This article was brought to you in partnership with frankie, written by Kelsey Caruna
Pastel palm springs-inspired paradise and art on the Gold Coast
Despite being Australia’s sixth most heavily populated city, the Gold Coast has this beautiful way of emanating small town charm amongst the backdrop of a glittering oasis. There are endless things to explore, surrounded by a community of locals that are as warm as the Queensland weather itself. We ventured up from Melbourne for three magical days on the Gold Coast, where winter days hover around twenty degrees and the sun rarely stops shining.
DAY 1
TOUCH DOWN
Welcome to the Yugambeh language region, where the glittering coast wears skyscrapers like a crown and the lush green hinterland stretches as far as the eye can see.
LUNCH: Pizza by the sea
Every vacation (correction: day) should include pizza, Aperol spritz and a smashing ocean view. Enter: Tommy’s Italian at Currumbin Beach. The team at Tommy’s make all their pasta and pizza dough in-house daily – and let me tell you, they give my Nonna’s cooking a run for her money.
AFTERNOON: Pastel Paradise
Roll into The Mysa Motel in Palm Beach for a luxe and seriously eye-pleasing weekend stay. This motel got a makeover in late-2022, transforming it into a pastel, Palm Springs-inspired paradise in one of the Gold Coast’s most up-and-coming suburbs.
SUNSET: Wine with a view
Gold Coast’s cultural capital, Home of the Arts (or HOTA for short) is a hub of art galleries, indie film screenings and stage performances. For the ultimate HOTA experience, ride up to the top floor to the Exhibitionist Bar and watch the sun sink beneath the mountainous hinterland to the west.
EVENING: Cocktails and a show
The Pink Flamingo is the world’s first ‘Spiegelclub’. If you’re wondering what that means, it’s essentially a spectacle of singing, dancing, circus tricks and acrobatics, but made sexy.
Take a pit stop at Marilyn’s bar on your way back to the hotel. Their signature cocktail Rupus Du Sol was love at first sip (especially when you can print your own design on the cocktail foam!).
Mountain-top winery bliss and platypus-spotting on the Gold Coast
DAY 2
BREAKFAST: Parisian Treats
Enter: Tarte bakery, and their pastry selection fit for a God. Pro tip: get there early to secure one of the cute outdoor tables. Oh, and order the karaage chicken bagel – it will change your life.
MORNING: Retail Therapy
If you’re a fan of artisanal, one-of-kind pieces, then the boutiques of Burleigh are exactly where you want to be. You’ll find boutiques like Emte on James Street and Heartfill Store on Lemana Lane, each expertly curated with clothing, jewellery, home and lifestyle products that’ll have you swooning.
MIDDAY: Mountain Magic
Tamborine Mountain is a region on the outermost edge of the Gold Coast, with spectacular views of the entire city and beyond. We made a very important call to complete the Curtis Falls walking track. This picturesque one-kilometre trail winds through mighty flooded gum trees and thick rainforest, arriving at the flowing falls.
LUNCH: Witches Falls Winery
Naturally, a one-kilometre nature walk equates to a tasting flight of cider, glass of wine and grazing platter – preferably, at a mountaintop winery like Witches Falls, which is a convenient five minute drive from the Curtis Falls walking track.
EVENING: Miami Marketta
When the evening rolls around, it’s time to put on your stretchiest pants and head over to the biggest and best food hall the Gold Coast has to offer, Miami Marketta.
A morning in the clouds plus burrata and king prawns on the Gold Coast
DAY 3
PREDAWN: Up, up and away
There are only a handful of living creatures that are wide awake around four o’clock in the morning: possums, owls, and Jay, the pilot on the day of our Hot Air balloon ride. We clambered into the basket as our vessel filled with air and then we were off, soaring above the Gold Coast hinterland.
MORNING: Second-hand Haven
On the first and third Sunday of every month, The Village Markets take over the oval at Burleigh State School. The markets are a treasure trove of artisanal goods, unique art, antique finds and locally-made jewellery and clothing.
LUNCH: Unbeatable views (and king prawns)
The Tropic is Burleigh’s picture-perfect beachside restaurant. The food here is something else, especially if you like your bread spiced and puffed and your king prawns with garlic and butter.
HOME TIME
After three glorious days on the Gold Coast, it’s time to zip back to the airport (it’s only a 20-minute drive) and bring this super rad holiday to a close.
This article was brought to you in partnership with frankie, written by Kelsey Caruna
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.