Let’s be honest. The best thing about staying in a hotel is always the pool situation. From glassy rooftop designs and infinity pools to beachside pools with a dedicated swim-up bar, the lengths some hotels go to in creating the ultimate water wonderland is something we can definitely live with.
Check out the best hotel pools in Australia.
W Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
WET on Level 14 of W Melbourne offers spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline. The space is inspired by the curves of the Yarra River, with curved timber elements and gold roof that reflects the lights of the city at night (prepare to be dazzled). With an epic poolside bar and DJ booth the space turns it up for a bold party scene too. Book a stay here.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Gold Coast, Queensland
If you’re looking for the best hotel pool in Australia, then we’ve found it at JW Marriott on the Gold Coast. No seriously, it literally just won the best hotel award from travel giant Wotif. Grab a snorkle and swim amongst 300 tropical fish and underwater caves in the four metre-deep sandy lagoon and cool off under a cascading waterfall. After all that exploring, you can bliss out in the grotto spa or chill out in a private cabana sipping poolside cocktails and munching on tasty eats like towering burgers and fish and chips, delivered straight to your sun lounger. Honestly, you'll never want to leave this slice of paradise. Book a stay here.
Ritz Carlton
Perth, Western Australia
The outdoor heated infinity pool at The Ritz-Carlton in Perth looks out over the Swan River, Elizabeth Quay and city skyline, offering up the most exquisite views to take in while you soak in the sunshine and take a dip in the pool. You can even surrender your hard-working soul to luxurious poolside pampering treatments without leaving the comfort of the sun lounge. You can also order a whole slew of signature cocktails from the hotel’s in-house bar, Songbird, without ever leaving the pool. Book a stay here.
W Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland
WET Pool is the jewel of W Brisbane’s iconic Level Four rooftop oasis – WET Deck. Sporting a bold design of a black and white geometric ceiling, and mosaic tiles lining the pool’s floor reflecting shadows of palm fronds, WET Pool is a place to kick back for a lazy afternoon by the pool soaking up Queensland’s sunny rays on sun lounges ie. how you should be living every week.
In this pool, you can even listen to music underwater and WET Deck Bar serves up a menu of bespoke cocktails, gourmet bites, live DJ tunes and stellar views over the Brisbane River to cement its reputation as one of Brisbane’s ultimate pool deck playgrounds. Book a stay here.
Flynn
Cairns, Queensland
The youngest sibling in Crystalbrook’s Cairns family, Flynn has just opened its doors to guests for the first time as of last year. The resort boasts two glass-bottomed pools, with world-class views overlooking the Esplanade and causal eatery Boardwalk Social, so you’re only steps away from the heart of the foodie action. Book a stay here.
The Ville
Townsville, Queensland
It’s one of the newer hotels which has just opened in far north Queensland and spoiler alert—the pool here is like something from overseas. This huge hotel pool unfolds to give you serene views of Magnetic Island and pool access to The Ville’s resident swim-up Splash Bar. The good news is that if you’re not staying here, you can actually cop pool and cabana day passes. All passes mean you’ll also get to order up some poolside bites and cocktails too. Book a stay here.
Halcyon House
Cabarita Beach, NSW
Located just a minute’s walk from the nearest beach, Halcyon House is a sickenly beautiful boutique hotel reminiscent of Australian summers. The rectangle pool is surrounded by beautiful decking, towering palm trees, white sun umbrellas and pinstriped deck chairs. Try and pull yourself away from this set-up, we dare you. Book a stay here.
Bedarra Island Resort
Bedarra Island, Queensland
It’s one of the more secluded hotel pools in Australia so brace yourself for some all-inclusive, private and tropical vibes. While the hotel itself doesn’t feature an OG communal, several of its 11 villas include balcony infinity plunge pools with views of the ocean with expansive sundecks and daybeds. If the world was ever ending, we’d head here. Book a stay here.
Intercontinental Hayman Island
Hayman Island, The Whitsundays
Heads up, your journey to the Intercontinental Hayman Island will look like a direct flight to Hamilton Island and then a boat trip, helicopter ride or private charter (casually). Nestled into the northernmost point of Australia’s Whitsunday the epic hotel pool here is more affectionately known as “The Lagoon”. It looks out onto the ocean and features a “mini” island in the middle which unsurprisingly is prime real estate to watch the sunset. Book a stay here.
Orpheus Island
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
This island hideaway will only house 28 guests at one time in pristine, unspoilt tropical paradise. The island lodge features a main pavilion bar and al fresco dining area which follows through to the resident Gwandalan Day Spa and then the magnum opus 25-metre infinity pool (which pretty much mirrors the Coral Sea). Book a stay here.
The Old Clare
Sydney, NSW
For a solid bird’s eye view of Chippendale and one of the best places to watch the sun go down, Sydney’s The Old Clare sports a rooftop pool almost too good to be true. This hotel pool even has its own bar with all the snacks and drinks perfect for lazing above the busy streets of Sydney all day long. Book a stay here.
The Langham
Sydney, NSW
The suites at The Langham are next level, with custom everything and massive terraces perfect for soaking up the sunset over the Western Harbour. All about the next-level extras, this hotel is all about the extras, with an underground day spa, gym (with personal trainers on hand to whip you into shape), tennis courts and the piece de resistance—a 20-metre indoor heated swimming pool with a painted sky ceiling covered in stars. Book a stay here.
Park Hyatt
Sydney, NSW
Everybody knows about the pool antics happening at the Hyatt. And by antics, we mean swimming. And let’s just say we’re always jealous of the legends that get to kick back in this heated outdoor pool and spa. Yep, there’s a private rooftop sun-deck with views of Sydney Harbour and cabanas too sink too. Would you really expect anything less? Book a stay here.
Capella Lodge
Lord Howe Island, NSW
It doesn’t get more off the radar than Capella Lodge in the beautifully removed Lord Howe Island. While it might be a little bit of a stretch to call the private plunge pool situation here a fully-fledged lap pool, it is one of the most incredible places to take a dip in Australia (and size doesn’t always matter, people), especially when you get beeline views of the towering Mounts Gower and Lidgbird. Book a stay here.
Lake Argyle Resort
Lake Argyle, Western Australia
The most stunning hotel pool in Australia? We’d back that. The pool at Western Australia’s Lake Argyle Resort is a huge stretch of sparkling blue against the blazing red of the Kimberley. The 35-metre infinity pool features a spa as well and can we just say, when the moon is high and you’re dapping in a little bit of night time paddling, nothing beats this incredible location. Book a stay here.
Jackalope Hotel
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
In the heart of the rugged Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Jackalope Hotel is sporting an outdoor pool which overlooks a 28-acre vineyard. Spanning 30-metres, you’ll be hard-pressed to even go exploring elsewhere once you take a dive into its sweet water and order up a cocktail from the cellar door. Book a stay here.
Now take some time to cop the best Airbnb pools in Australia.
Image credit: @susanforsterrr, W Melbourne, Ritz Carlton Perth, W Brisbane, Flynn, Halcyon House, Bedarra Island Resort, Intercontinental Hayman Island, Orpheus Island, The Old Clare, The Langham, Park Hyatt, Capella Lodge, Lake Argyle Resort, Jackalope Hotel
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