Brisbane is the third largest city in Aus and is a buzzing city with a vibrant, bohemian atmosphere. Brisbaners have a laid-back attitude and are incredibly friendly, making all who visit here want to unpack their bags for good.

Not to mention the subtropical climate which boasts warm sunshine all year round, it’s the perfect city for those who love the outdoors and being outside. Simply walking along the Brisbane River is enough.

In this guide, we have shared our Brisbane travel tips and knowledge on the best attractions in Brisbane, Queensland, so you can plan your trip to Brisbane with ease.

Things to Do in Brisbane

Despite many people skipping Brisbane on their visits to Australia because Sydney seems to steal all the attention, there’s lots to see and do in Brisbane.

It’s worth spending some time in the city and enjoying it, rather than just using Brisbane as a stopping point on the way to the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, or Byron Bay.

1. Go to the lookout at the top of Mount Coot-tha

Hiking up to Mount Coot-Tha is one of the top things to do in Brisbane for those who love the outdoors. It’s nestled in Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens, and from the top, you’ll be surrounded by rainforest and sweeping views of the city.

There are regular buses to the summit or to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at the base if you’d like to walk to the top through the city botanic gardens.

Go at sunset for fantastic 360-degree views over Brisbane to the coast.

There’s a restaurant and a cafe at the summit, both of which are over-priced for the food they serve but are still a good place to hang out for a drink with top views.

2. Take a ferry on the Brisbane River

There are plenty of boat tours of Brisbane and CityCat ferries to help you get around but my tip is the free Cityhopper.

It just launched on 1 July and links various Brisbane hot spots, including Eagle Street and the South Bank, along the inner city stretch of the Brisbane River and runs from 6am until midnight.

3. Walk The Promenade along the Southbank

Brisbane has long river walks on both sides of the river but the Southbank is particularly vibrant.

There are free pools for the summer months. You’ll also enjoy playgrounds for the kids, markets, and street performers to entertain you.

The sparkling Brisbane River next to the South Bank parklands sets everything off beautifully and there’s a huge range of cafes and restaurants.

If you fancy a dip, head over to Streets Beach where you can paddle in the river.

4. Visit the Southbank Museums

While your in Southbank, check out the museums in the precinct. Do visit the Queensland Museum, Brisbane’s (free) State Museum where you can learn about Queensland’s history, geography, and native people from the hands on displays and beautiful exhibits.

The Sciencenter next door to Queensland Museum is great if you have kids. There’s a charge for entry but it’s worth it so allow plenty of time as the kids will want to stay and play all day.

The Museum of Brisbane which is located inside Brisbane City Hall is a great museum with fascinating temporary exhibitions. It’s free to enter and has great views of the Tower Clock.

The Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) across the street will give you great insights into life in Queensland including works by Queensland-born or Queensland-based artists and a colourful collection of indigenous art.

Next door to GOMA the State Library of Queensland is a relaxing place to hang out, research your travel options and tap into the free wifi.

5. Visit Pine Koala Sanctuary

If you’re into seeing and cuddling Australian animals and can’t make it to Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast then Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will deliver the goods.

This is your chance to get up close and personal with a koala, and even cuddle one. You can also learn about how they have been protecting koalas since 1927 and helping with wildlife conservation in Australia.

They also have other native Aussie animals such as kangaroos and wallabies.

6. Explore The Neighborhoods in Brisbane

One of the best ways to get to know a city is to stroll around the neighborhoods and take it all in. In Brisbane, there is so much to see and so much going on, that just walking around and seeing it all come to life is one of the top things to do.

Be sure to check out the following neighborhoods…

• Fortitude Valley, known to locals as the Valley, is one of the most fun areas to hang out in within central Brisbane and is home to Brisbane’s Chinatown. It’s also full of hip young people, boutique shops and myriad restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
• New Farm is one of Brisbane’s most cosmopolitan suburbs and contains many of the city’s trendiest bars and restaurants. Thanks to its proximity to the city and riverside location, it is also becoming one of Brisbane’s most prestigious suburbs.
• Brisbane CBD and Queen Street Mall to stock up on essentials before you head off to rural Australia.
• The Southbank, with its lovely location by the Brisbane River, has something for everyone, from endless dining options to free swimming in the man-made lagoons
• Kangaroo Point is a green area with spectacular views of Brisbane city centre and impressive structures including Story Bridge and natural sandstone cliffs, both of which you can climb on tours.

7. Go Bar Hopping in Fortitude Valley

There are bars and nightclubs galore in Fortitude Valley. Sadly my bar hopping days are over but a little bird told me that these are the hip and happening spots you should check out.

• Sky Room on Wickham Street for cocktails.
• Emporium at the Emporium Hotel on Ann Street if you want to go upmarket and get dressed up.
• Cloudland, which is THE place to see and be seen in Brisbane.

For a quiet drink and an extensive wine list including wines from the nearby Granite Belt head to Bar Barossa on Queen Street just a block back from the river.

8. Check Out The Markets and Shopping in Brisbane

Queen Street Mall is Brisbane’s most popular shopping area with boutiques, chain stores and department stores to suit every budget.

The Southbank markets on Friday evenings and weekends are fun.

The Powerhouse Farmers Markets in New Farm are open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month

9. Attend Brisbane River festival

When it comes to festivals in Brisbane, the big one is the Brisbane River festival in September when you can catch a flotilla of boats cruising down the river as well as a fireworks display.

There are plenty of other events including film festivals, arts festivals, and fashion events throughout the year. Just look out for the free local press which you can usually find in your hostel or hotel.

10. Take A Day Trip from Brisbane To The Beach

Brisbane’s location on the East Coast means it’s a great base for exploring other coastal towns and areas. It’s just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast, and if you want quieter beaches, I’m a bit biased toward Noosa and the Sunshine Coast where I live.

If you head up there you’ll find miles of beautiful white sand beaches with ocean swimming possible all year round. If you visit during the winter months (June to November), you might even get a glimpse of a humpback whale migrating off the shores.

For beach lovers who want to stay closer to Brisbane try Moreton Bay and Bribie Island. North Stradbroke Island is another great island off Brisbane to explore and is known for its excellent beaches, camping, and position for whale watching.

The Granite Belt is also a short day trip away. It’s a well-known wine-growing area with heaps of vineyards and wine tastings as well as Girraween National Park, which is gorgeous.

11. Take a Brewery Tour

Queenslanders love beers, and Brisbane is the home of the world-famous beer, XXXX. You can learn all about the XXXX production on a brewery tour..

On the tour, you not only get to learn about the brewing process, but see how they are made and learn to pour the perfect pint.

The tour takes you behind the Learn how the brewery and tells you about its 135 years of history, see the inner chambers and see the bottling room.

This is one of the more unique things to do in Brisbane and is perfect for beer enthusiasts.

12. See A Show at Brisbane Powerhouse

The Powerhouse is a live performance venue and is a great place to catch a comedy show, watch live music, or a theatrical performance.

If you’re planning a visit for May, then you will have come to Brisbane during the Brisbane Comedy Festival, and some of the biggest comedy names and performers will be showing their acts at the Powerhouse.

Any visitors to Brisbane should check to see what’s on at this venue, as there is always something good on. It’s my top tip for things to do in Brisbane at night.

13. Feast at Eat Street Northshore

Eat Street Northshore is a night market serving street food and delicious meals from its quirky market stalls made out of shipping containers.

It’s a bit of a way out of the CBD, located on a disused historic wharf next to the Brisbane River, but it’s worth the trek for the atmosphere.

Not only does it have 70 stalls and five themed bars, but it also have live entertainment, music and quirky shops. You can sample cuisines from pretty much any country, and enjoy your delicious meal while listening to a live band play.

Since it’s only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it’s one of the top things to do in Brisbane at the weekend.

14. Take The Kids to New Farm Park

If you’re looking for some outdoor fun, pack up a picnic and head over to New Farm Park. It’s only three CityCat stops from the CBD and is the oldest and biggest urban park in Brisbane.

While your kids run around the grassy areas you can sit back and take in the scenic river views, or head over to the playground where your kids can let off some steam.

On a Saturday morning, you’ll find a farmer’s market here from 6am – 12pm. It’s the perfect place to sit back and relax.

15. Go Rock Climbing at Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Another park in Brisbane is Kangaroo Point Cliffs which is known for having amazing rock climbing and abseiling facilities.

The climbing precinct is by the ferry terminal and Maritime Museum. Click here to join an organized abseiling experience with instructor.

The park also has public barbecues, a picnic area, and a boat ramp where you can launch your own canoe or kayak.

If you’re not into climbing, it’s another waterfront park where you can sit back and relax to serene river views.

Best Time of Year to Visit Brisbane

The great thing about Brisbane is there is no bad time to visit in terms of the weather. It’s always sunny in Brisbane, making it a great holiday destination all year round.

If you don’t like crowds, I would avoid visiting during the summer school holidays in January when it’s super hot and the entire Southbank is crawling with people.

Where to Stay in Brisbane

Spring Hill has plenty of great hotels and hostels for the budget traveler including Brisbane Quarters.

For luxury check out the Sofitel in the CBD or the Treasury Hotel and Casino.

If you’re traveling with friends or family booking an apartment at Central Cosmo Apartment is a great deal. We have also stayed at the Novotel Brisbane South Bank before which was fantastic.

Many of the apartments have spectacular river views and they’re all right on the river and within easy walking distance of Fortitude Valley.

Getting To And Around Brisbane

Qantas has international flights to Brisbane Airport from big transport hubs like Auckland, Los Angeles, and Singapore and there are plenty of domestic flights to other big cities around Australia.

You can also get here by train or bus and driving around the city is quite easy too if you have your own wheels.

When it comes to getting around Brisbane, you can pretty much walk anywhere.

Walking along the river makes it fun to walk around. If the distances are too far or you’re in a hurry there are buses and river ferries as well as services like Greyhound buses to get you out of the city to your next destination.

Where to Eat in Brisbane

Brisbane’s foodie scene is taking off with endless great cafes and restaurants to choose from.

For the best assortment of international restaurants, including a dizzying array of Asian restaurants in Chinatown, head to the Fortitude Valley area and try:

• Wagaya – Set on a first floor over Brunswick Street this huge, busy Japanese restaurant has several booths as well as private rooms and traditional Japanese-style rooms. With touchscreen ordering and a vast choice of dishes, this is a cheap and cheerful place to eat that’s got something for everyone.
• Grill’d – For gourmet burgers including beef, chicken and lamb along with three rather fine vegetarian options.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Brisbane

I love Brisbane because it’s got a fabulous sub-tropical climate so it never gets that cold, plus it’s got all the glitz and glamour of a big city yet it’s easy to get around and the people are friendly.

Tours in Brisbane

More Queensland Inspiration

Are you planning to visit other parts of Queensland? Then you may find these other guides helpful…

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Fortunately, The Gold Coast is well equipped with places to stay for families, with a plethora of hotel and holiday rental options to choose from. In fact, the hardest part about finding a place to stay is narrowing down your options.

And that’s where I come in. We used to live on the Gold Coast in Australia, but now go back from time to time to visit friends and family.

As a family of four, we’ve been fortunate to stay in some of the best family-friendly accommodation options on the Gold Coast, and so I’ve decided to share those accommodation options with you because I understand the headache it can give you.

In this guide, I’ve shared my picks for the best Gold Coast accommodation based on our personal experience staying at all of these Gold Coast apartments, best family hotels, hostels, and campgrounds, as well as from our extensive research and recommendations from friends and family.

Where Is The Best Place to Stay on the Gold Coast, Queensland?

But first, let’s talk about the neighborhoods and districts you can stay in. For first-time visitors, I recommend you stay in Surfers Paradise.

The Gold Coast is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia and Surfers Paradise was featured on TripAdvisor’s destinations on the rise list for 2016.

We’ve visited the Goldy many times and also lived on the Gold Coast, and found that this is one of the most popular areas for family tourists because it’s close to the theme parks, that is Movie World, DreamWorld, and Sea World, and all the thrilling activities the Gold Coast is famous for.

Plus, it has a Hard Rock Cafe (which, we’ll admit is good) a couple of great water tours, and the usual touristy tacky things like Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

If you’re looking for an up-and-coming place to stay and you have older kids, we’d like to replace Surfers with Burleigh Heads as a destination on the rise.

It would be the perfect location for your Gold Coast family holiday as it’s quieter, has more space, and allows you to get out and enjoy the beaches and nature without the need for a car.

I like Burleigh as it is the midpoint of the Gold Coast so closer to Surfers Paradise.

But if it’s natural beauty and relaxed vibes you’re after, take it from us, frequent visitors to the Gold Coast and former locals – from Burleigh south to the border at Coolangatta, and the Hinterland is the best part of the Gold Coast.

But don’t tell too many people as we don’t want the local, low-key vibe to be destroyed. This is the region you want to stay if you want to lap up that Gold Coast local beach life.

Aside from the areas mentioned above, some other great places to stay for families in the Hinterland area would be Currumbin (for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary), Kirra and Coolangatta.

Best Budget Family Accommodation on the Gold Coast

Now you know a little bit about where to base yourself, it’s time to take a look at the best accommodation options.

I’ve compiled a list of the best family accommodation on the Gold Coast ranging from budget hostels to apartments, hotel stays, and luxury homes.

I begin this list with the best budget options. Although these are on the lower end of the price scale, remember prices for the Gold Coast accommodation will vary depending on the time of the year you visit.

1. Paradise Resort Gold Coast

When it comes to choosing a place to stay that the whole family will enjoy, there will be few families who won’t enjoy the facilities at Paradise Resort Gold Coast.

It’s the mother of all family resorts and has everything you could ever want or need. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the resort there’s so much to do (though I highly suggest you do, there’s so much to do on the Gold Coast).

It’s located in the center of Surfers Paradise and has its own water park with a lagoon pool, kids club and games room, ice-skating rink, and a spa for mum and dad to chill in.

It also has daily activities such as a magician performance and a trivia night.

It has a convenience store and bistro on site, and all rooms are simple but have the necessities such as air-con.

But what makes this the best family accommodation in the Gold Coast is that under 12s get to stay FOR FREE. The only downside is the wifi signal is poor, but who needs it with all this stuff to do!

2. NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort

Another great holiday park for families that’s packed with amenities and things to do is the NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort.

It’s located in Biggera Waters, which isn’t our favorite location, but it is within a 20-minute drive from the theme parks.

Besides, it has an outdoor cinema, games room, giant jumping pillow, tennis court, outdoor gym, four giant swimming pools, spas for mom and dad, and a pirate-themed mini golf course.

It also offers self-contained villas for rent, so you have the luxury of your own space.

3. Turtle Beach Resort

Mermaid Beach is a great location as it sits right in the middle of Burleigh Heads and Surfers Paradise, offering the best of both worlds – quiet and relaxed beach vibe, but close to the main attractions.

Turtle Beach Resort offers self-contained accommodation in a resort-like setting that’s ideal for families.

It has four huge swimming pools, one of which is a lagoon pool and one has a water slide. There’s also a spa pool for mom and dad.

The Splash Zone Water Park is the highlight of the resort and is where you will find water activities, water cannons, and slides for toddlers.

It also has a mini gold course, and a games room with video games.

4. Sea World Resort

Located on the Southport spit is the Sea World Resort, which is just a 15-minute drive from Surfers Paradise.

It has a huge 50 meter lagoon pool and aquatic playground for kids. It also has an award-winning restaurant, Hatsuhana, which serves Japanese cuisine.

And of course, the best part of the resort is you get to sleep near the tropical fish of Sea World.

5. Burleigh Beach Tourist Park

We’ve stayed at the Burleigh Beach Tourist Park twice. Once on the first lap of our Australian road trip, and then when we returned for a few weeks while we were searching for more permanent accommodation.

It’s grown a lot since we last visited. Before it was just a campsite, but now you can rent little 2-bedroom cabins and even a vintage camper!

The powered campsite is the more affordable option and it’s smallish and doesn’t have many facilities. It has an amenity block with toilets and showers, but that’s it.

However, its position is premium, which makes this the perfect accommodation for families on the Gold Coast.

Who needs facilities, when the beach is just across the road?

Turn right and you enter another of our favorite Gold Coast walks – through the Burleigh National Park and the headland. Come join me for 6 am boot camp as we run up the hill and die.

Mid-Range Family Friendly Accommodation on the Gold Coast

If you have a bit more budget to spare, it’s worth putting it into your accommodation. Below I’ve listed my mid-range options for places to stay on the Gold Coast.

6. Mediterranean, Burleigh Heads

When we arrived in Burleigh, we moved out of the caravan park after three weeks, because the holidays finished and it ticked over into shoulder season.

That meant we could rent an apartment in Burleigh for only $20 extra a night than stay in our tiny camper trailer we were sick of!

The Burleigh Mediterranean Resort is across the road from North Burleigh beach and within walking distance of the bus stop, supermarket, North Burleigh Surf Club (our fave), and awesome cafes. They have a great swimming pool area the kids will love.

7. Mantra, Coolangatta

The Mantra Coolangatta has some of the best views that I’ve ever experienced in an apartment stay. It’s right on the Esplanade at Coolangatta and within walking distance of everything you need including our favourite sunset spot on the East Coast of Australia – Snapper Rocks.

The Self-contained apartments are small but comfortable. The good news is the private balcony is big and I can guarantee you won’t want to leave it.

In fact, I even said that I could live at Mantra Coolangatta if I could! It’s the ideal accommodation option for families who need more space and the comforts of home, such as a full kitchen, gym with sauna, and laundry facilities.

Plus there’s an on-site pool as well. Coolangatta is the closest Gold Coast town to the Gold Coast Airport. Cross over the main street in town and you’ll be in NSW.

8. Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island

If you’re looking for a much quieter and more natural Gold Coast family holiday, stay at Couran Cove on South Stradbroke Island.

Leave your car on the mainland and cruise around the resort and island on your bike. It’s located on the water’s edge and is surrounded by a natural forest and beaches.

All apartments and villas at Couran have water views and the resort has outdoor pools and other facilities like beach volleyball, tennis, bike hire, and mini golf.

This is the tranquil family Gold Coast accommodation that would suit families who want to escape the bustle of city and enjoy the beauty of nature.

9. Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, Lamington National Park

Far too many people ignore the Gold Coast Hinterland for those stunning Gold Coast beaches! Don’t!!

The Hinterland is one of my favourite spots in Qld, it’s only an hour from the coast, but full of adventure and serenity in ancient rainforests. It’s magical.

Binna Burra Mountain Lodge has family accommodations ranging from campsites to cabins, to a bit more lux apartments. It’s a great relaxing getaway for families who want to kick off from the digital life an unwind with nature.

Plus there’s no better sunset than the one by the BBQ area. Oh yes, it has BBQ facilities too!

Because of its lush mountainside location, you can find many hiking trails, waterfalls, bushwalks, and lookouts nearby. We also enjoyed the guided bush walk with a ranger when we visited.

Another thing that makes Binna Burra unique is that it has eco-friendly cabins, which are perfect for those environmentally conscious travellers.

10. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park

While Binna Burra was quiet and all about being in nature, another Gold Coast hinterland accommodation known for being family-friendly is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Like, Binna Burra, it is situated within a different section of the Lamington National Park, but unlike Binna Burra, it has more onsite attractions, such as the Flying Fox zip line, a bird of prey show, and several bush walks.

There’s an inexpensive National Park campground just outside the retreat, and inside it ranges from a lodge to cabins to lux villas with spa baths on the deck overlooking the rainforest.

It is one of the best family accommodations on the Gold Coast for your hinterland retreat.

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11. QT, Surfers Paradise

Uptown funk you up. Uptown funk you up! That’s the QT in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast!

Full of funk and quirkiness.

From the tropical shirt-clad concierge waiting to greet you with an iced lemonade, to the chic custom design of each room, your head will be turning and conversation will be flowing about the QT during your stay on the Gold Coast. Tell me you don’t feel like you’re in Miami.

Plus, the QT has an amazing buffet style with a QT twist dinner and breakfast at the Bazaar plus the Stingray is one of Surfers hottest bars. Not sure you’ll be going there with kids in tow though!!

Instead, you might want to check out the Spa.

The QT on the Gold Coast is accommodation that tells a story.

12. Kirra Surf Apartments, Kirra Beach

Again, another great family accommodation on the Gold Coast with an epic ocean view is Kirra Surf Apartments.

They are edging into that luxury accommodation market with its divine views and stylish beach decor, but the price tag is still reasonable and affordable for families.

It’s in a quiet location, but within easy walking distance to cafes and restaurants, and go a little further around the point and you’ll be in Coolangatta. There’s also a pool in case the beach doesn’t tickle your toes enough.

13. Bujerum Apartments, Burleigh Heads

I rate Bujerum Apartments as my favourite places to stay on the Gold Coast. I even hesitated about putting it in the luxury accommodation bucket, and the price is way more affordable than you think for the value and experience you’ll receive.

It, without a doubt, has the perfect position of any other family accommodation on the Gold Coast I’ve mentioned in this post or seen.

Sit on the balcony from sunrise to sunset and you will not be disappointed. There are no high-rises blocking your view, you’re right on the surfer’s point watching them catch the waves in.

There’s an easy-going vibe and pace here perfect for your Gold Coast family holiday. Burleigh Hill is my favourite spot on the Gold Coast. It’s where we usually walk daily to chill and watch the surfers.

14. Mouse House Rainforest Retreat, Springbrook National Park

This is where I want to plan our work retreat for next year. The Mouse House Rainforest Retreat in Springbrook on the Gold Coast is the most enchanting place I’ve stayed.

Our cabin was Doc, and as we walked through the misty rainforest, to uncover Doc hidden behind the twisted vines, I felt like I was Snow White discovering the Seven Dwarfs Cabin.

It’s located only 40 mins from the coast in the Springbrook National Park, which is a magical ancient rainforest area filled with walks and waterfalls. I can’t wait for a sunny day so we can explore it more.

Luxury Accommodation on the Gold Coast

Now we have the 5* hotels, luxurious apartments, and spangly deluxe options. If you’re looking to push the boat out, here are some of the top luxury places to stay on the Gold Coast.

15. The Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast

I stayed at The Star Grand, formerly the Star Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, formerly Jupiter’s Casino, during my participation in the mock Commonwealth Games event.

I really enjoyed it. The rooms had just been refurbished.

I had gorgeous views out over Broad Beach, and my favourite feature was walking into the room and having the blinds and curtains automatically open so I could see the views – extraordinary. I’ve never seen that before ever.

What also makes Star’s a great place to stay on the Gold Coast is the entertainment on offer right at the bottom of the lifts. You have plenty of restaurants and bars and the casino (be careful!)

The Garden Kitchen and Bar is one of our favourite places to eat on the Gold Coast. It’s also right across the road from the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

You can check out the crazy Commonwealth Games event I was part of by clicking play below:

16. Marriott Resort & Spa, Surfers Paradise

We stayed at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa, Gold Coast when Savannah was a baby. It’s considered one of the best family resorts because of its lagoon pool with lazy river and waterslide, but we found it to be a great family accommodation on the Gold Coast purely for its location.

We didn’t stick around in the hotel much, not when everything we wanted to see and do in Surfers Paradise was right on the doorstep.

We loved the location as it was within walking distance of everything in Surfers and close enough to the Theme Parks, including Sea World, which we were in town to explore.

The views over the ocean were brilliant, and we loved the pool area which is a gorgeous saltwater lagoon pool. They have buffet breakfast and Citrique was a worthy restaurant to eat in.

17. Hilton Hotel and Apartments, Surfers Paradise

Rising high above Surfers Paradise, with epic views of Surfers Paradise beach or canal/hinterland, are the twin towers of Hilton apartments in one and hotel suites in the other.

We stayed in one of the two-bedroom apartments and loved it for Gold Coast family accommodation. Its located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, right in the middle of the Cavill Avenue action, so it’s easy to walk around, but also easy for you to escape the madness if you want a quiet night in.

Hilton Hotel and Apartments is the home to another of Surfers hottest bars, the Fix Bar, and the Salt by Luke Mangan is a popular place to dine or enjoy a buffet breakfast. The Deck Pool Bar is also a great place for a swim and a cocktail.

18. Palazzo Versace, Main Beach

No, we haven’t stayed at the Palazzo Versace yet, but I’m putting this hotel on the list because you’ve got to dream right.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to stay at a Versace property, the ultimate in style and luxury, and feel like a rock star at least once in your life?

We dined at the property though at the Vie Bar + Restaurant and the food was superb, so I can only imagine the rooms would be just as elegant as the restaurant was.

Final Thoughts on The Best Gold Coast Accommodation

So there you have it, those are the best places to stay on the Gold Coast for families, and I think you’ll find a lot of diverse options from my list.

Each of these hotels and apartments has been picked based on personal experience or recommendations, and while they each offer something different, they all offer a great base for a family.

I hope this guide helped you plan your trip to Goldie. andgave you some inspiration for where to stay,

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Whether it’s finding a hidden beach or backstreet cafe or hiking to the top of a hill, you can experience more or the city and the joy of the landscape just by wandering around.

There are many Gold Coast walks for you to choose from.

Sure the Gold Coast has its imposing concrete skyline, but it’s built around the great outdoors and the local council has done a great job in providing excellent footpaths, walking tracks, and cycleways for the active locals to enjoy their own backyard.

But if you’re not sure which walk in the Gold Coast you want to add to your itinerary, below are my favourites…

Is the Gold Coast Good for Hiking?

The Gold Coast is a great base for hikers and walkers, it’s one of the reasons we loved living on the Gold Coast.

Get up at 6.00 am on the Goldy and it feels like midday with everyone out walking, cycling, and surfing. You can’t help but get caught up in the energy of the place.

And the great thing about taking a bush walk on the Gold Coast is that it’s FREE and you’re seeing things at a slower pace, which means you’ll take more in and appreciate an area more.

The Gold Coast is so great for walking, when we lived there, we didn’t own a car. Plus, many of the walks are family-friendly and our small children could do them too.

If you want more strenuous hikes, the surrounding national parks have plenty of green mountains you can explore.

The best thing about the Gold Coast is you’re not sitting in traffic or rushing around on public transport, instead, you’re soaking up the local landscapes and walking off the overindulgence of eating on your holiday.

The Best Gold Coast Walks

So once you’re done with the theme parks and laying on the beach, get active and get beyond the concrete skyline and choose one of the many fantastic bush walks on the Gold Coast.

1. Burleigh Heads National Park

• Distance: The combined Oceanview Track and Rainforest Circuit is 3.4 km
• Time to complete: 1.5 hours without stopping for breaks
• Difficulty: easy
• Start / Finish: start and finish at the park entrance near Tallebudgera Creek

Burleigh Heads is one of our favorite spots on the Gold Coast, but for reasons I can’t answer, we’d never ventured into Burleigh Heads National Park before.

We’ve been recommended this walk many times as one of the best and most popular walks on the Goldy. Finally, we’ve done it.

We suggest getting up early for this Gold Coast hike. Grab a takeaway coffee from Nook Espresso then head to the point and catch the magnificent sunrise whilst watching the surfers at one of Australia’s most famous point breaks.

After the sun has risen and you’ve had your coffee fix and been inspired by the surfers, head off on the ocean view walk around the rocky Burleigh headland.

A wild, natural headland in the heart of the Gold Coast offers walks along the rocky foreshore and through the rainforest, and the chance to see whales in spring and sea eagles soaring along the coast. The terrain was paved all the way.

At Burleigh Head, where ancient volcanic columns meet the sea, this park features rainforest, eucalypt forest, pandanus groves, tussock grassland, coastal heath, and mangroves.

Its northern side is one of Australia’s most famous surfing point breaks. Walk the Ocean view walk around the rocky headland from Tallebudgera Creek and look at the tumbled masses of six-sided basalt columns.

Explore the Rainforest circuit, wander through a living museum of plants, and watch for humpback whales from the Tumgun lookout in winter and spring. See Australian brush-turkey nesting mounds, seabirds and water dragons.

Picnic on Burleigh foreshore or relax on Echo Beach.

It’s a beautiful start to the Burleigh Heads National Park hike as you round the bend getting awesome ocean views combined with walking through eucalypt forest.

After you round the Burleigh headland, you’ll come upon what must be one of the Gold Coast’s hidden gems, Tallebudgera Creek. I’m sure only the locals, or those in the know, spend time at this Talle.

We stopped at secluded Echo Beach whilst the kids played in the sand and climbed on the rocks, and watched a few kayaks and paddle boarders cruise down picturesque Tallebudgera Creek.

When you finally drag yourself away from here head uphill and begin the rainforest walk which loops you back to the starting point at Burleigh.

About half-way back you’ll come to Tumgun Lookout which offers awesome views back over Tallebudgera Creek and Palm Beach off in the distance.

This photo hangs above my office in our home in Raleigh to remind me of my beautiful Australian home.

Burleigh Heads is where we’d live if were in Australia.

It’s pretty much downhill from here and once you get back to the Burleigh foreshore grab a seat on the grass with a drink, or maybe even a picnic, and enjoy the view of Burleigh Beach.

The coastal walk combined with part of the rainforest circuit is about 2.5 km all up.

It’s not difficult as both of our young kids walked most of the way, just keep an eye on your young ones on the ocean part of it.

2. Coolangatta to Point Danger, Southern Gold Coast Walk

• Distance: 2km
• Time to complete: 1 hour (longer when stopping for photos)
• Difficulty: easy
• Start / Finish: Coolangatta Beach

This is a great little Gold Coast walk we did over and over again whilst staying in Coolangatta for 5 days.

If you only do it once, we suggest saving it for late afternoon as the sunset views you get at the end are magical, as you’ll see in a moment.

This walk may not take you long, it’s about 2 km in total, but that really depends on how often you stop as the scenery along the way will have you reaching for your camera at every outlook.

Start this walk on the path that runs parallel to Coolangatta Beach and head towards Greenmount Beach. If you desire, grab a coffee from the Go with the Flo Cafe at Greenmount surf club then start heading around the Greenmount headland.

Greenmount Beach is our little piece of paradise on the Gold Coast, family friendly for a swim and from the pathway you get a nice view back over Coolangatta.

The point is also a popular surfing spot for the locals.

Once you’ve seen the surfers catch a few waves keep heading around the headland and shortly you’ll get to Rainbow Bay which is also a top spot for families.

From here you have two options. Walk on the sand up to Rainbow Bay Surf Club, or simply stay on the path.

Along this section of the pathway is a playground for the kiddies to enjoy whilst you take a seat on the grass and admire the beach.

Continuing past the Surf Club you’ll come to Snapper Rocks, one of the most famous surf breaks in the world and home of the Quiksilver Pro surfing contest.

And once you climb the small hill up to Point Danger on the Queensland / NSW border you’ll be overlooking another well-known surfing beach, Duranbah.

If you have done this walk in the afternoon, now is the perfect time to grab a cold drink or even dinner on the west facing deck at Rainbow Bay Surf Club.

You can’t beat the views of the sun setting over the Gold Coast and the Surfers Paradise skyline from here!

3. Lamington National Park Hike, Gold Coast Hinterland

• Distance: 180 meters
• Time to complete: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Start / Finish: O’Reilly’s Reception and car park

Fancy a bit of Rainforest bushwalking but don’t have a lot of time?

Lamington National Park is in the Gold Coast hinterland great walk, and the place to stay up there is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. You could do a day trip, but it’s a windy road and a good 3 hour return trip from Surfers Paradise.

Once you’re at O’Reilly’s, there are two short walks beginning near the entrance to O’Reilly’s Reception, The Booyong Walk (the entire walk is 10 miles, but you only do a short section of it) and the Tree Top Walk.

O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk allows you to walk through a canopy of flowering and fruiting trees covered by vines whilst you explore the epiphytic orchids and ferns surrounded by the many birds and animals that inhabit the tree tops.

The Tree Top Walk, was the first of its kind in Australia, is 180 metres in length and is made up of nine suspension bridges, with much of the walkway being 15 metres above the ground.

Profiles depicting the rainforest flora close by have been placed along the walkway to assist visitors in identifying the plants in the immediate vicinity.

Two observation decks have been constructed in a Strangler Fig above the walk way, the highest one being 30 metres (approximately 110 feet) above the ground.

The Tree Top Walk is a unique and innovative structure that gives visitors what can only be described as an exhilarating experience – a chance to observe life in the rainforest canopy at close range for the first time in their lives.

The Tree Top Walk consists of 9 suspension bridges up to 16 metres above ground allowing you to walk through a canopy of trees and at the end of one bridge is a ladder up a fig tree that leads to a deck 30 metres above ground.

The Booyong Walk in the Lamington National Park is easy to navigate and suitable for young kids in a stroller, and it’s popular with the bird lovers out there.

4. The Gold Coast Oceanway

• Distance: 36km (one way)
• Time to complete: The entire walk will take you 7 to 8 hours without stopping, so we recommend you do it in sections
• Difficulty: moderate
• Start / Finish: Point Danger Lighthouse to The Spit

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a 36 kilometre network of pathways along the beaches of the Gold Coast, from Point Danger Lighthouse (Coolangatta) in the south to the Gold Coast Seaway (The Spit) in the northern Gold Coast.

It’s an epic Gold Coast walk!!

Once our kids are older it’s on our list to one day walk the entire length but on this recent visit we managed to walk a 10km section one-way from Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise which took us 2 hours with minimal stops.

If you want to replicate this walk on the Gold Coast, grab yourself a juice from the kiosk underneath Burleigh Surf Club, pack some snacks and water in a day pack, and off you go.

At the North Burleigh end you’ll climb a cliff and some stairs to a viewing platform lookout over Surfers Paradise.

You might also want to bring your swimmers and towel for a dip along the way, and if you want a lunch or coffee break we recommend the BSKT Cafe in Nobby’s Beach.

We did most of this walk on the pathway, but as we got closer to Surfers Paradise we did the last section on the beach.

We didn’t get great weather on this walk, but this is what the Oceanway looks like on a nice day in Surfers Paradise.

5. Twin Falls Circuit, Springbrook Plateau

• Distance: 4km
• Time to complete: 2 hours
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Start / Finish: Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout

Springbrook National Park is full of amazing hiking trails that pass through rainforests and take you to some beautiful waterfalls.

The whole part is over 6,100 hectares and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

One of my favourite walks in the national park is the Twin Falls circuit.

As it was drizzling when I did the walk, I chose to take on the 4-kilometer twin falls circuit alone while leaving Caz and the kids at home.

Starting at either the Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout, hikers can explore the track counterclockwise while marveling at the stunning gorges and palms along the way.

The path is well-marked, guiding trekkers through the forest and rocky crevices. However, parents with children should remain vigilant as the terrain can be demanding.

The Gold Coast area has much more to offer than its beautiful beaches, which the Twin Falls trek clearly shows.

Once I arrived at the falls, the serenity of two simultaneous waterfalls was unbeatable.

Although not directly in the centre of Goldie, Springbrook’s only a brief drive from our coastal home. However, if you’re traveling from Brisbane, you can arrive in just under an hour as well.

6. Warrie Circuit, Springbrook National Park

• Distance: 14km
• Time to complete: 5-6hrs walking time.
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging (grade 3)
• Start / Finish: Canyon Lookout

If you finish the Twin Falls circuit in record time, you can find the Warrie Circuit from the same trailhead (Canyon Lookout).

The terrain of this one is much more rugged with some rocky parts that may be impassable after a heavy rain storm. Some of the trail is also overgrown and not well maintained.

But I personally think the best thing about Springbrook National Park is its ruggedness, and this trail is a true example of this.

This walk is the longest and most fascinating walk in the park and takes you on a circular loop around the Springbrook plateau before heading back to The Canyon.

You’ll pass the Goomoolahra Falls, Rainbow Falls, and several creeks before climbing back up the gorge.

7. Curtis Falls Track, Tamborine National Park

• Distance: 1km
• Time to complete: 45 minutes
• Difficulty: moderate
• Start / Finish: There is a car park off Dapsang Drive where you can enter the trail

A well-maintained walk in Tamborine National Park is the Curtis Falls Track, which although is only 1km long, has been listed as grade 3 because it’s quite strenuous.

The walk takes you through a wet eucalypt forest and gum trees, which is known to be a haven for Australia’s bird species.

Once you’ve climbed your way through the forest, you will meet a huge curtain of water tumbling over. the rocky cliff and into the pool below.

In the pool, you may see some turtles, fish, platypus, and eel. At night, glow worms light up in the surrounding cliff-face.

8. Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park

• Distance: 1km
• Time to complete: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Start / Finish: Bakers Road

Springbrook National Park’s Natural Bridge is one of its most popular attractions and can be reached very easily from the trailhead on Bakers Road.

The formation itself receives its name due to the natural rock that looks like a rock bridge amid a cavernous waterfall.

To get there you must hike through the dense subtropical rainforest where you can observe local fauna, however, due to vulnerable ecosystems and rare glow worms, there is now limited access to the Natural Bridge area, and swimming is strictly prohibited.

Don’t forget to make time to explore the Cave Creek trail located nearby, as it is another breathtaking wonder of nature.

9. Witches Falls, Tamborine Mountain

• Distance: 3.1km
• Time to complete: 1 hour
• Difficulty: moderate
• Start / Finish: parking lot on Main Western Road

A little further out of the city in the Witches Falls section of the Tamborine National Park, the first national park in Queensland, is the Witches Falls Circuit.

This is an uphill bushwalk through dense forest and overgrown bush. The trail is a natural surface and requires some level of fitness to make it up the mountainside.

However, those who do will be rewarded with incredible sweeping views of the verdant valley and of course, Witches Falls.

10. Cedar Creek Falls, Mount Tamborine

• Distance: 1km
• Time to complete: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Start / Finish: Thunderbird Park

Another popular bush walk in the Gold Coast region is Cedar Creek Falls, which is located in Tamborine National Park.

The walk is short and sweet, at only 900 meters in total. The path winds down from the car park to a picnic and bbq area about 500 meters away, where you will meet the refreshing creek where you. can paddle or swim.

The first section of the track to the picnic area is easy to walk along and is also suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, but those with reduced mobility might struggle to make it to the next area.

Continue on for another 400 meters and you will reach the falls which have lush swimming holes underneath that you can swim in. It’s one of the few croc-free swimming holes in Queensland so it’s worth the trek!

More tips for the Gold Coast

Are you in need of more inspiration for a trip to the Gold Coast? Then you may find the below resources helpful…

Gold Coast Tours

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If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s used to describe how you can make physical, mental, and behavioral changes in order to regulate your sleep–wake cycle. It is in the easiest terms, a way to install a healthy rhythm to your life.

We had arrived at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in the Tallebudgera Hinterland on the Gold Coast for a weekend of rest and relaxation. And to reconnect with our circadian rhythm.

We were feeling like the world we live in has messed it all up with our bright lights, gadgets, and flashing neon signs, enticing us to stay up and play like a nocturnal animal.

Our bodies are confused and restless and slowly breaking down.

But they’re designed for living in tune with the seasons that surround us and the movement of the sun.

It was time to get back to that.

That’s why we arranged to stay at Gwinganna Health Retreat, to help us switch off from the bright lights and reconnect with a healthier rhythm.

About Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

But first, what is Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat? The Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is a wellness haven that is located on the property of an old farmhouse that has been transformed into a bed and breakfast with a day spa.

It’s the largest spa in the Southern Hemisphere and can be found in the Tallebudgera Valley, just a 30-minute drive from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

It is owned by fitness entrepreneur Tony de Leede and is also part-owned by Hugh Jackman, the Hollywood actor.

Gwinganna respects the local indigenous people who are the original custodians of the region, and to who they dedicate their name to. In aboriginal language, Gwinganna means to ‘lookout’, which is very fitting as you have sweeping views from most parts of the property.

Gwinganna is also dedicated to ecotourism and creating as little impact on the environment as possible.

It was the winner of the World’s Best Eco Spa Award in 2022 from the World Spa Awards.

Facilities at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

Gwinganna has so many facilities I don’t know where to begin! Of course, the main reason people come here is for the wellness facilities.

The Wellness Education Complex provides presentations, classes, speakers, and seminars with a long directory of programs and topics to choose from.

All the programs are targeted at some form of stress management or wellness ethos.

Aside from this, there are two heated swimming pools, a huge dining room, and several lounges and places to relax. There are also tennis courts and several walking tracks through the gardens.

The spa is pretty extensive, with three levels of programs and treatments on offer. Whether you want to ice bath in a plunge pool or take in a talk at the amphitheatre, there’s every wellness facility you can think of here.

What We Learned From Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

We started our weekend at Gwinganna with a talk from Sharon Kolkka, the Wellness Director of the retreat, who offered a moment to honour the traditional custodians of the land.

This area we know as the Gold Coast Hinterland did not belong to one tribe, but many as they walked from mountains to sea to stay in connection with the earth and all their bodies needed from it.

They do not want to be recognised as nomadic people, but as seasonal ones.

People who were in rhythm with how the earth moved.

Who hunted and gathered by day and, at night, sitting around a warm red light to connect and slowly ease into sleep – keeping in tune with the circadian rhythm.

We then spent two days learning about the circadian rhythm and gained some insight into how to tap into it. Here’s what we learned…

What’s circadian rhythm?

In short, it’s the body clock.

The process our body moves through as the sun wakes us up and puts us to bed. We wake up with daylight (blue light), which signals our brain to start making serotonin – yep the happy drug.

No more sleeping in folks. “Rise and shine,” my mother would sing to me of a morning as she whipped open the curtains, “The world needs you Caz!”

Time to greet the sun and feel happiness.

As the sun dips below the horizon some hours of busyness later, the light turns to red and signals our bodies to start making melatonin – the sleepy drug.

It’s why they recommend a good sleep comes if you close the eyes before 10pm – four hours after the sun has gone down and your body is ready to sleep.

We keep feeding it with blue light by way of our screens and artificial lights, so it’s confusing and makes less melatonin to help us.

We become insomniacs, reaching for the glass of wine of an evening to help us drift off.

Reaching for the cup of coffee in the morning to help us wake up and then the wine again in front of the bright blue glare of the screen of the evening to help us unwind.

It’s why our bodies are so messed up when we fly and why earthing is a remedy I often suggest for

It’s why our bodies are so messed up when we fly and why earthing is a remedy I often suggest for overcoming jetlag.

“We’re so screwed up.” It was all I could think of listening to that talk. How the hell do we fix this?

How travel helps our natural rhythms

I started to get a little agitated because it’s all well and good to know this and to experience this for a return to our circadian rhythm a couple of days, but we have to return back down there – to the life that consumes us.

How do we get back to the circadian rhythm when modern life is doing everything it can to stop us? My thoughts drifted to travel as they always do.

That’s why I feel so good when I travel – I mean in a long-term sense, not those whirlwind two-day city explorations or resort stays where unwinding often means late night dinners and spins of the roulette wheels.

I mean when travel becomes a lifestyle and you move slowly and in rhythm with the earth.

Our road trip around Australia had us almost in connection with the circadian rhythm. The sun goes down and we unwind as we have no TVs and only a few lights to keep us awake.

Even when Craig and I were backpacking we often went to bed not long after dark, and after a few chapters of a paperback book would fall asleep early.

We’d be up early with the sun to run along the beach and enjoy those happy serotonin hormones.

No wonder I’m always longing to return to it.

Nature makes us happy

Then we learned about fractal patterns of nature and how the research shows that it dramatically affects our health and well being.

I took a sharp intake of breath. It’s why I’m addicted to travel and why it’s so good for my health. My gaze is focused for much of the day on the fractal patterns of nature.

A fractal is a never ending pattern, and it’s easy to agree, from trees to rivers and coastlines to mountains, nature has an abundance of them.

Layer on top of that the sounds of nature and the feeling of the warm sun on your skin or the cool breeze through your hair and you have a Zen feel good experience.

Being in nature increases our happiness and modern life is taking us away from it, particularly our children, which is having frightening implications for stress and health.

We’re shutting ourselves away in our offices or lounge rooms and on our TV screens and phones which causes an unhealthy build-up of stress, which increases our blood pressure, depletes our energy, decreases our cognitive ability, and reduces our immunity.

Looking at fractal shapes generates a sense of well-being and peace in the observer. When we slow down, stop the busy work, and take in beautiful natural surroundings, not only do we feel restored, but our mental performance improves too.

It’s why I feel so calm here in my apartment looking out across the road from my balcony to the treetops and the crashing waves.

All I hear is the sound and the birds chirping and I feel at ease and happy.

Just breathe and all will be okay

I was at the retreat to learn simple ways to unplug and integrate that back into my real world.

Our Breathe and Relax wellness weekend was led by Andy, a guru of breathing and yoga. How funny to have a guru of breathing. But, as Andy said to us over and over again,

“I’m not teaching you anything new. You all know this. You all did it so beautifully when you were babies. But, then you got older and started holding your breath and forgot to tap into this power that helps remove your problems and brings you back to a sense of power and peace in an instant.”

He lead us through meditation and breathing exercises and with each one it was clear the difference that conscious breathing makes to our psyche.

He had us utilizing the power of the sigh and insisted that if we were to take one thing away from the weekend it would be that.

Every time we noticed ourselves holding our breaths, we are to let out a big sigh.

I can imagine all the faces of the retreat attendee’s colleagues around Australia now as they suddenly start sighing over and over again in the office. It was a great stress management exercise.

Our Stay at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

At the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, you’re surrounded by the fractal patterns in nature.

From the balcony of our suite, we looked out over the old orchard garden and to the pretty face wallabies and their babies jumping about.

You know how much I love macropods and pretty faces are my favourite – is there a more beautiful fractal pattern?

There are no sounds other than kookaburras laughing and trees rustling, there are no strong artificial lights or imposing buildings.

There’s a beautiful blend of historic buildings and modern wooden buildings that blend in with nature.

On our first evening, we walked along the sunset track for stunning views over the Tallebudgera Valley.

The clouds covered the setting sun but it was still mesmerizing. You could see each of us slowly let go of the civilized life energy that entraps us and is welcome in the earth’s purity.

At Gwinganna, you end the day on the sunset track and start it on Sunrise Hill looking out over the ocean.

From atop of the hill as I start my morning with a gentle Qi Gong class -a restorative moving meditation – watching the sun rise up from the ocean I see the top of the Burleigh high rises and I’m thinking, “I don’t want to go back there. I don’t know how I can go back there and make it work.”

Sigh out the sickness – help from the kind staff

A big sigh was what I let out upon arrival at Gwinganna as I started to feel a few aches and pains in my body and a sore throat.

We had a phone call from Kalyra’s school only an hour before to say she was not feeling well.

Bugger.

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat gave us the most comfortable bed in our Orchard Suite, permission to sleep early, and the quietest, darkest environment to help you do that effortlessly and I spent our first evening tossing and turning wide awake alternating between fever and chills and awful body aches.

I was so grateful when the morning wake up call came at 5:30am because it meant I could get up out of that bed and perhaps focus on something else other than my sick body.

There was no better place for me to be than Gwinganna.

The care I received from the staff was exceptional. A nurse was present who put me on bed rest and gave me many supportive lotions and potions (natural of course).

They spent the entire weekend making immunity juices for me and doing everything they could to support and nourish my body.

I was impressed. If I was at home, I’d have the kids jumping over me and would not be able to allow my body space to heal.

What To Do at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

I was pretty devastated about being sick as visiting Gwinganna has been a dream of mine since I first heard of it way back in 2009. Despite being ill, I gained so much from my visit.

I’d spent the two weeks before arriving training so I could participate in the diverse activities and wellness seminars like yang classes of boxing, and integrated animal flow classes (super interesting but apparently very challenging), but I was unable to attend them.

They offer more relaxing yin classes as well, so I was able to do a gentle yoga and stretch class.

Craig went all out and attended a creative tribal dancing class and surprised himself with his coordination and how much he enjoyed the combination of movement, chants, and stretching.

On the second day, I chose the luxury of sleeping instead of early morning Qui Gong. Everything at Gwinganna is about choosing what your body needs.

There is nothing compulsory, only encouraged and a range of activities to suit your body’s needs. Mine was clearly calling for sleep.

And if you visit when the weather is favourable, Gwinganna has this gorgeous infinity pool with a custom-designed edge with views over the Gold Coast.

Gwanganna Day Spa

I’m not too sure if it was the best thing for me to be sick and having all the toxins moved around my body through a massage.

But, I was not going to sacrifice that one.

If I was sick already I might as well get it all out in one gigantic bang. Better out than in right?! Well, I was sick for about 8 days in total so possibly the massage may have extended it. Who knows?

But I do know for that 80-minutes of my Hawaiian bodywork massage I loved it.

I’d not experienced a traditional Lomi Lomi massage before.

It was incredible and my therapist was amazing. She had beautiful music soulful music playing and she sang as she danced around me and massaged me. It felt like my entire body and soul was being massaged at once.

Craig chose to go with an integrated massage that combines the best deep-tissue massage techniques with acupressure, reflexology, polarity energy healing, breathing techniques, and passive stretching.

After my massage, I headed straight for the relaxation class where I allowed my body to slowly sleep into sleep.

The Gwanganna Spa also has many spa treatments and rejuvenation packages available, or you can use the gym, sauna, and steam room.

Listen and unplug

Learning what your body needs and giving it was one of the biggest takeaways for me from my visit. To listen, appreciate and love more.

To learn simple techniques to increase my vitality and reduce my stress.

It all starts somewhere. Unplugging is gradual. An hour here and there turns to a day turns to a weekend and turns to a lifestyle change.

That’s the benefit of attending a health retreat such as Gwinganna. It’s designed to bring you back to Mother Earth, to your body, to your sense of calm. You switch off your devices, hand over the cigarettes and the alcohol and succumb to earth’s natural rhythms.

It’s designed to bring you back to Mother Earth, to your body, to your sense of calm. You switch off your devices, hand over the alcohol and caffeine, and succumb to earth’s natural rhythms.

You wake up with the blue light and sleep with the red. Every meal is carefully designed and created by highly trained nutritionists so it cleanses your body and enriches it with pure energy.

Enjoy gluten and dairy free organic cuisine

I was in heaven to know I could eat delicious organic food without fear of falling sick.

Don’t fear, on weekend retreats a glass of organic wine is allowed at dinner. Should you stay for a longer > week-long retreat though you’re detoxing.

The restaurant offers a paddock-to-plate ethos, where all the produce has been grown organically or locally sourced.

Everything from fruit, vegetables, and herbs has come from the on-site gardens and has been specifically chosen to improve digestion and liver detoxification as well as many other health benefits.

Before each meal, guests are given a small shot of apple cider vinegar which is said to aid digestion.

You will find a never-ending supply of detoxifying herbal teas, but there is a strict no juices or smoothies rule.

Water is also prohibited with meals (though you can of course drink after) as it’s said to hinder your digestion.

The Changes I’ve Made Since Visiting Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

You can’t have an experience like Gwinganna without making changes to your lifestyle.

You can’t look into that sacred space of your health, of peace and vitality, and mother nature and go back to how you once were.

It takes time and you can’t flip your world around after one weekend, but you can make a start and implement some changes.

We’ve been home from Gwinganna for a while now and since then I’ve made the following changes:

• I’ve had very little coffee and alcohol. Definitely not my daily dose. I feel great and in control. I learned how reaching for that glass of wine when you stressed is a lethal combination. The sugar in the wine mixes with the stress levels and together they create more stress and excess weight. Your body feels like it’s under attack and so starts stockpiling the weight to protect you. And the release of stress is short-lived.
• I’m getting to bed before 10pm 95% of the time and set my clock for 8 1/4 hours of sleep. Sleep is the number one thing that’s required for maintaining weight and vitality. We learned all of this in a fascinating talk with head personal trainer Duncan, who ran a vitality analysis that provides a snapshot of several biomarkers that help determine your vitality, including muscle mass, quality of muscle, cellular health, and hydration, body fat percentage, basal metabolic rate, and physiological age. A great introduction to wellness therapies. Craig excelled at this, scoring a 90/100, and mine were pretty good except for verifying what I knew – my core strength could be better and I could do with losing some excess fat! It’s not a lot but enough to make me move more. I’m finding getting the required amount of sleep each night the most difficult thing to do. It’s not easy when you have kids.

• I’ve set a goal to move 10,000 steps a day, which equals about 6km a day, and you can accumulate that to 42km a week. I’m walking and running in order to do that. Either will burn the same amount of fat. Running just helps me hit the target quicker. I’m running two times a week and doing yoga at least three times, with a focus on core strength.
• I’ve installed Flux onto my computer so it reduces the blue light to red light once the sun sets. I want to get off the computer for an evening, but I just can’t make it work. We juggle our business around the kids, putting them as a priority, which means nighttime is when we can get a lot of work done. It will be the same when we are on the road. I can’t be delusional; I just have to do the best I can.
• I immerse myself in fractional patterning even more.
• I’m leading with my heart and talking to Kalyra and Savannah about doing the same. That simply means when walking instead of having your head sticking out leading, have your heart go first. I’ve explained to Kalyra that it’s a way to use our superhero powers without anyone seeing it. When you lead with your heart you automatically feel more powerful, kinder, and open, and no one sees your heart leading, they just notice that you ooze confidence and strength like a superhero.
• I’m sighing a lot. With a loud clear exhale. It feels good.
• I’m using a few of the meditation breathing techniques Andy taught us to slip into sleep at night and if I wake up restless. It works a treat.
• I’m spending most mornings gazing at the sun rising. It simply could be the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Final Takeaway…

Of all the guests I spoke to at the retreat (there were 58 of us in total) everyone said how a weekend was not enough and how they want to come back.

Many had been before and many were staying on for a week-long detox.

They waved us goodbye with a joyful smiles as the rest of us trudged onto the bus to return to a world so out of sync with circadian rhythms, seasonal living, and fractal patterns.

We went away having learned a great deal and made some positive changes to our lives.

There can be no doubt that the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat made a big difference for us, but of course, everyone is different.

I hope this guide helped you understand what to expect from the retreat.

More places to love on the Gold Coast Hinterland

• Staying At The O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park
• The 10 Best Springbrook National Park Walks: The Green Behind The Gold Coast
• Escape To Binna Burra Lodge, The #1 Gold Coast Hinterland Accommodation
• 3 Gold Coast Hinterland Accommodation Options
• The Ultimate 2 Day Gold Coast Itinerary for 2023

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The Hilton Hotel Residences in Surfers Paradise was the highlight of our trip to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

I didn’t even know Hilton did apartments, but I am so glad they do. Apartments are our preferred accommodation choice now that we have children.

It’s easier, cheaper, and creates a home environment that our girls really appreciate.

But what is a stay at the Hilton Hotels Residence Surfers Paradise like for families? Below I have shared my honest review of the hotel and shared our experience staying here.

About Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences

Located in Orchid Tower on Orchid Avenue, just a 2-minute walk from Surfers Paradise Beach and a 5-minute walk from Surfers Paradise Boulevard and the Skypoint observation Deck, the location really cannot be beaten.

It’s a 35-minute drive (33 km) to the Gold Coast Airport.

As with all other Hilton Hotels around the world, the Hilton Hotel Residences Surfers Paradise offers high-end luxury and 5* service.

Guests can choose to stay in guestrooms (standard hotel rooms) or in one of their apartments. They have 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom apartments, as well as a penthouse available to rent.

Facilities at Hilton Surfers Paradise

We didn’t stay in one of the noise-free guestrooms, so can’t vouch for that, but when it comes to the apartments, here is what you can expect.

All apartments come with a spacious open-plan self-contained unit, with a separate living area to bedroom, a private balcony, and a huge bedroom with premium bedding (Egyptian cotton sheets – I know, luxurious right!)

The bathroom is spacious and kitted out with everything you need, from towels to free toiletries. Some rooms have a spa tub.

There is also a large kitchen area with a microwave and tea maker. Rooms also have a smoke detector, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, security system, and first aid kit.

The resort has its own onsite restaurant, Catch Restaurant, which serves delicious seafood. You can also find a gourmet breakfast served at the onsite cocktail bar, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, each day.

Swimming Pool and Eforea Spa

There is also an indoor pool and four outdoor pools with a poolside bar and deck bar. There is also the Eforea Spa which is a full-service spa with a sauna, spa treatments, and massage services.

There are also laundry facilities, in-room wireless internet access, daily housekeeping, valet parking (for a valet parking fee, or you can park yourself for a self parking fee), an executive lounge for premium members (we didn’t go there), and 24-hour room service.

Our Experience Staying at Hilton Hotel Residences Surfers Paradise

There are rooms for them to run around and play in, beds to bounce on, mock cafes to set up, comfy couches to watch TV on and fridges to clean.

Yes, Kalyra set to work while Mummy lay on the couch and watched. Is that not how it is supposed to be?

We arrived after a hectic two weeks of travel and were looking forward to having a more relaxed pace on the Gold Coast.

We’ve been to the Goldie so often that we decided, this time, we didn’t need to explore, just enjoy time together as a family.

We arrived in the afternoon and immediately began our usual hotel inspection routine, where Kalyra runs around exclaiming at a hundred miles an hour how much she loves each room and bathroom, and drawers with “hair dryers and knives and forks in them. “Like so amazing!

This time, Mummy and Daddy ignored her as we squealed and raced onto the balcony to enjoy the views.

Stunning.

Looking out over the ocean and back over the Hinterland and over the Surfers Paradise canals as well.

All I wanted to do was sit with a coffee and read a magazine. All my girls wanted to do was crawl all over me.

We put that dose of Mummy sanity aside and went for a wander around the property. It was winter so we could not enjoy the swim-up bar and pool areas, but I could imagine how they are the place to be in the summer.

Savannah and I had a quick little snuggle in one of the pods before her, Craig, and Kalrya went swimming in the heated pool and spa.

I snuck upstairs for some time out, called catching up on work!!

On our first evening staying at the Hilton, Craig went down to Woolworths to buy food to cook in our kitchen. There was a knock on the door, which kinda freaked me out because I have watched far too many scary movies.

I peered through the little peephole and saw two ladies standing outside.

Feeling safe, I opened the door slowly and stuck my head out the door.

“We’re the turndown service. Do you need us to turn down your beds?”

I was a little taken aback, although very impressed.

A quick glance to the right reminded me how the girls had made themselves welcome by scattering their toys all around the bedroom.

“Oh no, it’s okay, but thank you anyway.”

“What about some chocolates then?”

Their arms glided towards me with palms outstretched. A few little bars of turn-down chocolates smiled up at me.

“Oh okay then thank you.”

I eagerly awaited the knock on the door at around 7pm the next night and sure enough, it came. Kalyra nearly tackled me out of the way.

“Why Thank you!”

After dinner, Kalyra and I snuggled up in my bed together to watch some reality TV cooking show, instead, we mostly pulled faces and talked five-year-old-I’m-tired-and-silly talk.

Signature buffet breakfast at Catch Restaurant

One of the highlights of staying at the Hilton Residences was the buffet breakfast.

We developed quite a crush on Luke Mangan the week before on our P & O Pacific Dawn cruise.

Luke is one of Australia’s top chefs and we ate twice at his Salt grill restaurant on the ship.

It is beyond delicious.

His food is simple, yet exotic with a heavy Asian influence.

I fell in love with his take on mango and sticky rice, my all-time favourite dessert.

How excited were we when we discovered the restaurant at Hilton Hotel Residences is Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill?

I say very. Even Kalyra got up in the dining area to do a little dance.

I loved having miso soup for breakfast, followed by a hot brekkie, chased down with a smoothie shot.

We actually had a lot more than one of those, and way more than our fair share of smoked salmon.

The Hilton Hotel and Residences is perfectly located on Orchard Avenue in the middle of the action in Surfers Paradise.

This area has always been famous for the party, particularly for school leavers at the end of the year. The last time I partied here was for Schoolies in, wait for it, 1993.

Over the past few years, its seedy reputation has not done it any favours.

I was really pleased to see how much work they are putting into cleaning up the area and adding some class and style to it.

The Hilton Residence Towers for one, the new Soul building for another. The whole Cavil Avenue area is getting a facelift.

We spent the day blissfully walking up and down the beach strip, chasing seagulls, playing in parks, and enjoying the Gold Coast sunshine.

Before hurrying back to soak up the comfort of our luxury hotel apartment and those views.

Rooms and Residences

Hilton Surfers Paradise offers hotel guest rooms and residences in different types. The property features city, ocean or Hinterland views with renowned Hilton services.

Spacious residences feature a private balcony, kitchen and laundry benefits. You can choose from one to four bedroom residence rooms. There are king rooms and suites also available. See all room types here.

Check-In/Check-Out Experience

It was pretty simple checking in and out. We had to provide our booking confirmation and a government-issued photo identification plus the credit card or debit card we booked with.

Check-in is from 3.00pm and check-out is at 11.00am. The reception does not offer after-hours check-in so you should inform them if your arrival time is late at night.

The minimum check-in age is 18.

You can also make special requests for optional extras such as extra beds and cribs for children, but you can only get rollaway beds for ages 0-2.

Surfers Paradise Tips

The Hard Rock cafe has the best vegetarian burgers I have ever eaten.

Q1 tower is the tallest residential building in the world. The views from the top are beautiful as are the cocktails, but it will cost you $21 to go to the Observation deck. Luckily our apartment had views that were pretty darn good.

If you want a cool local cafe then you must go to Black Coffee Lyrics. It is hard to find upstairs hidden away in a small arcade. It has a real alternative vibe, excellent Panini’s and good food.

Final Thoughts on The Hilton Hotel, Surfers Paradise

Overall, we had a very comfortable stay at the Hilton in Surfers Paradise. The only downside for us is that the free Wi-Fi wasn’t great. It was slow and disconnected often, which is not great when you work online.

It also makes the price a little expensive. If you are staying in a 5* resort, the least you expect in this day and age is good wifi.

But if you can look past this little nitpick, then it’s a pretty great place to stay. And for us, those balcony views were way better than looking at our laptop screens!

Top Tours and Attractions near Surfers Paradise

It’s where you can just walk or ride your bike unencumbered and chill to the beat of your own drum.

When we chose to stay at Couran Cove Island Resort, we were attracted to the simplicity of island life, to the sound of the ocean breeze and the stillness of the air.

There are no cars on the island, and the only traffic you have to watch for is the hopping agile, or rare golden swamp, wallabies.

You will find Couran Cove Island Resort nestled in the heart of South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park, and like our favourite island, Fraser Island, it’s one of only 15 sand-based islands in the world.

South Straddie is made up of 1,800 acres of conservation park, so you know you’re walking into pristine nature.

There’s no better way to help you unwind.

But does a stay at Couran Cove Island Resort live up to the hype? What is a stay there really like? Below you will find our honest review of our stay at this tranquil island resort.

About Couran Cove Island Resort

Couran Cove Island Resort on South Stradbroke Island lies 20km across the Broadwater from the north Gold Coast area. It is easily accessible by ferry, water taxi, boat, or jet ski.

It’s paradise tucked away beside the city, and yet only takes 20 minutes by ferry.

The Island offers calm inner waterways on the western side, untouched native bushland in the centre, and on the eastern side, a pristine surf beach with hardly a soul in sight.

The surf beach offers spectacular views of the beautiful Gold Coast, and sightings of humpback whales as they migrate north to breed from June through to late October are common.

It’s one of the few places on the East Coast of Australia where you can see the sunrise in the east of the island and set on the west.

Getting to Couran Cove Island Resort

Those staying at the resort can take the 40-minute ferry shuttle service to South Stradbroke Island from the Marina’s Cove ferry terminal, located on Seaworld Drive Main Beach on the Gold Coast.

You can also get a ferry from Hope Harbour, which is 45 minutes drive from Coolangatta Airport and an hour from Brisbane Airport.

The return ferry costs $30 adults, $15 children. Day trips are an easy option and the Gold Coast departure options include Sanctuary Cove Marina and Marina Mirage at Main Beach.

Guests are allowed to bring 1 20kg suitcase per person which costs $29 per adult and $14.50 per child. Any additional luggage has a surcharge of $20 per piece. You can take prams and strollers but they need to be folded before boarding.

Day trip guests are only allowed to bring one small backpack per person.

If you don’t want to board a ferry with a group of people, you can also book a water taxi, but you should contact the Couran Cove Island Resort reception beforehand to put in a special request for this.

Accommodation Options

Couran Cove Island Resort has many options for accommodation for guests to choose from, whether they choose eco cabins located within the Banksia forest to apartments and luxurious four-bedroom villas.

You can choose from either a studio or 1 or 2 bed apartment, a spacious 4 bedroom villa, or even an Eco Cabin.

Each cabin or apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen with a smoke detector, lounge area, balcony, king bed, flat-screen TV, all bed sheets and towels provided, free toiletries, and a hairdryer in the en suite bathrooms.

You can also request extra beds for children aged 0-2, but only rollaway cribs and infant beds are available and will incur some additional charges.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom waterview apartment which has a water’s edge balcony overlooking the lagoon.

It was comfortable and clean and had everything we needed.

I loved sitting on the deck for my morning meditation session with only the sounds of the morning birds to help bring me some Zen.

It also had a lot of space. The kitchen was huge for resort standards (see image below) and had all the appliances we needed to cook our own meals. I especially liked having the breakfast bar so our kids could sit and watch me cook.

Facilities

As a resort, you can expect it to be full of amenities and activities to keep you entertained. The resort is surrounded by tropical gardens and natural forest.

One of the most popular spaces in the resort is of course the outdoor pools, there is a large lap pool and a children’s pool with water slides and inflatable water toys.

For the adults, there is a poolside bar and poolside café to get a refreshment from.

Kids will also love the playground with trampolines and a treehouse.

There is also a beach volleyball court, outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, 24-hour fitness center, and a spa which is the perfect place to find relaxation.

There is also a general store where you can get your supply of groceries, and a coffee shop.

Our Experience Staying at Couran Cove Island Resort

Everything on South Stradbroke moves to the beat of island time.

There was a noticeable click into present-moment enjoyment as we stepped off the water taxi. Groove to your own vibe should have been the welcoming sign.

Our guide, Sean, took us for a half-day 4WD tour on the beach.

Unlike Fraser Island, there were no other cars in sight. We had the long stretch of white sand to ourselves.

We drove south to the Gold Coast Seaway to watch the surfers bravely paddle across from Seaway Spit on the other side to come to South Straddie where the waves are epic.

And of course, due to the lengths one has to go to get to the waves, there’s far less competition for the epic barrels it’s known for.

It is notoriously sharky though so be alert – surfers amaze me with their dedication to riding great waves.

Then we drove 20 km up the beach to the channel that separates north from South Stradbroke. Sean told us the story of how these two islands were once joined and are now separated.

It is said that a bunch of dynamite sank with a ship that ran aground in a narrow passage off the island. To keep things as safe as they could, they thought it was best to detonate them.

They didn’t realize how much dynamite was actually there and it blew a hole in the thin strip of land down the centre of the island.

Then nature came in with cyclonic waves and winds to drive the two islands further apart. And now there’s a great wide channel between the two.

Sean’s happy the two sides to Straddie are divided. He reckons the South is the pristine magical part. North Stradbroke is a little more developed – they even have roads there.

On South Stradbroke, you’ve got only Couran Cove Island Resort, a resort for visitors, and next door, Couran Point a small village for residents, except most of the properties are rented to holidaymakers.

What Is Couran Cove Island Resort Like?

Ramada Couran Cove Island Resort has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment in order to offer lavish facilities, five-star international cuisine, and stunning coastal scenery.

It’s unpretentious, friendly to the environment, and perfect for families who want to escape the Gold Coast pace of life, unwind and connect with each other and nature.

Explore it by the bikes you can rent from the resort, by foot, or by joining the 4WD tours offered by the resort. They’ll pack you a picnic and show you the wild beauty of the area. It’s wild and free and so beautiful.

You can stay overnight, or visit for a day!

There is not much to distract you here. The activities and facilities are created to bring you back together: bike rides, kayaks, mini-golf, tennis, squash, bushwalks, and huge pools.

We saw families laughing and playing together – barely a tech device in sight.

Executive chef Chris McIntyre has created a delicious menu based on locally sourced produce and cuisines from around the globe. You can enjoy the dinner overlooking the marina.

His dessert, the White chocolate Brule with chocolate Persian fairy floss and praline ice cream, was seriously one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.

Other standouts were the scallops, Grilled king prawn, sticky black bean and chilli butter for entree and barramundi with Israeli cous cous salad, poached leek puree, baby capers main.

There is a pool with more casual dining on offer and an on-site café with great coffee and cakes. The extended Boardwalk Cafe is a lovely spot to enjoy a drink at sundown overlooking the marina.

Final Thoughts of Couran Cove Island Resort

After being closed in the past for a period of time and then re-opened under new ownership, at the time of writing the resort was not quite at 100% of its peak.

The Surf Club was closed and needed to be re-developed and whilst our apartment was comfortable and spacious, I thought the interior decor, especially the bedding, was a little dated for a resort.

This is what it looked like when we stayed…

Since then, the resort has undergone a full refurbishment and I can see those dated interiors I complained about have been fixed. It now has white walls, a fireplace, plush comfy seating, and generally a brighter space.

This is what it looks like now…

I see great potential for Couran Cove. The changes they have made since our stay can only enhance its comfort, and it was already comfortable.

I also love their continued enthusiasm for sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. The design of the cabins uses sustainable materials, and they even collect drinking water from the natural springs on the island.

Stradbroke Island Tours

While we suggest staying on the island on South Stradbroke, you can visit North Stradbroke Island on a day trip. Check the following tours with Get Your Guide. We prefer this company for tours as they have a solid cancellation policy and reputation.

• From Brisbane: Stradbroke Island Day Tour
• From Brisbane: North Stradbroke Island Day Trip with Sunset
• Gold Coast: North Stradbroke Island Certified Triple Dive
• Stradbroke Island 4WD tour from Brisbane (this one is via Viator)

We love the area as it is just a short stroll around the headland to Coolangatta Beach, our favourite place on the Goldie, and of course Burleigh Heads, which is known for its relaxed artsy vibes.

When it comes to finding a place to stay near Kirra Beach, it can be difficult to choose between all the options. We chose to stay at Kirra Surf Apartments which are located directly across from Kirra Beach.

I grew up hearing about Kirra as I had a group of surfer friends and knew that it was in a great location.

But what is a stay at Kirra Surf Apartments like and what was our experience? Below I have shared my honest review of our stay here.

Where is Kirra Surf Apartments?

The Kirra Surf Apartments are located right opposite Kirra Beach and located at the quiet Southern end of the Gold Coast.

Kirra Point is where the surfing action is. Apparently, it is the home of one of the fastest barrels you could ever hope to surf.

Something akin to the perfect wave. No wonder the Billabong Pro Surfing competition has been held numerous times here.

Be warned if the swell is over 1.5 metres, you will be battling the crowds for a taste of surfing nirvana.

Kirra Beach is a perfect location for families, being a much quieter, less touristy and so more peaceful place along the Gold Coast beach strip.

With its location right across the beach, Kirra Surf Apartments is a perfect Gold Coast accommodation choice.

It’s also close to local attractions we love such as the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin Creek, the Hinterland, Burleigh Heads, and you can see Surfers Paradise in the distance.

It’s only a 5-minute drive from Gold Coast airport. You can book an airport shuttle but there is an airport shuttle fee.

Plus, you can walk along the foreshore to some awesome kid parks, restaurants, and bars.

About Kirra Surf Apartments

Kirra Surf Apartments are self-contained, contemporary apartments with a luxury and stylish finish. The main draw to these apartments is the sea views, which you will find in most apartments in the complex.

You can choose between studios, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and penthouse apartments. Each apartment comes with free private parking, free wifi, a private balcony, satellite TV with cable channels and a DVD player, and a comfortable lounge.

There is also a huge, spacious bathroom with either bathtub or a shower, free toiletries, and a hair dryer.

The fully equipped kitchens come with everything you need to enjoy a comfortable stay, including full-sized refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves, smoke detectors, a dining area, and plenty of cooking space.

The front desk staff offers ticket assistance and also can help you with any special requests. You can request a crib or rollaway infant beds, but they do not provide extra beds for adults.

They also do not allow bachelor or bachelorette parties, so if you’re thinking of staying for the purpose of group events you will need to look at other accommodations, sorry!

Other amenities in the complex that guests can enjoy are the laundry facilities with washers, outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center and spa, private plunge pools, hot tub, and sauna. There are also barbecue grills that guests can use.

Our Experience Staying at Kirra Surf Apartments

We stayed at the Kirra Surf Apartments during our trip to the Gold Coast in August.

They were newly renovated apartments when we stayed, and very tastefully decorated in Beach Cottage style.

I felt very at home and comfortable from the moment we walked in.

We had an old friend visit while we were there and enjoyed relaxing on the couch, catching up over a glass of wine, and looking out over to the beach.

It was also Savannah’s first birthday. We enjoyed a long beach walk with her to a special breakfast at our favourite Raw Foods Cafe, a coffee shop catch up with a friend, and a birthday cake in the apartment, followed by the >Yanguwah Aboriginal cultural show in the evening.

The apartments are fully self-contained, which is an accommodation must if you want to reduce travel costs. The apartment complex has BBQ facilities, a gym, a sauna, and an outdoor swimming pool.

The girls felt the place rocked for hide and seek and singing and dancing shows on the verandah.

I LOVED waking up to the sun rising over the water from my bed. Life is magical when viewed in this way.

I mean, just look at these ocean views from the Kirra Beach Apartments…

Check-In/Check-Out Experience

It was really easy checking in to Kirra Surf Apartments. We simply had to show them our booking confirmation with the guestroom reservation and the credit card or debit card we paid with, plus a government-issued photo identification.

We also had to pay a small cash deposit for incidental charges, which was refunded when we left.

Check in times are from 2.00pm and check-out times are from 10.00am, and the minimum check-in age is 18.

You can do contactless check-out which is great if you are in a hurry, but there is a late check-out fee if you oversleep.

Final Thoughts on Kirra Surf Apartments

We had a great stay at Kirra Surf Apartments in the Gold Coast. It was clean and comfortable, and the location cannot be beaten.

If there was one negative about this place is the free Wi-Fi. You have to log in to it using a password which is not ideal when you want to watch the smart TV. It also logs you out after a while.

If you can get over this little nitpick, then we recommend it as a great place to stay an a Gold Coast apartment.

If you’re looking for an alternative, the nearby, and very similar, Kirra Beach Resort is an option. See prices and availability here.

Top Selling Tours on the Gold Coast

More Gold Coast Travel Tips:

Looking for things to do on the Gold Coast? Then check out these other resources:

• Things to do on the Gold Coast for Families
• Places to stay on the Gold Coast
• Awesome Things to do in Burleigh Heads + Places To Eat
• Free (& Cheap) Things to Do on the Gold Coast for 2023!
• The Ultimate 2 Day Gold Coast Itinerary for 2023
• 3 Gold Coast Hinterland Accommodation Options
• Why we think the Gold Coast is THE best place to live in Australia
• The Best Family Accommodation on the Gold Coast
• Burleigh Heads Accommodation: The Bujerum Apartments on the Beach
• 11 Best BBQ Spots on the Gold Coast
• I Could Live at the Mantra Coolangatta Beach
• 25 Places to Eat on the Gold Coast – with or without kids

Wouldn’t you?

We needed a place to chill for a bit and catch up on some work. I’ve never had a more beautiful office.

If you’re thinking of staying at Mantra Coolangatta Beach, then keep reading to hear about our experience staying there.

About Mantra Coolangatta Beach

Mantra Coolangatta Beach is a luxury 4* hotel with holiday apartments for rent and resort-like amenities on its grounds.

The location of Mantra Coolangatta Beach is just divine.

Right across from internationally recognised surf beaches of Kirra and Rainbow Bay, as well as Coolie beach and just a short stroll around Greenmount Beach to Snapper Rocks – one of my favorite coastal walks on The Gold Coast.

Look to the right and you see Greenmount Beach. Look straight ahead and you see the surfers riding the waves at Coolangatta.

Facilities at Mantra Coolangatta Beach

But the location is not the only reason to visit Mantra Coolangatta Beach. There are five self-catered apartments from studio to three-bedroom apartments.

All apartments come with fully equipped kitchens or kitchenette with microwaves, stoves and tea maker, laundry facilities, and other comforts from home.

You’ll find the apartments have air conditioning, premium cable television, and free wifi.

Not to mention you have access to recreational amenities such as a heated outdoor swimming pool, spa with a sauna, and for gym buffs, an exercise room, and an outdoor tennis court.

The apartments come with bed sheets, towels, and toiletries. The bathrooms come with a spa tub, showers, and a hair dryer.

If you are travelling with young kids, you can request rollaway infant beds or a crib for an additional surcharge.

On a warm summer’s day, head to the BBQ areas and fire up the grill! It’s like an apartment and a resort, all in one.

It’s also just 5 km from the Gold Coast Airport and you have free self parking out the front.

• Location: 88 Marine Parade, Coolangatta. Right on the beach!
• Room types: 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments from $168.
• Website: Mantra.com.au
• Tripadvisor: Read what others are saying on Tripadvisor

Our Experience Staying at Mantra Coolangatta Beach

I don’t think we’ve enjoyed sitting on a private balcony this much EVER.

Whether it was having breakfast and a coffee as the day began, or watching the amazing sunsets over Surfers Paradise in the distance, it was a sight our tired eyes needed after staring at a computer screen all day.

Because when you get endless sunsets like this drawing you to return night after night, you just sit and watch the surfers ride the waves and the yogis do their downward dogs.

We’d just stroll home under the moonlight to sit on the deck a little more and stare at the starry sky.

I seriously could not leave the apartment.

We’d just had an intense two weeks exploring the Gold Coast, and now all I wanted to do was explore the Nespresso machine in the kitchen and walk from the deck to the toilet, to the bedroom in ten steps.

You can’t keep a view this beautiful all to yourself. We had a couple of friends to catch up with while were on the Gold Coast. “Forget about meeting up in a cafe, do you just want to come to our apartment for a drink?”

Thankfully they said yes, and gushed as soon as they walked in too.

“Wow. I never realized how beautiful it was here. Good idea ditching the cafe.”

It was truly magical to catch up with old friends sitting on the deck with those views.

If you do want to venture out of the apartment, you’re right on top of the cafes and shops of Coolangatta and there is plenty to do in the area to keep you happy and entertained. You can check out our Gold Coast posts here.

So I’m not sure that I have any words left to rave about the deck and the views any longer – except that sunrise views are just as good. That’s why Coolangatta is my paradise – amazing sunrises and sunsets.

So now I’ll let you see the rest of the apartment

Comfortable bedrooms for us and the kids.

Kitchen with everything you need to whip up a Thai curry.

And a lounge room that keeps you comfy while the Voice is on. That is if you can drag yourself away from the views to see it.

I could easily take up residency here.

Check-in/Check-Out Experience

It was really easy to check in to Mantra, all you need is your booking confirmation and the credit card or debit card you paid with.

You also need to present a government-issued photo identification such as your passport and pay a cash deposit for incidental charges (which are refunded on your exit).

The check-in time is from 2.00pm and the check-out time is by 10.00am. You can also do a contactless check-out and drop a key in the box, which is great if you’re delayed leaving.

The front desk staff are really helpful and explained what there is to do in the area, told us about guest safety measures when using public areas, and the property policy.

They also have tour and ticket assistance so you can book tours with them as well.

The front desk is open daily from 7.00am – 8.00pm, so if you plan to arrive outside of this time you need to contact them for special check-in instructions. The minimum check-in age is 18.

Places to eat in Coolangatta

Another reason why I could live at Mantra Coolangatta Beach is its close proximity to amazing restaurants, cafés, and places to eat.

Rainbow Beach Surf Club is just a 10 minute walk away and they do a breakfast AND dinner – heaps of great specials throughout the week and the views of famous Snapper Rocks are divine.

Sunset drinks here are a MUST.

Cafe dbar is just a short walk up the hill from Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks to Point Danger. It has great food and excellent views overlooking to ocean.

Final Thoughts on Staying at Mantra Coolangatta Beach

If I was ever to go back to the Gold Coast, I would welcome a stay at Mantra Coolangatta with my own arms.

Being directly across from the esplanade is one of the luxuries I will never get over.

Being just a few kilometres from all the top attractions on the Gold Coast, but being surrounded by the laid-back ambience of a quiet coastal town, is what makes this the perfect place to stay.

I hope this guide helped you understand what a stay at Mantra Coolangatta Beach is like and helped inspire your trip to the Gold Coast!

Don’t miss these Gold Coast travel tips

 There are so many things to do on the Gold Coast for families, you could easily spend a full week here at the end of your trip. But if you’re not blessed with time, we recommend staying at least 3 days. Here is our 48-hour itinerary for the Gold Coast and here are some top free things to do on the Gold Coast. 

See why Burleigh Heads is our favorite place on the Gold Coast and you might want to visit Springbrook National Park, The Green Behind The Gold Coast

In fact, when it comes to finding accommodation in Burleigh Heads, you’ll find more Burleigh beach apartments are opening up than hotels. Plus, when it comes to price, beachfront apartments are on par with 4* luxury hotels, so it’s a no-brainer which you would choose over – a whole place to yourself or a room?

But that does make things a little harder in terms of choosing, as there are so many options to choose from.

When we first arrived in Burleigh Heads, knowing it was a semi-permanent stay, we always passed by the Bujerum Apartments every day to go to our campsite and thought it looked like a stunning place to stay.

And I’d say, “I want to live there.” Right across the road to beautiful Burleigh Beach with wide sweeping ocean views of Burleigh Point.

It seemed like the ideal location, and from the outside, it was glamorous and modern-looking. So when we were offered the chance to stay there and see what a stay would be like, I jumped at the chance.

Here’s what our stay at the Bujerum Holiday Apartments in Burleigh Heads was like…

About Bujerum Holiday Apartments in Burleigh Heads

The Bujerum Holiday Apartments Burleigh Heads were one of the first-holiday apartment complexes to open up as a Gold Coast holiday rental only.

It was originally built in the 1930s but has gone through some major upgrades since then, the last being in 2013 when the building was renovated to a more modern style, but still staying true to the Queenslander character.

It gets its name, Bujerum, from the Traditional Custodians of the land that the apartments are built on. The Kombumerri Aboriginal people use the word “bujerum” to mean “spirit” in English, which is very fitting since the building has stood tall for over 90 years. It must be something in the air.

You can find Bujerum Holiday Apartments in across from Burleigh Beach, facing north across the beach with the beautiful skyline of Surfers Paradise looming in the background.

It’s only 14km from the Gold Coast Airport and 15km from the Gold Coast CBD.

How We Came to Stay at Bujerum Holiday Apartments

At the time of writing, we were living on the Gold Coast semi-permanently, so didn’t see the point in staying in a Burleigh Heads accommodation in our own backyard.

We just live down the road so it wouldn’t be a great story for the blog.

Then, my friend and business coach, Mike Irving and I started planning a video coaching program on gaining confidence and control over your life. Originally we were going to shoot them over Skype as it involves raw live coaching. No editing or fancy production needed.

We then decided it would be better if we did it in person. Our apartment has semi-views of the ocean, but terrible lighting, limited space, and decor that’s best suited to transient travellers.

Light bulb! I know just the place. The lighting is spectacular, the decor beautiful, and the views incredible.

I contacted Kirsty and we organized to stay for two days of filming in the best place to stay on the Gold Coast.

That’s what Bujerum apartments became known as during our stay there.

“I reckon this would have to be the best place to stay on the Gold Coast. Like seriously, you couldn’t get better views or position than this”

We’d have the same conversation over breakfast, over coffee, in between filming breaks, and our acknowledgment glass of wine at sunset after filming.

All from the private balcony while watching the surfers that look like herds of ants vying for their turn on the wave. If we had come during the right season, we might have even been able to do some whale watching from our balcony (June to November).

Very chilled with a refined edge – the Burleigh Boho style.

We realized that even though it was down the road, it was the perfect staycation accommodation for us. Why take a staycation you ask? Well, allow me to elaborate…

The Value of a Staycation

At first, I rejected Kirsty because I didn’t think we could make a holiday up the road make sense. But after our stay at Bujerum, I realized how valuable a staycation is to recharge.

Holidays can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. A staycation removes all of this.

It’s less expensive

Your travel costs are reduced. You live in the area, so there’s not a lot of exploration to spend your money on, nor do you feel pressured to go out and do that.

It’s more about relaxing and recharging

You can just sit on the couch, with your favorite book and the views. Or cook an indulgent four-course dinner, or enjoy a stunning sunset on the balcony.

You can fit it into your schedule

You can even do it during the school week (when it’s cheaper) as you can still drop your kids off at school and follow your same routine – as we did.

But, have the spaces in between (when it’s quiet) to yourself. No madly dashing around.

Finally, time to appreciate the simple moments. At least you’ll return from this holiday feeling like you had one.

Our Experience Staying at Bujerum Apartments, Burleigh Heads

When Kirsty, the PR manager of Bujerum Apartments, contacted me after hearing me speak at SoMeT to ask if we wanted to stay at the apartments, I was bummed to say no at first.

But after I found the need for a staycation and a great place to film, I was glad to finally take her up on her offer.

The first thing I noticed was the views. From the balcony, you see a road (don’t worry, it was quiet at night), then you see the grassy area and running track, before seeing the beautiful Burleigh Beach right there.

It must have been less than 20 meters from our balcony.

Although the tide was in during our stay, we enjoyed watching the surfers take on the waves and listening to the sounds of birds tweeting in the pine trees.

Bujerum used to be a run-down party house.

The new owners saw the potential and renovated it into this luxury accommodation. Most accommodation options on the Gold Coast are located in high-rise apartments – which can give you great views, but can also come with vertigo and a little clinical claustrophobia.

Bujerum sits on a corner block on a low-traffic road and is only three stories high.

You have the beauty of being high up so you don’t hear the noise but without vertigo. Perfect!

It’s also an easy stroll to the main street of Burleigh, James Street.

We loved it.

We were there to work, but it doesn’t feel like work when this is your office and you have the ocean breeze on your face.

It was perfect for our filming.

The glass sliding doors from the open-plan living and full kitchen area brought in the sunshine and removed the need for artificial lighting. The decor in the living room was perfect for a backdrop – bright, colorful, and stylish.

We were going to film ourselves, but thankfully realized our limitations and hired Jennifer and Andrew from Aus Sports TV who did an amazing job and even had a drone to film us walking on the beach outside. (I want one!)

If you are in the online course industry and need to film videos, instead of hiring an expensive studio and sitting under hot lights, find an apartment like Bujerum to rent and have a holiday at the same time.

It will be way cheaper and more enjoyable.

But of course, we are not all looking for a place to film, even if TikTok is taking the world by storm!

When it came to finally settling down to sleep, I was in heaven. The master bedroom was spacious and yet still felt cozy.

The king-sized bed had a mattress that was soft and comfortable, and the black-out blinds meant I was able to drift off to sleep without disturbance.

I loved being lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves.

Other facilities in the apartment which were a nice touch and gave all the comforts of home are the fully equipped kitchen with an oven, stove top, dishwasher, microwave, and coffee machine.

There is a choice between self-contained apartments, of either 2-bedroom or three-bedroom apartments, but the living and dining area is always open plan.

You’ll find free wifi, flat-screen TV, secure parking, and all the linen, towels, and bedding supplied.

There is a private bathroom with a double shower and separate toilet.

All apartments come with reverse cycle air conditioning and even have laundry facilities (not just a washing machine but a dryer too), which is perfect for those looking to stay longer.

The ambience is cozy and welcoming, but also has a resort-like quality to it.

Nearby Attractions to Bujerum Apartments Burleigh Heads

When it comes to choosing Burleigh Heads accommodation, you need to think seriously about location.

If the idea of being a stone’s throw from the beach (even if you have a poor throw) doesn’t entice you, then the nearby attractions might.

Bujerum Apartments is pretty much located halfway between the airport and the CBD of the Gold Coast, meaning it’s in the perfect location just a short drive from many of the best local attractions. Check out on our post on our favorite local things to do in Burleigh Heads. And here is a list of free things to do on the Gold Coast.

On its doorstep, are the following places:

• Burleigh Heads Rock Pools (2-minutes easy walking distance)
• Burleigh Head National Park (a five-minute walk down the road)
• John Laws Park (again, across the road)
• Burleigh Hill (right next door)
• Sea World (the closest of the Gold Coast Theme Parks at 30 minute’s drive)
• James Street for Boutique Shopping (a 5 minute walk)
• Rick Shores Restaurant (a top-rated restaurant across the road)
• Burleigh Heads Surf Club (a 10-minute walk, max)

Final Thoughts on Bujerum Apartments Burleigh Heads

Our stay at Bujerum was exactly what we needed – a home away from home. It offers visitors a space where they can relax and unwind, and enjoy the luxury of being across the road from the beach.

If we are ever to come back to the Gold Coast and in need of a Burleigh Heads accommodation, we would definitely be back here.

I hope this guide helped you understand what to expect from a stay at Bujerum Holiday Apartments and gave you some inspiration for accommodation in Burleigh Heads.

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