A local’s guide to the most booming Gold Coast suburbs

Just steps beyond the surf, a huddle of personality-packed Gold Coast suburbs hum with distinct brands of good vibes.

Hypnotising swells and extended months of sunshine make it tough to peel yourself away from the Goldie’s epic beaches. But dusting the sand off to uncover a diverse network of glittering Gold Coast suburbs will forever change the way you feel about this phenomenal city.

From hipster-laced meccas frothing up magnetic cafe culture and world-class dining, to neighbourhoods spilling over with luxury accommodation and covert pockets of laid-back boutiques, this is modern-day beach culture that manages to thrill in some corners while it soothes in others.

Central Gold Coast suburbs

The bottom line: Round-the-clock entertainment, the world’s most renowned luxury hotel chains and acclaimed dining help maintain this region as the coast’s indisputable beating heart.

a beachfront hotel at Langham Gold Coast

The Langham Gold Coast is unobstructed beachfront luxury. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

It’s the Gold Coast from your childhood – towering skyscrapers, big-name eateries and thumping nightlife. But Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach and Southport are all Gold Coast suburbs worth exploring a little deeper. Home to some of the coast’s most luxurious accommodation, including The Langham, QT Gold Coast and its six adorable qtQT Cabins, one of the country’s two five-star Darling hotels and JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, this concentration of high-end bliss is riddled with up-all-night activity, drawing tourists by the truckload daily.

Surf lessons, gondola rides through neighbourhood canals, wax museums, river cruises, extreme water sports, indoor skydiving, miniature golf and even a Hologram Zoo (so very Surfers) are all on your doorstep. When it’s time to chow down, standouts include Broadbeach’s flame-licked kost Bar and Grill, Surfers’ exquisite three-hatted Palette within HOTA (Home of the Arts) and Main Beach’s fun-fuelled Holy Ship trawlers.

Palette within HOTA (Home of the Arts), Gold Coast

The elegant Palette fine diner is situated in the vibrant HOTA Gallery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

It’s worth noting that these days, Broadbeach rivals Surfers when it comes to finding a spot in the thick of it all. Remember Dracula’s dinner theatre? It’s still alive and kicking, celebrating its 40th trip around the Gold Coast sun in 2025, while the retail haven of Pacific Fair across the road continues to draw hot labels including LSKD activewear and a Jurlique concept store that offers treatments.

a staff training a seal at Sea World Gold Coast

Say hello to seals at Sea World Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, Main Beach is still your go-to for Sea World Gold Coast and at-sea charters departing Marina Mirage, which is also home to extremely chic pool parties care of La Luna Beach Club. Southport’s Broadwater Parklands is worth an entire day out with little ones, but don’t forget their cozzies – multiple play attractions, including The Rockpools splash zone and the Broadwater’s calm estuary waters, provide plenty of opportunity to get wet.

Holiday makers should also note that Southport welcomed Tryp by Wyndham, one of the Gold Coast’s newest hotels, in December 2024, and the suburb also boasts one of the best Gold Coast spa experiences: Vikasati, a bathhouse with spacious outdoor facilities.

Northern Gold Coast suburbs

The bottom line: You’re a short drive from the chaos of Central Gold Coast while gaining spacious pastures, countless outdoor activities for kids and tranquil water views.

Love the energy of Surfers, but keen for quiet time once the sun sinks? Northern Gold Coast suburbs are just the ticket for an escape that’s close to the action without the often-frenzied crowds of Central Gold Coast. Sizable sporting fields and play areas, pretty, unpopulated vistas and an outspread of restaurants, accommodation and attractions make its two biggest suburbs, Sanctuary Cove and Coomera, huge hits with travelling families who want action (hello, Gold Coast theme parks) close to waterfront downtime.

a thrilling ride at Dreamworld, Gold Coast

Dreamworld features kid-friendly attractions and spine-tingling coasters.

At the energy plus end of the scale, Coomera is where you’ll find Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, and just 12 minutes down the road, you’ll spy Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild. Needless to say, accommodation is fit for families, including BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park which is a nine-minute journey to Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, and even closer to the others.

A little more towards the coastline, Sanctuary Cove is a boaties’ delight, dripping with million-dollar yachts, calming Broadwater views and fine dining galore. The marina is the place to be, where Reds Kitchen & Bar always provides a vibe and The Fireplace within the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort nails flame-cooked fare.

steak lunch at Reds Kitchen & Bar, Gold Coast

Order a flame-kissed steak for lunch at Reds Kitchen & Bar.

In nearby Benowa, another northern Gold Coast suburb, you’ll find excellent overnight digs at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast, hands down one of the best resorts in the city, which flows with amenities including three nine-hole golf courses, a day spa and multiple dining options.

Burleigh area

The bottom line: This fast-growing, people-watching corner of the Gold Coast is littered with creative minds pushing the envelope through elevated dining, extremely cool bars and one of 2025’s most anticipated hotel unveilings.

A magnet for post-pandemic relocators (including this Australian Traveller writer), forever recalibrated by the upswing of remote working, the beach-side cluster of Burleigh Heads, Mermaid Beach, Miami and their surrounds offer countless gems. Each haven is dotted with its own collection of breezy eateries and fine dining, dishing up coffee to rival Melbourne’s finest, spectacularly executed bars, and beachy-cool boutiques.

a couple arriving at Restaurant Labart, Gold Coast suburbs

Step into the stylish Restaurant Labart for European bistro-style dining. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Burleigh Heads is already well-discovered, tapped by visitors for its wide range of activities. James Street’s string of boutiques and restaurants, including nationally acclaimed superstars Paloma wine bar and Freddy’s chicken shop, is always busy, and you’ll need to plan in advance if you want tables at Rick Shores, Restaurant Labart, Jimmy Wah’s and The Tropic. Come nightfall, Burleigh is an adults-only wonderland as an eclectic mix of speakeasies and cocktail bars keep party animals well hydrated. Don’t miss Rosella’s on the Gold Coast Highway for their game-changing ‘Fantales’ concoction that expertly blends rum and chocolate with a homemade take on the nostalgic sweet itself. We can confirm it’s even more delicious than its inspiration.

a bartender preparing a drink at Paloma wine bar, Gold Coast

Sip on expertly curated drinks at Paloma wine bar. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Burleigh also said hello to Australia’s first Mondrian hotel in June 2025. Offering a pool club, multiple dining experiences and that signature cool the international hotel chain is synonymous with, the hotel will undoubtedly be the place to be seen in the months ahead.

inside a bar at Miami Marketta, Gold Coast suburbs

Miami Marketta features onsite bars with live music every night. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Miami, just north of Burleigh, is equally exciting as trendy watering holes make waves. It’s grown just about as hectic as Burleigh in recent years as uber-cool hospitality types stamp their mark on the once-sleepy suburb. Miami Marketta is a food truck lover’s dream, offering live music and tasty treats in a grungy food hall, Paddock Bakery (technically Burleigh, but right on the border and feeling very Miami-esque) is the suburb’s most popular baked goods pit-stop and Precinct Brewing Co. offers awesome locally crafted cold ones.

a strawberry tart at Bam Bam Bakehouse, Gold Coast

Try the special strawberry tart at Bam Bam Bakehouse. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Mermaid Beach continues its rise as Burleigh’s cooler little sibling, offering cult foodie destinations such as the much-loved Bam Bam Bakehouse, one of the Gold Coast’s best dessert venues, and rooftop rowdiness at JuJu at the southern end near Nobby Beach. It’s also where the team behind Rick Shores opened up their double-delicious Latin American-inspired second venture, Sueno terrace bar and diner, upstairs from the outstanding Norte — a serious contender for the Gold Coast’s most impressive fine dining restaurant.

Chained to your offspring? Sorry about that. Mermaid might be more your speed, home to a three-course putt-putt golf extravaganza, plus Turtle Beach Resort, one of the most fun-filled accommodation options for families with kids.

Southern Gold Coast suburbs

The bottom line: You’re only about 30 minutes’ drive away, but Surfers Paradise feels like another planet compared to the Gold Coast’s southern beaches. Think laidback beach town vibes, killer cafes, and Instagramable eateries alongside some of the most striking coastal vistas around.

unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast suburbs

Learn more about Australia’s native wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Firmly focused on showcasing the greatest of the outdoors, the southern Gold Coast suburbs are a nature lover’s paradise while still offering brilliant man-made experiences. No doubt, crowds thin out by the time you’ve touched down in Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun and Coolangatta, but a smorgasbord of understated attractions isn’t so secret anymore.

a spread of food on the table at Dune Cafe, Gold Coast

The menu at Dune Cafe is loaded with top-quality local produce.

Palm Beach, just south of Burleigh, delivers outstanding cafes and the Gold Coast’s most scenic surf club. Pop in for a barefoot post-swim feed at Dune Cafe, overlooking the magical Currumbin Lagoon, or feast on flavour-packed Mexican at Frida Sol’s rooftop restaurant. The 1960s vibes remain strong in this neck of the woods, most notably in The Mysa Motel, offering a slice of Palm Springs via seven Instagram-friendly rooms.

the restaurant exterior of Tommy's Italian, Gold Coast suburbs

Snag a beautiful spot for a long lunch at Tommy’s Italian.

Currumbin, the next suburb down along the coastline, is this writer’s favourite Gold Coast beach, and where you’ll find the long-serving, and long-loved, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, just down the road from the beach itself. There’s also a serious foodie scene with Tommy’s Italian providing long lunch overlooking the waves, while Swell Sculpture Festival, staged annually right across the beach, brings in culture vulture points.

a sculpture at the Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast suburbs

See spectacular installations at the Swell Sculpture Festival. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Neighbouring suburb Tugun is a small, laid-back pocket filled with more cafes, boutiques and restaurants including Stable within the very trendy Cornerstone mecca of retail outlets, and Niche & Co plating up vegan-friendly creations. While you’re in town, book a stay at yet another Palm Springs-inspired motel, Tessa’s on the Beach, located in Bilinga which is on your way down to Coolangatta.

a couple with their bicycles outside Tessa’s on the Beach motel, Gold Coast

The stark white Tessa’s on the Beach retro motel pays homage to Palm Springs. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

As for Cooly, right on the border of New South Wales and Queensland, don’t miss the opportunity to spend a night inside the very rock and roll Pink Hotel Coolangatta, nodding once again to 1960s Americana through its furnishings and striking facade. Coolangatta itself is full of great shops and chain eateries but drive just a few minutes south for the unmissable, always-pristine Rainbow Bay beach and legendary Snapper Rocks surf spot.

Gold Coast Hinterland suburbs

The bottom line: Switch out a day at the beach for the chance to immerse yourself in lush countryside, rainforest and farmland, all found within a shockingly short drive from the coastline.

The Gold Coast’s coastal charms are world-renowned but don’t overlook the city’s spectacular Hinterland. The shift from beach to bush is so sudden, it feels as though you’ve been transported to another state entirely. Encompassing several Gold Coast suburbs and regions including Tallebudgera Valley, Currumbin Valley, Lamington National Park, Mount Tamborine, Springbrook National Park and the Numinbah Valley, the Gold Coast Hinterland fringes much of the city.

a couple relaxing in the pool at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast suburbs

Enjoy peak serenity at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Step into fresh, forest air for unexpected treasures to pop out from nowhere, such as Pasture & Co, a sprawling cafe complete with its own kitchen garden, storybook fig tree and wild kangaroos, located in the Currumbin Valley. Tallebudgera Valley offers its own surprises, including one of the country’s leading health experiences, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat.

Lamington National Park is teeming with unique wildlife, as is Springbrook National Park which also offers some of the most stunning natural waterfalls in Australia. Meanwhile, the Numinbah Valley, located just north-west of Springbrook, offers rich camping accommodation in the way of Numinbah Valley Bush Camping and the postcard-perfect Mount Tamborine is home to Witches Falls’ excellent wine, French-inspired dining and trendy shops. Stay at The Tamborine for stylish luxury enveloped with magical views and the warmest of hospitality.

a couple touring around Witches Falls Winery, Gold Coast suburbs

Go on a scenic tour of Witches Falls Winery on Tamborine Mountain. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Discover the best things to do on the Gold Coast

The unique tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture can now be experienced in a Queensland rainforest.

I’m the first official guest at SOL Elements, an elemental bathhouse located in Mt Tamborine, roughly 50 minutes inland from the Gold Coast beaches. The town is already a calm-inducing hinterland heaven as birdsong echoes over rolling hills and roadside avocado shacks pop up around many corners. But with the arrival of SOL Elements, Mt Tamborine evolves into a wellness destination. Let me take you through the experience.

The new bathhouse is set in the calming hinterland. (Image: Timothy Birch)

First impressions

The exterior of the new SOL Elements Bathhouse in the Gold Coast hinterland

The setting delivers maximum serenity. (Image: Timothy Birch)

Given the jaw-dropping rendered photography released by the team in January 2025, I wondered if SOL Elements could meet the hype. Additionally, the location is at the end of a large car park at Tamborine Mountain Glades’ Thunderbird Park, an iconic kid-friendly hinterland attraction, so I was curious as to how they’d bring the Zen.

Surprisingly, no shrieking children are heard as I approach one architecturally magnificent facade. Positioned off a small lake dubbed Lotus Lake, swimming with turtles and ducks, it features thin timber boards that gradually fan out via meticulous three-millimetre increments. More than 2000 metres of hand-charred wood, burnt personally by Russ Raven, who founded SOL Elements with his wife Shae Raven, make up the entrance and much of the interior walls, channelling the ancient Japanese art of wood preservation, Yakisugi. It’s an aesthetic that pops amid bushland without ever jarring. It’s dramatic yet graceful, bold yet grounded – a lot like what’s going on inside, really…

Communal bathhouse

The communal bathhouse is circular with treatment rooms branching off from a garden. (Image: Timothy Birch)

Positioned to take in the entire breadth of that fairytale lake, three small outdoor thermal mineral pools are the cornerstone of SOL Elements’ communal bathhouse, which caters to just 30 people at a time. While the warm pools bubble at a toasty 38 degrees, the cold plunge drops to an icy 12 degrees.

There are two ways to soak up some hot and cold therapy. The first starts inside SOL’s Cedar Wood Sauna, fitted with bench seating and extensive windows that let in more Lotus Lake views, before I go 90 full seconds in the cold (I’m aiming for two minutes, but it’s still winter). The sauna is small, and I’m grateful to be in there alone, but six or so people could fit in here comfortably.

Sit around the sunken fire pit at SOL Elements Bathhouse

Sit around the sunken fire pit. (Image: Timothy Birch)

The second way to hop between hot and cold is via the showstopping submerged outdoor fire pit. I take a seat on its curved bench seating and watch the flames flicker against my serene view. Sitting in wet cozzies, I feel reinvigorated, ready to dip in and out all over again.

Then there’s the communal Earth Lab, a mind-blowing alchemy station. Before I hit the showers, I’m invited to spoon out two ingredients from a bar filled with salts, flowers and powders. Utterly delighted to personalise my sensory journey, I go for the ground coffee and hibiscus flower petals before pumping body wash into my palm and creating an exfoliating polish. It’s hard to ignore the likes of raw brown sugar, chamomile flowers, rose petals and spirulina powder (there are 10 options in total), but my blend is straight-up delicious.

The Earth Lab features an alchemy station for guests to create a personalised sensory journey that suits their mood. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

Himalayan Salt Sanctuary

The Himalayan Salt Sanctuary at SOL Elements. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

There’s one other communal element at SOL: the Himalayan Salt Sanctuary, featuring a gasp-worthy design (and gasps are welcomed, given the respiratory benefits salt therapy is famed for).

Built with illuminated salt bricks that morph between sunrise shades, pale pink and clear white, the room radiates as I breathe in negative ionised air. Bench seating wraps the entire space while three stunning pendant lights glisten, dialling up the drama. It feels as though I’m sitting inside a lantern, all while my lungs are high-fiving me as I attempt further breathwork.

Floatation caves

For the ultimate sensory deprivation experience, two Floatation Caves are calling. Located right next to the Himalayan Salt Sanctuary, the rooms open to beautiful all-black stone fit-outs. Magnesium salt water is heated to complement your unique body temperature. Epsom salt and Dead Sea salt are expertly utilised to create the most extensively filtered water in Queensland. This is magnesium magic on steroids.

Once the doors shut, it’s completely dark. I float blissfully unaware of my surroundings; waterproof headphones ensure total immersion.

Secluded Suites

an outdoor mineral plunge at SOL Elements

The onsite accommodation features a heated private mineral plunge. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

I step up my SOL Elements visit by booking one of its two Secluded Suites, and the experience is end-to-end luxurious. Facility-wise, the suite (which caters for groups of up to five) gives me my own infrared sauna, single-person cold plunge, shower, private Earth lab with four ingredients, mini-bar with mocktails, tea station and clay mask, all while floor-to-ceiling glass windows throw up more of those soothing views.

The cherry on top? An outdoor private warm mineral plunge right by the lake. I sip on an organic, caffeine-free lemon myrtle and ginger root tea as the afternoon slips by. But before I go, there’s one more unmissable element to indulge in.

Massages and treatments

Inside the treatment rooms at SOL Elements Bathhouse

Up the ante with a rejuvenating massage at one of the two onsite treatment rooms. (Image: Timothy Birch)

I dress in a plush black waffle robe and stroll a couple of doors down to one of SOL Element’s two treatment rooms. I’m booked in for the Earthing Immersion as I love hot stone massages, and this features stones gathered with permission from Indigenous elders right around Australia. How special is that?

For so many reasons, but mainly the skills flexed by therapist Milena (who specialises in stretching), this is a massage like no other. I’m asked about my mood and lifestyle before Milena tells me she’s reading my energy. I’m not typically partial to energy readings, but I can’t deny that my limbs surrender under the hands of Milena, who uses Synthesis Organics’ essential oils that smell divine.

The stones differ in size and shape, heated and rolled across me like Café de Paris butter. 90 minutes later, I feel weightless as I return to my Secluded Suite to shower again and, begrudgingly, depart. I’m truly transformed into jelly. It took Shae and Russ four long years, but SOL Elements manages to live up to every expectation before soaring far beyond.

Details

Address: Cedar Creek Falls Rd and Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine Mountain (within Tamborine Mountain Glades)

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm, Friday to Sunday, 8 am to 10 pm

Prices:

Communal Bathhouse: $95 for 90 minutes
Floatation Cave: $90 per person for 60 minutes (2 guests maximum)
Secluded Suite: From $360 for two people, for 90 minutes
Earthing Immersion: $300 for 90 minutes
Other massages, facials and treatments: View the spa menu

Accessibility: SOL Elements welcomes guests with access needs. The building features wide pathways, accessible for wheelchairs, throughout. A pool hoist can also be arranged if requested in advance.

Please note: All guests must be over 18.