The Best Resorts to Book on Australia's Gold Coast

The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort is steps from Mirage Beach and boasts a spectacular pool area with a swim-up bar | Courtesy of Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort / Expedia

Siobhan Grogan

12 November 2021

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A dream destination for anyone looking for adventure, Australia’s Gold Coast has the year-round sunshine, golden beaches, outdoorsy focus and natural wonders to guarantee your holiday is action-packed. But whether you’re hoping to explore the wilderness or hit the region’s upmarket shops and world-class galleries, there’s a place on the Gold Coast to suit everyone – from large families to solo backpackers wanting to stick to a budget. So, if you’re looking for great accommodation deals on the Gold Coast, start with these top properties – bookable on Culture Trip.

Rhapsody Resort, for teppanyaki and sunset cocktails

Rhapsody Resort's rooftop garden and dining terrace with panoramic ocean views

Courtesy of Rhapsody Resort / Expedia

Live the Gold Coast high life at this apartment building – just 100m (330ft) from Surfers Paradise Beach and an hour’s drive from Brisbane. Offering modern studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, the property is just two tram stops to the area’s best nightlife and has Pacific Ocean views from its swimming pool and spa area. There are also teppanyaki BBQ facilities and an outdoor terrace on the 27th floor to entertain in style.

Bring the kids to Sunbird Beach Resort

The pool area at Sunbird Beach Resort just steps from the beach

Courtesy of Sunbird Beach Resort / Expedia

Travelling with children who want to make the most of the Australian sunshine? This is one of the best Gold Coast resorts for families, with an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis court and even a kid pool so they can enjoy themselves. The apartments are perfect for families, too – with private laundry facilities, fully equipped kitchens, DVD players and balconies. There’s also a BBQ grill and picnic area, a garden and beach towels provided so you can get on with enjoying your holiday together.

The Waterford on Main Beach, for jaw-dropping ocean views

Spacious deluxe apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows offering uninterrupted ocean views at the Waterford on Main Beach

Courtesy of the Waterford on Main Beach / Expedia

Ocean views are a must when booking accommodation on the Gold Coast, and these beachfront apartments have some of the best. Centrally located in Main Beach and a 15-minute walk from the heart of Surfers Paradise, the spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments all have uninterrupted ocean panoramas for endless gazing. Guests can also enjoy a full-size tennis court, entertainment cabana, riverside jetty and heated pool and spa.

Five-star luxury and a pool to-die-for at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

The large tropical gardens with pools and water features at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

Courtesy of Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort / Expedia

Holiday in style by choosing one of the swanky five-star resorts on the Gold Coast. This property is steps from Mirage Beach and set among 15 acres (6ha) of tropical gardens – but it’s hard to look beyond the resort’s spectacular pool with hand-woven lounge chairs, sky-scraping palm trees and a swim-up bar. Elsewhere, there’s the Oyster Bar and Grill and the Terraces Restaurant, a wine bar, a fitness centre and chic rooms with Google Chromecast, designer furnishings and Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience beds.

Q1 Resort and Spa, for breakfast with a view in Australia’s tallest residential resort tower

Expansive and modern high-rise apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning ocean views at the Q1 Resort and Spa

Courtesy of Q1 Resort and Spa / Expedia

It’s all about the view at this exclusive apartment building – located in one of the world’s tallest residential resort buildings, rising a staggering 322m (1,056ft) into the air. Jaw-dropping views from Brisbane to Byron Bay come as standard, while weekend breakfasts are served on the 77th-floor observation deck for a truly unforgettable treat. Apartments have between one and four bedrooms, and all include free covered parking and use of two outdoor lagoon pools plus one indoor heated lap pool, BBQ facilities, residents’ lounge and private cinema.

Modern apartments and a very unique pool at Aussie Resort

Lagoon-style pool surrounded by greenery and the buildings of the Aussie Resort

Courtesy of Aussie Resort / Expedia

You don’t have to spend a fortune to stay in this pricey Australian region. This resort – near Burleigh Heads beach – offers cheap accommodation on the Gold Coast without skimping on style. Choose from a selection of self-contained one-bedroom apartments with private balconies, laundry facilities and modern kitchens, so you can save even more money on eating out. All include access to free private parking, a hot tub, a garden and a heated pool in the shape of Australia.

Family-friendly fun on a budget at Ashmore Palms Holiday Park

The lush grounds outside the apartments with patios at Ashmore Palms Holiday Park

Courtesy of Ashmore Palms Holiday Park / Expedia

Children will be in heaven at this holiday park within easy reach of all the Gold Coast sights. However, they may never want to leave the resort itself and its two swimming lagoons with a waterfall, tropically landscaped gardens, two children’s playgrounds, a tennis court, DVD library and a rainforest walkway through aviaries housing exotic macaws and other parrots. The park’s one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments mean you’ll have plenty of space to relax in the evening, too.

QT Gold Coast, for spa treatments, Japanese food and poolside cabanas

Stylish, modern lobby areas with pops of bright colours at QT Gold Coast

Courtesy of QT Gold Coast / Expedia

Looking for truly decadent accommodation on the Gold Coast? This beachside hotel is aimed firmly at adults craving a little indulgence, with Instagrammable decor, a sleek spa and a see-and-be-seen pool lined with cabanas. Dining options are especially lavish and include Baja Californian dishes at Stingray, with over 50 in-house tequilas and weekend DJs, or the Gold Coast’s first fine-dining modern Japanese restaurant, Yamagen.

Try wood-fired dinners and marina strolls at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort

Luxe restaurant space with green and white motifs at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort

Courtesy of InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort / Expedia

Styled as a grand Queensland estate, this tranquil resort is hidden away in Sanctuary Cove with easy access to its marina, golf courses, one-acre (0.4ha) lagoon beach and beautiful gardens. There are restaurants and bars within a two-minute stroll, but the hotel’s Fireplace restaurant is also unmissable – with wood-fired cuisine offering a unique smokey flavour. Rooms are just as exquisite, finished with parquet floors, extra-deep bathtubs and plantation shutters.

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