Why you should plan a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast

This sunny side of Australia holds many attractions beyond the beach, particularly if you are a bon vivant. If you’re planning your next getaway, Australia’s gold coast may just be the trip of a lifetime.

Who says the Gold Coast is only for sunseekers and water babies? Despite the images of turquoise seas fringed by white sand and sea froth that its name conjures, there are other things to do in this coastal city in the southeast of Queensland, Australia than riding the surf and frolicking in the sand.

Why you should plan a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast

Culture vultures, check out the art scene

The Gold Coast is home to a thriving art scene. Located within walking distance of Surfers Paradise, HOTA (Home of the Arts) which reopened in 2021 after a three-year renovation, is the largest public art gallery outside an Australian capital.

The new AUD 60.5 million HOTA Gallery alone has over 20,000 square feet of exhibition space spread over six floors. Its unique design alone is an artwork, but don’t miss out what’s inside.

Here and Now: Gold Coast Triennale is a contemporary art exhibition that pools together the works of 42 Gold Coast artists. Held every three years — as its name says, the current exhibition will close next February.

Music lovers will soon have something to look forward to. HOTA is building a lyric theatre. Primed to open next year, it is equipped to host 200 performances a year.

The dining scene has plenty to offer foodies

Between the pristine beaches and rolling plains of Gold Coast, there are many food and beverage options to suit every preference.

Restaurants that are loved by locals include North Room and Etsu. Those in the know will also head for Parisian-style bistro Restaurant Labart.

A new kid on the block that is generating a lot of buzz is KOST, a sexy multi-concept bar and grill on Oracle Boulevard, a swanky strip in Broadbeach. KOST’s menu is ready-to-go, featuring a wide array of choices like raw dishes, whole market fish, seafood towers, champagne and caviar trolleys, and dry-aged steak on request. Must-orders include the XL bay bug harissa bisque, and the Margra lamb rack with charred onion. Service is sleek, while the mood here is casual, yet chic.

Hikers, head for the hinterland

The Gold Coast hinterland is home to some of the oldest remaining tracts of sub-tropical rainforest. Drive along scenic coastal roads and feel the wind in your hair to arrive at Currumbin Valley, a veritable Eden of flowing freshwater creeks and lush forests.

I went on a short 1.6 km trek in Cougal Cascades, part of the World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park, and sought respite from the summer heat by swimming in rock pools. When I felt peckish, I staked out one of the many organic farm stores and cafes set in the bush. Pasture & Co offers healthy, wholesome bites alongside fresh juice blends that will leave you feeling nourished and virtuous.

Sleep and spa at Langham Gold Coast

Opened in 2022, this Langham outpost took luxury hospitality in the city up a few notches. While the brand may be synonymous with polish and poise, its beachfront location breathes an air of insouciance into the hotel that cost AUD 1.5 billion to build.

Although the hotel’s beachfront is just a five-minute walk from Surfers Paradise (also near HOTA), you will feel removed from the tourist trail, and may even feel like you are on a private beach.

I woke up on my first morning to a tapestry of oranges and reds outside my floor-to-ceiling window. If you are an early riser like me, ask for a room or suite that looks out into the sea.

The food and beverage options here are well-curated. I satisfied my Asian food cravings at T’ang court, the Aussie branch of Langham’s three Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong. The tasteful interiors accented with bespoke pieces by Australian-Chinese artist, Lindy Lee, pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty, China’s golden age. The double-boiled soup with free-range chicken, conch meat, and goji berries is light yet flavourful. Friends travelling together may enjoy a tête-à-tête over the beautifully plated high tea at the light-filled Palm Court.

Spa lovers should check into Chuan Spa, for one of many treatments guided by the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A gentle therapist gave my tense shoulders much-needed relief by incorporating her knowledge of Chinese acupressure and meridian points into her strokes, putting me to sleep within minutes of lying down. I woke up feeling lighter and energised, all ready to hit the Gold Coast.

(Main image: Sean Kernerman/Pexels; featured image: Ben Mack/Pexels)