Top 5 For Couples, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Energetic, glitzy, dynamic and something for everyone are just a few of the words and phrases that sum up Surfers Paradise, the famous Gold Coast beachside community. It’s undoubtedly an entertainment playground, home of the annual Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar race, prestigious Surf Life Saving competitions, and it came under the global spotlight again last year as host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Blessed with a golden sand beach which stretches for kilometres, a beachfront boulevard always busy with walkers, cyclists and skateboarders, and world class dining, bars and clubs, Surfers Paradise is affectionately regarded as the “good-times hub of the Gold Coast”. So what should visitors be looking to see and do while staying? Here’s our top pick especially for couples enjoying a romantic getaway.

Stay 

If you’re planning to stay in Surfers Paradise there is a plethora of accommodation choices to suit all budgets, but one to put on your list for a variety of reasons is Mantra Sun City. Enjoying an enviable location in the heart of beachside community, Mantra Sun City blends unique Aztec-inspired architecture and design with lush tropical gardens; the result is a modern resort which suits all types of travellers from couples to groups of friends. On offer at Mantra Sun City is a wide range of room types, from couples seeking a hotel experience for their Gold Coast stay, to spacious apartments for anyone who enjoys the flexibility of self-catering, or who are travelling with another couple. Just a few things we love about this resort include its convenient location close to the beach and only a short walk to all the Surfers Paradise action, the lagoon pool which is a lovely, lush oasis in which to relax and enjoy a cooling dip, and the range of apartments, many of which boast spectacular views. 

You can read our full review of Mantra Sun City here

Eat 

Surfers Paradise is blessed with an impressive lineup of dining venues from hit and run street side eateries and cafes, to silver service restaurants with a view. As locals, just a few of our favourites include El Patio de Cuba, which is tucked away inside the Chevron Renaissance complex featuring an authentic menu, occasional live salsa, and plenty of mojitos and Cuban rum. For top notch Chinese head to the Hilton Hotel and on the first floor on the Surfers Paradise Boulevard side you’ll find Sky Restaurant, specialising in traditional and modern Cantonese style cuisine including daily yum cha, with features including market fresh live seafood. For a burger to remember, try Brooklyn Depotwhich brings a small slice of New York to the back streets of Surfers, while Seascape Restaurant & Bar comes with a bit of a price tag but boasts uninterrupted views of the beach and Pacific Ocean with semi-casual and dress up options. Surfers Paradise also has a great lineup of Asian eateries, including an original “Asian alley” stretching between Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Orchid Avenue (starting at the Crazy Cat Cafe) and the more upmarket Chop Chop which stretches beneath the Hilton Hotel towards Orchid Avenue on Cavill Lane.

Drink

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to where to whet your whistle, with something to suit all tastes, and some venues offering glittering views. Melbas on the Park is an iconic venue combining a place to eat, drink and watch sport, and it’s an institution in Surfers Paradise since 1981. Steampunk Surfers Paradise sits beneath one of the Hilton Hotel towers on Cavill Lane, boasting an uber-cool Victorian era decor, $10 jugs of beer and it’s famous Espresso Martinis. On a balmy night the low-level rooftop bar at The Island has DJs, a retro-styled cocktail bar, seating in romantic nooks, and heaters for the cooler months. And for views of the beach, Northcliffe Surf Club has a huge bar and restaurant, and a small outdoor deck - but only if you get in early - while the vast White Rhino Bar & Eats on Cavill Avenue at the Circle on Cavill complex as to be seen to be believed. And new to the Surfers lineup is Hyde Paradiso, located on the Surfers Paradise beachfront beneath Peppers Soul, a spectacular new day-and-night restaurant and bar featuring some of the best ocean views you’ll come across.

See & Do

You could be forgiven for thinking that Surfers is all about eating, drinking and partying, but there is are plenty of other things to see and do in the beachside community. If you are in need of a facial or massage, you are looking to buy some cool gifts such as crystals or tarot cards, or you just want to keep up with your yoga while on holiday, stop by Chameleon New Age Salon on Surfers Paradise Boulevard. A simply stunning multi-level space devoted to wellness, you can also get a great hair cut or colour, enjoy a coffee or organic tea with healthy snacks, and enjoy psychic readings. The Surfers Paradise beachfront markets have been setting up for more than 20 years, and take place every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings, starting from 4pm on the foreshore at the end of Cavill Mall. For cultural pursuits, HOTA, or Home of the Arts, is surrounded by parkland with Surfers as a backdrop, and it the place for live performances and art. It has a new outdoor stage for live events, a cafe, cinemas and an art gallery. Something everyone should do is take a walk on the beach at sunset, and for the truly adventurous, you can learn to surf, go indoor skydiving with iFly, go jet boating, and more.

Don’t Miss

Currently the Gold Coast’s highest attraction, the SkyPoint Observation Deck is located on Level 77 of the iconic Q1 Building in Surfers Paradise, and offers a 360 degree view of the Gold Coast beaches, the hinterland and beyond. It’s pricey to ride to the top only, but if you opt for a deck and dine for $35 you get to enjoy the view (preferably at sunset) and enjoy $20 towards food and drink in the SkyPoint Bistro + Bar.