Private resort

World travels have influenced the design of this Southern Cross Drive home which is set among tropical gardens

IT isn’t in Bali, but this grand three-level Surfers Paradise home with stunning teak furniture could make you feel a world away.

It is no surprise then that 35 Southern Cross Drive is home to Australia’s best-travelled man, Lloyd Donaldson.

The frequent flyer, who has racked up more than 10,000 flight hours, bought the Surfers Paradise home in 2008.

Mr Donladson said the teak furniture collection was 20 years in the making.

“My family and I lived in Indonesia for a stage and we were obsessed with the teak style,” he said. “We ended up collecting lots of bits and pieces and sent it back to the Gold Coast to our storage box at Labrador.

“Usually people buy the house and then get the furniture to go with it but we had a big collection and we knew we would eventually have to build a home around our things.”

The father-of-one said that when the family relocated to the Gold Coast they changed their minds about building.

“When we found 35 Southern Cross Drive we thought it might just work,” he said. “It had a great concrete shell and open-plan space, it just needed a few adjustments.”

The former managing director at Hayman Island said the house was extensively renovated to channel a Bali-resort style.

“It was just a regular, concrete home,” Mr Donaldson said. “There was a lot of renovating needed to transform it into what it is now.”

A pond filled with 100 fish sets a tranquil scene in the garden which was designed by landscaper Bill Bensley. “I worked a lot with Bill who designed some amazing gardens in Asian resorts,” Mr Donaldson said.

“The fish pond was his idea and he has designed it so it is all low-maintenance.”

Mr Donaldson said the home, which has a wine cellar with 1,000-bottle capacity, had been great for entertaining. “Our Sydney friends always comment on the design when they come to stay. I still think there is potential for a fourth level for rooftop entertaining. Maybe even space for a lift, too.”

The four-bedroom home is north-facing and has a Bali pavilion, swimming pool and jacuzzi surrounded by tropical gardens.

An alfresco timber deck, pontoon and boat shed at the rear of the property offer options for a waterfront lifestyle.

Bali huts, stone walls and bamboo bed frames ooze island vibes.

The travel guru who met his wife at the Gold Coast’s Sheraton Mirage, said all corners of the home included a little slice of Bali character.

“My wife Diana gets the credit for making all the interiors work,” he said. “She has got a great eye for design.” High ceilings, brushbox timber flooring and stone benchtops in the kitchen combine to create a modern sanctuary.