Travelgal on the move

Queensland’s Gold Coast is fixed into the holiday psyche of Australians who love to holiday in a place of variety, charm and colour which displays the aesthetics of a true playground for all ages.

Always appealing, always evolving, ever the charmer – Queensland’s Gold Coast is Australia’s favourite destination for young and older holidaymakers.

As well as the popular precincts – Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads the lush greenery of the Gold Coast Hinterland beckons visitors to explore Mt Tamborine, and Lamington National Park

In recent decades, the Gold Coast was as much a theme park as its actual, amazing themed fun parks. And who doesn’t like a super hero, or a thrilling ride. Theme parks in all their gaudy glory are far from what else the string of villages along the coastline now offer visitors.

Starting at the southern end of the Gold Coast, sentinel architectural wonders are etched along the coast from Coolangatta all the way north to Sanctuary Cove. And in between, villages have taken on their own personality so the Gold Coast stretch is no longer a place of fits-all-sizes.

Let’s look at some of the highlights:

Coasting along

Burleigh Heads is quickly gaining the title of the hippest place to be. A laid back place with an incredible surf beach, it’s the place to chill out on weekends for the locals and a place to explore for the holidaymakers.

For a large (or smallish) family group book into the Burleigh Pavilion & The Tropic. At the end of the Pavilion is The Tropic, a light filled, open to the view of the sweeping beach affording a premium dining experience. The food is a fresh take on Mediterranean and Modern Australian.

Walk off some of that lunch with a trip around HOTA (Home of The Arts) in Surfers Paradise.

Let us now drift into the QT Gold Coast, a hotel that bucks the soft beige palette trend as it pops with colour and youthful vigour. The hotel that put the ‘cool’ back into Surfers Paradise faces the rising sun over the ocean and the other side faces the mountains and hinterland.

The Yamagen restaurant here has longevity on the Gold Coast. By GC standards this restaurant is vintage and has been pleasing palates for more than 30 years. In 2017 it had a makeover and refurb but has never lost sight of continuing the tradition of brilliant food plus a fab cocktail menu that stands tall among the imported beers and extensive wine list.

A new vibe has emerged with the discovery (for us visitors) of Miami Marketta. This establishment would sit proudly beside a Melbourne or Sydney inner city meeting place. This space is so cool that Baz Luhmann held the official Elvis cast and crew wrap party there.  And there’s a bar here that has 101 brands of gin.

Craft beer, boutique wine and unusual soft drink options plus a variety of street food options at stalls to cruise please all local and out of towners! Damn cool!

And to top that off – yes, a beach club in the town, a resort on top of a building, a pool just metres from the beach! Yes.

The wow-making Cali Beach Club is a day/night club to indulge your hip and happening desires. There’s the pool, the band area, lots of tucked away corners and catering that shows off the best of seafood extravaganzas.

The Gold Coast, the bold coast – always something new to discover.

The writer was the guest of Destination Gold Coast and Rex Airlines.