Best of the Gold Coast 2018: The best short travel summer getaways
Stay-cay or short road trip, these drive destinations make the most of sun-soaked days and balmy nights. We’ve found the best summer getaways to take this summer to escape the Gold Coast.
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Stay-cay or short road trip, these drive destinations make the most of sun-soaked days and balmy nights, writes Chantay Logan
The Calile Hotel, Fortitude Valley
thecalilehotel.com
COAST’S NEXT OVERSEAS DIRECT FLIGHT DESTINATION
You can now munch on Hellenika’s famous zucchini chips without leaving the pool. Hop up the highway to Fortitude Valley’s The Calile Hotel where seven elegantly appointed cabanas are available for private dining and guests keep their cool by sipping Hellenika watermelon and mint lemonade. Carry this picture of paradise to your balcony by booking one of the Miami-inspired Poolside rooms. The to-die-for rosé-hued marble bathrooms will probably tempt you to stay in, but it’s well worth the wander to Kailo Wellness Medispa. As well as dreamy facials, it offers tanning and make-up to get you ready for that dinner date at Queensland’s No. 1 restaurant (Hellenika took out top spot on the delicious. 100 list).
Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef
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How far can you get from the Gold Coast in 100 minutes? Direct flights from Seair’s base at Coolangatta put the Great Barrier Reef in reach in about the same time it can take to battle the M1 to Brissie. A light plane ferries wonder-seekers to Lady Elliot Island, a remote speck off Bundaberg that’s absolutely teeming with life. Slip into the shallow lagoon to cruise alongside sea turtles and thousands of their fishy friends. Get your timing right to see the hawksbill, green and loggerhead turtles nesting (November to March) and watch the hatchlings make their way to the water (February to April). Stay in the 43-room eco resort or visit for a day trip.
Elements of Byron, Byron Bay
Save water — drink tequila. The neon pink mantra propped beside the swim-up bar of your dreams is #summergoals. The hardest decision Elements guests face is choosing between its two spectacular pools. The aforementioned adult’s only haven has been voted Australia’s best hotel pool and you can stay submerged while you order from the zesty Mex and margarita menu. Then there’s the central lagoon pool, a family friendly wonderland of hanging daybeds and shady cabanas. Gather around the firepit and swap stories under starry skies or mingle with your toes in the sand at the beachfront bar. Horse riding along the beach is the ultimate way to explore further afield. Villas are from $475 per night.
Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff
BEST COAST LOOKOUTS TO VISIT THIS WEEKEND
Airconditioning and unlimited free new-release movies combine to make this Tweed treat’s suites the ultimate place to sit out a heatwave. While we’re ticking off summer holiday essentials, the property’s lagoon pool is one of the prettiest around — a postcard of pastel water and powdery sand. If you prefer not to share, book one of the plunge pool apartments or hotel rooms for access to a private oasis screened by tropical foliage. The surf beach is a short stroll across the park too. Refuel on-site at Season Restaurant, a tasty tribute to local growers, or wander across the road to the plantation-styled Bombay Cricketers Club for an unforgettable Indian banquet. Sweeten the deal by using promo code NNSW10 to receive an additional 10 per cent off your summer getaway (book by December 24, valid for travel from December 1 to February 28).
Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island
Island getaways don’t get more convenient than this backyard beauty, a 75-minute catamaran cruise from Brisbane. Devote sun-soaked days to ticking off a huge list of activities before the best part — hand feeding a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins. Tangalooma Island Resort offers five beachfront accommodation styles, with dolphin feeding included in most packages. If you only have one day to play, the Dolphin Feeding Day Cruise condenses many of the highlights. It’s $199 for adults and $149 for kids and includes lunch and your choice of a desert safari tour (sand tobogganing is an absolute blast), marine discovery cruise, snorkelling the wrecks or jet boating.
InterContinental Sanctuary Cove
intercontinentalsanctuarycove.com
THE GOLD COAST’S 10 BEST WALKING TRACKS
Escape the coastal crowds by seeking sanctuary at this northern oasis. The classic Queensland estate is centred around the graceful Great House with dramatic stained glass windows, a grand staircase and fountain terrace. Enjoy high coffee (like the tea one, but way better because it includes espresso martinis and cold-brew spritz) in blissful airconditioning or park yourself by the one acre saltwater lagoon pool. The team will even crack you a coconut to sip on your sun lounge. The InterContinental Sanctuary Cove is offering staycation savings of up to 35 per cent when you book direct before December 15. The offer is for travel up until April 30 and conditions apply.
The Darling, Broadbeach
star.com.au/goldcoast/hotels-and-spa/the-darling
If you’ve dined at Nineteen at the Star you’ve probably wished you could dive in to its inviting indigo infinity pool. The bad news: that privilege is reserved for guests of The Darling. The good news: you won’t regret checking in to the ritzy resort for a seriously luxe staycation. Choose from 56 spacious suites ranging in size from 70sq m to 328sq m. While we’re dreaming, we may as well go straight to the top. The Penthouse Spa Suite lets you soak in ocean views through wraparound floor-to-ceiling glass from the deluxe circular spa.
Riverside Ranch Holiday Retreat, Yamba
homeaway.com.au/holiday-rental/p9177189
UNUSUAL PLACES MILLENNIALS PREFER TO TRAVEL
While away the days fishing and filling the esky with mudcrabs, pottering on the river or reclining on the veranda — they make holidays like they used to at this peaceful Yamba property. The renovated 1916 Queenslander is one of the classic holiday rentals on HomeAway. PR and communications manager Simone McDermid says it epitomises the nostalgia-driven travel trend. “Holiday rentals have always played a key role in the way Aussies holiday so it’s no surprise that we’re now the top accommodation choice in light of this trend to help create new memories for a new generation of Aussie families.” Tucked metres from the water’s edge, Riverside Ranch boasts a fresh water (ionised) pool with waterfall, sprawling verandas, a private boat ramp with ocean access and views of the Clarence River from every room.
Pethers Rainforest Retreat, Mt Tamborine
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If it’s looking like a scorcher, head for the hills where summer temperatures are usually a few degrees kinder. Hang out in the cool canopy at Pethers Rainforest Retreat where 10 airconditioned treehouses provide a beautiful base for exploring Mt Tamborine. Find a swimming hole at Cedar Creek Falls or feel the spray from nearby Curtis Falls. Pethers general manager Shona Philps also recommends visiting the wineries and boutique breweries, tackling the high ropes Tree Top Challenge or getting back to nature. “There is a multitude of spectacular walks through untouched ancient rainforests or you can get up close and personal with glow worms at the Cedar Creek Estate Winery,” she says.
The Hideaway, Cabarita Beach
It will welcome its first guests on Boxing Day, but bookings are already open for Cabarita Beach’s new “boutique outdoor hotel”. Just steps from the sand, the glamping retreat combines the romance of beachfront camping with the comfort of cushy beds. Stay in a Deluxe Bell tent to sleep under cotton canvas on a kingsize bed with quality linen or go for one of the retro “cabavans” with plenty of room for two. The Hideaway recreates many of the amenities of a hotel with communal lounge areas, bean bags, a fire pit, break-out zones and Wi-Fi. The kitchen prep area is thoughtfully equipped with utensils, crockery, a fridge, microwave, toasters, and a tea and coffee station.
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