Waking up in the early hours, it still seems a little too dark outside to rise. But the anticipation of the weekend ahead makes our toes tingle with excitement, coaxing my comrade and me out of our beds. With bags packed and camera in tow, I pour my morning coffee into a flask so I can make the most of the day and get on the road to the Gold Coast nice and early.

Our day starts off with a bang at Mariners Cove Marina, where we decide to get our adrenalin pumping at Paradise Jet Boating. A refreshing winter breeze brushes my cheeks, a gentle reminder that despite the clear blue sky and sunshine warming my skin, it is actually winter. I cautiously spy a rack of heavy raincoats and make a very quick assumption – I am going to get wet. Cruising through the marina, I take in the peaceful surrounds of the Gold Coast Broadwater, but I am soon warned not to get too comfortable – once we get out past the slow zone, the boat will be kicking things up a notch (or three). Holding on tight, my heart thumps with exhilaration, squealing as our driver expertly manoeuvres the boat, barely missing obstacles in our path. The experience is all at once terrifying and exciting, as the boat makes 360° spins, buzzes along the shoreline and performs nail-biting tricks – all at an incredibly high speed. And my prior assumption was entirely correct, we all get very wet, leaving us in a fit of giggles the whole way back to the marina.

The thrills (and spills) of jetboating have left us famished, so after basking in the sun for a moment to dry off, we walk over to Marina Mirage to indulge in a much-needed hearty brunch from Providore. The cafe houses a deli, grocer and bakery, but we decide to take a seat and order from the menu. I settle for the Mediterranean frittata, while my friend indulges her sweet tooth with buttermilk pancakes.

Making our way toward Surfers Paradise, we pull the car over at Main Beach, unable to resist the tempting ebb and flow of the calm surf ahead of us. Although we’re not quite game enough to go the whole way in, we stroll along the water’s edge, enjoying the winter sun. We notice some commotion head of us, and our eyes follow a flurry of pointing fingers. Out on the horizon, a majestic humpback whale has decided to give us a show, breaching in a spectacular display. That is all the convincing we need – that afternoon we are going whale watching.

We disembark that afternoon with Whales in Paradise. Sitting out on the front deck of the boat, I take in the surrounding scenery as we make our way through the canals and out into the ocean. Our captain’s knowledge of the local area and sea life is astounding, sharing the journey of these majestic creatures with us while we use our eagle eyes to spot a tail or fin. It doesn’t take long until someone gasps with excitement, spotting a whale to our right. Obviously comfortable having a motorised companion, the whale allows us to move in closer, watching as it playfully rises to the surface. The afternoon continues like this, with more whales revealing themselves and treating us to their aquatic dance.

Checking in at QT Gold Coast, we make our way up to our room, weary from our day of adventure. Dropping my bags, I make an executive decision that I deserve a little relaxation and make an appointment at QT’s resident day spa, SpaQ. After a blissful hour including a tension target massage and wild thyme foot therapy, I feel completely rejuvenated, and ready for a night of delicious food and wine. Dinner at QT’s Bazaar restaurant is an sensory treat. Accurately described as an ‘interactive marketplace’, Bazaar is a hive of activity. The buffet-style restaurant offers food from all over the world, and allows you to look on and chat to the chefs in the open kitchen while they prepare your food. I carefully select a range of delicacies, making sure to leave room for dessert from the make-your-own sundae station. With full bellies and happy hearts, we think it might time to call it a night. But as we leave the restaurant, the enticing tunes of the downstairs Stingray bar make my ears prick with delight, and I realise my weekend of adventure is far from over.

Visit the Gold Coast Tourism website for further information. 

This article was created in conjunction with our friends at the Gold Coast.