CLOCKWISE
FROM LEFT: The
recently hatted Fish
House in Burleigh Heads;
A fun day out at Movie
World; Take a paddle on
Currumbin Creek with
Surfers Paradise on the
horizon; Hang out in the
warehouse space of Balter
Brewing; Do brunch at
Paddock Bakery; You don’t
have to look far to find
good coffee here these days.While the region specialises in laid-back, al fresco eateries, there are
some seriously gourmet joints too. Hellenika in Nobby Beach, Kiyomi
at The Star Gold Coast and Burleigh Heads’ Rick Shores and The Fish
House all received a coveted hat at the Good Food Guide 2019 Awards.
Local sports stars have jumped on the bandwagon too. Surfing greats
Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson are the champs behind Balter Brewing
Company, a craft brewery in a converted warehouse in Currumbin.
Rugby league legend Selasi Berdie swapped scrums for superfoods
when he started the health-focused BSKT Cafe in Nobby Beach.
And if you’re lucky, you might bump into Tour de France green jersey
winner Robbie McEwen at his Miami-based cafe, Piccolo Espresso.
One of the most exciting trends has been the fusion of food, arts
and fashion. The Village Markets pioneered the movement in 2008,
creating a Sunday market that featured a collaborative mishmash of
local designers, artists, foodies and musicians. Miami Marketta
tweaked the concept by serving up its bohemian blend of food
trucks, fashion designers and live music at night. Until recently,
NightQuarter was another leading light, a vibrant outdoor food market
with a live music program that championed local talent. Sadly, it was
forced to close in February because of escalating rents – an ominous
warning sign for other local businesses about the region’s soaring
popularity. At the time of writing it’s on the hunt for a new home.
While the focus of any Commonwealth Games is undeniably the
sport, the region also staged an accompanying cultural event called
Festival 2018. The legacy of this eclectic 12-day program of dance,
circus, theatre and music has been a reinvigorated arts and culture
scene. Last year the Arts Centre Gold Coast emerged from a $37.5
millionrebrandasHOTA(Home of the Arts), complete with aspectacular new outdoor amphitheatre and Australia’s largest
regional art gallery. Later this year The Star Gold Coast will unveil
a 1500-person open-air concert venue at its Broadbeach Island site.
Meanwhile the region continues to host an impressive calendar of
events, including Bleach Festival, a 16-day cultural extravaganza of
music, design and theatre which takes place each April; and Blues on
Broadbeach, Australia’s largest free music festival from 16-19 May.
Predictably, all of this increased attention (and the resulting
increase in visitors) has attracted an influx of new hotels. In 2018 the
region gained its first six-star property when The Star Gold Coast
unveiled The Darling, a standalone tower of 56 seriously swanky
suites with a rooftop pool and a fine-dining restaurant serving caviar
and Patagonian toothfish. Other notable arrivals include AVANI,
a 219-room apartment hotel in Broadbeach with sweeping coastal
views, and The Ruby Collection, a stylish, family-friendly apartment
property in Surfers that offers convenient access to the neighbouring
Paradise Resort waterpark.
There have been some impressive refurbs too, such as The Island
in Surfers, which has been transformed from a notorious ’80s
party haunt into an elegant boutique hotel with a cool rooftop bar.86 AUSTRALIANTRAVELLER.COM