Best of the Gold Coast 2018: the top New Year’s Eve parties to ring in 2019
The anticipation is palpable in the lead up to the end of the year. For a New Year’s that’s sure to live up to the hype, we’ve rounded up the best countdown parties.
Best of Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Best of Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE anticipation is palpable in the lead up to the end of the year. For a New Year’s that’s sure to live up to the hype, we’ve rounded up the best countdown parties.
The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
New Year’s Eve is just the beginning of the party at The Star Gold Coast.
The hardest part is choosing which of the many chic venues you’d prefer to be in at the stroke of midnight on December 31 — on top of the world at rooftop bistro Nineteen? Sprawled out on the lawn at Garden Bar? Or perhaps you’d prefer an extravagant feast at one of the swish restaurants?
Nineteen, Imperial, Harvest Buffet and Kiyomi have two dinner sittings at about 5pm and 8pm, with prices starting at $99 a person including a glass of wine on arrival.
Italian restaurant Cucina Vivo offers a five-course degustation menu with a four-hour beverage package from 8pm for $185 per person, while Garden Kitchen and Bar will have a set menu of food and three hours of drinks for $165 per person, also kicking off at 8pm.
If ringing in the new year with a sumptuous meal isn’t your style, there’s plenty of options for cocktails and cutting a rug.
SECRETS OF THE STAR’S REVAMPED BUFFET
The bar area at Nineteen will welcome partygoers for a $50 cover fee, which can be paid at the door or by emailing shae.mastroianni@star.com.au
The Lawn (next to Garden Bar), Atrium Bar, Cherry and Sports Bar will all be free entry.
Inside The Star the countdown will culminate in a magical balloon drop, while outside fireworks will see you in to 2019.
All venues will feature live music and DJs pumping out tunes well into the night.
Make sure you leave something in the tank — the next day Nineteen will host a New Year’s Day Summer Soiree, complete with an oyster shucking station, three-hour canape package, stylish pop-up bars and a DJ.
The Collective Palm Beach
COAST’S FIVE BEST COCKTAILS REVEALED
Talk about being spoilt for choice ... The Collective Palm Beach is offering guests the option to indulge in food from five corners of the globe at its Take Off Into 2019 NYE Party. Journey through the fare of the food market’s five kitchens, nibbling on morsels from Asia, Italy, Mexico, America and Australia, as you count down to the end of the year. Patrons
will be entertained with live music from The Flipside and DJ Lola’s Dad. Tickets start at $165 for a “business class” three-hour food and beverage package or $265 for first-class treatment on the rooftop.
QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise
qthotelsandresorts.com/gold-coast
OUR TOP 10 BEACHES AS VOTED BY YOU
Say au revoir to 2018 at QT Gold Coast’s French festivities. The resort’s three venues — Bazaar Marketplace, Yamagen and Stingray — will transform into the city of love for trois Midnight In Paris parties. Bazaar Marketplace will present its signature interactive food stations for diners, Yamagen will serve modern Japanese fusion fare, while Stingray delivers dancing and canapes with a glamorous Parisian cocktail soiree. Guests taking part in a decadent dinner package from Bazaar or Yamagen will also have access to the Stingray countdown party. Prices start at $80 per person for a food only event.
The Island, Surfers Paradise
Go troppo at Surfers Paradise’s The Island with three levels of parties set to sizzle until 5am. Guests can buy one of two types of tickets at the resort complex: the standard cocktail party with access to the ground-level poolside bar and Island Rooftop venue, or the VIP Penthouse on level 12 for those feeling fancy. Both include a 4.5 hour premium food and drinks package, live music, immersive pop-up displays and roaming performers, but the views at the luxe open-air Penthouse Terrace Bar will be worth the extra pennies. Prices are $149 for the standard cocktail party or $199 for the VIP experience.
Sheraton Grand Mirage, Main Beach
sheratoneventsgoldcoast.com.au
Sheraton is putting on three classy events to cap off 2018. The Mirage Grand Ballroom will host A Glamorous Affair, an 18-plus event with dinner, deluxe beverages and live entertainment from 7pm. If you’d rather save money on a babysitter, bring the tribe to Terraces Restaurant from 5.30pm for a seafood banquet followed by a fireworks display at 8pm. The Oyster Bar will also serve a seven-course degustation from 6.30pm. Fireworks will then light up the night at midnight. Prices start at $89 per child at Terraces Restaurant and range up to $229 per person for A Glamorous Affair.
GOLD COAST’S FIVE BEST SEAFOOD PLATTERS
Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
Twin Towns resort is right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales so you can celebrate 2019’s arrival twice. Twin Towns will be rocking all over with a party in the Showroom with Sydney band The Frocks, live music until 2.30am at The Stage, a pool party for families at Club Banora, and a VIP Black and Gold rendezvous on level three. The Black and Gold party is the best vantage point for the fireworks (11pm Queensland time) and includes a drink on arrival, so call ahead to secure your ticket for $20. Entry to the Showroom is free for Twin Towns members or $20 for non-members.
Ristorante Fellini, Main Beach
fellini.com.au or call 5531 0300
Best to keep the tight dress in the cupboard and opt for something a little more forgiving for this New Year’s party. Ristorante Fellini in Main Beach will be putting on a six-course Italian spread. Overlooking the water at Marina Mirage, guests will be treated to a glass of prosecco on arrival, followed by gourmet dishes of seafood, figs wrapped in prosciutto, twice-cooked duck pasta, a choice of quail, salmon or steak main, and finish off with a 23 carat gold chocolate dessert. Best of all, you’ll have the perfect vantage point to watch the fireworks ignite over the Broadwater. Tickets are $180 per person.
COAST’S BEST SHORT TRAVEL SUMMER GETAWAYS
The Pavilion, Burleigh Heads
Perched right on the ocean’s edge, the long-awaited Burleigh Pavilion is gearing up for New Year’s with an elegant dinner and two days of partying. The Tropic restaurant will serve a three-course dinner featuring seafood, steak and dessert on December 31 ($175 per person or $275 with drinks). Meanwhile, Burleigh Pavilion will host a live line-up including Nicky Night Time, Carl Kennedy, Jack Kennedy and Elliot Ramsay with the best view in Burleigh. Settle in with a drink and dance the night away on the hottest new rooftop. Back it up on New Year’s Day with headliner Bag Raiders. Entry is $20 per person.
TopGolf, Oxenford
Does thinking about the year that was make you want to hit something? Channel that frustration at TopGolf. The driving range is offering standard and premium packages to salute 2019 from 9pm to 1am. Enjoy four hours of unlimited TopGolf play, premium platters and soft drinks for up to six people for $780 per bay, or splash out on a $1200 package with three hours of alcoholic beverages and a sparkling wine at the countdown. A DJ will be playing party tunes all night while you whack your troubles away, guaranteed to have you waking up calmer.
Southport Sharks Club, Southport
‘HOW I BUILT A CRAFT BEER EMPIRE’
Whether you want to belt out Sweet Caroline, clink champagne under the stars or pay homage to Australian rock and roll, Southport Sharks Club has you covered. The evening starts with two dinner options: a seafood buffet at Frenzy’s ($55) or three courses at Carmody’s ($95). Once you’ve refuelled, head to Mackenzie’s Sports Bar for karaoke, get fancy at the Cabana Bar’s Tropicale Party, or howl along to Khe Sanh with Cold Chisel tribute band Chisel Revived — all free events. The Aviary Rooftop Bar is hosting its NYE Skyline Soiree with a food and drinks package. Entry is free, however bookings can be made for booths or tables.
Top five burgers on the Gold Coast named
This northern Gold Coast burger joint has been named the best in the region for the second year in a row. Find out who won.
Top five spray tanners on the Gold Coast
A mobile spray tanning business has been named the best in the region, securing 34 per cent of Bulletin reader-voted poll. Find out more.