DocuPH
Top-Rated Australia Hotels
Highly Recommended Hotels to Discover in Australia
Australia is teeming with exceptional locations that cater to adventurers looking for a riveting escape. However, a typical hotel might not always meet the needs of those who crave days filled with thrill and amusement. Thankfully, some lodgings offer a comprehensive solution, inviting you to rise from a comfortable bed, savor an on-site gourmet breakfast, and dive into an assortment of thrilling activities. Take a breather whenever you wish, unwind near a rejuvenating swimming area, and enjoy the victory thrill without ever stepping off the premises – sheer delight. However, amidst the myriad of luxurious options in Australia, not all can live up to the grand expectations set by this description.
While a hotel might offer entertainment, it does not always ensure maximum convenience or top-notch recreational amenities. Since you’re investing your hard-earned money in a hotel stay, it’s vital to ensure a balance between these factors to maximize value. The most effective strategy is to evaluate the options at hand. Considering the vast array of accommodations in Australia, we’ve streamlined the options and hand-picked our top selections. These outstanding choices promise a memorable stay and an unrivaled experience that will linger with you well beyond your departure.
Our Top Hotels
Each of the 15 suites is cast in an elegant palette of grey; they are spacious, sophisticated and designed for privacy. In some suites, marble bathrooms have underfloor heating, spa baths and outdoor rain showers. Private courtyards are standard, and each suite, no matter the size, has deep armchairs, a fireplace and king-sized bed. Tech includes a Nespresso machine, BOSE iPod docking stations, Chromecast on the televisions for streaming and, in the carpark, a Tesla charging station.
Overall, rooms have been designed to emulate the feel of home (though perhaps nicer than the one you left behind): decorative glassware and vases join coffee table tomes on the bookshelves; tasteful water carafes sit at each beside, and candles are waiting to be lit at one end of the bathtub. Thoughtful extras include a soothing camomile-blend tea delivered to the room as part of turndown service, freshly baked ANZAC cookies, replenished daily, and a complimentary decanter of port to enjoy post-dinner.
It’s almost impossible not to gasp when you’re confronted by two large tigers as soon as you walk in the door of a jungle bungalow. The wow-factor is biggest in the five bungalow suites, built inside the enclosures of lions, tigers, bears and cheetahs, with only centimetres of very strong glass separating the animals from your four-poster bed, bathtub or sofa. Who needs a television? There are also six treehouses built to overlook the home of Humbekahli, a curious giraffe who’s likely to poke his head into your balcony.
In the main building, uShaka Lodge, are seven suites, one with windows into the five-metre (16-ft) deep aquarium, others into the hyena, meerkat, or lemur enclosures. All rooms are luxuriously appointed and African-themed, with animal prints, artworks and sculptures, even down to the music that’s playing when you arrive.
The resort hums with enthusiastic staff members clad in crisp blue and white uniforms. They commandeer jaunty golf buggies, ferrying guests from the tennis court to the pool and back round again. At the restaurant, the good-natured waiting staff exude patience and attention; no child is too loud, no request too trivial. There is bocce and giant chess on the lawn, morning yoga on the grass overlooking the beach (tip: bring bug spray), horse riding, poolside service, and a beach club serving snacks and cocktails from 2pm-7pm daily.
Osprey Day Spa is known for being one of the best places in town to get a massage, and, considering that Byron Bay is a town of many massage therapists, that’s saying something. There is a separate adults’ pool complete with a swim-up tequila bar and pop-up food truck serving tacos. A five-minute walk away is the Byron Solar Train, the world’s first solar-powered train, which takes guests into the centre of town.
The lodge has expert sea-fishing guides, its own vessels and a lot of experience taking Aussie fishermen and women out into the surrounding archipelago. Hotel staff are drawn largely from the UK (the British owner, Dennis Winchester, has close contacts with Devon and recruits expat temporary workers from Barnstaple) and they are helpful, informative and enthusiastic. The hotel enjoys good connections with local communities and can arrange visits to meet aboriginal artists and craftsmen. Site facilities include a pool, good-sized spa and exercise room; there’s Wi-Fi in the lobby, but not in the rooms.
Sixty villas are spread over a large, sparsely wooded area, with raised walkways joining them to the lobby/restaurant and pool – as elsewhere in the Top End, salt-water crocodiles inhabit the seas, hence the walkways. The largest rooms are closest to the beach and have balconies, living areas and a large bathroom with a whirlpool tub. All have air-conditioning and TVs.