When I tell people that I grew up on the Gold Coast, it elicits a similar reaction to if I told them I spent most of my life living in a fairytale. Between the looks of bewilderment and envy, I can confirm that my hometown is every bit as wonderful as people imagine it to be. Built around mind-boggling natural wonders and packed full of spectacular food, culture and one-of-a-kind experiences, it really does make you question how a place this special exists. 

Despite being Australia’s sixth most heavily populated city, the Gold Coast has this beautiful way of emanating small town charm amongst the backdrop of a glittering oasis. There are endless things to explore, surrounded by a community of locals that are as warm as the Queensland weather itself. We ventured up from Melbourne for three magical days on the Gold Coast, where winter days hover around twenty degrees and the sun rarely stops shining. 

This is day one.

TOUCH DOWN There are a handful of cities that leave you slack-jawed in awe when you fly into them, and the Gold Coast is certainly one of them. Welcome to the Yugambeh language region, where the glittering coast wears skyscrapers like a crown and the lush green hinterland stretches as far as the eye can see. There are flights to the Gold Coast pretty much by the hour if you’re coming from either Sydney or Melbourne, so we recommend getting in early to make the most of your stay. 

When it comes to zipping around the Gold Coast, your best bet is renting a car. Until the light rail is completed in 2025, public transport can be a little restrictive. If you’re keen to pack in some special spots off the beaten track, there are plenty of car hire options at Coolangatta Airport. LUNCH: PIZZA BY THE SEA Every vacation (correction: day) should include pizza, Aperol spritz and a smashing ocean view. Enter: Tommy’s Italian at Currumbin Beach. After a quick 15-minute drive from the airport you’ll be eating authentic Italian food in no time, accompanied by the sound and sight of Currumbin’s gentle waves. The team at Tommy’s make all their pasta and pizza dough in-house daily – and let me tell you, they give my Nonna’s cooking a run for her money. Do everything in your power to snag a table on Tommy’s sun-soaked balcony for the best views of the ocean’s horizon. Trust us. AFTERNOON: PASTEL PARADISE Sunned, watered and fed, roll into The Mysa Motel in Palm Beach for a luxe and seriously eye-pleasing weekend stay. This once run-down motel got a makeover in late-2022, transforming it into a pastel, Palm Springs-inspired paradise in one of the Gold Coast’s most up-and-coming suburbs. There are eight boutique rooms on the property – each entirely unique in design and vibe – that hug around a crystal-clear mineral pool, lined with baby-pink sun loungers. And to top it all off, the entire minibar is complementary. That’s right, folks: boujee snacks and fancy drinks for you to nosh on while you’re wrapped up in a fluffy towel by the pool. Need we say more?SUNSET: WINE WITH A VIEW A 30-ish minute drive from the Mysa Motel will get you to the Gold Coast’s cultural capital, Home of the Arts (or HOTA for short). This colourful precinct is a hub of art galleries, indie film screenings and stage performances. It’s a real feast for the senses. For the ultimate HOTA experience, we recommend arriving just before sunset. Ride up to the top floor to the Exhibitionist Bar and watch the sun sink beneath the mountainous hinterland to the west. Like all sunsets, wine and cheese are absolutely necessary.EVENING: COCKTAILS AND A SHOW There’s a hidden laneway in Broadbeach that glows pink after dark. If you follow the glow (and we very much suggest you do) you’ll find a gentleman wearing a sparkly three-piece suit ushering people through a mysterious doorway. This is The Pink Flamingo, and it’s the world’s first ‘Spiegelclub’. If you’re wondering what that means, it’s essentially a spectacle of singing, dancing, circus tricks and acrobatics, but made sexy – very sexy. A bit like if the Moulin Rouge collided with a comedy show collided with the most eccentric cocktail bar you’ve ever been to. 

Charm oozes from every corner of the low-light, velvet-clad club, as does extreme physical talent and wicked humour. One moment, there’s an acrobat swinging across the crowd suspended by a rope fixed only to her ponytail (her ponytail?!), and the next, the showman is dishing out cheeky quips and raunchy one-liners.  I’ve never sworn under my breath so much – in awe, in shock and from running out of breath laughing. Tickets for their current show Zirque La La start from about sixty bucks and are worth every cent. 

If you’re in the mood for a nightcap after the show, take a pit stop at Marilyn’s bar on your way back to the hotel. The venue’s fit-out is inspired by the glitz and glamour of 1970s Las Vegas. Their signature cocktail Rupus Du Sol was love at first sip (especially when you can print your own design on the cocktail foam!).

Bellies, hearts and booze-thresholds are at absolutely maximum capacity; it’s time to get tucked into bed before doing it all again tomorrow. 

This luxe itinerary and article were brought to you in partnership with our pals at Destination Gold Coast. To explore more and to plan your art and entertainment-filled trip, head over to Destination Gold Coast. 

frankie acknowledges and pays respects to Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh language region of the Gold Coast. We pay respects to all Elders past, present and emerging.