Dial up the romance with this sustainable Gold Coast getaway

The Gold Coast may boast a reputation for its skyscrapers, but the natural wonders of this region are just as plentiful. Before you make way into the neighbouring Gold Coast Hinterland for a hike through its ancient rainforests, stop by Burleigh Beach. After a stroll around the headland make way to Jellurgal, the Gold Coast’s only dedicated aboriginal cultural centre. Join the guides on a devoted tour of Burleigh and its surrounds, and an immersive introduction to its original inhabitants and their culture.

Equally intriguing, especially for those with kids in tow, is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary just down the road. This Gold Coast institution (a proud not-for-profit) has been tempting families to its 27 hectares of protected rainforest and its resident fauna for more than 70 years. 

You can also get better acquainted with the marine life of the surrounding district with Australian Kayaking Adventures who will help you cruise through the Gold Coast waterways, greeting dolphins and the like along the way.

Not really one for working up a sweat? You can still take part in a sustainable Gold Coast holiday. Pay a visit to Greenhouse Bathhouse, a modern boutique bathhouse focused on rejuvenating body and soul with organic, eco-friendly products.

Sustainable cafes and restaurants in the Gold Coast

A sustainable Gold Coast getaway is obviously just as eco-focused when it comes to food as it is activities. And thankfully South-East Queensland can lay claim to plenty of sustainably minded venues whether you are craving breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Cafes, especially of the eco-friendly kind, are in abundance in the Goldie. Pasture & Co is fast-becoming one of the district’s favourites, a vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and vegetarian-favouring haunt tucked into an eco community in the thick of the Currumbin Valley. Though closer to the beach itself you’ll find equally green options, including BSKT in Mermaid Beach, a health-focused eatery that caters to dietaries of all shapes and sizes.

If you’re happy to forgo meat all together you’ll find a growing population of veg-focused venues worth paying a visit to. Like Cardamom Pod, the all-day breakfast space in the stylish Gasworks precinct, or Greenhouse Canteen further south in Miami, a vegan restaurant which famously embraces the slogan ‘meat-free and killing it’. Of course you’re not limited to casual dining when it comes to conscious eating - among the Gold Coast’s fine diners is both The Tropic right on the waterfront, as well as Restaurant Labart, a celebrated establishment perfect for date night which embraced local suppliers and ingredients to craft its seasonally focused, ever-rotating menu.

Sustainable and eco accommodation in the Gold Coast

You’ll find plenty to choose from when it comes to sustainable travel on the Gold Coast, particularly if you’re craving something romantic. Toast to a special occasion with a night spent in the midst of the luscious Gold Coast hinterland at Nightfall Camp. The exclusive offering will see you join another three couples (at maximum) for a night spent in your own luxury safari tent in the heart of Lamington National Park. The eco-focused safari tent is also on the cards at Binna Burra Lodge, which offers the rainforest-based place to stay (albeit a far more casual one) among its smorgasbord of sleeping options.  And not forgetting fellow rainforest resident O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. This famously action-packed destination is equally unforgettable, and comes with the added bonus of an adjoining winery dubbed Canungra Valley Vineyards.

But if serenity is what you’re after for you and your beloved, your best bet may well be Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. Considered one of the best self-care spaces in the state (if not the country), the award-winning space is devoted to helping guests realign, recharge and restore from an eco-focused building based in the stunning Tallebudgera Valley.