Hotel profile: Imperial Hotel (formerly Palazzo Versace), Gold Coast

Does this luxury accommodation, known for its first 20 years as Palazzo Versace, still hold up to its original name?

As multi-million-dollar hotels and resorts are unveiled in the region every year, Imperial Hotel – originally known as Palazzo Versace – on the Gold Coast has managed to cling to its crown as a leader in luxe since opening in 2000. Offering acclaimed dining experiences amid some of the most extravagant lodgings in town, plus an Instagram-perfect pool to rival all Instagram-perfect pools, the designer digs continue to lure visitors from all over the world. Here, we break down its secret recipe.

While the House of Versace is no longer in a branding agreement with the luxury hotel (resulting in a loss of its iconic Medusa head furnishings) the hotel is as popular as ever.

Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast front gates — Step into unparalleled luxury at Imperial Hotel.

First impressions

Do luxury brands leave you lukewarm? I challenge anyone to be unimpressed by the twin jet-black, customised Rolls-Royce Phantoms parked in the driveway as you enter Imperial Hotel. And that’s from somebody who can’t tell their RAV4s from their MGs (or is it M3s? Or are they just motorways?). Nothing screams ‘you’ve arrived’ like splashes of affluence, and there’s plenty more where that came from.

Starting life as the Italian fashion house’s flagship property, and the world’s first fashion house hotel, it’s still dripping in finery including the lobby’s ceiling where a 750-kilogram antique crystal chandelier hangs, throwing shades of grandeur over a lobby bar and four check-in counters. Taking a seat at one, the scent of expensive perfume drifts around me and throughout the space, which is filled with bespoke furniture, white and gold columns and marble flooring.

Floor-to-ceiling glass panels have been shaded to limit the amount of natural light let into the lobby, but the roof is exposed, allowing sunshine to race in, lighting up all the shiny expensive things so the entire room feels as though it’s alive and dancing. It’s pure magic no minimalist could deny.

an elegant hotel lobby inside Palazzo Versace — Fancy chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

Style of the rooms

Stepping into one of the two-bedroom, self-contained condominiums offering glimpses of Sea World Resort, I’m faced with generous dining and lounge spaces awash with plenty more marble.

It’s slightly less dramatic compared to the lobby, with touches of dark timber and well-worn-in furniture, but it remains luxurious. Puffy, embellished curtains hang everywhere, with soft mattresses and crisp bedding, decorated with a diverse collection of artworks.

Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast bedroom — Relax with pool views.

The main bathroom oozes opulence, featuring a giant spa bath, double vanity, and a bidet beside the toilet. “No mummy, it’s a sink for babies," argues my daughter when she spots it. But, as I grab her hands before they reach the nozzle, I quickly correct her and fill her in on the hotel’s amusing nod to traditional European living.

But perhaps the most spectacular homage to Italian villa life is the heated outdoor plunge pool with uninterrupted views of Broadwater. Dipping my toes in there after dinner that evening, I think it’s one of the hotel’s most sumptuous features. The black and timber-hued kitchen, fitted with Miele appliances including a built-in coffee machine, feels the most out of place given the lack of marble and gold finishes I’m slowly becoming accustomed to.

Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast suite loungeroom — Find generous dining and lounge spaces.

Ambience and cleanliness of the rooms

Prior to my stay, I’d read reviews about unsatisfactory bedmaking and lumpy mattresses, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Supremely comfortable beds, deliciously fluffy bathrobes, sparkling sinks and showers and dust-free wardrobes were all noted, suggesting meticulous care and consideration goes into keeping Imperial Hotel’s rooms up to scratch.

I find it all extremely comfortable and homely, but then I’m reminded the sprawling, all-consuming, breathtaking work of art I’m spending the night in.

The sparkling Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast — The sparkling Imperial Hotel on the Gold Coast.

Available amenities

The renowned crystal-blue lagoon pool stops me in my tracks. It’s 63 metres long and stretches right through the middle of the property so, really, it’s unavoidable on the walk to my room. It is so huge, glowing and flowing as far as the eye can see, that I can’t even tell where it ends.

Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast pool from above — Cool off at Imperial Hotel’s expansive outdoor pool.

A little patch of white sand spills at the foot of one central section, while lavish cabanas fitted with curtains and designer scatter pillows dot almost every corner of the outdoor space. Take full advantage of the enviable day beds by booking a cabana day package complete with sparkling wine or champagne, grazing platters or seafood spreads.

Meanwhile, an adults-only oasis filled with cushy, oversized sun lounges and palm trees is cornered off elsewhere. I struggled to squeeze much in between my daytime swim/snooze/sip/repeat regimen, but if you get restless, the Fitness and Wellbeing Centre is fully stocked to keep you busy.

Unfortunately, at the time of publishing, the hotel’s Beauty Room, offering a range of massages and other treatments, was undergoing renovation, and closed until further notice.

the lagoon pool cabana at Palazzo Versace — Laze on the pool cabana.

Imperial Hotel restaurants and food

On the ground floor lobby, the open-plan Il Barocco Restaurant offers a somewhat relaxed dining experience, but you should still expect white tablecloths, flickering candles and layers of Versace tableware. A daily buffet breakfast is served here, as is a daily a la carte lunch and a Sunday to Thursday a la carte dinner – a seafood buffet takes its place on Fridays and Saturdays. Families will appreciate the kid’s menu, much like my two children who demolished their plump, panko-crumbed chicken tenders with fries.

Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast — Relax in Le Jardin with high tea.

And between both restaurants sits Le Jardin , a lobby bar offering multiple high teas, Devonshire tea and light snacks plus classic cocktails, a dozen champagnes, an international wine list and fine spirits.

There’s also an option to enjoy nibbles and drinks in a poolside cabana at the Water Salon.

buffet breakfast at Palazzo Versace Imperial Hotel Gold Coast — Partake in the tasty buffet breakfast every morning.

Quality of service

Imperial Hotel is decked out with luxurious everything, but the service cuts through to make an arguably bigger mark. Everyone from the front desk, the restaurants, the pool, in-room dining and even maintenance (I couldn’t distinguish the alarm from the air conditioning, but in my defence, I was two poolside piña coladas deep) is polite, generous with their time and down-to-earth.

As for that in-room dining, the dishes themselves come right out of Il Barocco’s kitchen, so you know it’ll always be good, and they’re presented in the chunky silver cloches you only get to indulge in when you order hotel room service.

in-room dining at Palazzo Versace — You can also dine on your balcony.

Price of a room

The hotel’s 200 rooms and suites are split into five categories, and its 72 condominiums come in five varieties, too. You’re looking at a starting price of around $300 per night including breakfast, but those condos can soar all the way up to approximately $3000 per night.

The verdict

Lean into the absurd excess and lose yourself in the fanfare, even if you typically swing more discount than designer. This is an Australian hotel unlike any other – no whitewash or rattan allowed – and deeply attentive service elevates it to world-class heights.

imperial hotel gold coast woman standing in front of pool — Experience a dreamy getaway like no other at Palazzo Versace. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Score: 4/5

We rated: The service and attention to detail, even down to children’s activity books upon arrival.

We’d change: Glass fencing around the above-ground condominium plunge pools meets safety regulations, but the absence of entry stairs makes climbing in and out of a raised glass door super awkward.

Address: Imperial Hotel , 94 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

For more reviews and insider tips, we’ve created the ultimate Gold Coast accommodation guide.

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.