TNQ Writer
People always talk about the famous water off the coastline in the tropics, but closer to your hotel-home, there’s always somewhere refreshing to dive in. Check out these insanely beautiful pools in Tropical North Queensland.
It goes without saying, a swimming costume is a packing essential in Tropical North Queensland, but there’re so many more places to take a dip than the World Heritage-listed wonder found offshore. Paddle your way around these epic pools and make the most of the tropical weather conditions next time you’re in the north.
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Pull up a pew at this pool bar and you may just never leave
Name a more iconic trio than pools, palm trees and poolside cocktails, we’ll wait! Paddle your way to the poolside bar and perch yourself on a submerged bar stool to cool off the Tropical North Queensland way. With a sandy lagoon that begs for frolicking and poolside-BBQs available to all, next time you’re in Cairns, swap a day-out for a day-in at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. Prefer to have your cocktail on dry land? The onsite Moku Cairns Terrace Bar overlooks the water and promises not to get your kaftan wet.
Crystalbrook Flynn
Crystalbrook Flynn delivers stunning esplanade views
Take your swimming regime to new heights at Crystalbrook Flynn, whose rooftop pool is the definition of sky-high, swimming perfection. Complete with glass walls, this lap pool is as showy as it is serene, looking out over the trees of The Esplanade, the Cairns Lagoon and out over to the Coral Sea. Built with Tropical North Queensland weather conditions in mind, this pool is alfresco, while still undercover, so you can enjoy max-splash action, even when the UV-reading is high.
Cobbold Gorge
Delve into an outback infinity pool at Cobbold Gorge Village
Did someone say oasis in the outback? Enter Cobbold Gorge, home to an award-winning pool and Outback Queensland’s first swim up bar. Spend your days exploring the iconic 135-million year old gorge, and relax with your floaties and a frothie back at Cobbold Gorge Village. Care to overlook the water while you dine instead? Pull up a seat at McDonald’s Deck licenced bar and bistro, which is open for all your main meals of the day.
Niramaya
If you judge a pool by the size of its pool cover, Niramaya doesn’t disappoint with 30m of infinity-edge swimming perfection. This luxury self-contained accommodation in Port Douglas is designed for rest and rejuvenation, set amongst 15 hectares of lush, landscaped gardens, all designed to make shoulders drop. The only thing left to do on your holiday agenda is to swan between a pool lounge, the onsite day spa and your private villa.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Soak up that esplanade atmosphere in the lagoon
If you prefer to hit the pool rather than the snooze button, swim like a local and dive into the 4800m2 Cairns Lagoon, which takes pride of place on the Cairns Esplanade. This saltwater swimming lagoon fronts the Coral Sea, so you can swim with a view, safely and stinger-free all year round.Make a day out of this family-fun, free activity by setting up at the BBQ and picnic facilities nearby. For those keen to keep their heart rate up while on holidays, the lagoon is also home to free fitness classes including aqua aerobics and yoga.
Talaroo Hot Springs
Float away your worries in the healing waters of Talaroo Hot Springs
Soothe those weary working bones the Tropical North Queensland way by soaking in hot springs filled with geothermal mineral waters at Talaroo Hot Springs. Owned and run by the Ewamian people, you’ll find this natural attraction just over four hours south-west of Cairns in Gulf Savannah Country. Access to these hot springs is only available via guided tour on a purpose-built boardwalk to protect the ancient landscape, with the choice of four private soaking pools and a historic communal bathing pool to float away your troubles.
Vue Trinity Beach
Where the pool meets the sea – literally!
Vue by name and delivering views by nature, dive into the Tropical North Queensland way of life at Trinity Beach. This holiday resort is the poster child for the three cardinal rules of holiday real estate – position, position, position – perched high on the hill, 20 minutes from Cairns, overlooking the Coral Sea.If ocean views are the jewel in this resort’s crown, consider this infinity pool its diamond, sitting as the central point of the horseshoe shaped apartment-block. Of course when you do peel yourself off a sun lounger, you can explore both the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics Rainforest and these Trinity Beach things to do.
Bedarra Island Resort
A private plunge pool on a tropical island? Yes please.
Swim in the lap of luxury at Bedarra Island Resort, the island definition of paradise that you’ll find 10km off the coastline of Mission Beach. With room for only you and eleven other villa guests, the emphasis at this luxury resort is on privacy, which is why most villas feature their very own plunge pool, expansive deck and day beds to escape the whole world. For those booking the Villa North-East, The Beach House, The Point and The Pavilions, you’ll find wet-edge pools overlooking the Great Barrier Reef for uninterrupted views to contemplate how you could choose to stay here forever. That said, to not leave your own villa means you’d miss the main resort pool, a stone’s throw to the help-your-self bar (your stay is all-inclusive) and just footsteps to ask the Bedarra chef for round two of the duck salad you’re likely to have grown accustomed to by now.
Sheraton Grand Mirage
The Sheraton Grand Mirage is a dreamy maze of lagoons
Some hotels are beach front and others raise the bar that much higher by including a beach within them. Enter Sheraton Grand Mirage, which is entirely centred around two hectares of swimming options. Even though it’s just mere footsteps out to the Four Mile Beach, closer to home, the resort includes nine swimmable lagoons. To dial up the poolside action, take your pick of the 25 cabanas which are dotted around the landscaped gardens for private hire.
Pool Port Douglas
Pool Port Douglas lives up to its moniker
Recline into the Port Douglas way of life and stay at Pool Port Douglas, whose range of apartments, all centre around a 185-metre central swimming lagoon. Take your pick of swim out, plunge pool or pool view apartments, each with mere steps between your holiday-HQ and the water’s edge. Either way, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to cool off under the Tropical North Queensland sun and surrender to the holiday mode that Port Douglas is so famous for.
The Lake House
An infinity pool stretching to a lake is beautiful and unique.
Photo source: executiveretreats.com.au
Soak up the serenity of leafy green Mossman at The Lake House, where your own private infinity pool hugs the boundary of the property, before opening out to your own private lake. Everything about this property cocoons you from the stresses and expectations of reality – from the freshwater creek which tumbles through the property, long driveway and expansive green views as far as the eye can see. With space for up to eight of your nearest and dearest, this is one to add to your list when relaxation is on the mind.
Mali Mali
Mali Mali is the epitome of a pool with a view
Photo source: executiveretreats.com.au
Take a dip in a pool worthy of several crowns including, Australian House of the Year (2008) and see why Mali Mali is the epitome of luxury Queensland holiday private rentals. Its infinity pool is the heart of this home, with its organic, semi-circle shape in front of the master pavilion so you can lap up views of Port Douglas and beyond while drinking in the sunset. Aside from its luxury pool, Mali Mali comes with other amenities befitting of a luxury including a heli pad and tennis court.
