Crystalbrook Riley

This 311-room hotel lies on Cairns’ Esplanade, a minimalist property looking out over the shimmering waters of the Coral Sea. A strong focus on environmental sustainability creates a stylish stay with a conscience while offering understated luxury in the elegant furnishings, contemporary dining options and the city’s highest rooftop bar.

The sophisticated rooms and suites are refined in a minimalist, simple style, with wooden tones bringing warmth to the white walls, while crisp bed linens are given depth with rich velvet cushions and throws. Views of the city skyline or the sea draw the eye to the floor-to-ceiling windows, some of which lead onto a spacious balcony. Apple iPad Control Centers, 55” flat screen TVs, wifi and Staycast by Google Chromecast add a modern touch, while rainforest showers, Crystalbrook Collection Immersion amenities and coffee machines complete the upscale retreat.

From the rooftop restaurant and bar of Rocco, with its 270 degree views over Cairns and the Coral Sea, to the zingy Asian dishes of Paper Cranes and the wholesome salad bowls and freshly-pressed juices of Greenfields, there’s a variety of dining options to enjoy at Riley. A 24-hour fitness center is well-equipped for post-indulgence workouts while the Eleme Spa is a tranquil, calming retreat which employs natural Sodashi products in expertly personalized treatments.

While you could spend your time at Riley enjoying the delicious restaurants, fruity cocktails and far-reaching views, the hotel is within easy reach of the city’s sights, including the bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques of the waterfront. The kaleidoscopic marine life of the Great Barrier Reef is tantalisingly close, while further afield lie the Daintree Rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands.