JW Marriott hotel swimming pool named best in Australia by Wotif

A Queensland hotel swimming pool where guests can take a dip with tropical fish has been named Australia’s best. SEE THE OTHER QLD WINNERS

A Gold Coast hotel swimming pool where guests can take a dip with hundreds of tropical fish has been named Australia’s best by travel giant Wotif.

The lagoon pool at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa in Surfers Paradise was voted the nation’s No. 1 hotel pool in a survey conducted by Wotif for its annual ‘Uniquely Aussie Awards’.

The quirky awards also rate Australia’s best hot chips, vanilla slice, jaffle, country pub and national park.

Alas, Queensland didn’t make the top five in any of these categories but we literally scooped the pool when it came to judging the country’s best hotel pool.

Eight of the top 10 pools were in the Sunshine State, led by the JW Marriott and followed by the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas (2nd), the Crystalbrook Riley in Cairns (3rd), the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort (5th), Emporium South Bank (6th), Intercontinental Hayman Island (7th), Palazzo Versace (8th) and The Ville Resort and Casino (10th).

Lauren Coad and Simon Grimmett at the JW Marriott Hotel Pool, Surfers Paradise. Picture: Liam Kidston.

JW Marriott Gold Coast marketing manager Bronwen Hemmings said the hotel pool had been a hit with guests since the property opened in 1992.

The saltwater lagoon features more than 300 tropical fish and live coral which guests can admire while snorkelling or riding sea scooters. There’s daily fish feeding and the pool also boasts a grotto with a spectacular waterfall and white sandy beach.

Ms Hemmings said the grotto and waterfall were rebuilt as part of a $35 million refurbishment of the hotel ahead of its 30th anniversary next year.

“We had to drain the pool so the fish had a little holiday at Sea World,” she said.

“Our pool is very iconic and a real family favourite.”

Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said company research showed 38 per cent of Aussies felt they had not yet scratched the surface when it came to domestic travel.

He said the awards, and the reopening of borders, would hopefully inspire them to book an interstate holiday.

QUEENSLAND UNIQUELY AUSSIE AWARD WINNERS

Best Jaffle: Stairwell Coffee, Surfers Paradise

Best Vanilla Slice: Preece’s at the Jetty, Redcliffe

Best Country Pub: Nindigully Pub, Nindigully

Best Hot Chips: Super Rooster, Toowoomba

Best Hotel Pool: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

Best National Park: Daintree National Par