Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa

The Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa is an impressive upscale property, despite some wear and tear and fees for amenities like Wi-Fi. The hotel’s central building sits next to an awesome lagoon-like swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and plants. The pool snakes organically around the hotel and is dotted with water features and rocky outcrops. Inside, the hotel’s lobby is high-ceilinged space, open at both ends, with sleek, modern couches and armchairs set in clusters along a strip of orange striped carpet that runs down the middle of the space. The hotel’s restaurant segues neatly into an outdoor terrace area, and is decorated with panels of driftwood painted a smart turquoise. The overall look is polished and beachy, but it doesn't quite live up to its advertised five-pearl rating. Guests are a mix of couples, families, and groups of friends.

The Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple has direct access to Four Mile Beach via a path, which takes about five minutes to walk. The four-mile long stretch of unspoiled golden sand is lovely and backs onto pockets of tropical rainforest. However, the property is out in the suburbs, meaning it's an eight-minute drive to get to the center of town, where there are a number of shops, bars, and restaurants. While the resort offers a shuttle bus to town and back, it costs to ride it. It’s an hour’s drive south to Cairns, and just slightly less to Cairns Airport.

The 128 rooms here are large and furnished in an elegant, spare manner, however, they can show significant signs of wear and tear. That said, all of the rooms have some sort of high-end touch. Studio Spa Rooms are the simplest units, lacking kitchens and iPod docks, but they have a king-sized bed and bathroom with two-person jetted tubs. Apartments, meanwhile, have either one, two, or three bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen with a full-size fridge, dishwasher, oven, four-burner stove, microwave, kettle, and all the usual cookware. Kitchens are outfitted in sleek, dark wood and lead into a lounge and dining area with contemporary furniture in cool neutrals and warm, metallic accents. Their bathrooms are similarly modern, with moody slate-gray fittings and a shower/tub combo. All have a furnished balcony or terrace.

Swim-Out Apartments are on the ground floor and have patios that lead directly into the pool, whereas Plunge Pool Apartments lead onto a private courtyard with its own pool. Penthouse Apartments have a spiral staircase leading up to a rooftop terrace with a barbecue grill and hot tub. Villas are fully self-contained units the size of a detached house, and have three bedrooms, with their own private pool. Their master bedrooms have bay windows that look out onto the rainforest. All units have flat-screen TV, safe, ironing facilities, tea- and coffee-making facilities, hairdryer, and toiletries, and apartments add an iPod dock.

Easily the most impressive thing about the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple is its huge lagoon pool, which has zero-entry areas in parts. As well as the main pool, there are a number of hot tubs and shallower parts for kids. Next to the pool is a pool bar that serves drinks, light snacks, and lunch. The restaurant, Aqua, serves a well-reviewed buffet breakfast with the option to order freshly cooked food, and a machine that makes pancakes at the push of a button. At lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves an a la carte menu that focuses on fish and seafood. A spa has treatment rooms for massages and wellness therapies, as well as a whirlpool. A small gym is on-site, but equipment is limited and old-looking. A kids’ club runs daily throughout high season, providing entertainment. There is a shuttle bus into the center of Port Douglas, but it comes at a cost. Wi-Fi requires a hefty fee.