The Yallungah dining room at The Byng Street Boutique Hotel
“I was travelling in New Zealand when I met my husband, who grew up in the Cook Islands; his family moved over from NZ when he was 11. We came here to get married in 1998 but didn’t move from my home in the United Kingdom until 2003 – almost 18 years ago now.
There’s a lovely pace of life here. People still work – sadly we’re not sitting on the beach drinking piña coladas all day, which I kind of thought might happen! It’s a small community and I can drive seven kilometres to town and wave at 20 people along the way.
We live in Matavera, which if you look at the island on a map is at 3 o’clock. Here on the east coast we have a friendly rivalry with people who live on the west side because they get the sunset but we get the sunrise and the moonrise, which is spectacular. You often see locals go down to the water to watch it. The lagoon can be still like glass and the light makes a shimmering pathway across the water. Once, after visiting a friend on the south side of the island, the sun was setting as we left. Then as we were driving towards home, the moon was rising ahead of us. We just had to pull over to watch this massive moon come up.
I’ve lived in London, Melbourne and Hong Kong and when I first came here, I didn’t want to go back. When we eventually moved from London I was hoping to start a family away from the craziness of the city. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to stay and we’re bringing up our kids here. Our daughter’s middle name means ‘moon’ in Cook Island Maori – she was named for the full moon.”
The critics
Gold Coast —— What those in the know are eating, drinking and seeing.
01.
Jon Debeere Co-owner, Rosella’s (rosellasbar.com.au)
“Most weeks you can find me at Rick Shores’ bar (rickshores.com.au) overlooking the beach and sipping on something recommended by the amazing team there. Whether it’s a ‘skinsy’ Italian, a zesty chablis or a crunchy beaujolais, the list has something for everyone and suits the Gold Coast climate perfectly – with food to match. Special mentions go to the Giotto Bini Serragghia Bianco Zibibbo and Australia’s own Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon… and did I mention the view isn’t that bad either?”
02.
Terri Lew
Director, 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace (19karen.com.au)
“I’ve lived on the Gold Coast for 42 years but it’s only been over the past three years that I’ve noticed changes in our city’s approach to the arts – specifically street art. I felt like we had finally arrived when international artist MOMO was invited to wrap the HOTA (Home of the Arts) building in his signature style, putting the Gold Coast on the world stage as a city of arts and culture.”
03.
James Brady Head chef, Rick Shores (rickshores.com.au)
“My favourite restaurant has to be Anekawa in Mudgeeraba (anekawa.com.au). It’s a tiny Japanese restaurant run by chef-owner Koki Anekawa and I love the quiet intimacy of the small dining room as well as seeing Koki cut sashimi or shuck oysters at the bar. The hero dish for me is his agedashi heirloom cherry tomatoes; they pop with fresh umami. He coats the tomatoes in potato starch before lightly frying them until a crisp layer forms then serves them in warm dashi topped with thin slices of nori. So simple but so delicious and fun.”