The best short break stays in Queensland

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Quick break in Queensland? Drop anchor in Airlie Beach, find luxury in the outback and nightfall in a national park.

Freedom Shores, Airlie Beach

At Freedom Shores, located in a lush tropical valley at the edge of Airlie Beach, a nautical theme plays out across the property, with island chic interiors and expansive water views out to the Whitsundays.

 

Its boat cabins are a collection of one-room bungalows gathered together at the resort’s ‘land marina’ and fashioned like boats complete with a ‘deck’ from which to take in the surroundings; the Denver is an actual historic boat reconditioned into a bright and comfortable queen room.

Freedom Shores, Airlie Beach
Freedom Shores, Airlie Beach.

Nightfall Camp, Lamington

The Queensland weather lends itself to camping or, in the case of Nightfall Camp, glamping with a rustic chic vibe.

 

Located within Lamington National Park, its custom-designed safari tents feature organic linens, rain-head showers, tin soaking tubs, fireplaces and endless pristine bushland to look out to.

 

Dinners are communal and organic, and activities on offer range from bushwalking to birdwatching to yoga classes to creek-side massages.

Nightfall Camp, Lamington
Nightfall Camp, Lamington. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)

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Mt Mulligan Lodge

With the soaring Mt Mulligan as a backdrop, this luxury outback lodge sits lightly on a 28,000-hectare working cattle station some 160 kilometres from Cairns.

Inside Mount Mulligan lodge.
Inside Mount Mulligan lodge.

With room for just 16 guests at a time (including children; it is proudly family friendly), accommodations range from rooms and suites to expansive pavilions.

The soaring Mt Mulligan is the backdrop to Mount Mulligan Lodge.
The soaring Mt Mulligan is the backdrop to Mount Mulligan Lodge.

Once in residence, everything is taken care of so all you have to do is choose from a roster of activities including everything from barramundi fishing to cattle mustering.

Sanctuary at Sirromet, Mt Cotton

Situated within the grounds of Sirromet Winery in Mt Cotton, 45 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, Sanctuary at Sirromet is made up of a collection of stylish tented pavilions looking out over the 226-hectare property, including a spacious family pavilion.

Sirromet Sanctuary
Situated within the grounds of Sirromet Winery in Mt Cotton. (Image: Andrew Thurtell/Thurtell Photography)

While in residence you can make the most of the two on-site restaurants and the cellar door, as well as the extensive grounds, which feature bushwalking tracks and a Supa Golf course.

Inside Sanctuary at Sirromet
Inside Sanctuary at Sirromet. (Image: Andrew Thurtell/Thurtell Photography)

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Adina Apartment Hotel, Brisbane

Originally opened in 1922 as the Queensland Government Savings Bank, Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane has made maximum use of its original Art Deco features of the banking chamber such as columns, carved wood panelling, ornate ceilings and endless marble to create a sophisticated hotel that offers all the features of an apartment.

Gilberton Outback Retreat

Sitting within a seventh generation working cattle station in goldfields country, the Gilberton Outback Retreat is fashioned from local stone and timber and finished with luxury inclusions like a pillow-topped king bed and soaking tub with views of the seemingly endless outback landscape. There’s no phones, television or internet so the escape from modern society here is complete.

The Gilberton Outback Retreat.
The Gilberton Outback Retreat.

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4 surprising ways to experience the real Gold Coast

Credit: Reuben Nutt

There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.

One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.

Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.

From the Hinterland to the sea, here are five surprising ways to experience the Gold Coast.

1. Indulge in luxury

Mondrian Gold Coast women enjoying Pampering treatments at the Ciel Spa and wellness facilities
Escape the grind inside Mondrian Gold Coast’s CIEL Spa. (Credit: Demi Gavin)

If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.

Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.

It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.

2. Escape to the Hinterland

experience the Gold Coast at springbrook national park Warrie Circuit, looking out from Ngarri-dhum Falls
Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)

You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.

In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.

The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.

3. Taste the best of the dining scene

Tarte Bakery & Cafe serving coffee, pastries and meals in the heart of Burleigh
Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)

The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.

Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.

Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.

For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.

4. Recover with wellness & relaxation

aerial view of upper valley pool at Eden Retreat on the gold coast
Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.

The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.

One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.

Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.

And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.

Start planning the ultimate Gold Coast getaway, your way, at experiencegoldcoast.com.