This glorious hotel in regional Queensland feels like a luxury resort overseas

Just over a decade ago, Chris Morris bought Australia's worst-performing casino on the Townsville waterfront. Since then, the casino, redubbed the Ville, has had a major facelift and Morris Group has built the 132-room Ardo next door, which opened in late 2023. For tourists travelling this far north, they often decide to keep going on to Cairns and beyond. But Ardo, if good hotels with attractive ocean views are your thing, offers a compelling pitch for a stop lower down the coast.

Ardo is perched right on the water with an unobstructed view of Magnetic Island. The hotel is close to the city's convention and entertainment centre and about a 20-minute walk to the Strand beachfront promenade. Though in the Queensland heat, it can feel like quite a hike for the uninitiated to reach the strip of cafes and shops. It's a shorter walk to the Magnetic Island ferry terminal and well positioned for the aquarium and museum. The new Flinders Street Wharves precinct, which is on the main drag and has a chic clutch of bars and eateries, is easily accessible on foot, though a sweat- and heat-busting Uber ride should not be out of the question either.

With terrazzo, tiles, linen and shades of beige, Ardo could be anywhere in the world where it is warm and there is water to look at. The foyer is minimalistic and breezy, coordinated and modern. It has the feeling of a wellness retreat, hiding its busyness.

An ocean room gives you 33 square metres of space with a king-sized bed or two singles. A private balcony looks out to Magnetic Island. A cutout allows you to stand at the basin or in the shower and see the ocean, while a tablet offers touch-of-a-button access to the room service menu, and the rest of the hotel's information and amenities. The hotel also offers marina rooms - same size and facilities but pointed back towards Townsville across the marina and down the Strand. Courtyard rooms on the ground floor afford a larger outdoor area and corner suites include a bath on the private balcony.

There is a day spa on site, with packages starting at $255 for a 90-minute treatment. Guests also have access to some of the facilities at the neighbouring Ville resort and casino, including a buffet breakfast, another pool and the gym.

The infinity pool on Ardo's rooftop, looking out to Magnetic Island, makes for a perfect relaxation spot.

The writer was a guest of Ardo and Townsville Enterprise