Be a weekender

As a Brit abroad and a Sydney resident, I’m often met with perplexed gasps when I mention that I’ve never visited the backpacker Mecca of the Gold Coast. If I’m completely honest, I thought it was all Sambuca shots, sunburn and teenage love affairs, and not at all about chic living, gourmet dining and general sophisticated fabulousness.

So when Hilton hotels launched the “Be A Weekender” campaign, encouraging us worn out workers to get off the sofa and get out of town to make the most of our weekends, I figured I’d give it a go. A couple of hours later I had taken a seat for lunch in sunny Queensland.

Now, I can’t say I’ve ever ordered a fish head for lunch, not because I’m squeamish but because I didn’t know it was a ‘thing’. Turns out it is. In the beachside suburb of Burleigh Heads sits The Fish House; a bright and breezy seafood lovers dream. Converted from an old residential house just over a year ago, the restaurant still features the original fireplace in the open plan room.

We certainly made a dent in the menu with oysters, smoky chargrilled calamari and retro prawn cocktails. The menu also stars Patagonian toothfish, a fish that you imagine to be a creature of nightmares but with a texture and light flavour straight out of dreams. And yes, king fish head is on the menu, and yes, it was very tasty. With an abundance of rich, meaty white flesh, it was the gift that kept on giving.

If London has the Gherkin and the Shard, and Dubai has the Burj Khalifa, then, Surfers Paradise has the Hilton. With the hotel towering like a god over the mere mortal hotels of Surfers Paradise, it muscles in like a protective older brother to the residences tower, which sits across from it with views of the beach.

After dropping off the rental with the valet for $30 a night, I was surprised when walking through the Hilton foyer at just how much like Melbourne it felt. The slate coloured walls, the chrome furniture, the marble table tops – all very raw and edgy, all very Melbourne. And with the café serving up fresh coffee and snacks, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had just settled in down a laneway for a boost and a bite.

Rooms in the residential tower are ridiculously generous. Set opposite the main hotel tower, the residences offer a complete home away from home experience. They sleep four, are sleek, modern, and spacious, and are fully equipped with all you could need to live comfortably during your break. With a huge balcony reaching round the width of my room, and Instagram worthy views of the beach, it was tempting to stay put. But alas, a massage awaited…

At the eforea Spa, I felt like I was pledging to a secret society. Following my wise leader through it’s maze of corridors, dressed in my uniform of a fluffy white robe and slippers, I was fully sworn in. My meditation massage began with a foot bath and wood burning to cleanse the room. After selecting an aromatherapy oil, the massage began, and after an hour of deep flowing strokes, oohs and ahhs, I left a new, light and limber woman.

Pre-dinner drinks were had at the hotel’s Fix Cocktail Bar. On entering the dimly lit bar you’d be forgiven for thinking you had just walked into the swinging sixties; huge round windows, dark leather sofas, chainlink hanging from the ceiling and a smooth marble bar top - groovy baby. The mood is chilled and the cocktail list extensive. After much deliberation over the menu designed by mixologists Grant Collins, Jack Connor and Mathieu Chaudet, I settled on the $17 Elderflower & Kaffir Lime Breeze. It was fresh, zingy and totally divine. I had two.

If you have a hefty appetite and a love for fine food, then the Salt Grill by Luke Mangan is the place for you. Opened by the renowned celebrity chef and serving up divine modern Australian cuisine, the restaurant features a bustling open kitchen and impressive wine list. I chose the five course degustation with matching wines, and for just $160 a head, was happy I did.

With dishes including Hiramasa kingfish with ginger and feta, scallop dumpling with crab and miso broth and fillet of beef, it would be unjust to pick just a single favourite. We tried the Japanese wine Gris de Koshu from the Yamanashi Prefecture, and with grapes similar to those in the Semillon region, it was fresh and soft and went down a treat.

If you’re a fan of the night cap, then Black Coffee Lyrics is where it’s at. Set back off of Orchid Avenue, this small bar screams cool, with exposed brick, mismatched velvety arm chairs and stacks of vintage books. I had a rosemary margarita which was earthy, fresh and zingy.

After a night on the town, the Hilton’s buffet breakfast was my saving grace. Held in the Salt Grill, the buffet offers a huge range of delights, including American style pancakes with streaky bacon and eggs, cereal, and continental. There’s even an omelette station and DIY juice bar.

However, the Gold Coast isn’t all about fine food and fast cars. A short drive from the Hilton is The Spit at Southport and waiting for us on the 10.7 metre Eau De Vive vessel was Captain Darryl Franklin of Getaway Sailing. The Gold Coast sits right in the middle of the migration route of humpback whales, with the waters aptly nicknamed Humpback Highway. At $150 per person for a seven hour trip, you can cruise the seas off of the coast, taking in the fresh salty air and spectacular views of the concrete jungle in the distance.

With a maximum of six people per trip, the experience is intimate and will have you feeling like a bit of an A-lister – quaffing at overcrowded tourist boats is optional. And yes, we saw whales, and plenty of them! If giants of the deep are not your cup of tea, then Captain Darrell also offers sail training, restaurant runs to South Stradbroke Island, and even the chance for you to pop the question with a ‘will you marry me’ spinnaker.

Airport bound but with a grumbling stomach, we stopped for lunch at Broadbeach’s Social Eating House & Bar. Not ones to do things by halves, we ordered the ten hour slow roasted lamb shoulder and slaw; the green beans with shaved almonds, the charcuterie board, featuring a mighty meaty mix of proscuitto, salumi, Jamón Ibérico de Cebo and tender chargrilled octopus.

With my top button set to detonate, I boarded the plane back to Sydney with a full stomach and a new found soft spot for the good ol’ GC. The Hilton’s “Be a Weekender” offers you the chance to get out of town, spend a couple of nights in luxury, pamper, purge and get some fresh air in your lungs. Remember, the sofa will still be there when you get home.