13 Day Luxury Queensland

First stop on your luxury Queensland holiday is Brisbane, where you'll enjoy a two-night stay at Emporium Hotel South Bank. This beautiful boutique hotel boasts a rooftop infinity pool with stunning city views, a steam room, sauna, icy plunge pool, and a state-of-the-art gym. You might find it hard to tear yourself away from the hotel's six fantastic bar and dining options – but, if you manage it, Brisbane’s riverfront offers an array of world-class restaurants, hip rooftop bars, and some of Australia’s best craft breweries.

While you're here, don’t miss a cruise along the Brisbane River, or see the city from above on a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane. Go for a paddle at the man-made Streets Beach in the middle of the city. And why not pay a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to meet some of the cute locals? Or, if you’re travelling between June and October, hop on a whale-watching cruise in search of humpback whales, as they migrate north.

Today, you'll set off for the most famous island in the Whitsundays archipelago – Hamilton Island. Spend the next couple of nights at the exquisite Qualia resort. This five-star retreat is perched on the northernmost tip of the isle, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef and boasting fantastic views over the Coral Sea. Whether you want to relax or explore, Qualia is the perfect base. Soak up the sun by the pool or at the beach, or indulge in a treatment at the luxury spa. Or why not take a helicopter flight over the postcard-worthy Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach, or set sail on a sunset cruise? And, with two world-class restaurants on site, you can taste some of the region’s best produce, with unbelievable views to boot.

Today’s experience might just be the most magical of them. You'll spend a night in Australia’s first underwater accommodation, with front row seats to the underwater wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef. You'll set off for Hardy Reef – which lies about 40 nautical miles off shore – and arrive at the Reefworld pontoon. You can spend the day relaxing, snorkelling and swimming with other day visitors.

Come mid-afternoon, it'll just be you and a handful of other overnight guests, so you can have this place to yourselves. Watch the sunset and enjoy a gourmet dinner under the stars, before retreating to your underwater ReefSuite. Wake up to views of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and its abundant marine life. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and an exclusive morning snorkelling on the reef, before heading back to Hamilton Island in the afternoon.

From Hamilton Island, your next and final stop is Cairns in North Queensland. You'll spend four nights at the five-star Crystalbrook Riley, just a short walk from the marina. This hotel prides itself on responsible luxury and has sustainability at its core. You won’t find any plastic water bottles here – instead, you can expect reusable glass bottles, while the bathroom toiletries are in large pump bottles and feature indigenous Australian ingredients. In-room iPads have replaced paper documents, and even the coffee pods can be used guilt free.

To top it all off, the hotel boasts a luxury spa, complimentary bike hire, two fantastic restaurants, an enormous swimming lagoon with a man-made beach, and the highest rooftop bar in Cairns.

If you can bear to drag yourself away, you could sail to the Outer Reef for world-class snorkelling or diving. Or why not venture into the nearby Daintree Rainforest?