Hyatt Regency Coolum


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A couple of hours under the expert care of the therapists at the Sun Spa, and you'll feel years younger! This is one of the reasons the well-heeled flock to this sprawling bushland resort. The other is its 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf course. The Sun Spa (which charges entrance fees of around A$13/US$10 a day as well as the cost of treatments) does everything from aromatherapy baths to triglyceride checks -- 130 treatments in all -- and has massage rooms, aqua-aerobics, yoga, a 25m (82-ft.) lap pool, and much more. An almost-6-hour body detox costs A$400 (US$320), but you can get a minifacial or a half-hour massage for A$60 (US$48). Australian Golf Digest rated the golf course one of Australia's top five resort courses in 2000. Golf widows and widowers can play tennis; do decoupage in the Creative Arts Center; take the twice-daily free shuttle into Noosa to shop; and surf at the resort's private beach. A nightly shuttle runs to Noosa Heads restaurants for A$15 (US$12) per person, round-trip.

So spread out are the low-rise accommodations that guests rent a bike to get around, wait 15 minutes for the two free resort shuttles (frustrating sometimes!), or get into the healthy swing of things and walk. Accommodations all have contemporary decor and come as "suites" (one room divided into living and sleeping quarters); two-bedroom President's Villas with a kitchenette; villas in the Ambassador Club, which has its own concierge, pool, tennis court, and lounge; and two-story, three-bedroom Ambassador Club residences boasting rooftop terraces with a Jacuzzi.

The Village Square is just that: an attractive cluster of shops, restaurants, bars, and takeout joints that makes up the heart of the resort.

Facilities: 4 restaurants; 3 bars; 9 outdoor pools (2 heated); golf course; 9 night/day tennis courts; health club and spa; watersports equipment rental; bike rental; children's programs daily for kids ages 6 weeks to 12 years (fee); concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; business center; shopping arcade; limited room service; massage; babysitting; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; executive rooms.