Move over boys, the Goldie has gone all girly. Queensland's well-known family-holiday destination has a little more to lure the gals of the world these days.
From an updated shopping centre, to one of Australia's best high tea views, the Gold Coast boasts a lot more options for a girl's weekend away than many people realise.
Here's a guide on what to do.
The new Camilla store at Pacific Fair
A New & Improved Retail Playground
Pacific Fair
Beach? What beach?
If the words Gucci, Prada and Kate Spade set your heart aflutter, then you have a new spiritual home on the glitter strip.
Even if you are more of an H&M girl, there’s a stylish new fix waiting at the new-look Pacific Fair lifestyle city at Broadbeach. $670 million buys a lot of makeover and this is no windowless, same-same shopping mall.
We’re talking outdoor resort vibe with palm trees, tropical landscaping and plans to introduce rooftop, hotel-style glamping, so you can spend the night among your favourite stores.
Stylist cabanas, VIP services, fine dining, roaming concierges, a car locator and an app are all on their way with the first wave of upscale stores opening in a dedicated precinct this month.
With 400 shops under a sports stadium-style roof, ‘name’ chefs being wooed and glamping bookings opening this summer, it’s no wonder tourism bosses are expecting 20 million visitors to spend $1 billion in the first year.
Pointy End Movies
Event Cinemas Gold Class
It’s not just the fabulously comfortable seats that take the coast’s new Event Cinemas Gold Class to another league of big-screen indulgence – though leaving the soft embrace of the colossal recliners after two-hours sure isn’t easy.
These days, doing the flicks high-end means a private space for just 56 people, a choice of hot food, a cocktail menu, waiter service and a generous helping of new technology.
The new Pacific Fair Event Cinemas is one of the first movie theatres in Australia to offer Dolby Atmos technology, giving cinema-goers a fully immersive, 3D-style sound experience. In other words, the quality of dialogue, music and sound effects is crisper and more life-like than ever before.
Even if you don’t want to splash out on Gold Class tickets, elevate your ordinary movie with a cocktail pit stop at the new foyer bar.
This is what you call very, very high tea – up 26 floors to be precise. Tuck into posh nosh in the form of mini cakes and fancy sarnies plus a glass of fizz as the Goldie’s only revolving restaurant takes you on a 360-degree tour of the beaches and beyond.
At just over an hour for a complete revolution, you’ll have plenty of time to polish off your sweet and savoury pastries while soaking up everything there is to see along the length of the coast from Southport to Coolangatta.
Attentive service and warm welcomes for ladies of all ages, swap the fizz for an impressive death-by-chocolate milkshake if some of your party is under 18.
Soak up that incredible view while indulging in gourmet treats
Nostalgia Nights
QT Gold Coast
QT’s fun retro beach vibe almost makes you wish you worked here just to be able to wear the cheeky lifesaver-inspired jumpsuits rocked by reception staff.
Concierges here are chatty boys in board shorts who give you all the important info such as what time happy hour starts in Stingray Lounge and where to find SpaQ, aka girl heaven. (Opt for a 50-50 facial-massage from SpaQ’s genius menu designed for the woman who wants it all).
Poppy yellow-splashed rooms have playful touches like emergency thongs, cockatoo lamps, 60s-inspired white louvered doors and swizzle sticks shaped like palm trees.
Unwind in style at QT Gold Coast (Image: QT Hotels)
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