The best hotels and places to stay on the Gold Coast

By Paul Chai

Whether you are into miles of marble and glass chandeliers or cutting-edge design with a cheeky twist, you will find plenty to enjoy in the hotels of Queensland’s Gold Coast. The twinkling tower blocks have become as much a feature of this area as the sand and surf, and there is a hotel to suit all needs whether that be a romantic weekend, a girls' getaway or a holiday with the kids.

Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences

Where: 6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Soaring above the white sands of Australia’s most iconic beach, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences is located in the heart of the Gold Coast. The hotel offers a range of stylish accommodation, a luxury spa, four pools, a private theatre and BBQ facilities. Discover the sleek lobby cocktail bar, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, and soak up the Queensland sun with a cocktail in hand at The Deck. 

Peppers Broadbeach

Where: 21 Elizabeth Avenue, Broadbeach

Just steps from the beach, the sculpted towers of Peppers Broadbeach soar above the Gold Coast city skyline and offer panoramic views to the Pacific Ocean and Gold Coast Hinterland. The resort facilities are seemingly endless, with a heated outdoor pool perfect for relaxing, a lap pool, gym and sauna to keep fit, as well as a private cinema, zen garden and tai chi lawn to help you unwind after a big day exploring the excitement on your doorstep.

Q1 Resort and Spa

Where: 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Bunk down in the tallest building on the Gold Coast at Q1 Resort and Spa. Just a five-minute walk to Cavill Mall in the heart of Surfers Paradise, Q1 has 78 floors with the 77th floor dedicated to the SkyPoint Observation Deck which offers visitors a 360-degree view over Surfers. A one-bedroom unit with a balcony and a large lounge-dining area will put you minutes from the Surfers strip, but if you want a meal closer to home there is Asami Teppanyaki on the ground floor while the SkyPoint Bistro & Bar has the best breakfast outlook in the area.

Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise

Where: 8 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Falling short of its rival Q1 by a single floor, the 77-floor Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise is a mix of hotel rooms and lavish apartments, most with huge sliding glass doors so you don’t miss an inch of the killer ocean views. Guests can dine at Hyde Paradiso for oceanfront views, oversized cocktails and mouthwatering Mediterranean food. 

The Star Grand

Where: 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach

Expect all the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast at the uber-luxe The Star Grand, part of the Gold Coast’s premium entertainment destination, The Star. The five-star hotel offers plush, spacious guestrooms complete with integrated technology that’s personalised to you at the touch of a button. Book a corner balcony deluxe room and enjoy breezy views across the coastline, city and hinterland from the hotel’s exclusive Broadbeach Island location, or go for one of the exquisite suites for all the bells and whistles.

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort

Where: 71 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Situated right on Main Beach in the centre of Surfers Paradise, the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort is built on six hectares (15 acres) of perfectly coiffed gardens and lagoon-sized pools. When it comes to dining, the all-day restaurant Terraces is more than its name suggests: a huge glass cube with indoor waterfalls, bright white furniture and stunning views across the pool. Turn the tropical down a notch in the sleek and sophisticated Pearls Bar which does cocktails and light snacks.

The Pink Hotel

Where: 171 Griffith Street, Coolangatta

A funky, retro escape just steps from the beach, The Pink Hotel will inject a little playfulness into your Gold Coast getaway. With an underground piano bar, rooftop cocktail bar and whisky club all on site, you could easily spend most of your holiday soaking up the vibes. While you can certainly expect to have fun here, you won't miss out on any luxuries. Each room has a plush king sized bed, stocked mini bar and high end toiletries alongside its custom art, mid century furniture and record players.

JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

Where: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

This high-rise stay in central Surfers Paradise offers luxury options for families with 304 rooms set amid waterfalls, lagoons and beaches. Rooms at the Marriott offer floor-to-ceiling windows so you can soak in the beach views, marble bathrooms and contemporary design. Start your day with breakfast at the Chapter & Verse Bar and Lounge situated on a palm-tree laden deck, while lunch might be a seafood buffet at Citrique restaurant.

The Darling at the Star Gold Coast

Where: 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach

The Darling at The Star Gold Coast, located in the centre of the Gold Coast, was one of the first properties to bring glitz to an area that is now famous for it. This hotel and casino complex, with a skywalk linking it to the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre, offers a huge choice of restaurants: sample the top-notch Japanese at Kiyomi or the Mediterranean flavours of Cucina Vivo. 

QT Gold Coast

Where: 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise 

Colourful and fun, with a vintage seaside holiday theme, the QT Gold Coast has loads of personality. Whether it is the cockatoo-shaped lights by the bed or the pin-up girl pictures in the lifts, QT injects whimsy and great design into its accommodation. Rooms face either the mountainous hinterland or the ocean, and the public spaces look fabulous, too. Bazaar, QT's central dining area, is decorated with mosaics while the cool spot to hang, the Stingray Lounge, channels a 1950s lounge and serves cocktails in cut glass and tiki mugs. 

Mantra

Where: 22 View Avenue, Surfers Paradise, and 22 Surf Parade, Broadbeach 

From Coolangatta to Broadbeach, the collection of Mantra properties are a great option for families taking a break on the Gold Coast. South of the main Gold Coast strip, the Coolangatta Mantras are near top local surf spots such as Snapper Rocks that are quieter than Main Beach, while up at the Surfers Paradise properties you are in the thick of the action. In the northern suburb of Broadbeach the Mantra properties allow you to stroll the Broadbeach fine dining and shopping strip.