Australia’s first ‘airport resort’ opens one of the country’s biggest pools

Airport hotels tend to be several things: practical, functional and largely devoid of personality. “Sexy”? Probably not, but that’s how Darwin Airport Resort is billing itself after a $30 million refurbishment.

The airport’s Novotel and Mercure properties now feature a single, joint reception along with new rooms and features to create a 423-room property that claims to be Australia’s first “airport resort”.

Those rooms include private villas with their own plunge pools, outdoor decks, king-sized beds and luxurious bathrooms.

Darwin Airport Resort’s new pool is one of Australia’s largest.

There are also family suites and freestanding bungalows for longer stays. About one quarter of the hotel’s existing rooms have undergone a full refurbishment with all rooms planned for an update by early 2025.

However, the centrepiece of the revamp is undoubtedly the enormous new pool – at more than 60 metres long and containing one million litres of water, it’s larger than an Olympic pool and one of the biggest in the country (the largest hotel pool in an Australian capital city). Next door there’s a kids’ aquatic play area with fountains, slides and other features where children can safely cool off in the tropical heat.

A new poolside dining option, the Splash Cafe, has also opened joining the existing Cossies restaurant.

A striking feature is the 41-metre water tower, featuring an Indigenous mural by local artist Tony Lee.

Located on the traditional lands of the Larrakia Nation, the resort embraces Indigenous culture, with each villa named after a leading Territorian (such as Robert Shepherd, an Indigenous member of the Australian Light Horse Brigade who served in World War I) with their story included on the walls.

A striking feature is the 41-metre water tower, featuring an Indigenous mural by local artist Tony Lee. Officially called the Water Tower Welcome to Country Project, it’s affectionately known as the “Darwin Didgeridoo” and tells three distinct Dreaming stories including the Rainbow Serpent and the creation of the stars.

Resort owner Airport Development Group (ADG) aims to employ as many Indigenous staff as possible and has launched an Indigenous Training Academy offering traineeship and apprenticeship qualifications.

A private villa.

The resort will also launch the Gurambai Cultural Experience – a one-hour guided walk through the Rapid Creek Conservation Area curated by Larrakia guides who will share their cultural and historical knowledge of the area along with explaining some of the local bush tucker.

Rather than simply being a transit hotel, the resort aims to become a destination in itself, offering a tropical resort getaway while still only being 15 minutes away from a city centre.

Opening specials include a couples package villa stay from $449 a night and a family two-bedroom apartment stay from $250 a night.

Meanwhile down south, ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport is in the process of revealing an extensive refurb.

The “pick me up outside the ParkRoyal” Victorian landmark, right across the road from the international terminal, has refreshed guest rooms with both improved look and functionality, involving better luggage access and hanging space.

With Julietta Jameson

See darwinairporthotels.com.au and panpacific.com

The writer visited as a guest of Novotel and Mercure Darwin Airport Resort.