Rentsy is your new secret weapon for stress-free parties, events, projects and everything in between.
Rentsy is your new secret weapon for stress-free parties, events, projects and everything in between.
If there’s one thing Gold Coasters love, it’s going all-out. Luxe birthdays, Pinterest-worthy baby showers, glamorous weddings, camping weekends, renos, and kids’ parties that transform the backyard into a pop-up precinct overnight. What nobody loves quite as much, however, is paying full price for things that get used once, shoved in the garage or wardrobe, and forgotten faster than last year’s fitness goals. Or curating 185 details at once and acquiring more greys (and Botox bills) by the second.
Enter Rentsy – the Queensland-born app here to save wallets, storage areas, and sanity levels one rental at a time.
Think of it as the ultimate hire-happy playground where users can browse thousands of products and services all in one spot without needing to message seventeen different suppliers, create forty tabs or lose the will to live halfway through organising a party backdrop.
Need a cocktail machine for a birthday bash? Sorted. Fancy a flower wall guests will plaster all over the ‘gram? Done. Luxury car for a special weekend? Easy. Designer frock? Take your pick. Jumping castle? Obviously. DIY equipment for a home project that started with “this should only take an hour”? Also yes.
Basically, if there’s an event, celebration, project or excuse to avoid buying something outright, Rentsy is already onto it.
The app features more than 4500 items from over 400 rental partners, covering everything from wedding styling and event décor to tools, machinery, furniture, camping gear, audio equipment, outfitting, and kids party entertainment. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of hire platforms but curated for modern living, not going on Survivor.
This all-in-one app taps into the growing ‘hire-don’t-buy’ movement, making it easier to access the things people want without the strings attached. It’s basically commitment-phobe heaven – all the fun, none of the lifetime ownership responsibilities.
One of the biggest drawcards is just how ridiculously simple the whole thing feels. Users can browse products from multiple vendors across different categories and complete everything in a single checkout. No chasing quotes. No endless back-and-forth messages. No spreadsheets titled “FINAL FINAL PARTY RUN SHEET V3”.
The result is less admin, less stress, less clutter, and significantly fewer opportunities for someone to accidentally order chair covers in the wrong shade of beige.
Fashion lovers will also appreciate the app’s designer dress hire options, because dropping hundreds on an outfit destined to spend the rest of eternity hanging sadly in the wardrobe feels a little financially aggressive. Instead, users can hire standout looks for weddings, galas, long lunches and special events without needing to survive on two-minute noodles afterwards.
Rentsy also offers luxury car hire, which come on, does feel particularly Gold Coast-coded. Sleek convertibles, glam rides, and special occasion vehicles are all available for weddings, birthdays, formals or any event when arriving quietly simply isn’t part of the itinerary.
Meanwhile, parents organising children’s birthday parties may finally experience something previously considered impossible – convenience. Jumping castles, themed props, soft play packages and entertainment can all be found in one place, removing the emotional damage of coordinating toddlers and timelines during the party planning process.
Even DIY enthusiasts are getting in on the action. While purchasing expensive machinery for a one-off home project once felt unavoidable, Rentsy makes it possible to hire tools and equipment without torching the reno budget. Skip bins, machinery, and project gear are all just a few clicks away, which is excellent news for garages currently overflowing with abandoned weekend projects.
And with a 4.9-star average rating it’s little wonder Rentsy is quickly becoming the go-to for Gold Coasters wanting a smarter, easier, sustainable, and more affordable way to pull off impressive events and projects without drowning in clutter afterwards.
The ultimate wingman for modern life, this genius app is helping people throw better parties, tackle bigger projects, and arrive at events looking expensive without selling a kidney for the look. Because these days, the real luxury isn’t owning more stuff – it’s avoiding the headache of sourcing it, the cost of buying it outright, and the Tetris-like struggle of storing it afterwards. It’s giving triple threat, and it’s the kind of problem-solving energy Australia needs more of.
Rentsy is giving one lucky Inside Gold Coast reader a chance to win $500 Rentsy Credit to spend toward any hire item on the Rentsy App.Enter at rentsy.com.au/competition/insidegoldcoast
Where: www.rentsy.com.au OR download the Rentsy App. Available now on iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play
Words by Bianca Trathen.
STORY SPONSORED BY RENTSY
Meet the Palm Beach agency putting the ‘real’ back in real estate.
There are two types of people on the Gold Coast: those who think real estate is all fast talk and flashy suits, and those who’ve met Salt Property.
Autumn may be the season of cool breezes and no-filter-required sunsets, but down in Palm Beach, something even fresher has rolled in. Salt Property, the boutique agency founded by Serena Wilson, is rewriting the script on what selling and buying a home should feel like. Spoiler alert: it involves honesty, heart, and a Golden Retriever named Archie who takes his role as Chief Happiness Officer very seriously.
Salt Property officially opened its Palm Beach office in January 2026, but the story started long before the fresh paint dried. Serena began her career selling commercial farmland, discovering early on that she loved the process of valuing property and presenting it to the market. After moving from Sydney to the Gold Coast, she worked her way up from sales associate to standalone agent, eventually launching Salt Property when she realised the industry was crying out for something different. Something calmer. Something more human. Something that didn’t treat people like transactions or milestones like paperwork and all we can say is A-Freaking-Men.
Salt was built on a simple belief: real estate is about people first, property second. And while that sounds lovely on a brochure, Serena and her team actually live it. They want to know your why, not just your what, and call you on the reg so you’re never left wondering what’s happening with your biggest asset. The kind that refuses to “condition” sellers into accepting less, and instead pivots, strategises, and advocates fiercely until the right outcome lands. The kind that tells you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, because transparency isn’t a tagline for them – it’s the whole point.
Their boutique size is their superpower. When you list with ONE of them, you get ALL of them. Serena and her equally formidable team, Paul and Marina Skelton, operate like a well‑dressed, highly caffeinated, and creatively unstoppable trio, bouncing ideas around local cafés and dreaming up creative campaigns that make properties shine.
Paul brings over 15 years of sales experience and a deep love for the southern Gold Coast community, while Marina keeps the marketing sharp, the socials humming, and the admin tighter than a freshly staged linen cupboard. Their connection to the community runs deep too, regularly bringing locals together through Christmas parties, Easter celebrations and friendly competitions for kids and grown-ups alike. Even their daughter, the youngest team member at 1.5 years old, fronts up to team meetings and helps judge colouring competitions. It’s a family affair in the most wholesome, Gold Coast way – and locals can’t get enough.
And then there’s Archie, Serena’s one‑year‑old Golden Retriever who has quickly become a Palm Beach celebrity. He attends open homes, greets clients at the office, and can often be spotted trotting around Roots and Culture or Apertivo like he’s checking on his investment portfolio. If you’ve ever wanted to buy a home from someone who hands you a property brochure and a dog cuddle in the same breath, Salt Property is the one for you.
Salt’s stunning Palm Beach office sits right in the heart of the southern Gold Coast, surrounded by the calm, sun‑soaked lifestyle that inspired the brand. Serena chose the location because it reflects everything Salt stands for: clarity, connection, and that relaxed coastal ease that makes you breathe a little deeper. Burleigh to Currumbin is their stomping ground, their community, and the place where they’re helping locals build wealth, create stability and step confidently into their next chapter.
But what truly sets Salt apart is their commitment to celebrating the stories behind every home. They understand that a property isn’t just walls and windows – it’s where memories live, where families grow, where life unfolds in all its messy, beautiful ways. They honour that. They protect it. And they guide clients through the process with the kind of care that makes you feel like you’re their only listing.
Salt Property isn’t just another agency on the GC. Salt Property isn’t just another agency on the GC. It’s a refreshing shift toward real estate with heart, humour and humanity. It’s a team that shows up, stands beside you, and cheers you on. A boutique business with big values and even bigger commitment, and it’s here to makes selling and buying homes feel less like a rollercoaster and more like a milestone worth celebrating. And because buying and selling shouldn’t result in an extra costly therapy or Botox bill. It should feel manageable, meaningful, and not maddening.
Enlist the dream team at Salt. Your current self, your future self, and your future equity will thank you because big life moments deserve big heart behind them – and there are no smoke and mirrors here. Just sincerity, honesty, and results that speak louder than any pitch ever could.
Where: 40 Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach
When: 9am – 7pm Monday to Friday & 9am – 12pm Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Words by Bianca Trathen.
STORY SPONSORED BY SALT PROPERTY
House of Hälsa is bringing food to the table.
House of Hälsa launches its long-awaited food menu this Saturday after five months of smoothie mania.
If you’ve driven past Mermaid Beach lately and spotted a queue spilling onto the footpath for a smoothie, chances are you’ve already witnessed the House of Hälsa phenomenon firsthand.
Since opening in January, the wellness-forward hotspot has become one of the Gold Coast’s most talked about cafes, thanks to its dreamy terracotta interiors, sunken lounge vibes and smoothies so pretty they practically belong in the Louvre. What started as a health-focused hangout quickly snowballed into a full-blown cult hit, with locals flocking in daily for collagen-loaded blends and aesthetic sips.
Only one tiny problem. The smoothies were so wildly popular, the kitchen couldn’t keep up.
Now, five months later, House of Hälsa is officially serving food and friends, this menu was worth the wait.
The team has expanded into the neighbouring space, taking over the kitchen next door to make room for an all-new all-day offering. Which means your smoothie run can now become a full brunch situation and honestly, we love this journey for all of us.
True to House of Hälsa style, the menu is equal parts nourishing and sexy, with Scandi-inspired plates, colourful produce and flavour combos that feel fresh, fun and anything but boring beige wellness food.
Bagel lovers, prepare to lose your minds.
The loaded halves are already shaping up to be the main characters, especially the Smoked Lox packed with smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, capers, red onion, cucumber, dill and lemon cheek. The Hot Honey Eggs also deserves its own fan club with sliced egg on whipped fetta, parmesan snow, crispy chilli oil and honey bringing sweet, salty and spicy energy in every bite.
If you’re more of a fresh-plate person, the Citrus & Burrata sounds like actual sunshine on a plate with avocado, orange, grapefruit, burrata, roasted macadamia, thyme and smoked salt. Meanwhile the Watermelon ‘Ceviche’ delivers vacation energy via watermelon, lime, fetta, basil, red onion, avocado and crunchy plantain chips.
Honestly, there’s not a sad desk salad in sight.
The Cubed Salad is another standout starring cucumber, rockmelon, watermelon, fetta, blackberry, roasted macadamia, mint and basil, while the Gut Bowl brings the wellness vibes with black rice, sauerkraut, fermented beetroot and carrot, cucumber ribbons, beetroot hommus and boiled egg.
For the sweet tooths, there’s plenty happening too.
The Papaya Boat comes loaded with papaya, coconut yogurt, blueberries, banana, strawberry, passionfruit and granola, while the Hedges Açai is stacked with banana, strawberry, blueberry, hemp seeds, granola, coconut yogurt and peanut butter. Basically the kind of breakfast that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together.
Of course, the smoothies that made House of Hälsa famous aren’t going anywhere. The signature blends are still front and centre, packed with all the good stuff and served inside one of the prettiest cafe spaces on the Coast.
And honestly, that’s part of the magic here.
House of Hälsa doesn’t just feel like somewhere you grab breakfast. It feels like the place to be. Somewhere between a Scandinavian wellness retreat, a European cafe and the Gold Coast’s chicest community lounge room.
Now with more space, more seating and a kitchen built to handle the hype, this Mermaid Beach fave is entering a whole new chapter.
A tasty one.
Where: 1/2453 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5am to 3pm
Words by Belinda Symons
Images by Mathilde Bouby
Sea World Whale Watching returns for another spectacular season.
Winter might be knocking on the Gold Coast’s door, but it arrives with a pretty spectacular plus-one- whales! Just when we thought our ocean couldn’t get any more impressive, they show up to prove us wrong…all 40 tonnes of them. That’s right, whale season has officially arrived, meaning thousands of humpbacks are set to travel Australia’s famous Humpback Highway over the coming months, treating lucky Gold Coasters to plenty of breaches and tail slap shows.
You might be wondering what the best way is to catch a glimpse of these breathtaking ocean giants. The answer? A Sea World Whale Watching Cruise. Returning from 30 May for another spectacular season, these cruises offer a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest annual migrations. If getting up close to a humpback whale is on your bucket list, there’s simply no better way to experience the magic of whale season than out on the water, watching these magnificent creatures breach, slap their tails and glide past in all their glory.
Departing daily from Main Beach, Sea World Whale Watching’s 2.5-hour cruises take guests straight into the migration corridor, where experienced crew and marine naturalists help spot whales and share fascinating insights about these gentle giants. There are spacious viewing decks for uninterrupted ocean gazing, and hydrophones on board, too, allowing passengers to listen to whale songs beneath the surface, plus a whale sighting guarantee because nobody wants to leave whale season without seeing a whale. Can confirm, it’s as cool as it sounds (if not, cooler).
You’ll catch whales breaching, monstrous tail slaps, and so much more! It’s basically live theatre, except the cast weighs 40 tonnes, travels thousands of kilometres and occasionally launches itself clear out of the ocean for dramatic effect. The experience itself is already something of a local icon, recognised as a Gold operator in the 2026 Best of Queensland Experiences Program and holding Advanced ECO Certification, reflecting Sea World Cruises’ commitment to exceptional guest experiences, sustainable tourism and responsible whale watching.
To celebrate the start of the season, Sea World Whale Watching is offering a limited pre-season sale, with adults able to save $30 on selected departures before the offer ends on Friday, 29 May. Click here to book. And that’s not the only thing making a splash this season- Sea World Cruises is currently undergoing a major glow-up, with upgrades to its Main Beach terminal set to elevate the experience before guests even step onboard. Expect a refreshed reception area, an updated café, expanded seating, upgraded facilities, and revamped outdoor deck areas designed for maximum pre-cruise excitement.
Arriving in mid-June, the brand-new Humpback Whale Discovery Hub will take things a step further. Through interactive exhibits, immersive storytelling and unique whale encounter experiences, visitors can dive into the fascinating world of humpback migration, whale songs, biology and marine conservation before heading out to meet the real stars of the show. The Humpback Whale Discovery Hub was partially funded by the Gold Coast City Council through the Nature-Based Tourism Grant program.
So, Gold Coasters, what do you say? Grab your camera, pack a jacket and prepare to have your mind blown by some of the ocean’s most impressive residents. Whale hello there, winter. We’ve been waiting for you.
Book here.
Where: Sea World, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
SPONSORED BY THE TOUR COLLECTIVE
