Sleep Underwater on the Great Barrier Reef | Queensland

Why we like it

Sleeping underwater on the Great Barrier Reef is the sort of thing you usually only get in a screensaver.

Reefsuites at Hardy Reef makes it real, with one of Australia’s only underwater hotel suites and a view that beats any ocean-view room.

Two suites and a maximum of four guests means this Whitsundays accommodation is exclusive.

Your neighbours are parrotfish and coral, and they’re excellent at keeping the noise down.

Additional info

Operated by Cruise Whitsundays, this is a 2-day, 1-night adventure to Reefworld, on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

First up is a scenic cruise through the Whitsunday Islands, which is a pretty good warm-up act.

Once the day visitors head home, the reef is all yours, and the after-hours magic begins.

Overnight access to Reefworld is the exclusive bit, and it’s why this Queensland unique stay feels like a secret.

Features:

Where?

State

Who we recommend it for

Bedrooms

Two private underwater suites sit beneath the reef, each with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Lie in bed and watch colourful fish drift past like they’re on a catwalk. After dark, underwater lights draw in even more marine life for a late-night show. Netflix has nothing on this.

Things to do nearby

Snorkel the coral gardens with your own gear, or join the guided snorkel safari.

Take the semi-submarine tour if you’d rather stay dry while the marine life puts on a show.

Visit the underwater observatory for yet another fishy angle.

Go bigger with optional scuba diving or a scenic helicopter flight, where the reef looks like a painting from above.

Food and drink

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning tea and afternoon tea are all included, so nobody gets hangry on a pontoon.

Beer, wine and soft drinks are included too.

Sunset brings a chef-prepared dinner over the Coral Sea, which is about as far from a roadside pie as you can get.

Afterwards, take your drink out on deck for some serious stargazing before you head to bed.