We test out the Gold Coast’s hottest new stay: Kirra Point

On the razed site of a beloved local watering hole that had been pouring beers since 1956, Kirra Point has risen from demolition ashes to become the coolest new place to dine, drink and stay on the southern Gold Coast.

Last drinks were called in 2021 at Kirra Beach Hotel, a classic surf-side pub and local landmark that served ice-cold beers, cheap schnittys and beach views. The six-decade-old building was demolished to make way for a glittering $380-million investment – a brand new beachside hotel, bar and luxury accommodation offering. We checked in to the new Kirra Point, which has GC locals chattering.

Location

a balcony overlooking Kirra Beach — Soak up unbeatable views of Kirra Beach. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Kirra Point is smack-bang in the middle of Kirra, a beachside suburb two kilometres south-east of the Gold Coast Airport. There’s nothing better than collecting your luggage and checking into your hotel less than 10 minutes later.

Kirra Point has a prime position across the road from Kirra Beach. Dubbed the spiritual home of surfing on the Gold Coast, the famed Kirra Surfriders Club has fostered surfing greats such as Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson. Kirra hits the trifecta with a laidback vibe, coastal good looks and an ultra-cool drinking and dining scene, and Kirra Point stands at its heart.

The town of Coolangatta is a short, scenic beachside walk around the Kirra Point headland (the namesake for the new hotel). Coolie, as it is known to the locals, has a heap more restaurants and bars, as well as a shopping centre with a Woolworths supermarket.

Style and character

neutral tones, timber and stone interior at Kirra Point — The soothing colour palette invites guests to unwind at first glance. (Image: Elise Hassey)

The new build was designed by acclaimed architectural firm Woods-Bagot and the property’s exterior curves and textural features reflect the layered nature of its beachside environment.

KTQ Group, the development group behind the Elements of Byron project some 60 klicks down the road, sprinkled their magic over the interiors. A soothing colour palette immediately brings calm as you enter Kirra Point – neutral tones, timber and stone features, and premium furnishings in blues, greens and grey. There’s a relaxed coastal feel but it’s ultra-sophisticated at the same time.

Facilities

sun loungers by the pool — The stunning 25-metre pool boasts panoramic views of Kirra Beach. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Without a doubt, the hero of the hotel is the recreation deck on level three. It features a heated 25-metre pool with panoramic views of the ocean, lined by sun loungers and lush gardens.

There are poolside barbecues and round booths available for complimentary hire – making this the perfect place to while away hours in the Queensland sun with friends. There’s also a small but well-equipped gym in this recreation area.

Underground parking is available, and there is electric vehicle charging available for a fee. You won’t need your car while in Kirra, though. It’s so easy to get around on foot, or you can hire bikes from reception (open from 7 am to 7 pm). Conveniently, the hotel also offers a beach cart service – a beach trolley packed with an umbrella and towels.

Stage Two of the Kirra Point precinct will feature a second tower with a laneway precinct curated with boutique retailers such as a fresh food market, deli, bakery and gelateria. It’s slated for completion in 2026.

top view of a woman swimming in the pool at Kirra Point — Start your day with a refreshing morning dip. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Rooms

the living interior of the oceanfront apartment at Kirra Point — The generously sized apartments sleep two to eight guests. (Image: Elise Hassey)

The property offers one- to three-bedroom apartments, which sleep two to eight guests. Choose from a north-facing oceanfront apartment for epic views complete with salt spray, an east-facing apartment with beach and Kirra Point views, a west-facing apartment with beach and Surfers Paradise skyline views, or a south-facing apartment that looks over town.

All apartments have a private balcony with soundproof sliding doors for ultimate peace and quiet at night (which is handy given the revelry downstairs). Each apartment also has a fully equipped kitchen with premium appliances, a Nespresso machine, a Zip tap with instant hot water and a dining table. There is a separate laundry, which is ideal for longer stays, and the sleek bathrooms are equipped with Mr Smith amenities.

Food and drink

the dining table on the private balcony with ocean views, Kirra Point — Make use of the private balcony with uninterrupted views of the ocean during your stay. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Promising honest food, cold beers, bright wines and good yarns, Kirra Beach Hotel is the same-old Aussie pub it once was, just with a fresh, new look. Eat in the outside beer garden or nab a table inside the bistro. The menu features light bites such as tacos and bao buns, and classic pub grub such as a parmi, cheeseburger and steak cooked your way. Surfing memorabilia, such as vintage photography, surfboards and old lifesaving caps, grace the walls, keeping the hotel’s roots firmly planted in the sand.

The first floor of the property is home to Kirra Beach House. This striking venue has uninterrupted views of the ocean and is an amalgamation of outdoor and indoor dining spaces, from the sunny western terrace with its bifold windows and tall tables, beachfront cabanas with lounges, a sexy restaurant with booth seating, and the private Preston’s Bar.

Conveniently, there’s a liquor shop on the ground floor – pick up a bottle of bubbles or some locally brewed craft beer, such as Balter, to enjoy on your private balcony. On the corner, you’ll find Made, a barber and espresso bar where you can get a haircut, with a coffee, toastie or pastry to go.

Experiences

the outdoor pool at Kirra Point with sunloungers on the side — Relax on a sun lounger by the pool. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Kirra is the ultimate beach escape. Days can easily be spent entirely in swimwear. Its beach boasts a wide and pristine stretch of sand, and the famous Kirra Point break lures in surfers from around the traps daily.

If you want to learn surfing at one of our country’s best surf spots, check out Kirra Point Surf School . Or hire a bike from the hotel and cycle the eight-kilometre-long beachside pathway, which runs to Currumbin.

There is a heap of excellent places to eat and drink in Kirra. Try Siblings , which is located close enough to the beach that you may feel the salt spray. The menu is mod-Australian with small plates and mains, and a focus on seafood. Billy Chow is an intimate diner serving pan-Asian cuisine. And Love Street Store is a chilled-out spot to grab some delicious brunch and coffees – think acai bowls and toasties.

Native State is a state-of-the-art bathhouse where you can book a casual session of hydrothermal therapies – there’s a heated vitality pool, cold plunge pool, steam room, traditional cedar sauna, infrared sauna and a studio with strength and conditioning classes, pilates and meditation.

Access for guests with disabilities?

Rooms are accessed via a lift; however, none of the apartments have dedicated accessibility features. Service dogs are permitted for vision impaired. The Kirra Beach Hotel on the ground floor and Kirra Beach House (accessed via a lift) are both wheelchair friendly.

Family-friendly?

a private balcony facing the beach at Kirra Point — The hotel is a great base for families to explore all that the Gold Coast has to offer. (Image: Elise Hassey)

Kirra Point is a great family-friendly accommodation option on the Gold Coast, just walking distance to a wide and safe swimming beach and many restaurants. The spacious apartments have kitchens, so you don’t have to eat out at every meal, which means that you can put little ones to bed earlier while you enjoy a relaxing time together on the balcony, and older kids can have their own space. The laundry is also super-convenient for families so you don’t have to pack as much in your luggage.

Details

Address: 4 Miles Street, Kirra, Qld

Cost: Rates start from $325 per night.

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.