REJUVENATION AND TRANSFORMATION

Day Spas

Disconnect from the stresses of life and reconnect with what matters most on the beautiful Gold Coast. Take time to unwind on a sensory journey that rejuvenates the soul and spirit.

Feel your tired, tense muscles softening and your busy mind slowing as you cocoon yourself in pampering luxury at one of the Gold Coast’s indulgent day spas. Here’s a few examples to whet your appetite.

Lush and plush, The Bathhouse at Ground is a heavenly haven of tranquillity in the peaceful Currumbin Valley. Set beneath the sprawling branches of a huge old fig tree, Ground invites you to indulge your senses with a treatment menu that will leave you feeling like you’re floating on clouds. Soak and sweat your stresses away with a range of feel-good facilities, including traditional hot tubs and hydrotherapy spas, wood-fired hot stone sauna and a refreshing mineral-enriched plunge pool.

Take well-deserved time out to nurture your body, soul and spirit at Soak Bathhouse, Mermaid Beach. This calm sanctuary of wellness offers a stunning space to disconnect from stress and reconnect with self, as you bliss-out in open-air hot spas, communal mineral baths, steam rooms and saunas. Chill out in the energising plunge pool, then soak in some warming rays on the sundeck. You can even opt to indulge in a tipple or two with your R&R, with a Soak and Sip pampering package.

Return to your natural state of wellness at Greenhouse the Bathhouse, one of the most stunningly serene spots on the Gold Coast. This boutique bathhouse is found behind Burleigh Heads, and offers communal soak sessions incorporating hydrotherapy spas, wet steam rooms, red cedar sauna, and a (very invigorating) magnesium plunge pool. Further enhance your experience with a range of add-on options, such as a signature massage or lunch and bubbles served on the sundeck. Ah, bliss!

Health Retreats and Fitness Studios

For a truly transformational wellness experience, be sure to book in at one of the Gold Coast’s exclusive and secluded health and lifestyle retreats.

Cocoon yourself in abundance and tranquillity at the multi award-winning Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. Nestled in a peaceful haven of the Tallebudgera Valley, this eco-certified luxury escape offers a diverse range of fully inclusive and innovative retreat packages for two to seven days. Find rest and relaxation in a variety of accommodation offerings ranging from premium villas to mindful Mediterranean suites. With a pristine setting, delicious organic cuisine and a decadent Spa Sanctuary to soothe your soul, it’s little wonder this Australian-owned piece of paradise was awarded the World’s Best Eco Spa in 2022.

Or escape to Eden Health Retreat, Australia’s longest running luxury health retreat. Set amidst 400 acres of lush sub-tropical rainforest in the peaceful Currumbin Valley, guests can enjoy the time and space required to relax, recharge and reset. An expert team of health professional delivers a personalised program of activities and treatments to nourish and nurture the body and rejuvenate the mind. With luxurious lodgings and world-class wellness therapies, Eden Health Retreat invites you to take time out for yourself – to pause, recharge and reconnect with nature.

If it’s exercise that empowers you, sign up for some mindful movement at one of the Gold Coast’s state-of-the-art holistic fitness studios. From strength and Pilates to meditation and yoga, you’ll emerge feeling calmer, clearer and stronger for your efforts. Or for a workout on the water, try a fun-filled session of stand up paddle board yoga with Pure Aloha. You’re sure to find your balance - or get wet and have fun in the process!

Relax, Naturally

For decades, nature has provided a much-needed antidote to the mayhem of modern living. Immerse your senses in the free spirit of the ocean or the magic of ancient forests. Be refreshed and renewed by the power of plunging waterfalls, or simply sit and be present in the soothing arms of Mother Nature.

Start the day beneath a sky painted in pastels, and listen to the sleepy sounds of the world gently waking, as the sun rises gloriously over the ocean at Snapper Rocks or The Spit. Or bask in the last golden rays of the day as you reflect on another perfect day in paradise as the sun sets over Burleigh Hill.

Pockets of parkland provide a peaceful retreat where you can enjoy a picnic in the sunshine, surround yourself in the sounds of nature, or kick a ball with the kids. Some of the top Gold Coast park picks include Broadwater Parklands, Coombabah Parklands and the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens at Benowa.

To be reinvigorated by the waves and water, head to Rainbow Bay at the southernmost tip of the Coast to inhale the sweet, salty spray and energy of the ocean. Or take some time out at Tallebudgera Creek. This ultimate chill-out spot is ideal for a cruisy calm-water swim, soaking in some sun, or casting a line from a boat as it gently bobs on the water’s clear surface.

Further west, the majestic green hues of the hinterland whisper a promise of serene sanctuary. Enter a mythical-like realm of natural splendour, where cool mountain breezes caress your face and the harmony of this ancient ecosystem ushers a quiet stillness and deep sense of connection. Be present in a place where time seems to stand still, and life’s little worries are dwarfed by prehistoric towering trees.

Waterfalls and Swimming Holes

Follow the flow of refreshing creeks to secret rockpools and majestic waterfalls, and allow the healing power of water to refresh your soul!

Follow a magical, fairytale-like road through the heart of the Currumbin Valley to discover a hidden gem – the Currumbin Rock Pools. Laze under the trees, splash about in the creek’s mini rapids and breathe in the fresh, rainforest air in this subtropical patch of paradise.

Twenty kilometres inland from Currumbin Beach lies the watery wonderland of Cougal Cascades. A sealed, 1.6-kilometre walking track winds through the subtropical rainforest past towering trees, a friendly local creature or two and of course, a spectacular freshwater swimming hole. You'll need to boulder hop down the creek bed to reach the water and you can either perch on top of the flowing stream or jump into the turquoise waters below.

At Tamborine Mountain, take an enchanting walk through wet eucalypt forests and cool lush rainforests to the majestic Curtis Falls. Here a torrent of water (varying seasonably from a raging cascade to a gentle curtain) tumbles over a huge basalt column to a rockpool below. Access to the pool and surrounding area is prohibited, as it provides an important habitat for glow worms, and a legacy of the area’s volcanic history.

The sound of flowing water provides a soothing soundtrack that plays almost continually throughout Lamington and Springbrook National Parks. Purling Brook Falls on the Springbrook Plateau is one of the region’s most dramatic waterfalls, plunging 300 feet over a sheer cliff into the gorge below. Take a short and easy walk to a lookout with views to the falls, or for those feeling fit, take the more intrepid four-kilometre circuit down into the gorge, to stand at the foot of the falls and feel the cool, refreshing spray.

Indigenous History of the Gold Coast

Australia is home to the oldest continuing living culture on earth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people inhabited this ancient land long before European colonisation, and gaining insights into their history helps us form deeper, richer, and more respectful connections with people and place.

The Yugambeh language people are the traditional custodians of a large section of land stretching from south-east Queensland to north-east New South Wales, encompassing the areas now known as Logan, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Tweed City. This people group consisted of numerous clans who all spoke one or more dialects of the Yugambeh language. According to traditional culture, the Creator Spirit Jabreen brought form and life to this land, placing plants, waterholes and people in this country. Ancestors of the Yugambeh people have lived in the Gold Coast region for thousands of years, fishing in the creeks and estuaries, gathering and meeting for cultural ceremonies and living off the abundance of the land.

Sadly, early European settlement displaced many Aboriginal people from their traditional country, with devastating effects. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, the Yugambeh people suffered many hardships at the hands of government officials, and had to adapt to many changes to survive on their traditional lands. Over time, Aboriginal people played a significant role in the development of the rural, fishing,tourism and other industries of what is now known as the Gold Coast.

You can delve deeper into the Indigenous history of the area with a visit to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Burleigh Heads. This cultural hub shares more of the history, art and culture of the traditional custodians of the land, and is owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community. To hear more please listen to the ‘Burleigh Heads National Park’ experience.

Accessibility

Cliffs and waterfalls are spectacular but potentially dangerous features of most Gold Coast National Parks. Creeks can become waterfalls abruptly, especially after rain, and rocks can be slippery even when they appear dry. Please exercise caution near natural waterholes – keep to the walking tracks and supervise children closely.

The Curtis Falls track is a 1.1-kilometre, Grade 3 hike taking approximately 30 minutes to complete without stops.

The day-use area at Springbrook Plateau (near Purling Brook Falls) features accessible parking bays and accessible picnic tables, a sheltered pavilion, barbecues and an accessible toilet, connected by a network of wheelchair-accessible paths. There is a short walk to the lookout which is gently sloping with some small steps. It is suitable for slow walkers but not suitable for wheelchair users.

The walking track to the base of Purling Brook Falls is a fairly arduous 4-kilometre hike, taking approximately 2 hours. It involves some steep ascents and 265 steps along the way, so a good level of fitness is required. This track is less gruelling if you take the path left and travel the circuit in a clockwise direction.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife have developed a MyRanger mobile app for Springbrook National Park. Download it for free before you head to the park to gain handy information about the park and its wildlife, interactive maps and virtual guided tours. The app includes some very cool video, audio and augmented reality features, as well as important information about facilities and accessibility.

Certified guide, hearing and assistance dogs are permitted in Queensland’s national parks and forests, including camping areas. Dogs must wear an identifying coat or harness, and the approved badge or tag.