Best places to holiday on the Gold Coast: Ultimate getaways in the region
With Mount Warning views from the hot tub and a private chef on hand, this Tweed property sets a new standard in glamping. SEE ALL THE PHOTOS
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With Mount Warning views from the hot tub and a private chef on hand, this Tweed property sets a new standard in glamping.
How ‘idyllic’ glamping spot became hottest property near Coast
WHEN hospitality duo Katie and Steve Gassner sold their Alstonville cafe to live the rural dream, they weren’t quite ready to retire.
Instead they found a way to share their idyllic Pumpenbil property with a handful of guests, with Mr Gassner, a chef of 42 years, rekindling his passion in the process.
“Steve was missing his cooking and we had this incredible space we wanted to share, so the idea of Steviestay was born,” Mrs Gassner said.
“We had our 1973 Viscount van renovated but maintained its old charm and turned it into a space for Airbnb.
“Guests have their very own onsite private chef should they want to include that.
“The response has been amazing and, apart from a few days here and there, we are booked out until mid-November.
“We will be opening up further dates soon.”
Steviestay, christened for the couple’s love of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, is permanently parked with panoramic views of the Border Ranges, McPherson Ranges and Mt Warning.
The star of the secluded set-up is a wood-fired hot tub, just the spot to settle in for sunset.
“The van itself is a short distance from the main house but is private,” Mrs Gassner said.
“It has everything a guest needs, including a comfy bed dressed in luxury French linen, quality eco-friendly toiletries and an ensuite with shower and environmentally friendly compost toilet.
“There is a deck with barbecue, outdoor shower and views that you can never become tired with.
“You can do as little or as much as you want. Even when it is raining here it is magical.
“This area is a place to unwind and reset.”
For those ready to reconnect with the real world, Steviestay is within a short drive of Tyalgum and Murwillumbah.
“Down the road in its old-world charm is the quaint village of Tyalgum offering historical walks, a general store, post office, cafes, pub, unique gift shops and an excellent masseuse,” Mrs Gassner said.
“We are only a short drive to Mebbin National Forest that offers a myriad of trails for mountain biking or hiking.”
‘Serious style’: Coast’s most unbelievable shed transformation
THE owner of the Borrowed Nursery has spread her wings into the holiday market with a seriously stylish shed conversion.
Lauren Lance’s aviation-themed Airbnb The Hangar Bilinga Beach draws its design cues from the southern suburb, a surfside springboard to Gold Coast Airport.
“I grew up in northern NSW and bought a place with my brother in Bilinga,” she said.
“He got an opportunity to further his career in Brisbane, so around two years ago I bought his share of the house and made the decision to turn the shed out the back of the property into a little studio accommodating up to two people.
“Being close to the airport, I landed on the name of the Hangar pretty quickly.
“I saw it as an opportunity to create a space for not only travellers needing a place to stay before or after flights but also a spot for a weekend getaway being so close to the beach.”
Ms Lance worked with Frankly all by Hand to transform the shed into a studio without losing its industrial character.
“We left the timber beams exposed, the concrete floor was cleaned and sealed and the old workbench was tidied up to become the breakfast bar,” she said.
“My favourite design feature would be the bathroom.
“Featuring a claw-foot bath that was originally in the house, we extended the shed to create a little bathroom oasis here.
“The ceiling is clear with some batons installed below to let light stream into this space.
“Custom-made copper piping and a large brass shower head are another favourite feature of mine in this area.”
The Hangar’s custom-made portal windows are a nod to ‘50s and ‘60s aircraft.
“We also incorporated a wooden propeller that sits above the round windows, sourced from an antiques store just down the road in Chinderah,” Ms Lance said.
The finished product has been a hit with the drive market.
I think the Hangar takes our guests by surprise – it’s often described as a ‘hidden gem’ or a ‘hidden oasis’,” Ms Lance said.
“We’ve tried to create a comfortable and cosy space for guests to relax and unwind
“Obviously COVID had an impact on everyone’s travel plans during the start of 2020, but into the middle of the year we saw many Queensland guests coming down for coastal getaways.
“The location is great for guests to explore the southern Gold Coast as well as northern NSW, just an hour drive away from Byron and its surrounds.”
The thriving southern cafe culture is on guests’ doorstep.
“Locally my go-to cafe is Good Day in the next suburb up in Tugun,” Ms Lance said.
“There you’ll also find Cara Cara for some good Mexican and margaritas.
“Further north in Burleigh my favourite dinner spots are Light Years and The Tropic, which has the best views of the beach on the Coast.
“If you have time for a road trip, you can head south to Brunswick Heads, just north of Byron.
Jump in the river for a swim, head to the newly opened deli Honour for lunch and stay on late for a drink at the Brunswick hotel.
“You’ll also find some cute homeware stores and clothing boutiques there.”
Secrets behind Coast surf shack’s stunning transformation
DESIGNER Danni Murray has transformed a dilapidated surf shack into one of Airbnb’s most popular properties.
The successful stylist behind @teepeecreative, who lives in Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband and four boys, said she was inspired by her Gold Coast childhood when she embarked on a retro renovation of Chippewa Cottage.
“The Gold Coast was somewhere I had always wanted to create a space – it’s my home town, and filled with that unreal vibe of a bygone beach era,” Mrs Murray said.
“The Meter Maids, the on-the-beach spray-on suntan oils, surf comps, and rocking around in cool curtain-adorned cruiser cars as a kid all remind me of happy carefree days growing up.
“When the building in Mermaid Beach came up for sale I was very excited.
“It was super decrepit and there was not much interest at all in it, but I could see through the cracked paint and the journey of bringing my vision to life of a modernised beach shack began.”
Mrs Murray spent a year flying from Sydney to the Gold Coast once a week to oversee the build and fit out.
“It was a fabulously fun job sourcing pink flamingoes and vintage beach decor,” she said.
“It was also liberating being my own client.”
Hitting the holiday market on Airbnb Plus, the ’50s-flavoured three-bedroom shack soon started feeling the love from high-profile guests.
Its “Instagrammable spaces” are also available for day shoots.
“The cottage is uber off-street private and has attracted some pretty cool music industry stays already as a result,” Mrs Murray said.
“Some of my favourite features are the black and white checkerboard tiled plunge pool, the pop-up alfresco cubby bar and the colourful tiles in the three bathrooms.”
The attention to detail extends to local organic amenities, handcrafted tea packs and a welcome bar set up with an Everleigh cocktail pack.
Guests can check in with a host for a bucketlist of restaurants, bars and activities, with local tips on tap for the duration of their stay.
“We can organise our guests push bikes to ride to Burleigh beach to take in the coolest rooftop bars, the Burleigh markets or a fish and chip dinner on the hill by Nobbys Fish Co,” Mrs Murray said.
“Mermaid Beach itself is literally one block walk away and we offer big, beautiful towels and beach umbrellas for the day.
“BSKT is just around the corner and holds yoga classes followed by some of the best organic vegan food on the Gold Coast.”
NEW COUNTRY HOME
WELL-KNOWN Gold Coast event duo Kat Creasey and Matt Whalley have escaped to the country, and they’re throwing open the doors to their new home.
The pair, who host food and beer festivals across southeast Queensland and Northern NSW and produced more than 100 events in 2018/2019, bought Olive View Estate in the Scenic Rim after the pandemic shutdown delivered a wake-up call.
“We were gearing up to have a very busy 2020 but – just like everyone in the events industry – our world stopped with COVID,” Ms Creasy said.
“It was most definitely the break we needed because it made us re-evaluate where we wanted to be.
“We have always had our heart set on living and working in the Scenic Rim.
“We restore classic cars and vintage caravans and we were needing a property with large sheds to house all of our projects so that our whole family can work from home.
“We looked at more than 50 properties before we found this beauty and we instantly fell in love.
“Formally called The Grove Cottage, we have renamed this 35 acre, 700-tree olive grove Olive View Estate – it sounds like ‘I love you’ if you say it fast enough.”
The pair have hit the ground running, spending the past few months gardening and clearing paddocks to pave the way for their new vision, including one very personal event.
“Our plan is to host a variety of events from long table lunches to private functions and music festivals,” Ms Creasey said.
“We have had a lot of couples ask if they can get married in the olive grove.
“It is a whole new world of events for us but we are keen to get weddings happening here.
“We need to start planning our own wedding here!”
A 1960s Bedford vintage bus will be transformed into additional accommodation, with a top deck so guests can soak up the mountain views.
In the meantime, Olive View Estate’s existing cottage is available for bookings through Airbnb.
“The mountain views from every direction with the olive trees swaying in the breeze looks like a painting of Europe,” Ms Creasey said.
“The cottage has French styling throughout and overlooks the olive trees.
“Ideal for couples or families, it has fireplace, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private pool.
“Our guests are two kinds of people: ones that just want a home base so that they can go and discover the sights of this region, and others who want to escape the city to switch off from technology and just relax with a wine by the pool.
“They love that it is a family friendly farm and the kids can meet our two goats Billy and Gruff and see what living on a farm is like.
“We do plan to get the olive grove back into full production too.”
The passionate foodies have a range of gourmet grazing boards that guests can add to their stay.
“We love setting up a romantic table in the olive grove at sunset,” Ms Creasey said.
Olive View Estate’s Boonah base also offers opportunity to explore further afield.
“We are surprised how many Brisbane and Gold Coast locals are unaware just how far the Scenic Rim spans,” Ms Creasey said.
“When we mention Canungra or Tamborine they know these locations, but we encourage anyone to take a weekend to drive that little bit further to experience this stunning region and all of its local businesses.
“From mountain hikes and bushwalks to swimming in love-heart-shaped natural pools – the wildlife, the views, the sunsets and the food of this region is truly incredible and we will never move away.”
Originally published as Best places to holiday on the Gold Coast: Ultimate getaways in the region
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