Queensland resort named world's best

Does the perfect hotel exist? Voters in the 2012 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards think so, naming Qualia on Hamilton Island as Best in the World and Best Resort in the Oceania region.

The luxury resort on the Great Barrier Reef scored 100 out of 100 for its rooms, service, food, location, design and activities and is the first Australian property to be voted No 1 and only one of four properties in the survey's 25-year history to be judged perfect.

The survey of 46,476 people nominated more than 1300 winners (a minimum number of responses is required to be eligible for an award) in categories of cities, islands, cruises and airlines.

Set among eucalypts on the island's northern-most tip, the resort has a staff-to-guest ratio of one-to-one and 60 pavilions with views of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and Coral Sea. The resort's luxurious Beach House has a 10-person dining area, pool and separate guesthouse.

Chairman of Hamilton Island Enterprises Sandy Oatley says the award is testament to the original vision for Qualia when the island was purchased nearly 10 years ago.

''It [the vision] was to create a luxury oasis that maximised the sheer beauty of the idyllic location with a standard of service that was uniquely Australian, yet that would meet and exceed the expectations of the most discerning travellers from around the world.''