Travel
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Australia Hotels
So I'm planning the Australia leg of our Aussie / NZ trip, and I'm considering the following hotels - curious if anyone has stayed in them or has heard anything about them?
Qualia on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays
Lizard Island Resort on Lizard Island
Longitude 131 in Ayers Rock
If you're familiar with them, please let me know your thoughts (good, bad, or ugly!).
Also - does anyone have good recommendations for hotels in Sydney / Melbourne? Completely open to suggestions on this one - budget is not really an issue as DH is being very flexible with me on this trip. 
Re: Australia Hotels
I can only answer as to Melbourne. I know many people recommend the Crown Casino hotel in Melbourne, but I have never stayed there personally, so I can't say as to it. I have also heard good things about the Melbourne Rialto (Hotel Intercontinental).
If I am splurging, I will choose to stay at the Hotel Windsor. It's a refurbished classic hotel on Spring Street, each room is different and the hotel has kept its classic feel and ambiance. I have also stayed at the Sofitel. Were it not for the historic charm of the Hotel Windsor, I would always stay at the Sofitel -- a modern hotel on the ritzy end of Collins Street. Both hotels are a bit away from the "action" of central Melbourne, but both are very nice.
I have heard good things about Quaila and Longitude, but mixed reviews about Lizard island. Hayman might be a better pick (although I haven't stayed their either).
In Sydney i highly recommend the Shangri-la, ask for a room on the upper floors and book one with harbour views.
Can't help with Melbourne sorry.
Sounds like a great trip.
Our wedding on Wilson Island!
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
Mark Twain
My Travel Blog
Fi and I stayed on Bedarra Island in 2003. It was incredible. We stayed in this elegant private pavilion with a plunge pool. The service was incredible, the island was yours and there were nearly as many beaches as there are guests. Worth every exorbitant penny.
But I know that the management has changed a time or two, so I can't speak to the current situation.
Thank you to everyone for posting such great hotel advice! I will check out the hotels listed in Melbourne and Sydney and just today got my TA booking the hotels in Hamilton, Lizard Island, and Ayers Rock. I am so excited for this trip - Jells, hopefully you will post a trip report on Lizard Island when you come back as I can't wait to hear all about it! If there are any can't miss sights or restaurants in any of these areas that you'd recommend, please share those as well! I am giddy at the thought of getting to see Australia and New Zealand.
We did the Shangri-la which is 2 blocks up a hill from the Four Seasons. Amazing room and Harbour view, but the Four Seasons is in a better spot in my opinion.
Thanks for this input on the FS location versus Shangri-la - our TA is really recommending the FS and I love FS hotels, so that's our likely home base in Sydney but good to hear that the location is really good.
As an aside, to both you and MDGirl - your travel blogs are great and I am really enjoying reading them! Sorry to be a creeper but I really love reading about travel... if I had the time, I'd start my own!