Writer Katie Harris during a Pure Aloha stand-up paddle board yoga class. Photo / Supplied
Writer Katie Harris during a Pure Aloha stand-up paddle board yoga class. Photo / Supplied
Herald reporter Katie Harris investigates what the Gold Coast offers besides gorgeous beaches.
The Gold Coast’s balmy beachside reputation precedes it.
As Kiwis hunker down under layers of blankets, thermals and puffer jackets, the winter water temperature on the Goldy remains a balmy 22C, and the air isn’t much different.
While sipping cocktails by lapping waves may sound like the dream holiday for some, not everyone is sold on endless beach breaks.
So for those after a Gold Coast holiday sans the sand, here are my top picks:
Unless they have a good sense of humour, I’d leave your nan (and your man) at home for this one. Having attended a few circus-type shows in the past I thought I knew what I was in store for. Aerials, extreme flexibility and foxy outfits. So far, so typical.
One of the performers at The Pink Flamingo Spiegel Club’s Zirque La La show. Photo / Katie Harris
But I had to ditch my preconceptions at the door. From the jump circus ring mistress LaLa and Monsieur Jerome’s bickering snatched the crowd’s attention, and the cheeky but sensual scenes from their fellow performers kept everyone’s eyes fixed on the stage.
The show itself is more akin to a comedy gig, and I wouldn’t advise sitting ringside if you can’t handle a few jibes. Outside of the theatrics and extreme acrobatics, the performance featured showgirl-style dancing, a mime and a topless burlesque performance.
My neck has been tight for the last few months. Nothing serious, just a bit of tension I can’t release no matter how many downward dogs I push through. The kind of mild discomfort you forget about amid the monotony of work, Netflix and eating out. It was only in its absence, following a massage and spa session at Soak Bathhouse at Mermaid Beach, that the stiffness I usually felt stood out.
Soak Bathhouse. Photo / Tourism and Events Queensland
Soak Bathhouse is self-love to the extreme. There are numerous services to boost your wellbeing, ranging from the usual massage and steam to LED facials and mineral spas, all only minutes from the beach.
If you’re going to be forfeiting a spot on the property ladder for an avocado on toast, it best have a boatload of the green stuff on it. The Kirra Beach House avo toast presents a good case against home ownership. When I stopped in, the riverside cafe was full of families coming in for a riverside Hampton-esque experience. The food was generally the same fare you’d see in any modern cafe in Auckland but, combined with the view, created a lavish afternoon dining experience.
If you’re feeling virtuous following a Soak session, you can re-tox at Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery in Burleigh Heads. I took the tour and got a behind-the-scenes look at how the Kiwi-founded distillery creates its award-winning spirits and liquors. And a warning, get an Uber there because you do several tastings.
Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery. Photo / Tourism and Events Queensland
SUP Yoga
I admit this is technically on the water. In my defence, if you don’t wear swimmers it’s still eligible for my list. Not to discount the difficulty of its land-based equivalent but stand-up paddle board yoga is seriously tricky. However, having Sarnia from Pure Aloha on the board next door did alleviate some of my concerns about slipping in.
During our session, she guided me through a series of poses before ending with a relaxing shavasana meditation on the water. Throughout the lesson she took dozens of photos and videos, which she sent as soon as our class ended - sorry to all my Instagram followers who were spammed.
Try yoga on a paddleboard with Pure Aloha on the Gold Coast. Photo / Supplied
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
You can’t really go to the Gold Coast without hitting up Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s got all the usual characters - koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, plus a huge croc. I did, and highly recommend, the lorikeet breakfast, which is in fact not a breakfast for humans, but for the feathered guests.
The writer was a guest of Tourism and Events Queensland and flew with Air New Zealand on their daily direct flights between Auckland and Gold Coast Airport.
