com and search drift.
Hunter Valley
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
A great option for a break closer to home if you are in NSW, The Crowne Plaza hunter valley has a room with decks that open up onto the ADULTS ONLY pool!
A perfect option for a swim out a room near Sydney for a weekend away, Crowne Plaza is a two-hour drive from Sydney and less than a 10-minute drive to loads of wineries and Werakata National Park.
Alternatively, they also have room service so you can have a do-nothing weekend, alternating between the pool, your deck with a book and food without ever having to leave your room or the resort!
There is also a big general pool and water play park so this is a great resort for multi-generational families, with family time together in the main areas and a quiet time option for any kid-free family members!
Swim out rooms in the Northern Territory
Swim out rooms in Darwin
Swim out rooms on a gorgeous all ages lagoon pool with a sandy beach great for kids and swim up bar for adults.
Kid Free and like a bit of a pool party? Make sure you book on a weekend so you can also enjoy the other 18+ public bar pool to watch the famous sunset over mindil beach drink in hand.
Swim Out Rooms in Western Australia
Broome
While there are not technically any swim out rooms in Broome there are several options with rooms very close to the pool.
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
Pool Terrace Studio
These rooms open straight onto the adults only pool deck and are only steps away from the pool. In some ways they are a better more private option as the pool is right there but no-one swims past your room. It’s also like you have your own private room bar as this pool has its own bar open much of the day.
This is also a good choice if you are looking for an adults only resort with swim up rooms (which sadly are a unicorn) as the pool area is like your own private tiny resort within a resort as the bar serves snack meals. There are also lots of restaurants in the other parts of the resort so you can dine late for a mostly adults-only experience.
Cable Beach Club is actually one of my favourite places to stay in Australia for its tropical resort vibes and adults only pool!
I hope this comprehensive list helps you find your perfect option for a swim-out room in Australia!
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