The Best Hotel Infinity Pools in Australia
The presence and quality of a pool can be the make-or-break when deciding which hotel to stay at for a relaxing getaway in Australia. And if that pool should appear borderless, blending into a spectacular view, and heated so you can swim at any time of year? Well, that’s taking luxury to the next level. Read on for the seven best hotel infinity pools to take a dip in around the country.
W Hotel Sydney, NSW
The curved structure jutting up between two freeways in the heart of Darling Harbour opened in October last year and every corner of the 558-room monolith – the largest W Hotel in the world – delivers state-of-the-art design and amenities. Its open-air 30-metre rooftop infinity pool and cabana-style bar is no exception. Dubbed The Wet Deck, the heated pool offers spectacular views of the city and greater Sydney, though you may be distracted by the tiles on the pool floor – mosaics of jellyfish that glow in the dark. Dip in at any time between 6am and 6pm before enjoying a cocktail on one of the canopy-framed daybeds or pop down to the AWAY Spa for a hot stone and oil massage.
Jackalope Hotel Mornington Peninsula, Vic
Nestled within the rolling mountains of Mornington Peninsula’s wine region, this five-star, 11-hectare property offers a heady mix of minimalist luxury and seclusion. There are 44 designer dens, each one offering a private terrace, king-size bed, complimentary mini-bar, television and rain shower; some also feature a Japanese-style deep-soak bath. But it’s the sleek 30-metre, guest-only infinity pool overlooking the LL vineyard that embodies the elevated sense of escapism.
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Crystalbrook Vincent, QLD
Named for Archibald-winning artist Vincent Fantauzzo, whose hyper-realistic paintings are featured throughout the hotel, Crystalbrook Vincent has 166 rooms and suites carved into the cliffside under Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. But you don’t have to be a hotel guest to visit Fiume (Italian for “river"), the rooftop bar overlooking the Howard Smith Wharves precinct and the Brisbane River. Fiume is open from 4pm between Wednesday and Fridays and from 12pm on weekends, so get ready to unwind on a daybed with a Summer Negroni and some snacks before having a splash in that superb pool.
The Louise, SA
It’s South Australia with a Southern European touch at The Louise. The property’s 15 newly renovated villa-style suites open onto rosemary-lined courtyards on one side and the magnificent vineyards of the Barossa, an hour from Adelaide, on the other. Dine on the local-led menu with your pick of the Barossa’s award-winning wines at the on-site restaurant, Appellation, before sinking into the infinity pool, which glistens like a sheet of glass. It’ll be just you, the water and the vines climbing up over the hills.
Pullman Bunker Bay, WA
The infinity pool at this five-star resort, located three hours from Perth in the Margaret River region, has some stiff competition: the turquoise water and pale sand of Bunker Bay, which is directly accessible from the air-conditioned luxury villas. It’s a good thing the pool, surrounded by soft shrubbery, is so impressive. It’s the ideal place to unwind with an Aperol Spritz and snacks from the pool bar after indulging in the one-and-a-half-hour native Australian white flannel flower ritual – expect a full-body polish and a hydrating wrap – at the resort's spa, Vie. Hanging around until dusk comes highly recommended as the sunsets – easily viewed over the beach – are sublime.
Capella Lodge Lord Howe Island, NSW
It might only be a 2.5-hour flight from Sydney, but Lord Howe Island, with its misty volcanic mountains, coral reefs and exotic rainforests, feels like another world. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, the tranquil island is home to Capella Lodge – a tropical retreat that takes luxury to new heights with nine lodges, plus a restaurant, spa and plenty of easy day trips that entail snorkelling or hiking across the island. Not sure where to start? Here’s a tip: the infinity pool, which overlooks the twin peaks of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, is enough to make your jaw drop.
Mindil Beach Casino Resort, NT
The pool at Darwin’s only beachfront resort offers panoramic views of the ocean, giving guests the sense that they’re swimming in one continuous body of water. Fringed by palm trees, it isn’t heated but it doesn’t need to be – the average temperature in Darwin during the dry season (May – October) is around 30 degrees. Enjoy a dip and a refreshment from the bar before heading back to one of the 152 rooms on the 12-hectare property, just 30 minutes from Darwin’s CBD.
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