QT Gold Coast – Hotel Review

The QT brand is known for its quirky accommodation and its sunny Gold Coast outpost is no exception. The buzzy hotel – a hop, skip and a jump from the shore of Surfers Paradise beach – and its five on-site eateries stay true to the brand’s ethos: warm hospitality and undeniable luxury that refuses to take itself too seriously. Read on for the full review.

From the minute you meet the vintage Kombi parked at the entrance, you know you’re in for a bit of fun: a lemonade stand in the lobby, oversized in-room soaking tubs and free vintage-style bikes to hire for a cruise around the streets complete the free-wheeling feel. If you like hotels that brim with character, this one’s for you.

Where is QT Gold Coast?

Just one block back from the beach and within walking distance to the entertainment hub that is Surfers Paradise, QT Gold Coast is 90 minutes by car from Brisbane and just under an hour north from Gold Coast International Airport.

What’s near QT Gold Coast?

The hotel’s location makes it easy to soak up the good vibes, given it’s within walking distance from some of the city’s finest jewels (HOTA, Home of the Arts, is a pleasant stroll over the HOTA Green Bridge and buzzy Cavill Avenue is just 10 minutes away on foot). Guests who want to explore further afield can take advantage of the Gold Coast Light Rail, which runs north to Helensvale or south to Broadbeach and the suburbs. The service makes all the family fun stuff easy, too, linking passengers to connecting trains and buses en route to the many theme parks the area is famous for.

Room types

Pops of colour and chic Eames-style design pieces define the retro-esque decor, while the addition of rainfall showers, Dyson hair styling tools and silky black bathrobes add some glamour. There are five room options to choose from but the King Suite, delivering sparkling ocean views from both the bedroom and the oversized soaking tub, is our choice.

Restaurants and bars

If some hotel chains make onsite dining feel like an overthought, the eateries at QT Gold Coast are made to feel like the main event. Bazaar, the property’s buffet, elevates the experience through ingredients of exceptional quality (overlooking a jam doughnut at breakfast is practically a sin), while Yamagen has omakase dining and boasts that it offers Australia’s largest collection of Japanese whisky. Want to blend in with the surroundings? Hit Stingray lounge, the nostalgic, kitsch-y Cali-style bar serving up mucho tequila and Tex-Mex fare.

Sustainability 

Free retro bikes for guests’ transport needs, a reception desk overflowing with eco-tour options and menus sourced from local, seasonal ingredients are some of the hotel’s more consumer-facing sustainability efforts. But there are plenty of initiatives behind the scenes as well, including a commitment to recycling and plastic-free room keys.

Travel for work

High-speed wi-fi and meeting rooms with eclectic flair means that if you do need to get down to business during your stay, it’s simple and hassle-free. There’s also a conference space that seats 750 people, or 500 for a gala dinner, plus flexible meeting rooms and plenty of options to blend business with pleasure over a long lunch or dinner.

Spa and pool

The Spring, refurbished in 2020,  is a “poolside precinct” alongside a lawn and terrace known as The Green designed to take you back to lazy Australian summers by the pool. Nine luxe cabanas are available to hire, including bottle service and a menu that features bug quesadilla. spaQ offers plenty of signature treatments (try the Pure Gold for total body bliss) but you can bring your friends along to “social spa-ing”, where groups of three or more can be pampered together. You can also choose to have treatments poolside, with or without cocktails. 

What you need to know

Don’t want to leave your furry friend at home? If your pooch is under 20 kilos, they’re allowed to stay, too, in a range of dog-friendly rooms that include a carefully crafted in-room pup menu. Doggy daycare is available from 7:30am to 5pm and there are even puppy day spa treatments on offer in conjunction with local groomers Hollywoof.

SEE ALSO: 12 Luxury Gold Coast Hotels for a 5-Star Stay