The best luxury hotels on the Gold Coast

Be warned minimalists, if restrained, uncluttered, paired-back aesthetics are what you seek in a getaway destination, the rococo-on-steroids, aggressively-opulent surrounds of the Palazzo Versace will not be for you. However, if 24-carate luxury and celebrity chic of the gaudiest variety is more your thing, you’ll find it in spades at this gilded resort brought to you by a legendary fashion house.  

The three crystalline towers of the Langham Gold Coast make for one of the most striking sights of the Surfers Paradise skyline, but it’s not just the exterior that brings diamonds to mind. This modern, five-star resort, complete with a health club and day spa, two swimming pools, six hospitality venues, event spaces and panoramic ocean views, delivers an equally high-carate experience once you cross the threshold.

Summoning the spirit of the Gold Coast’s golden era of the ‘60s and ‘70s, when this stretch of Queensland was a playground for the great and good of Australia, the retro, disco-fabulous style of the hotel's lobby pairs these winks to past with playful yet modern finishes. Major renovations in late 2019 have refreshed all of the hotel’s 293 rooms and suites, picking up flashes of the kaleidoscopic colours and yesteryear chic seen in the lobby, set against a crisp, white, beach-shack style complete with ‘Queensland beach house’ beds. 

With its burnished gilt ceilings, rose gold columns and thick-pile azure carpets lapping like waves against a parquet marble shore, the lobby of the Dorsett is a masterclass in Gold Coast glitz. And while this small but perfectly formed hotel may not be quite as resort-scaled as some of its nearby neighbours, its luxe finishes, boutique charm and thoughtfully curated facilities can certainly hold their own against any of Surfers Paradise’s bigger accommodations.