No matter the destination or the season, there’s one thing I never travel without: a swimsuit. I’m the type of person who checks into a new hotel and heads straight to the pool – often before I’ve even dropped off my bags. Luckily, Australia’s mostly warm weather means I can make the most of our country’s impressive hotel pools year-round. And even in the chillier months, many of them heat up to a steamy 30 degrees, making them just as inviting on a winter’s day.
If you’re one to pick a hotel based on its swimming facilities – which from experience tells you a lot about a property – then you’ll want to keep reading. Renowned travel media brand Travel + Leisure has just announced the winners of its 2025 Luxury Awards, and alongside the best city hotels, they’ve crowned the ten best hotel pools in Australia.
Overlooking Australia’s second-largest man-made freshwater lake, the breathtaking infinity pool at Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle has claimed the top honour this year. The 35-metre pool is the crown jewel of the five-hectare resort park, framed by the rugged ranges in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Honestly, we’d travel to the ends of the Earth just to dive right in!
Soft white sand, bright blue waters with tropical fish and a streaming waterfall – no, we’re not talking about the Great Barrier Reef, we’re talking about the dreamy saltwater lagoon at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Named Australia’s second-best hotel pool in 2025, it’s a standout in a state full of stunners. In fact, six Queensland hotel pools cracked the list this year, with Port Douglas’ Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in fourth, W Brisbane in fifth, InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef in sixth, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort in seventh and Qualia on Hamilton Island in tenth. You can check out the full list of winners here.
These are the 10 best hotel pools in Australia for 2025
- Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle, WA
- JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa, QLD
- The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, WA
- Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas, QLD
- W Brisbane, QLD
- InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, QLD
- InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, QLD
- Elements of Byron Resort and Spa, NSW
- The Day Spa by Chuan at The Langham, Sydney, NSW
- Qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD