Vacay vibes await at Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.
Vacay vibes await at Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.
The way we relax, spend our leisure time and holiday has changed a lot over the recent years. Attitudes have shifted from leaving our great country in search of a tropical oasis to rejuvenate, to instead exploring our backyard!
The staycation has become a staple form of escaping the stresses of modern life whilst not wasting any of your precious time hanging around airports or hours driving somewhere. And at the same time, you’ll experience something quite familiar — but with those elevated levels of luxury that you so need and crave.
Because let’s face it, folks: we live in a pretty impressive part of the world. So why would you go to great lengths to escape this paradise when you can stay here? One luxe location that has been captivating and helping Gold Coasters maximise their downtime is Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort on the northern end of our great city.
There’s no better time to treat yourself to a staycation on our glorious golden Coast than right now, but what might you find at this leading world-class resort you may ask?
First off is the stunning and secluded location at Sanctuary Cove. Fringed by the Coomera River and with manicured lawns, blooming tropical gardens, abundance of grazing kangaroos and pristine water features at every turn; if this doesn’t set the scene for tranquillity, then we don’t know what will! For the budding golfer, there are not one but three immaculately presented golf courses to which guests will have exclusive access to if they wish to hit a few balls.
And for the ardent beach lover (let’s face it – that’s all of us), the 1-acre beach lagoon area will be the ultimate place for you to relax with a good book and wholly unwind with nearby sounds of native birds. No wayward frisbees or blasting bluetooth speakers here! The resort features over 250 recently refurbished rooms and suites, offering guests a selection of packages with every taste and budget in mind. You don’t have to wander far to start your day off with breakfast at the much-loved Cove Cafe, before taking in lunch at the Pool House, and then make grand plans for an evening of divine food and drinks at the resort’s signature dining destination, The Fireplace.
Explore a little further and you’ll find yourself aptly positioned within walking distance to Sanctuary Cove’s Marine Village. A brimming retail precinct with a superb selection of specialty shops of beautiful homewares and clothing boutiques, as well as some of the Gold Coast’s best places to enjoy brilliant food with amazing marina views. If you’re looking for cocktails and lighter bites in-between mealtimes, you’ll also discover a plethora of exciting venues to indulge yourself in. Because why not? You’re on holiday, right?!
Returning to the resort, the hallmark has to be the Great House, a colonial-style Queenslander that exudes the kind of charm you’ll be hard pushed to find elsewhere. Sign up for Club Intercontinental and savour the delights of their lauded High Coffee experience, the perfect way to round off an afternoon of taking things at a much-reduced pace.
Whether you’re a family with an inkling for a weekend away or a couple who simply wants to reconnect after a busy work period, leave the long airport queues and endless hours behind your driving wheel behind. Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort is prime staycation material in our books!
Book your staycation now via: intercontinentalsanctuarycove.com
Where: Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Manor Circuit, Hope Island
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
STORY SPONSORED BY THE MARINE VILLAGE SANCTUARY COVE
For a quicker visit and to grab something a tad naughty, you were hard-pressed. Until now, that is. New kid on the block Rosé Gelateria brings you all the delicious gelato, plus much more to make afternoons or mornings spent at Sanctuary Cove even more satisfying.
The shop itself is a pastel-infused piece of art. Period. Even if you walk by and don’t feel the necessity to pop in, it’s still sure to turn heads. Cute hanging ball lights will mean checking out the selection of gelato from the wrap-around counter is a breeze, whilst booth-style seating gives you an adequate opportunity to rest your feet and savour whatever tasty goodness you might have chosen.
Having only been open for a week, the shop was thrown into the busiest week of the year for Sanctuary Cove with their annual boat show. With over 50,000 people coming through over the two days, we’re told the scooping never ceased. Now, with that behind them and balmy winter days ahead, they look forward to a slower pace and welcoming all of you lovely people when you decide to drop by.
Now, gelato-wise, these guys are casting their net far and wide by having two different suppliers: Delizia Brisbane and Everest Melbourne. Not content with just anything, the team carefully considered their options and made sure they have the very best flavours for their customers to enjoy offering crowd favourites Cookies & Cream, Mint Choc Fudge, Vanilla Bean which sit perfectly next to more exotic flavours such as Italian Pistachio, Fig & Marscapone, Vienna Coffee or Raspberry Choc — not to mention the taste tingling water-based sorbets like Lemon, Mango or Raspberry for those who like to keep things plant-based. You can rest assured whatever you get scooped here has been rigorously taste-tested!
Suppose you’re not up for anything frozen. In that case, delicious pastries and the prettiest rainbow assortment of macaroons (there’s even a popcorn flavoured one!) — from the maestros at Mark Daniels in Robina — are the perfect accompaniment to coffee. Beans are sourced from local coffee roaster Supreme in Yatala, and as well as being poured the standard way, you can also have your coffee over ice cream — afternoon affogatos are a thing, didn’t you know?
Once your tastebuds have been spoilt rotten, there’s a small selection of homewares and products for you to have a look at and then most likely take home. Organic teas from Mayde in Byron Bay and Mr Consistent cocktail mixers make the ideal gift for somebody special or if you feel the need to indulge yourself, be our guest!
There’s little doubt Rosé Gelateria is going to go down a storm here at Sanctuary Cove. By complementing nearby venues such as tapas and drinks sensation Destino, the pre-and post-dinner/lunch game has undoubtedly gone up a notch.
If you are stopping by, why not come a little earlier and stay a little while longer?
Where: Sanctuary Cove, Shop/39A Masthead Way, Hope Island
Hours: 7 days: 8am – 9pm
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
Italian and Greek cuisine is the benchmark for sharing food with people who mean the most to you. It’s fair to say probably half the Gold Coast had some sort of love affair with Hellenika when it was open here, and yes, when it closed its Nobby Beach doors and relocated to Brisbane, we all died a little bit inside.
Sanctuary Cove has long been flying under the culinary radar for most of us, mostly for it being a little out of the way. But as exciting new venues start to eye up the area and change the hospitality landscape, a trip up north could reward you well.
Destino is the handiwork of Craig and Lisa Chilvers a couple with a confessed adoration for anything Mediterranean. After not nearly enough holidays spent in Spain, Italy and the Greek Islands, the pair envisaged an eating space where you can relax and sample some amazing drinks and food (before then buying the very same tablewares you ate with and taking them home with you).
Ever been to a restaurant and fallen in love with their glasses/cutlery/plates so much so you wished you could have taken them home with you? Well, at Destino, you can. All of the furnishings, fixtures, glassware, cutlery – amongst other homewares, are available for you to buy and take home with you.
The tapas bar come homewares store is an absolute feast for the eyes. The fit-out is a kaleidoscope of Mediterranean and Moroccan influenced features, textures and materials. Outdoor seating and low-down tables will ensure one drink may indeed turn into a few. And if we can’t make it to Europe for a while yet, an afternoon at Destino might just satiate your fix for overseas travel.
The food offering is fairly modest as there is no kitchen to speak of as such, don’t be perturbed as there’s more than enough for you to graze on and experience some great-tasting dips, breads, marinated olives and imported cheeses. This is the kind of food that will take you through an afternoon before eventually then moving on to your dinner reservation — or not!
Campos coffee will be served from first thing in the morning, and will take you all the way to cocktails from noon. A small but well-rounded drinks list has you covered with classic cocktails and a couple of house variations such as the Mykonos Mule (vodka, lemon juice, fresh lime, lemongrass syrup, lemonade and ginger beer). Wines focus on Spain, France, Italy and Greece, with some stellar examples of some European classics as well as Australian drops which you simply can’t go past.
The venue aims to incorporate its several guises into one light-filled, tranquil space where everyone can unwind. And quite frankly — we can’t argue.
Where: Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove
Hours: 6 days, 8.30 am – late (closed Tuesdays)
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
