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Going beach-hopping in Queensland? We've got places to stay for all budgets and tastes, from a boutique hotel in a 100-year-old building to a walk-in campsite on a sand island
Aussie Way Backpackers, Brisbane
A superior backpacker experience, Aussie Way may be a touch removed from the city centre, but this Cricket Street property's peacefulness is a fair trade for any inconvenience. Set in a rambling 19th-century, heritage-listed Queenslander (traditional timber with an ornate veranda), Aussie Way isn't a destination for backpacker parties, tending to instead attract the quieter and perhaps slightly older traveller. A bunch of public transport options and the Barracks precinct (a classy shopping centre) are both around the corner, while a stroll to the city will take you through the beautiful Roma Street Parkland. Perhaps the best backpacking lodge in Brisbane.
• 34 Cricket Street, Brisbane. +61 7 3369 0711, aussiewaybackpackers.com. Doubles A$68 (£40)
Inchcolm Boutique Hotel, Brisbane
This dapper, half heritage-listed property started life as medical chambers before being converted into a hotel in 1999. It retains its ornate brickwork, wood panelling and beautiful fittings, as well as a 1930's cage lift. The standard Inchcolm Suites vary slightly in size and layout, but many have the added bonus of being in the heritage-listed part of the building. Alongside its character and well-regarded restaurant, the hotel has a prime location. It's a short walk to Central railway station, Queen Street Mall and just two blocks away from Taro's– the best ramen in town and as divey as it is delicious.
• 73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, +61 7 3226 8888, inchcolm.com.au. Room rates from A$142 for suite.
The Collingwood, Paddington
The Collingwood is not for budget travellers, but this classy boutique B&B is easily worth the premium for those who feel like pushing the boat out. In the leafy inner-city suburb of Paddington, the property is just a few years old. It is beautifully appointed and run by Tim and Rachel Henderson – who have both worked in the hospitality and hotel industry for over 20 years. The property is around the corner from some of Brisbane's best cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques. Local tip: be sure to make the short walk up the hill to Perrott Street Park for one of the best picnic spots in town.
• 32 Collingwood Street, Paddington, +61 7 3511 7430, thecollingwood.com.au. Suites from A$180 a night on a three-night package
Meriton Serviced Apartments, Brisbane
The number of residential high-rises in Brisbane has doubled in the last 10 years as young professionals turn their back on the city's outlying sprawl. It's also provided an opportunity for companies such as Meriton to offer short-term serviced rentals. Meriton's digs on Herschel Street are currently still being finished but if you get in quick you can get cheap rates for these luxury riverside apartments, with access to a heated pool, gym, spa and sauna. Prices are dynamic, but the hotel's stylish CUBE apartments (sleeps two) have been going for as little as A$76 a night, while one-bedroom apartments are currently hovering around the A$128 mark. Just bear in mind that not every room looks out over the river and there could be construction noises.
• 43 Herschel Street, +61 7 3999 8000, meritonapartments.com.au. CUBE apartments currently cost around A$115. Construction work stops early Saturday afternoon and begins again Monday morning. It is scheduled to be completed in early 2014.
Royal Albert Hotel, Brisbane
Brisbane once had a nasty habit of knocking down its heritage buildings. It's a relief then to find the 100-year history of Perry House (once the tallest building in Brisbane) preserved as the Royal Albert Hotel. One of the city's best boutique hotels, the Royal Albert has undergone a recent refurbishment that looks to recapture the building's rich history: ornate furniture, lush carpets and elaborate cornices. But maybe it's what's outside that's the real attraction. The hotel sits right in the middle of Brisbane's rapidly changing city centre. There's a decent set of cafes right outside on Albert Street, but be sure to cross the mall and find some of the establishments that are spearheading Brisbane's recent love affair with "laneway culture" (little side roads packed with independent boutiques and cafes). For coffee and breakfast, check out Brew on Burnett Lane. After the sun goes down, head back over Albert Street to Super Whatnot for craft beers and cocktails.
• 167 Albert Street, +61 7 3291 8888, royalalbert.com.au. Rooms from A$165 (minimum two-night stay)
Allora 1, Point Lookout
It may be just 10km from the Brisbane suburbs, but Moreton Bay's North Stradbroke Island feels like it could be in a different country altogether. The secret to the solitude is the lack of a bridge back to the mainland, meaning that even in peak season life moves a couple of beats slower than in the city. Point Lookout, on the far side of the island, is Stradbroke's best spot, boasting some of the nicest beaches in the state. Dolphin Accommodation manages a slew of privately owned rental houses. Try Allora 1: quiet, modern and spacious.
• 1/16 Tramican Street, Point Lookout, +61 7 3409 8455, straddie.info. Allora 1 sleeps six and starts at A$665 for two nights. Numerous other properties are also available – just be aware that stays less than a week are only available during low season.
The Wrecks campground, Moreton Island
Moreton Bay's other great gem is Moreton Island. Neither as developed as Stradbroke, nor commercially minded as Fraser Island (four hours north of Brisbane), Moreton is a swimming, camping and hiking paradise. There are numerous options for accommodation, but by far the best is The Wrecks campground. You can step off the ferry from Brisbane to Tangalooma (75 minutes), and walk straight to the sheltered, secluded site in no time. The surrounding shipwrecks – originally sunk to provide a breakwater for small boats – are the main attraction, their rusting hulks perfect for snorkelling. But Moreton Island also features fresh water lakes, numerous historical sites and hiking tracks.
• Permits are needed for The Wrecks campground; you can arrange these and book online via parks.nprsr.qld.gov.au. Camping costs a little over A$10.90 for two people. You will have to register any 4WD vehicle you plan on taking. Fares on the Moreton Island MICAT ferry are A$50 return per adult
Wongari Eco Retreat, Lamington
Once a centre for Queensland dairy farming, Lost World Valley – an area of rugged wilderness, 90 minutes south of Brisbane – remained a mystery to most Brisbanites for decades. But after a squeeze on milk prices caused many producers to go out of business, dairy's loss turned into tourism's gain, as some distinctive boutique accommodation began to spring up in this Gold Coast hinterland. Best for couples is Wongari Eco Retreat. Behind it are Mark Michael and Brad Beaverson, who wanted to develop a property that brought people close to nature while being low on environmental impact. Their Serenity cabin is isolated and beautifully presented with a stylish bedroom, kitchen and lounge, but it's the surrounds that capture the imagination. Christmas Creek runs through the valley and is dotted with waterfalls, rock pools and plenty of surrounding nature walks.
• 3196 Christmas Creek Road, +61 7 5544 8031, wongari.com.au. A two-night midweek stay in Serenity currently costs A$295
Sundancer Holiday Apartments, Sunshine Beach
Sunshine Beach is hardly a local secret, but the broad stretch of sand running away from Noosa Heads has nevertheless become a little forgotten since the inland highway was extended further north. This means accommodation options are a touch cheaper than on other parts of the coast. Sundancer is a prime example: large, recently refurbished, one- or two-bedroom units, with generous balconies and views of the Pacific. Sunshine Beach itself is a well-equipped but sleepy little village, around 130km north of Brisbane. The township slopes steeply towards the sea, making it inhospitable to major developments. Stroll to the headlands with a bottle of wine and a book, or maybe just hit the surf.
• 11 Henderson Street, Sunshine Beach, +61 7 5449 2077, sundancer.com.au. Second-level, one-bedroom apartments are currently going for A$124 per night, with a minimum stay of two nights
Halse Lodge, Noosa Heads
For 17 years the pride and joy of owner Drew Pearson, Halse Lodge is a heritage-listed, 19th-century guesthouse within two acres of lush Queensland bush. What's more, it's right in the middle of Noosa, just a couple of hundred metres from the its beautiful beaches. Pearson talks in long, loving tones about the backpacking experience, and he's keen to share it with his guests: every night at 6pm a bottle of wine is opened and the day's arrivals are welcomed to the lodge. There's a restaurant and bar on site, too. Noosa is an example of beachside development done right, Hastings Street has ample quality restaurants and speciality shops.
• 2 Halse Lane, +61 7 5447 3377, halselodge.com.au. Double rooms are on the small side, but spotlessly clean and tidy, and start at A$78
Matt Shea (@mrmatches) is a freelance journalist, currently based in Brisbane