The luxurious, 60-room Qualia Resort is set on 30 peaceful acres on secluded Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. The resort has two infinity pools, both offering incredible sea views, and a private white-sand and pebble beach. Striped cushioned sun loungers and umbrellas are set in the regularly raked sand. Kayaks and small catamarans are available, and there are other laid-back activities on offer, such as boules, badminton, and free yoga classes. Excursions to Great Barrier Reef dive and snorkel sights can be arranged.

The popular and competitively priced Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa has a stunning location that combines dense rainforest and wide, private beach. Calm and quiet, the resort offers a back-to-nature escape with all the basic comforts that guests would expect: two inviting pools, a spa, a well-regarded restaurant serving three meals a day, and well-equipped beachfront and rainforest cabins. This is not the luxurious experience of Qualia (rates here are literally a small fraction of the ones at Qualia), so expect to see some room decor that is dated and shows signs of wear and tear.

Setting this luxury property apart from its competition in Main Beach is its direct access to an exclusive stretch of white sand that’s patrolled by hotel lifeguards. A sky bridge from the hotel connects to the Marina Mirage mall, which is near water-sports rentals and boat charters. The Central Main Beach location with direct access to the ocean and shopping is impressive, but so are the features. The stylish resort has lagoon pools, multiple restaurants and bars, and a spa with saunas and steam rooms.

This is the only hotel in Port Douglas with absolute beach frontage. Peninsula Boutique Hotel has a remarkable location on the Esplanade, a quiet road that runs parallel to Four Mile Beach at its northern end. The beach is about 150 feet from the lobby, and the water views from various parts of the hotel (including many of the guest rooms) are striking. Peninsula's unbeatable beachside position means that occupancy rates are always high, and its restaurant is always busy with visitors coming for the one-of-a-kind views. Unlike the Qualia, Kewarra, and Sheraton resorts, this is more of an apartment-style hotel, so don't bank on services like concierge, turndown, or room service, or features like a fitness center or spa.

Mandalay Apartments is a grown-up, low-key retreat with lush gardens and direct beach access. The upscale self-catering hotel is situated on a quiet tree-lined street, sandwiched between a park and a nature reserve that abuts the famous Four Mile Beach, accessible via a two-minute walk down Mandalay's private pathway. The beach walk passes through the nature reserve before landing up at one of Four Mile Beach's less-trafficked stretches. There's even a netted swimming area for protection during jellyfish season. While many self-catering apartment complexes in the Port Douglas area serve breakfast (Peninsula's breakfast is free and served poolside), there is no breakfast service -- or restaurant, spa, gym, or business center -- at Mandalay Apartments.