Stay & Play

Upscale Holidays Down Under

by Jessica Percy Campbell

For adventure’s sake, my partner and I traveled down the coast of tropical Queensland last June and spent days hiking lush green forests, snapping photos along dramatic coastlines, and brushing up on aboriginal history on many fascinating tours. With a jam-packed schedule, it was essential to wind down at the end of a long day in top-notch accommodations. Here are the true gems we discovered among Queensland’s coastal towns.

Boutique Hotel Luxury in Airlie Beach

Situated right on the ocean, the award-winning Coral Sea Resort boasts spectacular panoramic views of Airlie Beach, and their upscale nautically-themed décor is seriously luxe. Listening to the ocean waves from our personal hammock and balcony hot tub in the Coral Sea Spa Suite was most relaxing after a day spent out at the Great Barrier Reef; we literally watched sea turtles swimming in the bay from our window! This elegant venue is well suited for weddings and honeymoons, and guests can request a romantic dinner with their own personal server in the seaside gazebo. Larger groups can reserve dining experiences along the jetty as well.

www.coralsearesort.com

For Those Who Love the Water

Our first stay was at Pool Resort’s Luxury Apartments in Port Douglas, a five-minute drive from the gorgeous Four Mile Beach. When we weren’t out strolling Port Douglas’ nearby strip of surfshops and local eateries, we were relaxing at the resort and swimming in their enormous (185 meter) outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees. Our newly renovated 3-bedroom apartment was spacious enough to comfortably sleep six, and was decorated with minimalist yet elegant furnishings. It had two bathrooms, bathtub, washer and dryer, a full kitchen, living room, outdoor dining area, and even our own personal plunge pool. As an added bonus, we watched purple and pink sunsets on our back patio as thousands of giant bats flew above for their nightly foraging routine. Surreal.

www.poolresort.com.au

Nature Lovers Rejoice

Of all the natural wonders we experienced in Australia, I would have to say that Fraser Island was the most stunning. Located on the world’s largest sand island just of the coast of Hervey Bay, Kingfisher Bay Resort is a family-friendly eco stay surrounded by World-Heritage protected forest. Our modest room had a spectacular balcony view surrounded by greenery and the sea, and we enjoyed exploring the surrounding property with their many educational nature tours. Adventures there include opportunities for hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, whale watching, bush tucker talk and taste classes, a beauty spots tour, and dingo spotting tours. At the end of a long day, guests can get their Zen on at the Island Day Spa, which uses organic Australian plants for relaxing skincare treatments.

www.kingfisherbay.com

Nestled in Noosa

Once on the Sunshine Coast, we chose a luxury one-bedroom apartment in Noosa Peppers Resort & Villas overlooking Laguna Bay. Our bright and stylish apartment had everything we needed for a long-term stay, including WIFI, a dishwasher, washer and dryer, fridge, and stove. The resort is overlooking Noosa National Park, and our balcony was cresting a tropical forest. Guests can choose between resort or villa accommodations, and non-guests can also enjoy a day at Stephanie’s Ocean Spa. Our package came with breakfast, and the extensive buffet included many well-labelled gluten-free and vegan options.