Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Mosman (Taronga Zoo) · A$400+ a night
An eco-lodge inside Taronga Zoo: rooms look into animal habitats or the bush, and zoo tours are included. Kids remember a night here for a long time.
Good for: families with kids
Путешествия
Where to stay: hotels rated above 8.5
Hotels by city and region with a Booking.com guest score above 8.5, in handy areas and for every budget. We earn no commission: links go to the hotel's regular Booking page.
Updated: 16 October 2026
Sydney
9.3
Park Hyatt Sydney
The Rocks · A$400+ a night
A low-rise hotel on the water right under the Harbour Bridge, facing the Opera House across the cove. The rooftop pool looks over the harbour, and there are only 155 rooms.
Good for: couples, a special occasion
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
The Rocks / Circular Quay · A$400+ a night
On George Street a couple of minutes from Circular Quay, so ferries, the Opera House and The Rocks are all on foot. Upper rooms look over the harbour, and there is an outdoor pool.
Good for: first visit, couples
Little National Hotel Sydney
CBD (Wynyard) · A$200–400 a night
Compact, well-designed rooms in the centre, next to Wynyard station and Barangaroo. Good value for the CBD, with a rooftop library lounge.
Good for: couples, a short stay
Crystalbrook Albion
Surry Hills · A$400+ a night
A small boutique hotel in a heritage building on a quiet Surry Hills lane. The city's best cafes and bars are around it, and Central is walkable.
Good for: couples, food lovers
The Darling at The Star
Pyrmont / Darling Harbour · A$400+ a night
Part of The Star complex in Pyrmont, walking distance to Darling Harbour, the ICC and the Fish Market. Large rooms, a spa and plenty of restaurants under one roof.
Good for: couples, dining
Shangri-La Sydney
The Rocks · A$400+ a night
A tall tower on the edge of The Rocks: harbour-view rooms see both the bridge and the Opera House at once. Circular Quay is a few minutes' walk.
Good for: harbour views, families
Hotel Ravesis
Bondi Beach · A$200–400 a night
A small hotel right on Campbell Parade, across the road from Bondi Beach. Handy for an early start on the Bondi to Coogee walk.
Good for: beach, couples
Stoke Beach House
Manly · under A$200 a night
A renovated guesthouse, formerly a backpackers, 200 m from Manly Beach. The cheapest way to stay by the ocean with the ferry to Circular Quay.
Good for: budget, surfers
Melbourne
1 Hotel Melbourne
Docklands (Yarra river) · A$400+ a night
An eco hotel in a former maritime building on the Yarra, all timber and greenery. The CBD is a walk or a free tram ride away.
Good for: couples, design lovers
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
CBD · A$400+ a night
The lobby and bar sit on level 80, making it Australia's highest hotel. All rooms sit very high up, so the city and bay views are the main event.
Good for: a special occasion, views
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens
East Melbourne · A$200–400 a night
Quiet apartments with kitchens by the Parliament and Fitzroy Gardens. The CBD and Fitzroy are walkable, yet you wake up to parks, not traffic.
Good for: families, longer stays
Meriton Suites King Street
CBD · A$200–400 a night
Apartments with a kitchen and washing machine in the western CBD, by the free tram zone. Practical for a week-long stay.
Good for: families, longer stays
The StandardX, Melbourne
Fitzroy · under A$200 a night
A design hotel on Rose Street in the middle of Fitzroy, around the corner from Brunswick Street, vintage shops and bars. Rooms are small but the price is good.
Good for: couples, budget, nightlife
The Langham, Melbourne
Southbank · A$400+ a night
A classic hotel on the Southbank promenade, looking over the Yarra to the CBD. Flinders Street Station is just over the bridge and the Arts Centre is close.
Good for: couples, theatre-goers
The Howey
CBD (Little Collins St) · A$200–400 a night
Right in the heart of the CBD among the laneways and cafes, steps from Bourke Street Mall. The easiest base for exploring on foot.
Good for: first visit, couples
In The Brick Spa And Hotel
St Kilda · A$200–400 a night
A small hotel with a spa on Wellington Street in St Kilda, with trams to the CBD and to the beach nearby. Family rooms available.
Good for: couples, families
Dorsett Melbourne
CBD (west) · under A$200 a night
A newer hotel by Flagstaff Gardens priced below the CBD average. Queen Victoria Market and the free trams are close.
Good for: budget, first visit
Brisbane
The Calile Hotel
Fortitude Valley (James St) · A$400+ a night
A resort-style hotel on fashionable James Street, with a cabana-lined pool and Brisbane's best boutiques and restaurants around it. It feels like a holiday, in the middle of the city.
Good for: couples, shopping
The Star Grand Brisbane
CBD (Queen's Wharf) · A$400+ a night
The new Queen's Wharf hotel on the river, by the Neville Bonner pedestrian bridge to South Bank. The Sky Deck and dozens of restaurants are on the doorstep.
Good for: couples, first visit
Emporium Hotel South Bank
South Bank · A$400+ a night
A rooftop pool and bar looking over the river to the CBD. Streets Beach lagoon, the museums and the South Bank parklands are a few minutes' walk.
Good for: families, couples
W Brisbane
CBD (North Quay) · A$400+ a night
A bold hotel on North Quay with river views from most rooms. There is a pool with its own bar.
Good for: couples, a night out
Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane
CBD (George St) · A$200–400 a night
Apartments with kitchens in a heritage building in the middle of the CBD. One of the lowest prices among the city's hotels scored above 8.5.
Good for: families, budget
Crystalbrook Vincent
Howard Smith Wharves · A$200–400 a night
A hotel at Howard Smith Wharves right under the Story Bridge, with an outdoor pool. Riverside bars and restaurants surround it, and a ferry stop is close.
Good for: couples, dining
Royal On The Park
CBD (Botanic Gardens) · A$200–400 a night
Opposite the City Botanic Gardens, so mornings start with a run through the park and along the river. Queen Street Mall and the Goodwill Bridge to South Bank are walkable.
Good for: couples, a quiet stay
Perth
COMO The Treasury
CBD · A$400+ a night
A hotel in restored 19th-century state buildings, with only a few dozen rooms. The best service in Perth and the Wildflower restaurant on the roof.
Good for: couples, a special occasion
Owston Hotel
Fremantle · A$200–400 a night
A small hotel on High Street in historic Fremantle. Walk to the markets, the harbour and the Rottnest ferries.
Good for: couples, Rottnest trips
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Elizabeth Quay · A$400+ a night
On Elizabeth Quay with windows over the Swan River. Ferries to South Perth and boats to Rottnest leave from the jetties next door.
Good for: couples, river views
Garde and Warders Hotel
Fremantle · A$200–400 a night
A boutique hotel in Fremantle with a restaurant and bar, close to Fremantle Prison and Fremantle Markets. A good base for staying by the sea rather than in the CBD.
Good for: couples, history buffs
Hyde Perth
CBD (east) · A$200–400 a night
A stylish hotel on Pier Street with a pool and sun terrace. Elizabeth Quay and the shopping streets are walkable, at a lower price than the luxury neighbours.
Good for: couples, first visit
The Adnate Perth - Art Series
CBD (west) · A$200–400 a night
An art hotel dedicated to street artist Adnate, with a pool. Kings Park and Northbridge are close, and free CAT buses stop nearby.
Good for: couples, design lovers
Duxton Hotel Perth
CBD (St Georges Terrace) · A$200–400 a night
A classic hotel at the top of St Georges Terrace, opposite Perth Concert Hall. Many rooms face the river, and there is an outdoor pool.
Good for: couples, business
East Perth Suites Hotel
East Perth · under A$200 a night
Waterfront serviced apartments in East Perth with a heated pool and a gym. A few minutes' drive to the centre, at one of the lowest prices in this list.
Good for: budget, families
Gold Coast
Alena's favourite
The Langham, Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise (south) · A$400+ a night
A new beachfront tower at the southern end of Surfers Paradise, away from the busy centre. Ocean-view rooms and a big pool.
Alena recommendsOur most-loved hotel on the Gold Coast for a family holiday. The food is excellent: Cantonese at T'ang Court (sister to the Langham's Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong), a seafood buffet at Akoya and afternoon tea in Palm Court. Outside there's a warm heated lagoon pool with a sandy entry the kids won't leave, a jacuzzi and a swim-up pool bar, plus a 20 m indoor pool looking over the ocean.
Good for: families with kids, couples, ocean views
The Darling at The Star Gold Coast
Broadbeach · A$400+ a night
The coast's top-rated hotel: large rooms with ocean and canal views, a spa and The Star's restaurants. Broadbeach beach is a walk away.
Good for: couples, a special occasion
The Shores Miami
Miami · A$200–400 a night
In quiet Miami between Broadbeach and Burleigh, with family rooms. A good balance of price and guest score.
Good for: families, value
RACV Royal Pines Resort
Benowa · A$200–400 a night
A 100-hectare resort on a 27-hole golf course with five restaurants, 12 minutes' drive from Surfers Paradise. A handy base with a car and kids.
Good for: families, golf
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Surfers Paradise · A$400+ a night
A resort on the Nerang River with a big saltwater lagoon full of tropical fish. Kids have fun here even without the beach.
Good for: families with kids
Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise · A$200–400 a night
Apartments with kitchens on The Esplanade, across the road from Surfers Paradise beach. Good for families who need space and a washing machine.
Good for: families, longer stays
Nightelier Mermaid Waters
Mermaid Waters · under A$200 a night
A simple, inexpensive hotel a kilometre from the beach, near The Star casino and the convention centre. A good pick when budget matters more than the view.
Good for: budget
Mondrian Gold Coast
Burleigh Heads · A$400+ a night
A design hotel across the road from Burleigh beach. The coast's best cafes are around it, plus the trail through Burleigh Head National Park.
Good for: couples, cafes and beach
Tasmania
MACq 01 Hotel
Hobart (waterfront) · A$400+ a night
A 'storytelling hotel' on the very edge of the wharf, each room themed on a real Tasmanian character. The MONA ferry leaves right here.
Good for: couples, first visit
The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Hobart (Parliament Square) · A$400+ a night
A hotel in heritage buildings on Parliament Square, a couple of minutes from Salamanca. Quiet rooms, with a restaurant and bar in-house.
Good for: couples, a special occasion
The Henry Jones Art Hotel
Hobart (waterfront) · A$400+ a night
A 19th-century jam factory on Hunter Street, its walls hung with hundreds of works by Tasmanian artists. The wharves and Salamanca are on foot.
Good for: couples, art lovers
Moss Hotel
Hobart (Salamanca Place) · A$200–400 a night
A boutique hotel right on Salamanca Place, where the Saturday market starts at the door. Good value for the location.
Good for: couples, Salamanca Market
Waratah On York
Launceston · A$200–400 a night
A restored Victorian mansion five minutes' walk from central Launceston, with free parking. Convenient for a road trip around the north of the island.
Good for: couples, road trips
Shipwrights Arms Hotel
Hobart (Battery Point) · under A$200 a night
Rooms at an old pub in historic Battery Point, with a shared kitchen. The cheapest way to stay in the heart of old Hobart.
Good for: budget, character
Peppers Silo Launceston
Launceston · A$400+ a night
Rooms inside 1960s grain silos on the bank of the Tamar River. Cataract Gorge and the riverside restaurants are close.
Good for: couples, something different
Cradle Mountain Hotel
Cradle Mountain · A$400+ a night
A hotel in alpine woodland at the northern entrance to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Dove Lake and the park's main trails are minutes away.
Good for: hikers, nature
NSW South Coast
Paperbark Camp
Jervis Bay (Woollamia) · A$400+ a night
Glamping in raised safari tents in eucalypt bush by Jervis Bay, with a treetop restaurant. Huskisson and the white-sand beaches are close.
Good for: couples, nature
Motel Molly
Mollymook · A$200–400 a night
A stylishly renovated motel close to Mollymook beach. Noticeably cheaper than Bannisters, with a higher guest score.
Good for: couples, value
Dolphin Shores
Vincentia (Jervis Bay) · under A$200 a night
An affordable option five minutes' walk from Collingwood Beach, with a plunge pool and barbecue area. Handy for a trip to Hyams Beach.
Good for: budget, beach
Bannisters by the Sea
Mollymook · A$400+ a night
A clifftop hotel above the ocean, five minutes' walk from Mollymook Beach. It has a solar-heated pool, a day spa and a seafood restaurant.
Good for: couples, ocean views
Kiama Shores
Kiama · A$200–400 a night
Apartments with a saltwater pool in Kiama, a handy first night on the drive south from Sydney. The Blowhole and the coastal walk are close.
Good for: families, road trips
Byron Bay
Basq House
Byron Bay (centre) · A$400+ a night
A small boutique hotel on quiet Fletcher Lane in central Byron, a couple of minutes from Main Beach and the cafes. The highest score in town.
Good for: couples
Swell Hotel Byron Bay
Byron Bay (centre) · A$400+ a night
An adults-only hotel in the centre, with a spa, sauna and pool. Quiet, though the bars and beach are close.
Good for: couples, adults only
Elements of Byron
Belongil Beach · A$400+ a night
A resort of villas in coastal bush by Belongil Beach, with a big pool. You can walk into Byron along the sand.
Good for: families, couples
Hotel Marvell Byron Bay
Byron Bay (centre) · A$400+ a night
A boutique hotel on Marvell Street, a couple of blocks from Main Beach. Easy without a car: everything is walkable.
Good for: couples, car-free stays
The Sunseeker
Byron Bay (Bangalow Rd) · A$200–400 a night
A revamped motel in tropical gardens with a pool, each room with a balcony or patio. Cheaper than the central hotels, a couple of kilometres out.
Good for: value, with a car
Noosa
Halse Lodge Noosa Heads
Noosa Heads · under A$200 a night
A guesthouse in an old timber building on the hill above Hastings Street. The cheapest bed in Noosa Heads with an excellent score.
Good for: budget, surfers
At The Sound Noosa
Noosa Sound · A$200–400 a night
A small hotel of 22 studios with kitchen and laundry on Noosa Parade. Pets are welcome.
Good for: couples, travelling with pets
RACV Noosa Resort
Noosa Heads · A$200–400 a night
A resort with pools and apartments on the hill by Noosa Junction. Good for families with a car: the beach and river are minutes away.
Good for: families with kids
Elysium Noosa Resort - MGallery
Noosa Heads (Hastings St) · A$400+ a night
A resort right on Hastings Street, with Main Beach one way and the river the other. Noosa National Park is a walk away.
Good for: couples, families
Twin Quays Noosa
Noosaville · A$200–400 a night
Spacious apartments 100 m from the Noosa River, with a heated pool and barbecues. Quieter and cheaper than Hastings Street.
Good for: families, value
Mornington Peninsula
Boathouse Resort Studios and Suites
Blairgowrie · A$200–400 a night
Studios opposite Blairgowrie beach and the yacht club, with an outdoor pool and barbecues. A calm alternative to Sorrento at a gentler price.
Good for: couples, families
Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento · A$200–400 a night
An 1870s hotel on the hill above the bay in Sorrento. The Queenscliff ferry and the Point Nepean trails are close.
Good for: couples, bay views
Jackalope Hotel
Merricks North · A$400+ a night
A design hotel in the vineyards, with a black infinity pool above the hills. The Red Hill wineries are all around.
Good for: couples, wine lovers
RACV Cape Schanck Resort
Cape Schanck · A$200–400 a night
A resort by a golf course looking out over Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay, with a heated indoor pool. Good for families and for a trip to Cape Schanck lighthouse.
Good for: families, golf
Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill
Red Hill · A$400+ a night
A country hotel with its own vineyard and gardens in the Red Hill hills. A good pick for a wine weekend.
Good for: couples, wine lovers
Great Ocean Road
Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn
Apollo Bay · A$200–400 a night
A motel with a garden right opposite Apollo Bay beach, some rooms with sea views. A high score for sensible money.
Good for: families, value
Waves Luxury Suites
Port Campbell · A$200–400 a night
Adults-only suites in central Port Campbell, the closest town to the Twelve Apostles. Easy to catch sunset or sunrise at the rocks.
Good for: couples, adults only
Portside Motel
Port Campbell · under A$200 a night
A simple, spotless motel 250 m from Port Campbell beach. The cheapest night close to the Apostles.
Good for: budget
Sunnymead Hotel
Aireys Inlet · A$200–400 a night
A small hotel in Aireys Inlet with a solar-heated pool and an outdoor fireplace, four minutes' walk from the sea. Split Point Lighthouse is nearby.
Good for: couples, the first night on the road
Captain's at the Bay
Apollo Bay · A$400+ a night
Boutique suites in the heart of Apollo Bay, under five minutes' walk to cafes and restaurants. A good base before Cape Otway and the Otways forests.
Good for: couples
Lorne Hotel
Lorne · A$200–400 a night
Rooms above the pub, steps from Lorne's main beach. A handy first-day stop, with Erskine Falls nearby.
Good for: couples, road trips
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Daintree Ecolodge
Daintree · A$400+ a night
Stilted villas in ancient rainforest near Daintree village, with a spa. You hear the forest at night and can go birdwatching in the morning.
Good for: couples, nature
The Abbott Boutique Hotel
Cairns (centre) · under A$200 a night
A small hotel on Abbott Street with family rooms and a below-average price. Tours pick up in the centre, so the location works well.
Good for: budget, families
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Oak Beach (near Port Douglas) · A$400+ a night
Stilted bungalows in rainforest on a private headland with an empty beach. Port Douglas is about 15 minutes' drive.
Good for: couples, nature
Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
Port Douglas · under A$200 a night
An affordable Port Douglas motel with a heated pool, barbecues and a tropical garden. Boats to the outer reef and Low Isles leave from Port Douglas.
Good for: budget
Crystalbrook Bailey
Cairns (centre) · A$200–400 a night
A stylish hotel in central Cairns, within walking distance of the Esplanade and the Reef Fleet terminal where the reef boats leave.
Good for: couples, reef trips
Crystalbrook Riley
Cairns (Esplanade) · A$200–400 a night
A big hotel at the northern end of the Esplanade with a lagoon pool that has its own sandy beach. Kids stay busy between tours.
Good for: families with kids
Whitsundays
The Peninsula Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach · A$400+ a night
Apartments on the hillside above Airlie Beach with Coral Sea views. The highest guest score in Airlie.
Good for: couples, sea views
Beach Club, Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island · A$400+ a night
An 18-plus hotel right on Catseye Beach. Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef trips are easy from here.
Good for: couples, adults only
The Boathouse Apartments
Airlie Beach (Port of Airlie) · A$400+ a night
Apartments with balconies over the Port of Airlie marina, plus a pool. Ferries and many island tours leave from this harbour.
Good for: families, island trips
Coral Sea Resort
Airlie Beach · A$200–400 a night
A resort right on the water, a short stroll from the lagoon and central Airlie Beach. Easy to come back to after a full day on the boat.
Good for: families, couples
Discovery Parks - Airlie Beach
Jubilee Pocket · under A$200 a night
Cabins in a leafy park on Shute Harbour Road with garden and mountain views. A budget pick for families with a car.
Good for: budget, families
Uluru & Red Centre
Ooraminna Homestead
Alice Springs (south, outback) · A$200–400 a night
An outback homestead about 30 km south of Alice Springs, with a pool and garden. Real outback quiet and starry skies.
Good for: couples, the outback
Discovery Parks - Alice Springs
Alice Springs · under A$200 a night
Cabins with verandahs by the MacDonnell Ranges, 5 minutes' drive from town. Two pools and a kids' wading pool.
Good for: families, budget
Alice's Secret Travellers Inn
Alice Springs · under A$200 a night
An inexpensive guesthouse with a pool, free barbecues and parking. A good pick for solo travellers or two.
Good for: budget, solo travellers
Emu Walk Apartments
Yulara (Uluru) · A$400+ a night
Apartments with kitchens in the Yulara resort village by Uluru, the only stay there scored above 8.5. Self-catering saves real money in Yulara.
Good for: families, Uluru
Adelaide & South Australia
Mount Lofty House
Adelaide Hills (Crafers) · A$400+ a night
A historic country house above the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills wine region, 15 minutes' drive from the city. Adults only.
Good for: couples, adults only
The Louise
Barossa Valley (Marananga) · A$400+ a night
Suites among Barossa vineyards with a patio, spa bath and outdoor shower, plus the Appellation restaurant. An ideal base for wine tastings.
Good for: couples, wine lovers
Eos by SkyCity
CBD (Riverbank) · A$400+ a night
Adelaide's most luxurious hotel on the River Torrens, by the Festival Centre and the footbridge to the Oval. Rooms look over the river and parklands.
Good for: couples, a special occasion
Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval
North Adelaide · A$400+ a night
Built into the eastern side of Adelaide Oval, with every room looking over the heritage parklands. The CBD is a walk over the bridge.
Good for: sports fans, couples
The Playford Adelaide - MGallery
CBD (North Terrace) · A$200–400 a night
An art nouveau-style hotel on North Terrace, walking distance to the station, Rundle Mall and the museums, with the tram to Central Market.
Good for: first visit, couples
Little National Hotel Adelaide
CBD (North Terrace) · A$200–400 a night
Compact, well-designed rooms on North Terrace at a good price. The tram, the station and Rundle Mall are a couple of minutes away.
Good for: couples, value
The Franklin Boutique Hotel
CBD (Franklin St) · under A$200 a night
A small central hotel with one of the lowest prices in the CBD for its guest score. Central Market is a few minutes' walk.
Good for: budget
How we pick
Only hotels with a Booking.com guest score above 8.5 on the check date, in areas that make getting around easy. Scores and prices change, so check the hotel's page. Itineraries for these places are in Itineraries.