Mere steps from the beach, this 5-star resort is a short drive to theme parks and the glorious Gold Coast hinterland. Families and groups will love the multi-bedroom villas equipped with comfortable living areas, verandahs and modern kitchens – handy if you’re able to resist the four on-site eateries, that is.

Beyond its resplendent location – a private island comprising 1000 hectares of national park surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef – there’s plenty to impress at this 14-bungalow retreat. Think all-inclusive meals showcasing fresh Queensland produce, free guide-led activities like snorkelling trips and the rejuvenating Gwandalan Day Spa.

Kick off your Great Barrier Reef adventure at the luxurious Pullman Cairns International in Cairns City. Book through Qantas Hotels & Holidays and save 36%, plus enjoy a daily breakfast buffet for two, a guaranteed upgrade to a Superior King Room, and a 30% discount at Vie Spa. Book a 2-night stay for two adults from just $550 (and earn 1,650 Qantas Points).

There’s a cool, creative vibe at this laid-back yet luxurious stay by the Brisbane River. Expect bright and spacious rooms with water views, next-level pampering at Away Spa and elevated spins on QLD produce at New York-style grill, The Lex. 

The QT’s quirky-cool style gets a sunny twist at its Gold Coast outpost, where rattan furniture sits alongside surfboard art installations. Recline in a striped cabana by the Instagram-worthy pool, take one of the hotel’s retro bikes for a spin and grab a Margarita at the buzzy Stingray bar (one of five on-site dining options).

A huge Palm Springs-style pool with its own beach, Eléme spa, two on-site restaurants serving everything from Mediterranean classics to spicy Asian street food, the highest rooftop bar in Cairns – in short, Crystalbrook Riley has you covered. Book a roomy, wood-panelled suite with gorgeous views out to the Coral Sea.

Escape to Pullman King George Square in Brisbane and enjoy all the major attractions at your doorstep. Book via Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save 43% and you’ll get a daily breakfast buffet for two guests, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, a guaranteed room upgrade to an Executive King and a late checkout until 1pm. Book two nights for two adults from $549 (and earn 1,647 Qantas Points).

This family-friendly Whitsundays resort is centred around the Living Reef, a vast man-made coral lagoon complete with underwater observatory and exploration centre. With 280 spacious rooms and suites, an activity-packed kids club, water sports, an open-air cinema and three restaurants, you’ll have everything you need to fill your days.

Set on the northern tip of Hamilton Island, Qualia is the Great Barrier Reef’s sleekest stay. Exclusivity is, of course, a draw – celebrities flock to the 60 self-contained pavilions, many with private plunge pools. But there are also plenty of adventures to embark on, from helicopter tours to sunset cruises, plus a luxe spa and two on-site restaurants.

Reopened in 2019 after a two-year, $135-million makeover, this family-friendly 168-room resort is home to one of the largest swimming pools in Australia. When it comes to off-island aquatic adventures, guests can dive, kayak, charter a private yacht, join an underwater ski scooter tour and much more.

The northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, this 40-room-and-villa property is filled with romantic nooks from which to take in the sun and sea: loungers by the freshwater pool overlooking Anchor Bay, cushioned daybeds on your private deck, beachside pavilions where a sunset dégustation for two is served.

This resort is like a slice of the French Riviera on the Sunshine Coast, with striped awnings and whitewashed walls standing out against the Noosa Boardwalk. Stroll the shops on Hastings Street, sip champagne at the pool bar and order the seared scallops at the elegant on-site restaurant.

Escape to Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise and indulge in a luxury beachfront retreat. Book through Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save 10%, plus enjoy a $100 voucher for a bottle of Hyde Paradiso sparkling Brut and Little Cocoa chocolate upon arrival. Book a 3-night stay for two adults from $1,575 and earn 4,725 Qantas Points.

With 56 glam suites right next door to the Gold Coast’s Star Casino, guests at The Darling don’t need to wander far to fill their time. Along with theatre, live music and gaming, the precinct’s 16 bars, restaurants and cafes include such standouts as Kiyomi.

Set between a pretty saltwater lagoon and world-class golf courses at the northern end of the Gold Coast, this luxury resort sprawls across 4.2 hectares of abundant tropical gardens. Seven different lodging options, including family-friendly configurations, are bolstered by two pools, four restaurants and an excellent kids club.  

Once you arrive at this stunning 15-cabin enclave in the Daintree Rainforest don’t expect to rush anywhere – chances are, you’ll be busy gazing at the open-air restaurant and private waterfall. Don’t miss one of the Indigenous-influenced treatments at the spa, such as the mud wrap and massage using native botanicals. 

Nestled between the ocean and river on the Sunshine Coast, the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort Twin Waters is your beachfront escape. Book via Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save 44% and you’ll get a daily breakfast buffet for two guests at Sola Restaurant and welcome cocktails for two on arrival, and a late check-out until 12pm. Book three nights for two adults from $699 (and earn 2,097 Qantas Points).

Designed around a network of crystal-clear saltwater pools, the Sheraton Grand Mirage in Port Douglas sits right on Four Mile Beach. The resort is home to four eateries – including acclaimed fine-diner Harrisons – and an 18-hole golf course. Rooms are sizable and stylish; book a swim-out studio for direct access to the sparkling lagoon.  

The place to see and be seen in Brisbane’s uber-trendy James Street precinct, The Calile has raised the accommodation game in the Queensland capital. It might be tough to drag yourself away from the photogenic pastel-hued pool but don’t skip lunch at the hotel’s cool dining choices or hitting the designer boutiques on the ground floor.

Imagine a cluster of luxury villas in the tranquil Sunshine Coast hinterland, decorated with warm timber furnishings and outfitted with cedar hot tubs. That’s Tamarind, renowned for its cooking school, hatted restaurant and indulgent day spa, where treatments like the full-body spiced chai sugar scrub draw on the aromas and ingredients of Asia.

Located on Marlin Marina, the Shangri-La in Cairns promises easy access to boat tours departing for the Great Barrier Reef as well as on-land attractions like the nearby aquarium. Each of the spacious 225 rooms and suites has its own balcony – you’ll want to leave the sliding doors open to let the coastal breeze in.

Thirty contemporary Balinese-style villas are strung across the lush 15-hectare estate at Niramaya in Port Douglas, each with its own garden, pool and gourmet kitchen. Activities fall broadly into two categories: action-packed outings to explore the reef and Daintree or unwinding at the spectacular spa, an indoor/outdoor haven surrounded by greenery.

Three pools, a tennis clubhouse, a kids playground and a relaxed Mexican restaurant: 30 minutes drive north of Cairns, Peppers Beach Club in Palm Cove ticks lots of boxes. Sleeping up to six, the three-bedroom Ocean Penthouse features a private rooftop terrace with a barbecue and plunge pool, kitchen, separate entertainment areas and epic views.

Discover a sophisticated retreat where the rainforest meets the reef at Peppers Beach Club & Spa in Palm Cove. Book via Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save 33% and you’ll get a daily breakfast buffet at La Mesa Restuarant, one cocktail voucher per adult, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, one $50 La Mesa credit per adult and one $25 spa credit per adult. Book three nights for two adults from $1,048 (and earn 3,144 Qantas Points.

All sleek white modern buildings, accented with striped awnings, green palms and pink bougainvillaea, this Townsville resort-casino will look perfect on your grid. When you’re not soaking up the sun on the lawns lining the resort or sipping a Margarita at the pool bar, head to the shaded terrace at Quarterdeck for some bug and prawn sliders.

Silky Oaks has unparalleled access to Tropical North Queensland’s natural wonders – overlooking the beautiful Mossman River, it’s a hub for adventures in the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation. As for lodgings, you’ll be sleeping in one of 40 luxe treehouses outfitted with local timbers and works by First Nations artists.

This oceanfront resort goes the extra mile for young travellers (and their weary parents). Accommodation options range from smart studios to two-storey, three-bedroom villas with vast living rooms, a private outdoor entertaining area and plunge pool.

Located on a 28,000-hectare working cattle station, this all-inclusive lodge sits beneath a spectacular 18-kilometre-long escarpment. As impressive is the fact that the outback-chic rooms, suites and glamping tents accommodate just 20 lucky guests at a time – giving you plenty of space to relax in your outdoor tub, the infinity pool or sunset bar.

Perched 1100 metres above sea level and surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park and the Great Dividing Range, this all-inclusive stay is the pinnacle of charm. The 10 suites and two private lodges feel both considered and comfortable, featuring bespoke furnishings, recycled timber floorboards and bluestone fireplaces. 

One of three design-forward Crystalbrook Collection properties in Cairns, Flynn is the boisterous younger sibling. Fun touches come in the form of a glass-walled swimming pool, fuchsia robes in the 311 fashionable rooms and pop-up bars during Sunday sessions, plus there are a trio of restaurants offering everything from rare whiskies to milk bar desserts.

As the name suggests, this apartment-style resort occupies prime real estate on Noosa’s Main Beach. Inside, the self-contained units have configurations for families, couples and solo travellers with a soothing blend of comfy Mid-century Modern sofas, crisp white linen and massive windows for appreciating the vista.

With the only swim-up pool bar in Cairns, this 314-room resort also boasts a kitschy restaurant, well-equipped gym and fun-filled school-holiday programs. After a long day lazing in the sunshine – or exploring the esplanade and Cairns Museum, a five-minute walk away – head to Moku Bar & Grill for a poolside poké bowl.