Expect a richly textured aesthetic at the Mondrian Gold Coast on the beachfront in Burleigh Heads. The first Mondrian hotel to open in Australia is the new crown jewel in the sparkling metropolis of the Gold Coast. Whether you’re a local in search of a staycation or you’re an out-of-towner looking for sun and surf, this beach-chic hotel has put the seaside village of Burleigh Heads on the map. Burleigh is brimming with boutiques, bars and eateries, and the hotel is a refreshing addition to the area. The brand-new property is sleek and contemporary with 132 studios, 76 suites, private beach houses and an exclusive sprawling Sky House. 3 First Avenue, Burleigh Heads, mondrianhotels.com

Beechmont Estate sleeps 48 guests in five-star luxury on a private 30-hectare property that neighbours Lamington National Park, just 45 minutes from the Gold Coast. The range of accommodation in the gentle rolling hills of the hinterland includes charming cabins, luxurious pavilions and a four-bedroom residence – making Beechmont Estate perfect for a destination wedding. Add to your itinerary a few cocktail-making master classes, lunch at The Paddock, daily wine and cheese tastings, relaxing spa treatments and indulgent picnic hampers and you will want to flop and drop for days. 422 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont, beechmontestate.com.au/

The Langham Gold Coast was the first luxe beachfront hotel to appear on this famed stretch in more than 30 years when it opened in 2022. The Langham and Jewel Residences – 170 serviced apartments that form part of the hotel’s 339-room inventory – occupy the central tower in a trio of shimmering structures that rise from the shoreline between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. A window seat in the hotel’s Palm Court offers a novel vista for The Langham brand, as it dips its shellac toes into the ocean. Flanked by palm trees, the pool reaches towards the Pacific with quite possibly the region’s poshest swim-up bar. 38 Old Burleigh Rd, Surfers Paradise, langhamhotels.com

Catch the Translink Route 777 bus from Gold Coast Airport to the doorstep of the voco Gold Coast by IHG for just $1. From here, you can fill your time wining and dining at nearby Cavill Avenue, which is in the heart of the action. The walls of the lobby in voco are buttered yellow and you’re likely to find guests of the hotel lounging around this space. On a sunny day, you’ll also find families and couples soaking in the vitamin D in one of the property’s two pools. The hotel often hosts live music to encourage guests to stay and play. Wi-Fi is complementary and there are four onsite dining venues. Walk to the beach in three minutes. 31 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise, ihg.com

The InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort is tailored for every type of traveller. It’s close to award-winning golf courses, a world- class marina and the action-packed theme parks. Despite being in the thick of it, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort is home to families of grazing kangaroos, an expansive lagoon pool, lush garden landscapes, and 251 refurbished guestrooms and suites. The resort includes four places to wine and dine: The Fireplace, Cove Café, the Lagoon Beach Club and Verandah Restaurant & Bar. Keep that pinky finger poised, as there’s also the option of high tea. Sanctuary Cove, Manor Cir, Hope Island, ihg.com

JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa flicked the design switch to reflect the jewelled hues of the Gold Coast hinterland when it unveiled its rebrand in December 2020. Unwind in one of the elegantly appointed rooms at the resort, which also has a luxe spa onsite. Indulge in the Spa by JW’s curated wellness experience or snorkel in the resort’s saltwater lagoon, which is teeming with tropical fish. Be swept up by the tropical grandeur of its enormous lobby, leading to the emerald-tiled Chapter & Verse bar and the acclaimed Citrique restaurant. 158 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise, marriott.com

In addition to its postcard-perfect location, the QT you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Surfers Paradise, QT Hotels and Resorts has just launched qtQT, an urban rooftop oasis with six luxury cabins that transports guests into a contemporary coastal paradise without having to leave the strip. Creating an exclusive destination in the hotel itself, the six cabins sit aside the terrace and the landing, with access limited to guests of the qtQT experience. Each cabin features a private balcony, set within a tropical green garden which captures a golden sunset that will hypnotise you with every ray. 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise, qthotels.com

There’s a strip of beach out front of Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise that has your name on it. Whether you’re carving a seaside stay or glitzy getaway, this is one of the Gold Coast’s favourite hotels for its location sandwiched between the party-hearty entertainment strip in Surfers Paradise and buzzy Broadbeach dining scene. The Gold Coast is famed for offering almost every travel experience under the sun. Wake up to the sounds of the surf in one of the many Oceanview rooms or have brekkie on your own private balcony overlooking the beach. Stay glued to your sun lounger to enjoy the luxury of being served beside the outdoor lagoon pool. 2807 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise, Ihg.com

The menu at Palette is as carefully curated by executive chef Dayan Hartill-Law as the exhibitions at Home of the Arts (HOTA). Enjoy a multisensory experience over lunch at Palette, which tells the story of Queensland’s bounty. The menu at the light-filled restaurant puts the state’s artisan producers, makers and growers in the limelight: think MBS 9+ wagyu beef farmed at Chinchilla Station or the heritage pumpkin farmed at Falls Farm. Plan a return visit to the Perrier-Jouët Champagne Garden for a Writers Revealed High Tea and keep an eye on the HOTA calendar for any planned Palette collabs with luminaries such as Marco Pierre White and Adriano Zumbo. 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, paletterestaurant.com.au

You’re delulu if you think you can rock up to LaLuna without a booking. Arrive in your superyacht to Marina Mirage so you can see another side to the Gold Coast, which has more canals than Amsterdam and Venice. LaLuna is a sensation, with windows that frame waterfront sunsets and tables that survey the marina’s moorings (which are worth megabucks). The menu at LaLuna Restaurant, Main Beach, is grounded in greatest hits, ranging from a generously filled rendition of the now-ubiquitous bug roll to a handful of high-end beef cuts crossing the chargrill. The cocktails are classy and balanced, thanks to mixologists who have worked around the world and know their stuff. Shop 26/74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach, lalunadining.com.au

The absolute best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast lean into the laid-back vibes of this sprawling beachside suburb. There are dozens of Italian eateries to choose from on the Gold Coast, but Bar Monte is one that shines brightest. Our favourite at the new neighbourhood Italian in Miami is the pasta dish of paccheri wagyu ragu with fried sage. We could probably just tell you that the neighbourhood Italian is led by the team behind Light Years and Pixie Byron Bay and leave it at that. But we feel compelled to share a hot tip: the mortadella bun is – seriously – one of the best we’ve ever tried. No. 3 Mountain View Avenue, Miami, barmonte.com.au/

The Gold Coast is well acquainted with the brilliance of a beach club. But expect Mondrian Gold Coast to take that notion up a notch with the launch of Haven, the new restaurant and beach club flipping coastal dining on its head in Burleigh. Executive chef Aaron Teece (ex-Est. Felix, Manly Pavilion) is at the helm signing off on menus everywhere from the hotel’s dining room to its pool club and private cabanas. Australia’s first Mondrian hotel is glitzy in a way that the Gold Coast hasn’t seen before and we’re definitely not mad about it. The Mondrian is a must for those who want to flop and drop with locally sourced seafood and hinterland produce informing the menus. Ask the concierge to write you a point-by-point guide to the all-day dining and cocktails. 3 First Avenue, Burleigh Heads, mondrianhotels.com

The head chef at Norté, James Brady, is also group executive chef for Rick Shores. And he played a key role in developing the menu at Norté alongside head chef Rudy Malenverni after a trip to Latin America. This culinary collaboration has led to flavours that spotlight native Australian ingredients as well as staples from a South American pantry. The dimly lit dining room is divided into luxed-up pockets that are softened by touches of timber and greenery. Bag a banquette in one of the elevated nooks that overlooks the busy kitchen and let the menu transport you to far-flung places like Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Peru. Ask for extra tortillas to wrap around the slow-cooked short-rib al pastor with aji Amarillo. And do finish with a pisco sour upstairs at rooftop bar, Sueño. 2217 Gold Coast Highway, Gold Coast, norte.restaurant

The Beach Hotel Broadbeach is home to Cora, which is emblematic of the Gold Coast’s new wining and dining scene. The live music is enough to draw you in for a meal on the hotel’s ground floor, but the food and drinks ensure a return visit. The modern Mediterranean cooking complements the dining room’s sleek and chic look. We recommend ordering the wild king prawns with garlic butter and pickled seaweed followed by the snapper with asparagus and black garlic with pops of trout caviar. It’s Mediterranean but make it Gold Coast. 50 Surf Pde, Broadbeach, moretonhospitality.com.au

Tommy’s Italian is tethered to Currumbin’s Pacific Parade, which is akin to the Queensland riviera. It is all red-and-white-striped chairs and striped umbrellas and an oh-so-cool beachside ambience. Check the swell forecast and arrive at Tommy’s when the surf’s flat so you can froth on a sunset-hued pomelo negroni instead. Whether you’re twirling spaghetti marinara or tucking into figs e parma pizza, the experience of sitting here staring at the sea is sizzling hot. Slather yourself in Bondi Sands foam so you fit in with the tanned revellers enjoying ocean views at this vibey venue lined with pandanus trees. 818 Pacific Pde, Currumbin, tommysitalian.com.au