Gold on the coast
Away from the frenetic glitter of parts of the Gold Coast lie natural wonders, quiet spas, cool accommodation and great food
Day trips to the Gold Coast, namely Tallebudgera Creek and nearby Burleigh Heads, were some of my fondest memories as a child but for those willing to travel just that little bit further south, the quaint beachside suburb of Bilinga is where the “Glitter Strip” really sparkles.
I spent a jam-packed, mid-week break at newly opened The Villas by Bilinga Beach Abodes, a renovated 1960s home just steps from the Gold Coast Airport, offering the perfect stay-cay or interstate holiday.
Both three-bedroom villas feature a private plunge pool – the perfect balance of indoor and outdoor living with beach umbrellas, chairs and towels for those wanting to head around the bend to world-famous surf beaches including Kirra, Greenmount and Snapper Rocks.
After checking into the spacious ground-floor villa, I spent the afternoon at Native State – Gold Coast’s premier luxurious bathhouse and gym studio offering a holistic approach to health, wellness, and performance.
Native State allows you to embrace the transformative power of hydrothermal therapies in a state-of-the-art facility complete with a steam room, infra-red sauna, traditional sauna, meditation room, cold and hot baths. While I struggled to mentally prepare for a nine-degree bath, I thoroughly enjoyed the hot bath – my muscles immediately melting into the magnesium-rich waters while the steam room offers a mesmerising concoction of orange, peppermint, and lavender.
But to get the most out of your bathhouse experience I recommend moving between the hot and cold therapies before ending your session in
eggs in a spicy sauce, served with housemade roast garlic labneh, spiced butter and herbs on sourdough.
Picturesque Bilinga Beach is just 150m from The Villas with sandy shorelines, crystal clear water and breathtaking views providing the ideal setting for a day of sunbaking, swimming or simply enjoying a stroll along the coast.
But I decided to jump in the car and travel 20 minutes to the Currumbin Valley – to experience a taste of the Gold Coast Hinterland where the popular Cougal Cascades are hidden behind a breathtaking wall of ferns and canopy of palms.
The Cascades are the perfect place to cool off or enjoy a picnic amid the soothing chorus of wildlife, but I continued along the 1.6km return walking track to the restored remains of a bush sawmill, dating back to the 1940s.
I then cooled off at the Currumbin Rock Pools – a local favourite swimming hole – before enjoying lunch in the quaint Currumbin Eco Village’s Pasture & Co – a family friendly cafe surrounded by greenery and cheeky wildlife.
I enjoyed the zucchini and potato rosti but if you’re a sweet tooth I’m told the lemon meringue pie is another favourite among diners albeit one fifth lemon under an avalanche of meringue (delish!).
If you’re chasing a slightly more elevated dining experience – you can’t go past the fresh, locally sourced dishes at Siblings Kirra including the mouthwatering Byron Bay burrata and prawn and bug meat risotto – a local favourite featuring arguably the best views of Bilinga Beach and the Gold Coast city skyline.
Also across from Kirra Beach is the equally popular Bread and Butter – where