Your Ultimate Guide To Australia's Best Airport Lounges

Most people dread waiting for their flight to board, but with airport lounge access, waiting at the airport can be one of the most enjoyable parts of air travel.

In Australia, lounges from some of the world’s best airlines and lounge operators endeavour to outdo each other with more and more luxurious features. From day spa treatments to private shower suites, some of these lounges have it all. Here are our top picks.

Qantas International First Lounge, Sydney

Qantas’s International First Lounge at Sydney Airport is deservedly ranked among the world’s best airport lounges. An awesome view, Neil Perry inspired à la carte dining, bar service, barista coffee, complimentary spa treatments and marble-lined shower suites are a few of the perks that this lounge has to offer.

The design incorporates a curved walkway spanning the length of the lounge, with large wooden dividers creating several different seating zones, both for lounging and dining. There is ample natural light thanks to angled floor-to-ceiling windows that provide excellent apron and partial runway views.

Towards the far end of the lounge, you’ll find a restaurant-style setup where you can order à la carte dishes with table service. The service here is brilliant, and the food is good but won’t win any awards.

the seating area at Qantas International First Lounge, Sydney — Pull up a chair in the cosy Qantas International First Lounge.

Comfort: various seating options; warm yet outdated design – 4/5

Dining: barista service; great wine list; small buffet; quality restaurant dining – 5/5

Facilities: shower suites; spa treatments; reading material; private meeting rooms – 5/5

Overall: an open and inviting space with great views and fantastic facilities – 4.5/5

the bar at Qantas International First Lounge, Sydney — Grab a drink at the bar before your flight.

Qantas International First Lounge, Melbourne

Essentially a scaled-down version of its Sydney counterpart, the Qantas International First Lounge at Melbourne Airport offers truly à la carte dining, restaurant table service, a day spa and stunning apron views from floor-to-ceiling windows. There is plenty of seating including some for small groups and single armchairs for solo travellers.

At the far end of the lounge is the dining and bar area, which can seat up to 50 guests. While there is a small counter offering drinks and snacks, the main dining in this lounge is à la carte. The seasonal menu is prepared by chef Neil Perry and is great for an airport.

Comfort: various seating options; superb views – 4/5

Dining: barista service; great wine list; small buffet; quality restaurant dining – 5/5

Facilities: shower suites; spa treatments; reading material; private meeting rooms – 5/5

Overall: a stylish smaller sibling with great views – 4/5

Qantas First Lounge Melbourne comes with all the luxury trimmings.

Plaza Premium and Skyteam Lounges, Sydney

The Plaza Premium Lounge and Skyteam Lounge in Sydney are both run by Plaza Premium, are located adjacent to each other and are similar in many ways. As well as a casual dining area to enjoy buffet items, there’s a comfortable lounge area with views directly above aircraft parking bays.

the Skyteam Lounge in Sydney — Curl up on the couches at Skyteam Lounge in Sydney.

There is a staffed bar serving up almost anything you can imagine, including a respectable wine list and barista beverages.

Comfort: various seating options; busy at peak times – 4/5

Dining: good buffet and bar offerings – 3/5

Facilities: reading material; shower suites – 3/5

Overall: comfortable and clean design with good seating and gorgeous views – 4/5

the bar at the Plaza Premium Lounge, Sydney — Sink into a cold one at the Plaza Premium Lounge.

Virgin Australia Domestic Business Lounge, Adelaide

Adelaide calls home to Virgin Australia’s first new-look lounge , which has now rolled out to all lounges in the network. With 283 seats there is normally plenty of space to spread out, whether that be at bar stools with power outlets for work or comfy armchairs for relaxing. Ambient lighting, bright greenery and quality fittings make the space oh-so Instagrammable, and that’s before you get to the bathroom mirror!

While the space is comfortable and gorgeous, like the rest of Virgin’s lounges, the food is average at best. Guests often have a choice of soup, one hot dish or snacks. The drinks list is good, but not on the premium end one might expect from a business-class lounge.

Comfort: multiple seating options for work or relaxing – 4/5

Dining: barely passable buffet; barista coffee; average drinks selection – 2/5

Facilities: showers; reading material – 4/5

Design: a well-designed lounge however dining could be improved – 3.5/5

the servery at Virgin Australia Domestic Business Lounge, Adelaide — Slow down for a while at Virgin Australia Domestic Business Lounge.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Lounge, Sydney

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Sydney International Airport is a rather small and private lounge that features comfy armchairs, a buffet and dining room, and eight individual seating pods that are similar to business class suites you might see in the air.

the entrance to Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Lounge in Sydney — Step into the opulent Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Lounge in Sydney.

As far as dining, there’s a good selection at the self-service bar and buffet plus an à la carte menu. The menu has a few options to choose from and changes throughout the day, with full table service offered throughout the lounge.

the dining room at Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Lounge, Sydney — Grab something to eat before your flight.

Comfort: little capacity; luxury seating options – 4/5

Dining: good selection at the bar and buffet; à la carte dining – 5/5

Facilities: eight working pods; reading material; showers – 3/5

Overall: an intimate design featuring dark tones and open spaces – 4/5

Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Lounge Sydney is a small and intimate option

Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Melbourne

Qantas’s stylish Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge is a fantastic, renovated space , featuring dark tones and sophisticated finishes. Apron-facing windows span the length of the lounge, giving the space a light and open feeling. A diverse range of seating for up to 350 guests lines the lounge, with space for solo travellers and some for groups.

Towards the middle of the lounge is the bar, which stocks a generous selection of beers, wines and spirits, as well as all-day barista coffee and signature cocktails. As well as the standard buffet that offers several Asian-focused dishes, Qantas has introduced an Asian Spice Bar to its signature dining concept. Inspired by Neil Perry’s Spice Temple restaurant, the Spice Bar offers a range of fresh dishes prepared to order, with two options available at any one time.

Comfort: various seating options; extremely busy at peak times – 3/5

Dining: hit or miss dining; Asian Spice Bar; barista coffee – 3/5

Facilities: separate work area; reading material; shower rooms – 4/5

Overall: a welcoming design that makes great use of the space – 3.5/5

people sitting while working on their laptops inside the Qantas Domestic Business Class, Melbourne — Relax and do some work at Qantas Domestic Business Lounge.

International Aspire Lounge, Perth

The Aspire Lounge in Perth’s International Terminal 1 is perhaps Australia’s best-designed airport lounge. The bar is set incredibly high with properly separate zones for getting work done or relaxing before a flight. If you’re ready to jump into holiday mode, private booths and window seats are offered up in spades at Perth’s old airport viewing deck.

the reception at International Aspire Lounge — Head to the International Aspire Lounge before your flight.

Aspire Perth offers a hosted buffet and full-service bar, which works great when you can actually find someone to serve you. The drinks list focuses on West Australian drops and is fantastic, but the food offerings aren’t nearly as good.

Comfort: multiple seating options; great apron views – 5/5

Dining: minimal staff at hosted buffet; average dining; great local drinks – 2.5/5

Facilities: separate work area; reading material; shower rooms – 4.5/5

Overall: a welcoming design that makes great use of the space – 4/5

the interior with chairs at the International Aspire Lounge — Relax inside the International Aspire Lounge.

This new, family-friendly Hamilton Island resort embraces life in the slow lane.

White sand beaches, gentle waves and getting on ‘island time’ have always made Hamilton Island the first spot that comes to mind when thinking of Queensland’s Whitsundays. Always a place to recharge and relax, modern wellness travel here means so much more than a spa treatment or green juice. And a new kind of tropical island stay has now arrived on Hamilton Island.

pool at The Sundays Hamilton Island — Learn to slow down and rejuvinate. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

The Sundays reimagines laid-back luxury, combining boutique, beachfront accommodation with an encouragement to slow down and appreciate life’s simple pleasures so every day feels like Sunday.

Laid-back luxury

The Sundays is nestled into the picturesque gardens on the northern end of Catseye Beach. Despite a feeling of being away from it all, the resort is a conveniently short walk from Hamilton Island’s main resort centre and restaurants, so guests can have the best of both worlds.

This new boutique stay is all about savouring the now. From complimentary sunrise yoga to moonlight movies for kids and a daily sundae ritual by the beachside pool, it makes a compelling case for doing less, better.

Even the architecture is designed to harmonise with the surrounding tropical landscape, pairing soft curves with a grounded coastal style that shows off the panoramic Coral Sea views and adds to the hotel’s calm aesthetic.

Plus, with direct flights to Hamilton Island from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in under two and a half hours, as well as complimentary hotel transfers from the airport or marina, getting here is as easy as the vacation itself.

balcony view from room at The Sundays — Enjoy fantastic views from your balcony or terrace. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)

Perfectly designed rooms with amazing views

Every small detail has been considered in the creation of the 59 guest rooms and suites, from in-room amenities by LEIF to walls adorned with custom artworks by First Nations andHungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg. There’s even a signature in-room scent by The Raconteur.

Designed by Hamilton Island’s own designer, Carrie Williams, the result is relaxed Australian style using natural textures and soft hues to lull guests into a mellow state. This soothing palette runs throughout the resort, from its sun lounges to the shaded cabanas.

Every room and suite has been built with a balcony or terrace, perfectly framing postcard-perfect views of the surrounding reef and lush greenery.

inside a room at The Sundays — Stylish rooms feature natural, soothing tones. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)

Excellent activities and amenities

Each day has been planned with a relaxed structure, so guests can get involved in as much or as little as they wish.

Greet each day with morning yoga, pilates and island walks. Recharge with daily (and deliciously complimentary) sundaes by the pool. Wind down with moonlight movies twice a week and take advantage of family-focused features.

Guests have complimentary access to a range of water sports – from stand-up paddle boards to catamarans – so they can get their blood pumping before relaxing by the resort pool.

Or take a few extra steps to set up for a day on the sand without any crowds at the exclusive, guest-only beach. Settle in with a poolside aperitif for a front-row view of the stunning Catseye Bay.

aerial shot of The Sundays pool and catseye beach — Find picturesque Catseye Beach on your doorstep. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Delectable dining

What is rejuvenation if not a hearty choice of fresh, delectable dishes? That’s what guests will discover at The Sundays’s onsite restaurant, Catseye Pool Club .

Open all day for hotel guests and lunch and dinner for island diners, this relaxed yet elevated menu was created by acclaimed culinary duo, Josh and Julie Niland. It celebrates that community feeling of mealtimes while championing seasonal Australian produce.

“The vision behind [Catseye Pool Club] reflects so much of what I value – bringing people together to create memories in beautiful surroundings,” explains Josh.

table spread including a lobster dish from Catseye Pool Club, The Sundays — Enjoy classic Aussie meals with a twist at Catseye Pool Club. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Based on elevated versions of classic Aussie family dinners, expect refined simplicity. Think roasted Sun Farms Sommerlad chicken with sides like chicken fat roast potatoes, gravy and tomato and grilled bread salad, or barbecued line-caught Bowen coral trout with garlic saltbush and Warrigal greens.

A day spent by the pool can be complemented by a dedicated poolside menu, featuring wood-fired souvas. Don’t want to leave the room? Kick back and soak in the views with tasty treats delivered straight to your door, whether you’re after a full breakfast or late night snack.

view from catseye pool club at The Sundays hamilton island — Enjoy dinner and a view. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Exploring the island

While daily life at The Sundays is very much about the art of staying still, guests who seek more can explore the island with ease.

Take a day trip to the striking Whitehaven Beach, or see the iconic Heart Reef from above on a helicopter tour. Pop over to Hamilton Island’s championship golf course for a hit, or explore over 12 kilometres of the island’s stunning nature and wildlife. Later, slow the pace back down with a visit to Spa wumurdaylin .

Looking for more tasty treats? Visit one of the island’s restaurants – there are more than 20 to choose from.

Hikers on passage peak hike on hamilton island — Take on the beautiful hikes of Hamilton Island. (Image: Nick Leary)

Book your stay at The Sundays through hamiltonisland.com.au.

Your ultimate guide to Australia’s best airport lounges