Romantic getaways on the Gold Coast for special time with your special someone

Ruffles Lodge & Spa is a five-star gem located in the hinterland. Set in a eucalyptus forest, this luxury resort exudes romance from every corner. Cosy up in the Executive Suite, where you’ll rise each morning to the warmth of natural timber finishes and captivating forest views.

Think of feasting on a breakfast of sautéed wild mushrooms and poached eggs at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Vue 175. Stroll hand-in-hand through the verdant grounds, then seek out the on-site spa for an afternoon of pampering. You can unwind together with the Couples Retreat package, then wander back to your room for a sunset tipple on your wraparound balcony.

For over-the-top glamour by the glimmering waterfront—we’re talking gold and white marble, blue velvet cushions and Versace-branded everything—treat yourselves to a stay at Palazzo Versace Gold Coast. This exquisite five-star hotel lives up to its famous namesake, with bespoke Italian interiors, designer furnishings, award-winning restaurants and a private marina.

Cuddle up together on the plush, gold-draped bed of the Broadwater Suite, complimented by soul-stirring views across the water from your Juliet balcony. Indulgent afternoons are best spent in the ancient Roman-inspired spa, where you can relax with a couples massage and facial by candlelight. As the day wanes, head to the hotel’s own Vanitas restaurant for mouthwatering dishes of citrus-cured trout with caviar and Wagyu carpaccio.

The five-star Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach is right in central Gold Coast so you can balance days out in the vibrant city with others just sunning yourselves on the beach. That is if the staggering ocean views through the curved glass wall of the Opera Suite and a kitted-out spa bathroom don’t convince you to stay in all weekend.

Begin your day with a sumptuous buffet breakfast at Bistro On3, then venture to the golden sands for some sunbathing or cool off in one of the hotel’s pools. Dinner is a romantic affair at Room 81, where you’ll delight in a tasting menu of hiramasa kingfish ceviche and melt-in-your-mouth scallop velouté.

Let your relationship reach new heights with a romantic getaway in Australia’s tallest residential tower, Q1 Resort & Spa. Steal away into a One Bedroom Spa Apartment, where a tranquil glass-enclosed balcony is an ideal spot for intimate cocktails and cuddles overlooking the ocean.

To take the romance to the spa, book dual Swedish massages and relax side-by-side as talented therapists soothe your cares away. Treatments using natural materials range from crushed pear and ancient desert scrubs to sea moss cocoons. After some time in the bubbling Jacuzzi, you can refuel next door with a gourmet burger at Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar. You’ll want to head to the hotel’s SkyPoint Observation Deck at sunset to drink in the golden views from Australia’s highest external building walk.

Entertainment, an impressive restaurant lineup and indulgent amenities: luxury hotel and casino The Star Gold Coast makes the success of your romantic getaway anything but a gamble. Curl up with your special someone in a Pacific View Suite, where a dual rain shower head and sumptuous L’Occitane toiletries will tempt you to make your morning cleanse into a ritual.

Breakfast here is one to remember, with tantalising options like smoked salmon and creamy scrambled eggs at the Harvest Buffet. As for the afternoon, you can book a couple’s Luxury Escape treatment at the on-site spa, complete with champagne. Conjure up Lady Luck as night falls for a glamorous evening at the blackjack table before retiring to Cherry Bar to trade your winnings for signature cocktails.

Dreamy mountain vistas await couples on a romantic getaway at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge. Within Lamington National Park, this protected site offers a secluded escape into nature. Wake to staggering elevated views in your luxury Sky Lodge, where a flickering fireplace and soft linens invite long mornings in bed. If you prefer to rise with the sun, you can join a complimentary Hatha yoga session before tucking into a hearty buffet breakfast in The Clifftop Dining Room.

Make the most of the unique setting with activities arranged in-house, like an adrenaline-pumping abseiling or zip lining adventure led by Binna Burra guides. If you prefer to keep things quiet and romantic, sneak off for a shared hike to verdant fern gullies and gushing waterfalls. Ring in the evening with a bottle of local wine at The Lodge Bar before slipping into your king-size bed for a cosy night in the treetops.

You’ll be in the mood for romance as you snuggle up to your loved one next to a view of sun-dappled mountains at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Take in the rose-streaked dawn from the sweeping deck of your One Bedroom Canopy Suite before joining a complimentary bird walk led by experienced guides.

You’ll want to grab a cappuccino in O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe, then visit Lost World Spa for some shared pampering and vinotherapy steam and bath. Once suitably spoiled, mosey back to your suite for an afternoon siesta on your wooden four-poster bed. Evening brings feasts like an extravagant couples’ board of lamb or duck confit in the retreat’s rustic restaurant, Dining Room.

Sumptuous scarlet and timber villas surrounded by emerald rainforest set the scene for romantic interludes at Songbirds Rainforest Retreat. Feel your cares slip away as you check into your personal forest villa against a symphony of lorikeets and kookaburras. For ultimate relaxation, on-site therapists are on call to provide in-villa salt glow massages and aromatherapy facials.

You can prepare morning coffee and breakfast in your villa, then relax in the bubbling waters of your double spa bath with complimentary L’Occitane amenities. Alternatively, sample a salted caramel mocha martini—complete with toasted marshmallow—at Tamborine Mountain Distillery (just a six-minute drive away). At the end of your day, open a bottle of wine from the minibar and settle in under a faux fur throw to watch dusk fall.

Couples looking for a romantic break with a light footprint will swoon over Hilltop on Tamborine. This environmentally-friendly venue combines country-style accommodation with a thriving art gallery, acclaimed café and restaurant, and an abundance of native wildlife. Wake in your Boutique Spa Room and order a breakfast spread of syrup-drenched Belgian waffles and salmon eggs benedict—it doesn’t matter how late you sleep, it’s an all-day menu!

You can browse the on-site art gallery, or drive 15 minutes to Cedar Creek Falls to bask in the cooling rock pools. Steal a kiss as you look over the vast canyon before heading back to your accommodation for lunch in the on-site restaurant. Tuck into a fresh Fisherman’s Basket, then retire to your room for a sensual soak in your private spa bath.

Nature-loving couples will be in their element at Cedar Lake Country Resort. Deep in the Gold Coast hinterland, this tranquil lakeside spot makes an ideal base for romantic hillside meanders and dreamy drives through nearby vineyards.

Craft a satiating brekkie in the kitchen of your Two Bedroom Unit, or opt for a dip in the hotel’s heated swimming pool as the sun rises between the palm trees. The sauna might tempt you both for a dose of steam before an animated game on the nine-hole pitch-and-putt course. You can take to the lake on complimentary kayaks for a calming hour on the water, then feast on smoky barbecue pork ribs and Tim Tam cheesecake at Cedar Lake Bistro.