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Discover the Gold Coast pool where you can dive with tropical fish

A lagoon full of tropical fish, a grand sweeping staircase and attentive, friendly staff combine at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.

Colourful tropical fish flash past in the water below. There’s Nemo the clownfish, along with silver bream, Moon wrasse and more. Guests of all ages surface with broad smiles after swimming in the lagoon at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. It’s an experience few other hotel pools can offer.

Elegant and luxurious, but with an unmistakably Queensland style, the resort brings a new standard of luxury to South East Queensland, all just a short walk from the Gold Coast’s white sandy beaches.

The pool in JW Marriot Gold Coast
A luxurious Gold Coast escape awaits.

JW Marriott Gold Coast’s pool

It’s hard to go past the saltwater lagoon, with its 300-odd colourful tropical fish representing 20 species. Don a snorkel and flippers or check out an underwater scooter from the recreation centre and you’re all set. Surrounded by lounge areas, cabanas and dining options the pools provide a space the whole family can enjoy at their own pace.

Named Australia’s best hotel pool in 2024, the lagoon is designed with multi-generational travellers in mind. Find varying depths and plenty of corners to explore, from the swim-up grotto to waterfalls and sandy beaches. A freshwater pool has a children’s slide or you can relax in one of the Jacuzzis.

People swimming with the fish at JW Marriott's pool.
Take a dip in the saltwater lagoon and swim alongside tropical fish.

JW Marriott Gold Coast’s rooms and suites

Starting from a generous 42-square-metres in size, guestrooms boast panoramic views of the ocean, cityscape or Gold Coast hinterland mountains from their floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies.

All rooms are air-conditioned, with state-of-the-art electronics, a work desk and Nespresso machine. Generous marble bathrooms have bathtubs and separate shower.

JW Marriott Gold Coast's executive suite.
Wind down in the spacious comfort of your executive suite, fully equipped with all the essentials.

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Award-winning dining at JW Marriott Gold Coast

Seasonal menus, using sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients, highlight regional products with an ocean- or paddock-to-plate concept in the hotel’s five restaurants.

Citrique is renowned for its sumptuous breakfasts, Sunday long lunch, seafood and grill buffet. An à la carte menu also showcases local seafood and produce, with matching wines. Open kitchens, interactive live stations and at-table preparation of some dishes creates a lively atmosphere.

In Misono, energetic teppanyaki chefs entertain with their clever knife work and theatrical flair while they cook at hot plates built into each table, a great favourite with families. The Japanese artistry extends into the flavours and presentation of dishes, always adding something surprising and different to the table.

Misono’s Japanese whisky bar is a great place for sundowners, or you can book an adults-only dining room for a more private experience, including a sake showcase.

For more casual dining, relax and unwind over a cocktail at Chapter & Verse or head there for high tea. Open for all day dining, it has a cafe vibe during the day and transitions to a craft cocktail bar feel at night. Chapter & Verse is also the spot for live music.

And if you’re just after a quiet night in your room, the resort’s 24-hour in-room dining service (Savour by JW) is the answer. Make a selection from either Citrique or Misono’s menus.

Premium Seafood at JW Marriott Gold Coast
Delight in seasonal, sustainable menus.

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Family offerings

Family by JW, an interactive program for both children and adults, offers the opportunity to bond over fun culinary experiences and other creative activities that enhance the holiday spirit.

Join the Mini Misono sushi- or pizza-making classes. The whole family can learn the art of sashimi from trained chefs. Or participate in herb planting in the JW Garden, where a tour can also reveal everything about the herbs, edible flowers, fruits and vegetables grown for the culinary team’s daily use.

The comfort and quiet of the JW Marriott Concierge Library offers a balance of local culture, well-being and culinary insights within a bookstore-like setting. Thoughtfully designed Serene Spaces provide restful corners to pause and relax.

JW Marriott Gold Coast family activity
Book a range of activities for every family member to enjoy.

Spa by JW

Step into a world of relaxation and rejuvenation at Spa by JW. Book one of six treatment rooms, a signature couple’s room including a relaxation lounge, ensuite stone bath and twin showers, traditional saunas, showers, relaxation pods and an outdoor relaxation area. The extensive spa menu and personalised care tailored to individual needs are among the reasons it was voted in top position on TripAdvisor.

Whether you’re tired from a long journey or simply looking for well-deserved pampering, Spa by JW’s carefully curated treatments cater to your overall well-being in a sanctuary dedicated to fostering mental and physical balance. If time is short, express spa treatments are a simple indulgence, and the welcoming spa lounge is the ideal place to relax with friends or simply unwind.

Spa by JW.
Complete your serene getaway with indulgent treatments at the posh premium spa.

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Lee Mylne
Lee Mylne is an award-winning Brisbane-based freelance travel writer who has visited more than 60 countries, but still loves writing about the places closest to her. She has a strong interest in people, history, culture and nature and will go anywhere for a good story.
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How to spend three romantic days on Hamilton Island

(Image: Sharyn Cairns)

From barefoot beach walks to moonlit dinners, this three-day Hamilton Island itinerary will have lovebirds swooning.

Few Aussie destinations do romance quite like Hamilton Island. Set in the dreamy Whitsunday Islands, this popular honeymoon destination combines luxury retreats, palm-fringed reefs and spectacular dining with the easy rhythm of tropical living. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary or spontaneous couples’ weekend, here’s how to spend a loved-up three days on Hamilton Island.

Day 1

Morning

A serene ocean-view room overlooking endless blue horizons.
Let picturesque ocean views welcome you the moment you check in. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Nothing kills the holiday buzz faster than waiting at the baggage carousel. Luckily, our arrival couldn’t have been smoother. Staying at the boutique, adults-only Beach Club Hotel means VIP transfers are included, so the moment we land, a staff member greets us and whisks our bags straight from the baggage claim to our room. We don’t have to lift a finger.

Occupying a prime piece of real estate on Catseye Beach, Beach Club is a peaceful retreat just steps from sugar-white sand and a turquoise lagoon. Within 10 minutes of stepping off the plane, we’ve arrived and are switched into holiday mode.

We check into our room, immediately delighted by the sight of several wallabies grazing in the garden just in front of our private terrace. Beyond, picturesque ocean vistas stretch across the horizon. The room’s mini bar is stocked with bespoke sweet treats; the bathroom with premium Aesop amenities that add to the luxury.

After we’ve checked out the resort’s beachside infinity pool – plotting the lounge chairs we’ll no doubt return to later – we head out to explore the island. Families glide by on hire bikes and chirping rainbow lorikeets dot the foliage. We decide to hike up to Passage Peak – one of the most scenic walks on Hamilton Island – which takes about 40 minutes one way and boasts panoramic Whitsundays views that will stick with you for long after you leave.

Afternoon

A romantic beachside lunch as champagne is served.
Recharge with a laid-back lunch at Beach Club Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)

After working up an appetite, Beach Club Restaurant is the perfect place to snap up a light lunch. Think barramundi, nourish bowls, Wagyu beef burgers, brown butter toasties and Queensland chilli prawns. For those who don’t want to move from their prime perch on the beach or by the pool, there’s also the option to order bites via QR code from the resort’s lounge chairs.

After our fill, we plunge into the hotel’s incredible infinity pool, its surface blending near seamlessly into the blues of Catseye Beach. Quiet and tucked away from the island’s hum, it feels illegal to do anything but relax here.

Evening

A curated flatlay of dishes from Catseye Pool Club.
Celebrate your first evening over beautifully plated coral trout. (Image: Nikki To)

There’s truly nothing more satisfying than a little R&R (rest & robe) time in your hotel room after spending the day in the sun. Fresh from a shower, we watch the ripe tangerine sun slowly dip below the palm-framed horizon from our plush terrace daybed. Two wallabies are still grazing on the grass. It’s a magical setting; I find it hard to believe I am only a few hours away from home.

Come dinnertime, we zip over to nearby Catseye Pool Club, which is a short buggy ride from the hotel or a five-minute walk. A chic new haunt from Sydney-based pair Josh and Julie Niland, the restaurant is all about reconnecting over flavour-rich share plates using high-quality Aussie ingredients.

We sit in a corner overlooking Catseye Beach – arguably the best seat in the house – with mini table lamps casting a soft glow about the contemporary indoor-outdoor setting. What comes next is pure delight; grilled prawns served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a Thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Then, elegantly plated coral trout served with kasundi and zucchini. We savour it all slowly, the conversation flowing easily between bites and sips while the moonlight transforms the ocean into molten silver.

Day 2

Morning

An 18-hole golf course set against sweeping ocean views.
Tee off side by side against a backdrop of sweeping ocean views. (Image: Andrea Francolini)

A la carte breakfast is complimentary for guests of Beach Club, and we take full advantage of the fact. Barista-quality coffee and pressed juice – today it’s carrot, melon, orange and pineapple – arrive alongside pastries baked fresh this morning. For the larger meal, I treat myself to the buttermilk pancakes with praline butter.

If you prefer an active start to the morning rather than lying in, you’ll find plenty of options. Perhaps tee off at the 18-hole golf course, where the views are as much of a drawcard as the sport itself. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, the course is integrated into the ridged landscape of Dent Island.

Afternoon

Artfully paired wines and bites from the Talk & Taste experience.
Uncover new favourite wines together. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)

For wine-curious couples, Beach Club’s new Talk & Taste experience is a must. Held several times a week for up to eight guests, it’s an intimate tasting of Aussie drops paired with curated bites – all guided by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher.

We opt for the white wine and seafood option, enjoying pours from Eden Valley to Launceston while Courtenay shares her knowledge and passion for the intricacies of wine making.

Later, we drive our golf buggy up to One Tree Hill. This is one of the most popular spots on the island for sunset, but we chose to come a little earlier so we have more space to ourselves. We enjoy afternoon wine and cheese, admiring the 360-degree views of the island and its impossibly blue waters.

Evening

The moody, atmospheric interiors of Bommie Deck.
Dress up for a romantic evening at Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Since we are, after all, on holiday, we continue the tipples at Bommie Deck. Suspended above Hamilton Island’s marina, this architectural monument is a fabulous place for a sunset spritz.

Just a few steps inside is Bommie Restaurant, the contemporary Australian fine dining establishment headed by chef Ryan Locke. Of anywhere on the island, this is the place to frock up and celebrate a special occasion – especially if theatrical culinary experiences take your fancy. The tasting set menu is a whirlwind of native Australian flavours and creative plating – with highlights including the cured venison wrapped in wattle seed seasoning. For dessert, a clever take on white chocolate and lemonade ends the night on a high.

Day 3

Morning

A couple gliding across calm waters on SUP boards together.
Ease into the morning with a paddleboarding adventure. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Another low-key morning means another blissful breakfast at Beach Club. This time, it’s smashed avo toast topped with Persian fetta, dukkah and poached eggs – a deliciously fueling start to the day.

The weather today is perfect for a paddle, so we walk straight from our room onto the sand of Catseye Beach to pick up some SUP boards. Guests of Beach Club receive complimentary non-motorised water sports equipment, spanning everything from mini catamarans to snorkel gear and kayaks. Finding our balance on the boards is a fun challenge at first, but before long, we’re gliding across the glassy water like naturals.

Afternoon

A helicopter soaring above the iconic Heart Reef.
Add the ultimate highlight with a Heart Reef flight together. (Image: Hamilton Island)

No couples’ retreat is complete without a touch of pampering. Located in the resort area, Spa Wumurdaylin offers everything from body wraps and facials to de-stress massages using natural Australian products. The Soul Temple treatment begins with a heavenly feeling sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy vertical shower and underwater massage. I leave in a daze.

If you prefer adventure to relaxation, there is an abundance of day trips from Hamilton Island, from snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays helicopter tours – all of which make for unforgettable experiences that will bring you and your partner closer.

Evening

A couple standing at qualia, gazing out over the endless ocean horizon.
Close your journey over a beautiful dinner by the sea. (Image: Sharyn Cains)

Enjoy an elevated evening at qualia’s tranquil Pebble Beach restaurant, where a private beach setting complements the thoughtful, seasonal menu. Or perhaps continue relaxing at Beach Club, feasting on roast lamb and seafood at the poolside restaurant or soaking in ocean views from your room with in-house room delivery. And don’t forget the champagne – a weekend of love, fun and restoration is worth toasting.

Getting there

Hamilton Island has its own airport called the Great Barrier Reef Airport, which makes it fuss-free to get to. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar offer short, direct flights from most major Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. This means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying each other’s company.

Visit hamitlonisland.com.au for more couples’ retreat ideas.