Some homes whisper, but this absolute stunner belts out a power ballad from the mountaintops Von Trapp clan style. Mater Prize Home No. 326 isn’t just a dream property – it’s the whole dream life, neatly bundled into a $5,767,303 prize package.

Think a breathtaking Tamborine Mountain estate, a Lexus GX550 Sports Luxury, and a John Deere ride-on mower that would make your seven-year-old self scream “SHOTGUN!” before anyone else could blink. Oh, and you know, a casual $1 million in gold bullion, ideal for adding a little “cha‑ching” to your tree‑change fantasy.

Perched on a sprawling 16-acre estate inside a private gated community, this architectural beauty is the sort of place that makes you weak at the knees from the moment you arrive. It’s called Aquila – Latin for eagle – and honestly, the name fits. With endless mountain views stretching out like a real-life screensaver, you’ll be tempted to narrate your own life in David Attenborough’s voice.

Inside, the home is a masterclass in mountain luxury. The heart of the house is a grand open-plan kitchen, dining and living space framed by wow-factor five-metre ceilings, and walls of glass that keep the Hinterland panorama front and centre. Imagine hosting a long lunch, binging a series, or simply fixating on the view because, well, the view! Add polished concrete floors, an internal gas fireplace, and seamless flow into the lounge area making it equal parts cosy and colossal, and you’ve got yourself the kind of setup that makes staying in feel like an event.

The kitchen is a modern marvel, complete with a huge butler’s pantry that’s basically a VIP lounge for your groceries. Also, there’s five bedrooms – plus a sixth styled as a dedicated home office – meaning there’s space for family, friends, and that mate who always “just happens to be in the area” and needs a place to crash. Speaking of, the main bedroom comes with views so spectacular you’ll never need a meditation app again because the serenity-coded outlook does all the heavy lifting.

If relaxation is your sport of choice, the inground heated magnesium pool and six-jet spa stands tall at the top of the awards podium. Prefer your leisure time with a side of popcorn? The cinema room, featuring a 99-inch Samsung TV, is ready for movie marathons, doco deep dives or rewatching Off Campus for the seventh time. There’s also a games room with a kitchenette and pool table, because why go out when you can bring the fun in-house?

Outdoors, the magic continues. The fire pit with sandstone seating screams sunset sessions, toasted marshmallows, and deep chats about how you’ll spend your $1 million in gold. The outdoor kitchen – complete with BBQ and fridge – makes alfresco entertaining a breeze, while the triple garage and separate triple Titan shed ensure there’s room for all the toys, tools, and treasures you’ll inevitably accumulate.

And yes, the Lexus GX550 Sports Luxury and John Deere ride-on mower are included. One for cruising the mountain in style, the other for living out your rural glam fantasies. Both equally iconic.

Tamborine Mountain itself is the cherry on top. High above the coastal buzz, it’s a place where crisp air, rainforest whispers, and misty valley views greet you each morning. The community is warm, the artisan markets are bustling, the wineries are boutique, and the cafés are charming. It’s peaceful without being remote, vibrant without being chaotic, and just a short drive from the Gold Coast when you need a hit of beach, shopping or sparkle.

While the home isn’t open for public inspections – private gated community and all – you can explore every inch via the virtual tour from the comfort of your couch. Pyjamas encouraged.

This is more than a prize. It’s a complete lifestyle upgrade wrapped in tranquillity, luxury and a whole lot of “how is this even real?”. Your Tamborine Mountain dream life is waiting – all you need is a ticket. Go on – give fate a little nudge.

Where: Mt Tamborine
When: Not open for inspection (gated community) but you can purchase your tickets here.

Words by Bianca Trathen.

STORY SPONSORED BY MATER PRIZE HOME

If you’ve ever scrolled real estate listings or performed a little new estate drive-by (stealth mode) and thought to yourself, “everything looks a little… same, same?” Welcome! And you’re not alone. Somewhere along the line, suburbia got a little too copy-paste, didn’t it? But what if your first home (or next home) didn’t need a reno or major interior overhaul to stand out? What if your next home had the good bones and the good looks from day one? Yep- it’s officially safe to keep those standards high, Gold Coasters. Enter Goldie Homes, here to reshape Australian suburbia one custom-designed home at a time- no scary architect price tag required.

Their latest project, ‘Burleigh Heads’, is officially in the works, and Goldie Homes is now accepting expressions of interest for the stunning new development. Let us give you a little verbal tour, shall we? Picture: a dual-living design with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, raked ceilings, a butler’s pantry, a secure double garage, surfboard storage, a dedicated workshop, an internal garden, and generous outdoor living space. Safe to say, they’ve thought of everything.

Inspired by the Gold Coast way of life (ala, sunshine, salty breeze and relaxation), the home centres around fun in the sun and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. It’s open, breezy, and designed to feel connected to its surroundings. The flexible layout also includes a guest bedroom with its own ensuite on the ground floor, making it perfect for multi-generational living, hosting guests, or even a creating a cheeky side income with Airbnb. Work smarter, not harder, right?

Unlike most standard builds, the ‘Burleigh Heads’ project puts lifestyle optimisation at the forefront, heroing thoughtful architecture that maximises natural light, ventilation, energy efficiency, and seamless indoor-outdoor connection. From generous sizing and considered inclusions to elevated design features, buyers can expect more for less across the board. The result is a higher standard of living, a more refined design experience, and better value than you’d typically expect at this price point.

Instead of building homes the usual way, Goldie Homes does things a little differently. Their homes are built in sections (think large, pre-made pieces) in an Australian-run offshore factory, using Aussie trades and built to Australian standards. These sections are then shipped to Queensland and assembled on-site by local, registered builders. The result? A streamlined build process, with homes expected to be completed in around nine months from contract signing and council approval. In the world of residential builds, that’s basically instant.

Founder Nick Browne is on a mission to shift the narrative that mainstream housing has to mean generic housing. Because why should luxury design be a “nice to have” when it can (and should) be the standard? Goldie Homes is all about making architectural, design-led living more accessible, and the ‘Burleigh Heads’ project is proof that you don’t need to blow the budget to get a home that feels considered, elevated, and genuinely enjoyable to live in.

Have we piqued your interest? Well, it’s your lucky day, because like we said at that top- Goldie Homes is currently inviting prospective buyers to register their interest while the first official home release is being finalised. The goal is to build an early contact list, keep future homeowners in the loop, and offer priority purchase opportunities- because in a housing crisis, getting in early is a very smart (almost essential) move.

With project ‘Burleigh Heads’, Goldie Homes is pioneering a new kind of housing brand: one focused on making design-driven homes more attainable for us Gold Coasters. Can we get a hell yeah?!

Expressions of interest are now open here.

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

While we love a Gold Coast summer, winter has a way of making us want to disappear into the hinterland for a few days and pretend we’re the kind of people who spend our weekends beside a fire with a glass of red.

And apparently, we’re not alone.

“Coolcations” are officially having a moment, with more people leaning into winter instead of escaping it. Think misty mornings, mountain views, cosy cabins and weekends centred around slowing down for once.

Honestly, we get it.

There’s something about winter that makes a getaway feel extra appealing. The chunky knits come out, long lunches somehow turn into entire afternoons, and suddenly all we want is a fireplace, room service and zero responsibilities.

The best part? You don’t even need to leave Queensland to get the full experience.

This winter, Spicers Retreats has brought back its Coolcations collection, giving us every excuse to finally book that winter weekend away we’ve been talking about since the temperature dropped below 20 degrees. From rainforest hideaways to luxury mountain lodges and cosy city stays, they’ve got plenty of dreamy options all within easy road-trip distance of the Gold Coast.

So, if you’re currently considering booking a getaway purely for the vibe of mulled wine, crisp mountain air and unapologetically oversized knitwear, same. These are the Spicers stays currently sitting at the top of our winter wishlist.

Spicers Clovelly Estate

Montville was basically made for winter weekends and Clovelly Estate leans all the way into the European countryside fantasy. Expect cool hinterland air, manicured gardens and cosy evenings gathered around the firepit with mulled wine and s’mores under the stars. It’s giving French countryside energy, just without the long-haul flight.
Where: 68 Balmoral Road, Montville
Approx. 3 hours from the Gold Coast

Spicers Tamarind Retreat

For rainforest romance and misty mornings, Tamarind Retreat is hard to beat. Luxe villas hidden among the trees make it feel beautifully secluded, while the winter package includes an in-room s’mores kit and nightly access to the restaurant firepit. A getaway where your biggest responsibility is toasting marshmallows? Sold.
Where: 88 Obi Lane South, Maleny
Approx. 2.5 hours from the Gold Coast

Spicers Peak Lodge

If your ideal winter getaway involves mountain views, fireplaces and pretending you’re somewhere in regional Europe for the weekend, this is it. Perched high above the Scenic Rim, Spicers Peak Lodge serves up luxury lodge vibes with panoramic views, all-inclusive dining and the kind of peace and quiet we forget exists. Their Coolcation package also includes fireside mulled wine and s’mores, which honestly feels like enough reason alone to go.
Where: Wilkinson Road, Maryvale
Approx. 2 hours from the Gold Coast

Spicers Hidden Vale

Hidden Vale feels like the grown-up version of a wholesome country escape. Think rolling paddocks, wide verandahs and evenings spent around the firepit sipping mulled wine infused with orange and cloves. It’s rustic in the best way, while still feeling seriously luxe.
Where: 617 Grandchester Mount Mort Road, Grandchester
Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes from the Gold Coast

Spicers Balfour Brisbane

Not every winter escape needs to involve disappearing into the mountains. If you’re after a slower-paced city stay, Balfour Brisbane offers a quieter side of Brisbane tucked inside a beautifully restored Queenslander in leafy New Farm. Their Coolcation experience includes rooftop mulled wine and stargazing, which feels like a pretty solid excuse for a Brisbane staycation.
Where: 37 Balfour Street, New Farm
Approx. 1 hour from the Gold Coast

So no, we’re not emotionally prepared for an actual European winter. But a couple of nights in the hinterland with a fireplace, wine in hand and an aggressively cosy knit? That we can absolutely do.

Click here to book your coolcation now.

When: Bookings from May 5th to July 7th, 2026, for stays from June 1st to August 31st, 2026. Terms and conditions apply, subject to availability.

Words by Lisette Drew

STORY SPONSORED BY SPICERS RETREATS