The biggest, the best and the boujee.
The biggest, the best and the boujee.
If ever there was a time to explore your local ‘hood and book a little staycay with your other half, your posse, or the fam, it’s now! And the good news is, the Gold Coast has an endless array of amazing Airbnb options to explore. Afterall, we already live in Australia’s holiday capital, so why not enjoy our own backyard….or, someone else’s backyard (see what we did there?!)
Here are five of our fave Gold Coast Airbnb abodes.
65 Hedges Avenue
If a magazine-worthy coastal abode makes you swoon, then call off the search – this one’s for you. Lovingly restored to luxe beach perfection, this classic beach bungalow is a real-life oasis. It features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and is located fittingly along the iconic Hedges Avenue. What’s its secret sauce you ask? This (not so) little beauty is built right on the edge of the sand, with direct private access to the beach. The simple and soothing colour pallet of whites, neutral tones, caramel leathers and white linen enhance the beach aesthetic, but with an air of refinement and coastal sophistication. The use of natural oak flooring works in tastefully with the neutral colour scheme, and the limestone tiles give just the right amount of wow factor. Offering the crème de la crème of alfresco living, with the indoors transitioning seamlessly to the outdoors, you can even pop upstairs to the private viewing deck for a sneaky sunset Bellini.
Where: Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast
Belleview on Beechmont
With 11 bedrooms (yep, re-read that) and 6 bathrooms staged across 3 living quarters; the main house, the guest house and the glasshouse, this awe-inspiring exclusive multi-faceted property sets the benchmark for Gold Coast grandeur. Set on 8 acres, Belleview on Beechmont embodies peace and tranquility, ensuring complete privacy and sheer luxury at every turn! Features include a brand spanking new tennis court, a 25-metre swimming pool, spa, sauna, wood fireplace (toasted marshmallows anyone?) and BBQ with alfresco dining. And, it would be rude not to give a special shoutout to the magnificent uninterrupted views, stretching from the hinterland to the city skyline, and out to the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The main house boasts two spacious lounge areas, a piano and a French Provincial-style kitchen, with bi-folding doors opening to the veranda. The 2-level stylish guest house, brimming with natural light, has everything you need for independent living, and the glasshouse (which once served as a chapel for Japanese weddings) delivers charm in spades. Yep, this one is special….
Where: Advancetown, Gold Coast
Rivermead Estate
If a tree change is more your thing and you have a BIG group (we’re talking up to 21 peeps), then you can’t go past the majestic charm, stately vibes and countryside goodness of Rivermead Estate. Situated on 55 acres of spectacular hinterland, this showstopper is split into the main homestead (6 bed, 5 bath) and a guest house (3 bed, 2 bath, 1 kitchenette) because let’s be real daaarling – what estate-style property is complete without a guest house?!
Breathe in the fresh country air while watching horses graze on the international polo fields, or explore cascading rock pools, lush gardens, secluded forests and winding streams. Stretch out in a sun lounger by the pool or sit for an alfresco breakfast on the white-washed wrap-around veranda. Why not test your forehand on the private tennis court, or burn off those scones and jam with a workout sesh in the home gym. If you’re feeling a titch adventurous after playing lady (or lad) of the manor, book a helicopter tour of the nearby sprawling mountains and lakes. Then, treat-yo-self to a massage and unwind in the hot tub, before a night of entertainment in the billiards room, media room, and palatial bar and lounge areas. Can we just take a moment to take that all in?! Wowzers!
Where: Guanaba, Gold Coast
Hamptons on Burleigh Hill
If you fancy living like a Grayson (minus the outlandish storylines…and the 24-hour flight to get there), then the no-expense-spared ‘Hamptons on Burleigh Hill‘ has your name written all over it. This modern holiday mansion has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, entertainment on all 3 levels and a large sun-drenched outdoor area with a private pool. It’s perfect for larger families, or for getting the crew together to make some memories.
As you walk in the door, you’ll ooh and aah at the huge open space, luxury furnishings and breathtaking million-dollar views of our famous Burleigh beach. You’ll love the large, sun-drenched outdoor area where you can tap out and catch some zen, while the kids swim up a storm (and wear themselves out – yassss!) in the glistening pool. Then, channel your inner Jamie Oliver in the fully equipped gourmet kitchen…..or don’t, and instead check out the insta-worthy restaurants, all a hop, skip and a jump away.
Where: Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast
Mountaintop Villa
You had us at infinity pool. Or was it the private hot tub or tennis court….or perhaps the basketball court? We’re not joking – this mind-blowing mountaintop gem has all three. Cue mic drop. Set on 20-acres with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms to accommodate up to 12 guests, it is anything but vanilla. Spellbinding and equipped with all the bells and whistles, staying here comes with one disclaimer: once you’ve experienced this caliber of living, you’ll never want to leave.
Floating over the Gold Coast with unparalleled panoramic ocean and skyline views of the entire glitter strip right up to BrisVegas (and huge windows to drink them in), the property promises a stay-cay to remember. With marble and limestone accents, a wood-burning fireplace, and a recent $1million+ architectural renovation of the entire house, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into an episode of Selling Sunset. Do yourself a favour and book yesterday.
Where: Upper Coomera, Gold Coast
Words: Bianca Trathen.
Do you ever find yourself randomly scrolling through real estate websites and admiring those totally pinterest-worthy homes that are listed? Because same. And one you may have stumbled across is ‘The Eagle‘ (side note – what a name), located on Eagle Avenue in the picturesque Burleigh Heads. So of course, with such a dreamy home, it’s only natural to want to find out a bit more about the build; and who else to find out from than the builders themselves? Enter Burleigh Constructions. We got to know the founders David and Nicole Brazenall, and learnt about their recent achievements and upcoming projects across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW region!
How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
I have been here 20 years and my wife (Nicole) has been a local for 27 years.
How did Burleigh Constructions come about?
We bought in Burleigh 15 years ago and set the company up 3 years later when we were pregnant with our first child. I was working as a carpenter and had a strong passion to become a builder and start my own company. Nicole’s background is finance so it made sense to team up!
Tell us the story behind the iconic Eagle house!
We have owned the property for 15 years, and during this time have gotten engaged, then married, and raised three boys (along with our Labrador Bodhi); but it wasn’t until 3 years ago that we actually had the idea to build an iconic home on the property. The location is only a few hundred metres to James Street and Burleigh Point and on a large prominent corner block, so we knew we had to build something special. We researched local architects and Nicole came across Justin Humphrey’s Cove House located in Sanctuary Cove. It was exactly the style we loved. I set a meeting up with Justin and we clicked straight away and began the journey of creating The Eagle.
Congratulations on taking home the 2021 HIA Building Award in the Small Commercial Projects category. What was it like building the award-winning Moana Bikini HQ?
This was such a fun project with great clients, and we got to work with Justin Humphrey again. We also really like building boutique factory fit-outs for local businesses; so this project ticked all the boxes.
What do you love the most about being in the construction industry on the Gold Coast & Northern NSW?
We love to build luxury custom new homes in fantastic locations, we also now offer a design, manage and construct service which we are really excited to expand this part of our business. We feel with the population growing quickly on the Coast and a lot of interest from down south there will be more of a demand for these homes and designs which we love building in our area.
Whilst it may be hard to pick, have you each got a particular favourite project you have done since the inception of Burleigh Constructions?
We can’t go past our Eagle House. It’s such an iconic home and unique to the area. The level of architecture and detail is second to none and by far the hardest and time-consuming project we have completed. Our next 2 favourites are Cashmere 1 on Burleigh Hill and La Viva in Surfers Paradise. Both houses are also unique and fit right into our niche market.
What can we expect from Burleigh Constructions in the next 12 months?
We have numerous projects locked in around Burleigh and surrounding suburbs. They are all high-end luxury homes that will set the benchmark for their area. Stay tuned as we can’t wait to reveal these very soon on our socials!
What are your Gold Coast favourites…?
Café: We can’t go past Forreal Kitchen in Nobbys Beach for a great breakfast with the family.
Coffee spot: Nicole loves Quest in James St Burleigh.
Restaurant: We both love Etsu in Mermaid Beach and Red-Hot Cod in Burleigh for takeaway. We don’t take our 3 boys out much haha!
Bar or pub for a drink: Burleigh Pavilion as we are living on the point now and it’s an easy walk!
How do you choose to spend your weekends?
Kids sports, surfing, and catching up with good friends.
STORY SPONSORED BY BURLEIGH CONSTRUCTIONS.
As it turns out the Gold Coast is quite the good-looking city. With all of our green mountains and beguiling beaches, you’d expect venues to be taking full advantage of the glorious vistas we have on show. And guess what — there certainly are!
We propose you consult our trusty list of scenic dining spots and feast your eyes upon some infinitely more inspiring and soul-fulfilling sights than the mountain of half-folded washing on your dining room table. Or is that just us?
We’ve taken a good look around our city and put together a list of the very best places you can eat with your eyes.
La Luna
Oozing luxury at every turn, if it’s knockout views you seek, there’s a whole yacht to love about La Luna. Perch up and be mesmerised by all the Broadwater action passing you by as you treat the tastebuds to some top notch Mediterranean and Asian-fusion inspired eats – and soak up some world class marina vibes while do it. With a spot that just screams long lunch, tuck into ocean inspired delicacies like Moreton Bay bug rolls and Kingfish Ceviche and sip the afternoon away on the signature cocktail menu. Pinky popping and fanciest pants, optional.
Where: La Luna Beach Club, Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Hyde Paradiso
A light and airy stunner studded with cascading greenery, spacious ceilings, and of course, uninterrupted views to the iconic shores of our very own glitter strip – Hyde Paradiso is oceanfront, Surfers Paradise dining at its finest. Start – or finish – your day by gazing out to the rolling surf, watching the world go by while you refuel with your choice of breakfast, brunch, lunch and/or dinner at this Euro-chic noshery. And if we *have* to choose, Kingfish Tacos and a Salted Coconut marg sounds like a particularly swell way to farewell the day, no?
Where: Hyde Paradiso, Level 2/8 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
Surfers Pavilion
Nab yourself a spot on the deck and watch the water goers weaving throughout the canals (aka jetski’s absolutely carving up) as you ponder working your way through the dedicated marg list – perhaps Pineapple or Watermelon to start? Situated on the banks of the Nerang River, Surfers Pavilion is a particularly stunning spot for scenic dining and/or drinking, with a mix of small bites, share plates, seafood and burgers on offer. Grab some mates, chuck in a helping of Bug and Prawn Linguine or a Pav Parmy, and you’ve got yourself a party for the peepers and the tum.
Where: 30/34 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise
Akoya
Gonna take a little more than some enchanting views to impress you? The Langham Gold Coast’s five-star stunner, Akoya, dishes up an elevated and extravagant experience from breakfast through dinner, daily. Come Friday and Saturday evenings, the seafood-centric menu becomes a full-blown buffet of ocean odysseys inspired by the breathtaking beachfront backdrop. All dished up with that specific, over-achieving brand of Langham indulgence, it’s safe to go ahead and consider those socks well and truly knocked off (we’ll spare you the butchered Berlin ‘Take my breath away’ power ballad rendition, though).
Where: 38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise
Rick Shores
Excuse us while we don our Captain Obvious pants, but, no waterfront restaurant list worth its salt(water) would dare omit an icon like Rick Shores. Located mere footsteps from the sand and directly underneath The Tropic, this place is certainly not riding on the coattails of its incredible views – an esteemed foodie haven renowned for its equally stunning and inventive array of eats. Get your fix of sensational pan-Asian flavours flanked by panoramic views to the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can ‘sea’. Their share plate menu is filled with absolute taste sensations and the cocktails are always pure perfection. For us, it doesn’t get much better than dining (and drinking, obviously) at Rick Shores.
Where: Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
The Tropic
It might be one of our worst kept secrets, but there’s no denying there’s something magic in the water at Burleigh – and who hasn’t spent many a weekend scrambling to get a slice of that sweet outlook out to the Surfers Paradise skyline? Capitalising on that million dollar view, The Tropic brings a whole new level of luxe to our long standing weekend hill chill pilgrimage, with a windswept, sun-kissed deck to throw down Freshly Shucked Oysters, King Prawn Pasta and vodka-infused Caviar bumps. With a view like this, it would be rude not to also oblige in sunset inspired sips, like the Lucy Lava, made with Malfy Blood Orange Gin, Spiced Rum, apricot and aromatic rosemary notes.
Come for the water views – stay for the… *insert absolutely any item from the menu, here*
Where: 3b/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC
Sitting right on the sand in one of our most sought-after suburbs, the vistas extend the entire coastline from Surfers to Tweed. Though more specifically, it’s the mouth-watering, modern pub-style fare and frosty bevvys they’re consistently churning out breakfast–dinner that makes this surf club gem both worth a mention and a visit. An old-faithful that’s always a sight for sore eyes.
Where: 741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
Tommy’s Italian
The epitome of la dolce vita vibes – Tommy’s Italian in Currumbin has so much more going for it than incredible Italian eats, courtesy of some killer ocean views. Housed in the heritage ex Beach Shack Cafe site, its breezy beachside abode is a dreamy sun-drenched spot for lazy afternoons spent slurping down grilled seafood, woodfired pizzas and hand-crafted pasta. Two levels of absolute beachfront bliss are backed up by an enticing and extensive sip menu of shaken cocktails, wines, spritzes and jugs. A trip to Tommy’s truly is a treat for all the senses.
Where: 818 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
Kirra Beach House
With a whopping 1200 sqm of sweeping surf views, newcomer Kirra Beach House was not messing around when it came to capitalising on the suburb’s relatively untapped surf frontage. And the uninterrupted, panoramic ocean views are just the beginning – equipped with not one, but three bars, an oh-so instagrammable mix of indoor and cabana-studded alfresco spaces, and chic beach club vibes aplenty. The epitome of elevated seaside dining, the vaycay-inspired sips like the Champagne Piña colada and ‘Cancun’ spicy watermelon margarita are complemented by a Mediterranean-style grazing menu, purposefully crafted to share with your crew as the waves roll in and sun sinks low.
Where: Level 1, 2 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Siblings
Bringing a fresh face to the iconic Kirra Beach Pavilion with some slick 1950s Miami vibes, Siblings is another vantage-blessed stunner at which to simultaneously treat the eyes and the tastebuds with Modern Australian style eats, available anytime from lunch onwards. Those lucky enough to snag a waterfront table can soak up uninterrupted beach views flanked by swaying pandanus palms, and people watch to our heart’s content. Pineapple salsa studded Steak tacos and share platters of Moreton bay bugs & king prawns go down an absolute treat surrounded by the salty sea air, as do cocktails like the Sicilian Summer – a frosty concoction made with Mulberry gin sour… and, er, what were we saying again? We were momentarily distracted by… *gestures vaguely at entire menu and IRL Baywatch unfolding in front of our eyes*
Where: 15 Marine Parade, Kirra
Cooly Breeze
Sitting pretty on the 13th floor of the Beachcomber International Resort, Cooly Breeze is our only fine dining restaurant that boasts unique views to the southern coastline and the Tweed River surrounds. Easily one of the southern GC’s best kept dining secrets, the hidden rooftop gem channels an intimate, Amalfi coast experience with moorish Mediterranean-inspired eats from a sky-high vantage hidden in plain sight. The cosy ambience and sweeping surf vista is coupled with a fresh menu, such as the Seared Scallops da Costa and an azure-toned Rainbow Martini as vibrant as the view. Plus, there’s always the chance to catch a spontaneous whale show during migration season. Neat, huh?
Where: Level 13 of Beachcomber International Resort, 122 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Greenmount Beach Surf Club
With surf clubs calling dibs on some of the most epic beachfront real estate the GC has got to offer, it will come as no surprise to find another SLSC gracing this list. Looking for waterfront dining, served surf club style? Look no further than Greenmount Beach Surf Club, a laidback watering hole beloved for many reasons – including its breathtaking outlook. As you’d expect from a SLSC, this place is situated just metres from the sand so you can perch up and tuck into pub-style classics and watch all the action unfold on the beach below.
Where: Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Change is the name of the game in 2020 and some of it has been very exciting indeed. The latest good news to come out of the year is of the Gold Coast luxury accommodation variety and it involves a tropical retreat in the heart of the Gold Coast you already know and love.
The iconic Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa will by December of this year, undergo a $35million rebrand and renovation to become Australia’s flagship JW Marriott hotel. The already impressive resort and spa will be taken to a whole new level of luxury with a few new additions we’re very excited about.
Award winning Australian design studio, DBI, the architects and interior designers behind the existing property, will be reimagining the iconic resort and adding all the magical modern touches that will make visiting an experience you’ll never forget.
With a total of 223 rooms and suites, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa has been designed with its natural surroundings in mind, to reflect the beauty and relaxed vibes of coastal Queensland.
The new-look guest rooms, with a choice of ocean or hinterland views, draw inspiration from the local landscapes and include locally sourced stone and soft curved forms to create a sophisticated coastal character. Book us in.
Changes will also be made to the existing food and beverage venues, making them even more coveted than they are right now. Chapter & Verse will be transformed into an indoor-outdoor lounge and bar experience connecting the resort space with the external lagoons and swimming area to become a tranquil lounge by day and a sophisticated craft cocktail bar in the evening. PERFECT.
Citrique will receive a refresh to feature a new interactive show kitchen with fresh local produce and seafood at the heart of its daily menu. Forming part of Citrique, JW Marketplace will be the hotel’s café and in-house provedore, serving freshly ground coffees, local produce and healthy and tasty grab-and-go bites while Misono, the resort’s teppanyaki restaurant, will expand to incorporate an ‘avenue’ of new Japanese dining experiences including an intimate Izakaya, tearoom and sushi bar.
A Japanese whisky bar with an outdoor terrace will be the very best of new additions, allowing us to indulge in an extensive array of quality sips we love most.
The resort’s beloved outdoor swimming pools are some of the most beautiful you’ve ever seen featuring a saltwater lagoon with over 300 tropical fish. The changes will see new poolside dining options and a lounge area for cocktails, light bites and family snacks. The ultimate in sophisticated relaxation.
All of that, plus plenty more exciting surprises are in store for Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa and we can’t wait to see (and spend all our time in) the new JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.
LOCATION: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
WHEN: December 2020
