Hotel profile: The Pink Hotel, Coolangatta

A little slice of rock and roll heaven just steps away from the sand and surf, The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta is a true original.

Feeling a million miles away from tourist central, the southern end of the Gold Coast had always led the charge in fuss-free beachside holidaying. Then, along came the ultimate disruptor, The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta. And it wasn’t even subtle. The Instagram-famous digs first opened its doors in 2018, a restored 1960s motel that blazed with wall-to-wall fairy-floss pink. Offering a thrilling new way to experience the Gold Coast, complete with epic party spaces and rooms packed with personality, the hotel brought some serious buzz. We discover how it maintains its charms today.

First impressions

As a 12-pack of Panadol meets me in the hotel lobby, I’m instantly comfortable with my decision to dust the children off for a night. In the mass of retro-inspired motels and hotels popping up on the Gold Coast, could The Pink Hotel at Coolangatta authentically mirror the rock and roll lifestyle of a bygone era? Kid-free fingers crossed.

At the very least, they’ve nailed the façade. Barbie-pink walls paired with a tight edit of bright white, ruby red and cactus green offer one of the most talked-about designs in the city’s hotel portfolio. On the beach fronting side, a giant Medusa mural switches out snakes for flamingo heads. In the front garden, a twin pair of 70s sun lounges are painted in pink and white stripes as plastic flamingos ‘frolic’ at their feet. It’s loud yet sweet, old yet new, Palm Springs-perfect yet suspiciously wayward. I can’t wait to see inside.

outside of The Pink Hotel — The Pink Hotel exudes a laid-back elegance. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Style of the rooms

Entering the level two Medusa Balcony King Room, it’s hard to miss the second instalment of local artist Jamie Peters’ coastal take on Greek mythology’s Medusa. In this room, a drooping cigarette is tucked into her snarl as those cheeky flamingos flare, tall and proud.

The theme flows into two bright flamingo-printed bathrobes, serving as a second feature wall pretty much, amid an eclectic mix of mustard velvet furnishings, glossy timber and a slick black bar brought to vivid life thanks to a neon sign that reads ‘I look for you in everyone’.

a colourful interior at Pink Hotel — The interior is filled with mustard velvet hues. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Every room features its own mix of decor and epic mural art, plus unique neon lighting inscriptions. My bathroom is small, but a mix of materials and influences once again adds personality, such as the rugged stone basin, probably better suited to an earthier, stripped-back space if I’m being honest.

I’m impressed by the size of the balcony off the Medusa room, which provides lovely ocean views and is scattered with garden floral-printed plastic sun lounges – the perfect spot to unwind as the sun magically sinks.

a roof deck with comfortable seating areas at Pink Hotel — Laze on the roof deck. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Ambience and cleanliness of the rooms

A discreet record player, hidden inside a black-lacquered side table I barely even notice, adds yet another layer of authenticity to the rock and roll theme The Pink Hotel at Coolangatta exudes rather effortlessly.

a balcony at Medusa Balcony King Room, Pink Hotel — The Medusa Balcony King Room comes with your own, personal sunshine.

While pieces like the record player are obviously considered, it’s also entirely plausible that some free-spirited groupie took their love for bric-a-brac and spread it decoratively throughout the hotel between their idol’s nightly sets. Yes, I’m thinking of Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous right now. The atmosphere at The Pink is achingly artistic, yet the spaces are clean and spacious, providing guests with homely, comfortable accommodation.

The Superior King Pink Hotel — The Superior King Room is complete with a flamingo room and quirky wall hangings.

Restaurants and food

I hear the restaurant slash bar at The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta before I spot it. Eddie’s Grub House, a dimly lit, absolute cracker of a dive bar located next door to the hotel lobby, houses a string of live music throughout the week.

I arrive on Sunday when a jam session blasts the neighbourhood from 3pm until 6pm. While a bunch of bed-haired hipsters natter at Eddie’s front doors, silver-haired rockers are inside thrashing it out for a crowd of delighted locals. A baby bounces to a Nirvana cover as his mum gets her groove on while wearing bub on her chest. It is all just awesome, and then there’s the grub itself, which is available as in-room dining.

bright pink interior at Pink Hotel — The minibar is the ultimate enabler.

Beef patties are stacked with fresh salad and Eddie’s ‘spesh’ sauce, reminiscent of Big Mac sauce (which is heavily underrated, I might add), jammed between further generous fillings and two pillows of sweet brioche. The Chicken and Bacon Nuggers are deep-fried minced chicken mashed with slivers of bacon. The wings are legendary. It’s the perfect sustenance for a night on the tiles.

Inside the rooms, a mini bar complete with a black Smeg bar fridge offers snacks including crisps, chocolate, sweet popcorn and nuts, plus canned cocktails and a very necessary Hydralyte. If you’re not vibing either option, a range of international cuisines can be found within walking distance of the hotel.

the dining and kitchen interior at Pink Hotel — The rooms are clean and spacious. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Quality of room and hotel service

Don’t let their leather boots and grungy t-shirts fool you. The team at The Pink Hotel clearly live and breathes their rock and roll surroundings, but they’re as sweet as cherry pie.

Keen to share their local tips on where to keep the good times rolling, staff are clued in and passionate about the region, spilling over with stories from their favourite rooms and the hotel’s wildest escapades. It’s infectious, and I almost asked one of them in for a wine on my balcony.

There’s no kitchen within the hotel itself, but Eddie’s Grub House delivers from Tuesday to Sunday, plus Ground Coolangatta around the corner can walk a hearty cafe breakfast, coffees, and juices to you between 7am and 2pm each day. Just use your phone to scan the QR code in your room.

the building exterior of Pink Hotel — The courtyard is decked out with fairy lights, palm trees, plastic flamingos and lawn chairs. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Amenities available

To be frank, there isn’t much. While The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta is screaming out for a Palm Springs-inspired retro pool to catch television sets hurled off balconies, the beach across the road offers great compensation.

No gym and no spa either; however, I do appreciate the kitsch ice machine emblazoned with the phrase ‘Ice, icy, baby’ located on level one, and the venue’s faux lawn-coated rooftop cocktail bar offering sensational views across the ocean and beyond Surfers Paradise. It’s shaking up drinks on Friday and Saturday.

Price of a room

Rates at The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta start from approximately $199 per night for a King Suite, but if you’re chasing ocean views, pay the extra coin for a Superior King Suite, priced from about $209 per night, or climb the tiers to splash out further. The Medusa Balcony King Room, where I stayed, is priced from about $259 per night.

The verdict

Go for the time warp novelty, stay for the party. This is headbanger heaven, transported right from 1950s USA and plonked on prime Cooly beachfront real estate.

Score: 3.5/5

We rated: The bedside earplugs, attached with varying love notes including ‘Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere’. Very cute.

We’d change: Bring back the four-post cabanas that once oozed glamour on the hotel’s rooftop. The empty gaps they’ve left, allowing more space for white picnic tables, feel more beer garden than VIP.

Address: The Pink Hotel , 171 Griffith Street, Coolangatta

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

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.