Best Party Hotels in Australia

The Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a luxury boutique hotel located deep in the heart of the Mary River Wetlands. The Wildman is for guests who want an outback experience that's as glamorous as possible. The facilities and 25 rooms take full advantage of the striking views. Two types of rooms are available: stylish Habitats with air-conditioning and modern amenities or Instagram-worthy Family Safari Tents which feel more like glamping than camping. Facilities include a posh lounge, a chic pool, and a relaxed fine dining restaurant serving outback-inspired cuisine. Breakfast and a three-course dinner are included in rates. Customizable outback trips are wildly popular. For something with regular campsites, that's still conveniently located for the outback, check rates at Mary River Wilderness Retreat & Caravan Park. 

Located on one of central Melbourne's most colorful streets, the upscale Stamford Plaza offers apartment-style accommodations with some upmarket amenities and a smaller price tag than nearby luxury competitors. The hotel gets the basics right (there's a well-equipped fitness center and an indoor pool), but nondescript interior design and a disappointing restaurant may underwhelm those looking for a more memorable stay.

This large upper-middle-range hotel with a massive 1980s corporate-style lobby offers 409 modest but modern rooms in a 20-story high-rise tower. There are 10 different room types -- all air-conditioned -- and all units come with balconies and a hint of mid-century modern appeal. However, air-conditioning units may be unevenly spaced in the rooms, which may also suffer the occasional maintenance problem such as falling down curtain rods or a touch of peeling paint. The outdoor grounds occupy a full city block on top of a parking lot and there are several side-by-side pools, a hot tub, and a couple of tennis courts. There are also a spa and a small fitness center. The property is popular with tour groups, Japanese independent tourists, and young travelers who flock here for the competitive prices.

Gilligans Backpackers Hotel & Resort is not a peaceful base from which to explore Cairns -- it is a centrally located party hub with excellent on-site bars that attracts locals as well as backpackers. The clean dorms and private rooms are some of the best budget options in Cairns, with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, but noise inevitably seeps in from the bars until the morning hours. There are communal kitchens and spacious lounges on-site, as well as an outdoor pool with lots of lounge chairs. It's a social property for young travelers, but the management is efficient at keeping the place clean and orderly.

Located in the lively Darlinghurst neighborhood near Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross, the Kirketon Hotel Sydney is a 40-room, art-inspired boutique hotel that fuses contemporary style with classic Parisian influences. The rooms have sophisticated decor, crisp white bedding, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, DVD players, and flat-screen TVs -- but they're a bit dark, and bathrooms need updating (the tile grout is dirty, and the odd showerheads are stuck to the ceiling). Standard Rooms are tiny, and are meant for single occupancy. The hotel itself lacks a fitness center, but guests are offered free access to a nearby gym. The speakeasy-styled cocktail bar, Eau de Vie, is a definite highlight -- it's one of the trendiest spots in the city.

The 246-room Rydges Tradewinds Cairns is a popular upper-middle-range hotel that is in need of an update. Located on the waterfront with easy access to the beautiful esplanade, this property has an excellent setting and a knowledgeable staff that can arrange tours and airport transfers, but the rooms are tired and some guests complain about cleanliness. A range of features -- such as a large swimming pool, a spa, and decent dining choices -- are appealing, but dated decor and lack of a fitness center may push guests towards other local options.