Surrender to the siren call of the coast at this swish five-bedroom stay in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Kirra.
The sun is setting. The barbecue is sizzling. Mirror-smooth waters stretch endlessly across the horizon beyond a sprawling rooftop complex. It’s the kind of holiday scene you wish you could bottle – and one that is written into a stay at the Gold Coast’s latest luxury address.
Suspended above the up-and-coming beachside neighbourhood of Kirra – less than five minutes’ drive from the Gold Coast airport and home to a brewing wave of trendy venues, RISE Kirra Point is an all-new penthouse stay at Miles Residences Kirra Point. The five-suite abode feels lifted from the Mediterranean, its contemporary architecture embraced by panoramic sea views across Kirra’s world-class surf break and the Point Danger headland.
RISE Kirra Point was made for golden-hour moments. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
Offering more than 760 square metres of internal and external living space designed for connection, the penthouse is primed for groups and families seeking a sophisticated coastal hideaway. It offers a warm residential feel, along with chic high-end furnishings that make it one of the most elevated Gold Coast accommodations.
Kick back in the plunge pool and outdoor lounge. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
Store your favourite drops in the wine cellar. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
Step outside and you’ll be met with a private north-facing terrace, where we guarantee you’ll be spending the majority of your time. An outdoor dining area is complemented by a wood-fired pizza oven and lounge seating embellished with retro-tiled coffee tables. The cherry on top? A stunning heated plunge pool for afternoon spritzes and leisurely conversation.
Inside, all five of RISE Kirra Point’s suites are king-sized and come with their own ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. The design is pared-back coastal chic with subtle accents of warm brown and peach tones.
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The master ensuite boasts a breathtaking bath. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
The bedrooms are chic and understated. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
Each suite has its own ensuite. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
The grand kitchen and outward-looking living area are finished with timber surfaces, curved edges and sheer curtains – letting the dreamy coastal scenes beyond shine. The formal dining space is made for hosting, seating up to 10 guests. And if you’re not in the mood to make dinner yourself? Staff are on hand to recommend local gem restaurants – or you can make use of the house’s fully equipped chef’s scullery, ideal for caterers and events.
Enjoy your own media room. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
The entertainment continues with a media room and adjoining children’s playroom, plus an upstairs lounge with a pool table. For those who don’t have the luxury of switching off completely, the house even has a private office.
With Kirra emerging as a trendy Gold Coast pocket, the arrival of RISE Kirra Point feels impeccably timed. It joins a fresh wave of contemporary hospitality – from new diners to a revitalised beachfront precinct – bringing a little more buzz to the chilled-out seaside neighbourhood.
Relax in the recreation room. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
The house has its own office. (Credit: Aaron Chapman)
The details
Best for: groups of up to 10, families and multi-generational travellers seeking a chic coastal stay with a residential feel Number of rooms: five king-sized suites, each with an ensuite Location: Miles Residences Kirra Point, 4 Miles St, Coolangatta, Qld 4225 Price: from $4700 per night
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.
Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.
1. E-Mountain biking
Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)
For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.
As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.
2. HI Fitness Club
Stretch out with reformer pilates.
If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.
I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.
3. Walking trails
Get the blood pumping on a morning run.
We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.
While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.
4. Spa wumurdaylin
Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.
In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.
It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.
5. Sunrise yoga
Start your day on the right foot.
Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.
Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.
6. Getting out on the water
Try your hand at a host of watersports.
Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.
Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.
Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.
7. Take a swing
Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.
For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.
