Best hotels in Australia: where to stay, from Sydney to the rainforest

Right beneath the bridge

Park Hyatt sits on the water in The Rocks, with the Harbour Bridge overhead and the Opera House across the cove. The building is low and light, and the rooftop pool looks out over the harbour.

This is our first-timer pick, because the view is Sydney itself. It is one of the most expensive hotels in the country, and rooms without an Opera House view are less good value. Take the ferry to Manly one morning; it leaves from the quay nearby.

Sandstone and calm

Capella occupies two early 20th-century sandstone government buildings close to Circular Quay. The interiors are calm and light, and there is an indoor pool beneath a glass roof and a large spa.

It suits travellers who want a central base with quiet and polished service. Most rooms do not have harbour views. The Royal Botanic Garden and the Opera House are a short walk away.

On the old timber wharf

Ovolo is on the Finger Wharf, a long timber wharf from the 1910s east of the centre. The interiors are playful and colourful, with the old beams and ceilings left exposed, and there is a pool inside the building.

It suits couples and friends who want something more relaxed and personal than the big hotels. The centre is around a twenty-minute walk through the Botanic Garden. The restaurants along the wharf are busy in the evening.

By the cathedral and the gardens

Park Hyatt is on the eastern edge of the city centre, beside St Patrick's Cathedral and Fitzroy Gardens. Rooms are large, and there is an indoor pool decorated with mosaics.

It suits travellers who want peace and parkland on the doorstep with the centre within walking distance. The style is classic. Walk through Fitzroy Gardens in the morning and on to the laneway cafes.

By the river on Southbank

The Langham sits on Southbank along the Yarra River, looking across to the city. It is known for its afternoon tea and has a spa and an indoor pool.

It suits travellers who want the riverside promenade, with restaurants, the casino and the arts precinct close by. The style is traditional and a little formal. Cross the bridge to Flinders Street and the laneway cafes.

A resort pool in the city

The Calile is on James Street in Brisbane, a street of boutiques and restaurants. The hotel has bright, 1950s-inspired architecture and a large pool with cabanas that feels like a holiday resort.

This is our design pick, for a city break with pool days. It is not in the CBD, but a short taxi ride away. The pool is popular with locals at weekends.

Old government buildings in Perth

COMO The Treasury occupies the State Buildings, a group of historic government buildings in central Perth. Rooms are large and calm, and there is a spa, a pool and a rooftop restaurant.

It suits travellers who want an elegant city base for Perth and the west coast. Perth is a long way from the rest of the country and needs its own flight. Take the ferry to Rottnest Island one day to see the quokkas, the small local marsupials.

Pavilions on Hamilton Island

qualia sits on the northern tip of Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, with pavilions scattered through the bush and views over the sea. It is for adults only, and many pavilions have their own plunge pool.

This is our romantic pick, for a honeymoon or a special occasion. It is expensive, and you fly to Hamilton Island via Sydney or Brisbane. The boat trip to Whitehaven Beach, one of the whitest beaches in the world, is a highlight.

A lagoon pool in Cairns

Crystalbrook Riley is on the Esplanade in Cairns, with a large lagoon-style pool edged with sand. Reef boats leave from nearby, and the airport is about fifteen minutes away.

This is our family pick, with easy day trips to the reef and a pool children love. Cairns has no swimming beach in the centre, so the pool earns its keep. The restaurants along the Esplanade are within walking distance.

Treehouses by the river in the Daintree

Silky Oaks sits in the rainforest beside the Mossman River north of Port Douglas, with treehouses on stilts among the trees and a restaurant overlooking the water. There is a spa, and the lodge runs rainforest walks and reef trips.

This is our nature pick, for two or three nights after some time in the cities. It is humid and hot, and insects come with the territory. Swim in the river in the morning, when the birds are at their busiest.