Working from home has — for better or worse — remained a big part of life and will remain so well into the future.
But instead of staring at the same four walls or ordering another cappuccino at your local café for an excuse to work outside of your house for just a bit longer, there is another option.
A sneeky mid-weeky.
Jumping on a plane and swapping your usual work-from-home routine for a “workcation” is one way to weather the pressures of the nine-to-five while exploring somewhere new before work, on your lunch break, or after you knock off. Why settle for the ordinary when you can inject some extra joy and rejuvenation into your life with a mid-week escape?
And there’s one place that’s perfect for the ultimate sneeky mid-weeky: The Gold Coast.
Treat yourself and stay at a luxurious hotel or secluded beach house, book into a boutique bathhouse or yoga studio to start the workday with a sense of peace, or dive into the crystalline waters of one of the Gold Coast’s stunning beaches on your lunch break.
After the day is done, explore the city’s many foodie hubs and fine dining experiences, shake off the workday with a walk amid the gorgeous natural environment or book an activity that brings back a sense of fun to those infamous hump days.
With a mid-week escape, you can make the most of your time to infuse your life with refreshment and vitality, all without dipping into your precious annual leave — now, that’s what I call a perk.
Work
As remote work has become popular, more and more people have moved out of the big cities and to the most idyllic places across the country from which to log in. It’s no surprise then that slices of paradise like the Gold Coast have nailed the WFH game with incredible co-working spaces across the city.
Flockd
Located in Burleigh Heads, Flockd offers a premium remote working space with the ease of booking through an app that lets you reserve a desk on the days you need, as well as ordering a coffee or talking to other “Flockers” on its messenger function.
Wotso
One of many offices owned by Wotso across the country, this space is set up in Varsity Lakes and is all about the community. From the food and coffee options to the table tennis, this is a beautiful space from which to work.
Gold Coast Business Hub
One of the simpler and more affordable options, the Gold Coast Business Hub is conveniently located in Southport and is a no-fuss workspace with all the options you need, from hot desks to full office suites and meeting rooms.
Stay
Where you start and finish your work day holds huge sway on your week, and as familiar as home can be, there are times when a little indulgence can do a lot of good. Sprawl out on a king-sized bed, order delicious room service on the days you want to stay in and look out over incredible views of the Gold Coast’s skyline or crystalline waters from one of the many luxury accommodation options on offer.
The Langham
One of the Gold Coast’s most famous hotels, The Langham is an unmissable addition to the city’s skyline. Overlooking the turquoise oceans of the coast below, The Langham offers suites with luxurious interiors and, in some cases, kitchenettes for extra convenience when you want to pop away from the screen. And with an indulgent spa and dining options, The Langham provides plenty of opportunity for the self-care you’ve been missing on your regular nine-to-five sprints.
JW Marriott
A favourite among those on the Gold Coast with a bit of work to do, the JW Marriott offers diverse spaces perfect for work meetings as well as opportunities to unwind from the day. With a luxurious spa and restaurant attached to the resort, your workcation can start as soon as you close your laptop.
Elite Holiday Homes
If booking a hotel or resort isn’t what you had in mind, Elite Holiday Homes offers the chance to stay in a variety of completely self-contained luxury properties, many of which are right on the waterfront. Set yourself up in your new home away from home where you can enjoy seclusion and peace, while living it up in one of the finest properties on the Gold Coast.
Mosey into the morning
Before you start the work day, enjoy all the Gold Coast has to offer. Try out the artisanal cafes and breakfast spots, or book into a boutique yoga studio or bathhouse to find your centre before logging on.
Soak Bathhouse
This urban bathhouse and day spa is one of the Gold Coast’s most unique offerings through which you will truly relax. Whether you’re there for a warming soak and sauna session or massage and LED face treatment — it’s impossible to start the work day in a bad mood after a visit to Soak Bathhouse. And you don’t even need to leave, with co-working spaces ready to take you from sweating out the stress to speeding through emails all in an air-conditioned, zen set-up.
Fierce Grace Yoga
An institution among those who love hot yoga, the Gold Coast is home to Australia’s flagship Fierce Grace studio, which is considered one of the best of its kind in the country. And it’s little wonder, since the yoga practised here is based on a style introduced in the early 2000s in the UK and Europe. Start or end your day here to sweat out any of those stresses that you haven’t quite yet managed to shake.
Stairwell Coffee
With quality coffee in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise, Stairwell Coffee is a favourite among locals. Taking its name from its location — a hole in the walls beneath the stairs in the historic Centre Arcade — Stairwell Coffee offers up not only high-quality brews, but delicious jaffles and pastries.
Daark Espresso
Indulge in exceptional takeaway coffee from Daark Espresso — from its beloved cold brew to its Doppio Mochiatto — or dine in and choose from one of the dozens of divine options on the menu. Breakfast options include favourites like smashed avocado, bruschetta, and a BLT as well as finer meals such as the salmon, potato, and feta croquettes and the southern fried chicken benedict.
The Milkman’s Daughter
If you don’t want to eat or drink anything too heavy before trying out some yoga or going for an early morning dip, the Milkman’s Daughter is a perfect option. With its fine vegetarian food, the fare at this café is described as “honest” and changing with the seasons.
Take the lunch break of your dreams
Instead of eating at your desk, visit one of the Gold Coast’s dozens of beaches, take a stroll amid the glorious natural environment of the region, or grab lunch at a local favourite.
Hang out at the beach
There’s no better way to take a break from the work day than beneath the rolling waves of the Gold Coast’s beaches. Famous spots include Mermaid, Coolangatta, and Nobby Beach. If you’re keen for a surf, the waves at Burleigh Heads are perfect for everyone from the novice to the professional. If you’d rather just take a walk, tracks including that from Currumbin to Elephant Rock will clear your head before you have to log back into work.
Take a stroll
If you want to do a bit more people-watching than the beach tracks allow, there are plenty of walks around the city that offer the perfect break from your laptop. A favourite among locals is Home of the Arts, also known as HOTA. Located in Surfer’s Paradise, this hub of activity includes exhibitions and installations, music, and workshops. Take the time to explore HOTA and plan out some activities to get back to after you knock off.
Get a massage
Who says a lunch break can’t include a bit of luxury and relaxation? One Spa is nestled in the middle of a peaceful green landscape and provides unrivalled experiences with a sprawling menu of treatments and facilities including an in-room spa. Start off with a herbal tea in the deluxe relaxation lounge before choosing between options like a stone massage or one of One Spa’s water therapy treatments. If it’s a slow work day, indulge with one of their two or even three-hour spa rituals.
Enjoy a pub lunch
From the surfboards on the walls to the tall central bar, Kirra Beach Hotel has offered proudly authentic Australian fare on the backdrop of the beach beyond for decades. Think generous-sized burgers and plates of fish and chips, proud locals, and friendly staff. And with onsite accommodation opening up in 2024, it’ll get even harder to find an excuse to leave.
Nip off for some fun
If you have the time for a blood-pumping activity to shake off the stresses of the week, you could spend your lunch break with Surfers Jet. Surfers Jet offers a thrilling activity that emulates a jetski, but takes away the stress of needing to figure out how to pilot it yourself. Surfers Jet boasts the fastest high-performance V8 jet boat out there, taking you across the sparkling seas at 80km an hour. Expect 360-degree spins and sharp slides across the marina, all on the backdrop of the Gold Coast’s pristine white beaches.
Knock off in style
Once the tools are down, it’s time to really enjoy your workcation. Start with a beer, wine, or cocktail before sampling one of the Gold Coast’s famous fine-dining restaurants. If you feel like seeing more of the Gold Coast before heading back home, book into one of the many cruises or boat trips to take in the skyline from the sea.
Take to the sea or the skies
Inject some fun and sightseeing into your workcation and book yourself into some of the many marina experiences on offer. Sun Sailing’s sunset cruises are incredibly popular, and for good reason. There’s almost no better spot to soak up golden hour at the Gold Coast than from the sea. Enjoy two drinks and a snack plate on this two-hour cruise for an unparalleled way to end the work day. If you’ve seen enough of the Gold Coast from ground level, there’s one more activity you can try before heading back home — Parasailing. You might not have thought you could tick off a bucket list activity while on a workcation, but with companies like GC Jet Boating offering 5:00 pm spots to get up into the sky, why not make this trip one to remember for a lifetime?
Naami
A speakeasy drawing from the backstreets of Vietnam, Naami’s cocktails are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Favourites include the “espress yo self” — complete with Sky vodka, crémé de café, and Persian rose fairy floss — and the “isn’t she lovely” — made with blackberry gin, maraschino, and lemon spritz. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s a range of street food including, of course, the mouth-watering banh mi to try out.
Paloma Wine Bar
From the team behind the award-winning Restaurant Labart, Paloma is a much-loved wine bar that accepts walk-ins only for a low-fuss but a high-class option for knock-off drinks. Serving small plates of charcuterie and seafood, this is the perfect spot to unwind.
Cucina Vivo
For a slice of authentic Italian pizza or a bowl of divine handmade pasta, Cucina Vivo has you covered. If you’re hungry but also a bit tired of making decisions all day, the $65.00 Feed Me menu is the way to go, as long as there are at least two of you at the table. Sit back as Chef de Cuisine, Chris Mcleay, chooses a selection of small plates, a pizza or pasta, salad, and a dessert.
Chapter & Verse Bar
Famous for its crafted cocktails and delicious dishes that draw from cuisines around the world, Chapter and Verse is an ideal spot in Surfer’s Paradise to spend hours into the evening enjoying everything from its cheese board to truffle chips; bao to lamb cutlets. The drinks are unapologetically lavish, with many presenting a twist on classics like the French Martini or the Champagne Cockatiel. Book yourself into one of the poolside cabanas to really enjoy an entire night off the tools.
Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach
This beautiful restaurant is a feast for the senses, with stunningly presented fare served up amid incredible architecture. Awarded a Chef’s Hat in 2021, Miss Moneypenny’s head chef Tapos Singh uses a range of Mediterranean flavours for an incredible fine dining experience. For a night of unparalleled indulgence, opt for the signature chef selection and paired wines.
So there you have it — the beauty of a midweek workcation. It’s like hitting the reset button on your routine while still keeping your vacation days intact — work hard, play hard, and come back to the office feeling like a million bucks.
So, what are you waiting for? Plan a Sneeky Mid-Weeky today and take working from home to the ultimate level.
This article was developed in partnership with Destination Gold Coast. Featured image: Destination Gold Coast.
