The secret Gold Coast tourists don't know about - yet
Want to escape the crowds on the Gold Coast? Just head south.
The Gold Coast is heavenly. But it can get pretty hectic, too. Traffic snarls, seaside car parks with few empty spots and beaches flooded with people can be a far cry from the laid-back holiday of your dreams. But what if we told you there's a part of the Gold Coast, where you can simply flop and drop within 15 minutes of landing at the airport?
About 50 minutes south of Surfers Paradise is Kirra Beach - a place of exemplary beauty, where creamy beaches go on for miles, with a world-class restaurants and hotels scene that has exploded in the past year or so. As one proud local tells me during my recent visit, "The southern end of the Gold Coast has always been a great spot for people to live, but every time locals wanted to eat and drink at a nice place, they had to travel north - now they don't."
Like all good things, though, this laidback nook of the Goldie won't remain a secret for too long, so if you're planning a break in the Sunshine State, head here pronto, with this up-to-the-minute guide in tow.
EAT AND DRINK
Bar Evelyn: With red-chequered tablecloths, an indoor dining room that effortlessly opens on to an outdoor area and Italian classics such as hearty pastas and wood-fired pizzas, this place has a distinct Mediterranean vibe. Our venison and chorizo meatball pizza is simply divine, but the dish that brings the house down is the eggplant dip. Served on a bed of thinly sliced cucumber, it's the perfect foil for the liberally salted, delightfully crusty and freshly baked warm flatbread. barevelyn.com
Billy Chow: This bright and luminous gourmet haunt wins our vote for being the most happening spot in southern Gold Coast - even on a Tuesday night, it's heaving with people. And one bite of co-owner Trent Scarr's miso-glazed Atlantic toothfish and you'll know why. A spicy beef short rib curry with banana chillies is another standout; not to mention an exhaustive wine list and some of the friendliest staff in the region. billychow.com.au
Kirra Beach Hotel: If you're in the mood for unfussy good food, you can't go past this sprawling, laidback gastropub, where seating ranges from window-side bar stools overlooking the ocean to comfortable booths. The wine list features a heavy concentration of Australian and New Zealand drops, while the food menu ticks all the boxes, too - schnitzels, parmis and burgers if you want to stick to the classics; or Korean fried chicken and tempura prawn cutlets with Kewpie mayo if you want to take your tastebuds to Asia. kirrabeachhotel.com.au
Kirra Beach House: A sun-drenched terrace with panoramic vistas of the rolling waves - so close you can hear them - is just half the story at this chic establishment. The other half is head chef Drew Wilson's menu, with options such as butter-soft grilled beef skewers, saffron-laced snapper croquettes and creamy bundles of burrata spiked with balsamic. Go early for the lunch service to nab one of the cabanas on the terrace, but if you miss out, the teal-green booths in the dining room proper are a great option, too. kirrabeachhouse.com
Pipi's Restaurant: The Brisbane-based hotel and restaurant group, Gambaro, knows a thing or two about hospitality, but this fine-diner with 220-degree water views has to be the pinnacle of its offering. Simply arriving at the second-floor venue in a glass elevator is enough to stop you in your tracks. But wait till you look at the Med-inspired menu with sensational seafood offerings. Lobster with handmade linguine and bisque is perfectly al dente and seasoned; seared scallops get a nice kick from finger lime; and lashings of lemon and garlic butter make the chargrilled Mooloolaba king prawns shine. Take your wallet, set aside an entire afternoon and don't forget to leave some room for the Valrhona fondant topped with cream and raspberries. pipisrestaurant.au
STAY
The Villas by Bilinga Beach Abodes: Stark-white walls, blonde floorboards and soothing splashes of pastel pinks ... the mere colour palette at these two three-bedroom villas - one above the other - is enough to instil a sense of Zen as soon as you check in. Our pick would be the second-floor abode, which features a spiral staircase, leading to a loft-style bedroom. Fully equipped kitchens and sprawling bathrooms with statement tiles add to creature comforts, and if it gets too warm, each villa has its own plunge pool, too. bilingabeachabodes.com.au
Kirra Point Holiday Apartments: For absolute-beachfront digs, check in to the just-opened Kirra Point Holiday Apartments, where 32 bright and airy one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments await, along with a stunning ocean-facing outdoor pool. kirrapoint.com.au
DO
Native State: Arriving at this bathhouse is like walking into a museum of beautiful people - some relaxing in the steam room, others lolling about in the infrared sauna. If the art-gallery-like silence doesn't imbue a feeling of calm, the steam rising from the hot magnesium-rich pool would certainly do the trick. The wellness sanctuary's co-founder, Steph Burrows, believes there's no shortage of places where you can work out. In fact, Native House has its own studio gym. "But sometimes you need to 'work in', too, and replenish your spirit," Burrows says. Which is where this bathhouse comes in.
Burrows recommends I spend about 10-15 minutes moving between the hot sauna, the infrared sauna and the steam room; then alternate for about three minutes between the 39-degree hot pool and the 12-degree cold pool to feel truly invigorated.
I'm following her brief to a T ... until I reach the cold pool. There's an analogue clock on the wall and the most I can manage is 60 seconds. After what seems like the longest minute of my life, I head straight back for the hot pool, where I feel every square inch of my body tingle. Is it invigorating? You bet. nativestate.com.au
TRIP NOTES
Getting there: Kirra Beach is a mere four minutes' drive from the Gold Coast Airport.
Getting around: A hire car or rideshare apps are your best options.
Best time to go: Any time, really. But if you can time your visit during the weekdays, you can literally have all the beaches to yourself, with plenty of empty spots at beachside car parks.
Explore more: destinationgoldcoast.com
The writer was a guest of Destination Gold Coast.
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
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