The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Australia

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Australia

Canberra (Tourism Australia) Canberra (Tourism Australia)

Visiting Australia for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Australia, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Australia based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Australia for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Australia before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Australia for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Australia for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar

Sydney, New South Wales
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $93 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 4 Wentworth Avenue, Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar has great rooms from $93 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care at this relaxing hotel. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa

Gold Coast, Queensland
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $262 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Australia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa which has nice rooms starting at $262. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 158 Ferny Avenue. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and a kid-friendly buffet which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Shangri-La The Marina Cairns

Cairns, Queensland
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $181 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

We found Shangri-La The Marina Cairns to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $181. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Pierpoint Road. You'll also find a fitness center, snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, and mountain views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Park Hyatt Melbourne

Melbourne, Victoria
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $221 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Australia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $221, Park Hyatt Melbourne, at 1 Parliament Square provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 9.16 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a kid-friendly buffet, outdoor tennis, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Park Hyatt Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $727 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Park Hyatt Sydney has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. The great rooms here start at $727 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 7 Hickson Road. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, parking, child care, laundry services, and city views, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $198 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is 9.10 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $198, and it's located at 199 George Street. We also love the parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Ovolo Woolloomooloo

Sydney, New South Wales
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $179 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Australia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Ovolo Woolloomooloo because it has great rooms that start at $179. It has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and child care, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 6 Cowper. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love laundry services, city views, a hot tub, an indoor pool, and a pool table at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Breakfast in the room


Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

Cairns, Queensland
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $186 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $186 (before taxes). It's located at 35-41 Wharf Street PO Box 7320 and has earned a guest rating of 9.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers scuba diving, a bar, parking, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Oak Beach, Queensland
4-star Resort with prices starting at $792 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Australia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Private Road, Thala Beach Nature Reserve has great rooms from $792 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, hiking, mountain views, child care, and laundry services which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders

Melbourne, Victoria
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $163 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders which has nice rooms starting at $163. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 575 Flinders Lane. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, city views, and kids meals. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


For more terrific hotel ideas in Australia, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Australia, Best Beach Hotels in Australia, Best Cheap Hotels in Australia, Best Luxury Hotels in Australia, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Australia, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Australia, Best Hotels for One Week in Australia, Best Hotels for One Night in Australia, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Australia, Best Adults Only Hotels in Australia, Best Party Hotels in Australia, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Australia, Best Hotels for Skiing in Australia, or Best Business Hotels in Australia.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Australia?

Australia Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$123

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Australia. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Australia based on data from 2254 hotels is an affordable $123. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Australia.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $180
  • 4-star hotels: $130
  • 3-star hotels: $104
  • 2-star hotels: $69


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