The Sebel Reef House

Distinctly different to other hotels, The Sebel Reef House & Spa is a luxurious boutique resort with a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere positioned in the heart of Palm Cove with a stunning beachfront location. Nestled among tranquil tropical gardens and vibrant flora, The Sebel Reef House & Spa was designed to capture the romance of the tropics and the colonial splendour of a bygone era. Majestic rainforest clad mountains make a stunning backdrop to the three pristine pools, two spas and cascading waterfall. Accommodation includes a variety of spacious rooms and suites, with all having king size beds romantically draped in light netting. All rooms feature a private verandah or patio, some having spas. The multi-award winning Reef House Restaurant is set on a large deck beneath magnificent towering paperbarks, enjoying unsurpassed ocean views and gentle sea breezes – exquisite beachside dining! Our award winning Day Spa, The Reef House Spa, offers a luxurious range of treatments designed to cleanse the body, clear the mind and soothe the soul.

The Sebel Reef House & Spa is a unique and stunning getaway. It is one of the few boutique resorts that can boast a history and a character molded from a remarkable background. The original Reef House was built in 1958 by a Cairns bookmaker and used as a family home. According to an article in a 1972 issue of The Bulletin, a swimming pool proprietor was allegedly heavily indebted to the bookmaker, but managed to repay his debt by offering to build ‘the best swimming pool in North Queensland’. In 1970 it was purchased by a syndicate and opened as a restaurant with limited accommodation of three suites in the garden. In 1972, Brigadier The Hon. David Thomson, MC, RL, (later Federal Minister for Science & Technology), acquired the property and operated ‘Reef House’ as a private residence with visitors treated as personal guests. Guests helped themselves to drinks from the bar, and in the true tradition of an officer’s mess, signed chits on an honesty system. This still prevails today in The Sebel Reef House & Spa Brigadier’s Bar. Also continuing a tradition, each evening candles are lit throughout the resort denoting Twilight Hour, an opportunity to meet with other worldly travellers over a complimentary glass of Brigadier’s Punch.

The earlier tradition of The Sebel Reef House & Spa continues to this day, and the General Manager takes pride in meeting as many guests as possible when they arrive and also joining others for evening drinks. It’s all part of the casual elegance and colonial charm of a bygone era that is the boutique experience of The Sebel Reef House & Spa.