From the opulent Palazzo Versace hotel, to a buzzing nightlife scene, to some hotter than hot haute cuisine, Australia’s Gold Coast has it all and then some more, as Raul Dias discovered on a trip to the land of sun and fun
It was a little after the mid-day sun was at its zenith in the lapis coloured sky, that I found myself driving a spiffy silver sedan down the multi-lane highway all footloose and fancy free, leaving the Urbs Primus of Brisbane behind in a cloud of dust. I was heading south towards a promise I had made to myself—a trip to Australia’s glamorous playground aka the Gold Coast. For some inexplicably bizarre reason, I couldn’t but help hum Sheryl Crow’s popular summer time ditty that speaks of “soaking up the sun” or something like that. And I sure am no die-hard fan of the fair-haired songstress. Never mind her nine Grammy awards and all. Blaming my temporary lapse of better taste in songs on the searing heat, I conjured up a vision in my ever-fertile mind.
There I was, lazily lounging about on a deck chair by a lagoon-like meandering pool with waters clearer than Swarovski crystal, enjoying a libation of grand cru bubbly, accompanied by a plate of delicate watercress sandwiches. My feet were getting a pampering of their own courtesy of the nimble-handed masseuse who anointed them with oils that smelt of coconut and lavender. The notes of the live three-piece jazz band resonated through the marble mausoleum-of-a-lobby and lulled me into a serene submission. Suddenly, I heard the blearing of horns that abruptly signaled the end of my daydream. Snapping back to reality, I decided that it was no better time than now to test the authenticity of a fantasy. I was after all booked into the world’s first ever Versace hotel, the Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast.
And there it was, like a mirage looming large before my very (and weary!) eyes, looking every inch a spectacular creation, bearing that unmistakable Versace logo of Medusa with her trés chic serpent hairdo. My home for the next 24 hours or so my booking letter stated. The ultra efficient check in was followed by an orientation tour of the palazzo (palace in Italian) by Carol Woods, the hotel’s marketing manager. I was explained that in keeping with traditional Italian palace design, the eight-year old Palazzo Versace bore three distinct areas with the opulent marble, chandeliered foyer and dining areas representing the meeting places of the palace, while the accommodation in the left and right wings (‘Ala Sinistra’ and ‘Ala Destra’) represented the palace residences. With 205 luxurious rooms, including 54 plush suites, the Palazzo Versace is kitted out like a diva who knows how to put on a spectacular show.
The show continued when I reached my room on the second level. Waiting there for me were my very own monogrammed bathrobe and slippers that once again paid obeisance to medusa with a gold-embroidered logo on them along with a miniature flaçon of what else but Versace perfume! Utterly content with my room, I decided to pay heed to the incessant rumbling of my tummy with an offering of food. And Boy, was I in the right place or what? As I soon learnt, the Palazzo Versace boasts of some of the best dining options in all of the Gold Coast. Even the locals often take time out from their fish-n-chips routine to dine at one of its three beautifully appointed restaurants or at the Pool Bar that serves up some delectable snacks like the poetic open-faced smoked salmon sandwich. In the mood for something more substantial than a smoked salmon sandwich, however exotic it might be, I sauntered into the informal, but elegant Il Barocco restaurant just in time for the legendary seafood buffet that it serves up every day from six in the evening right until ten at night. With a stunning view of the lagoon swimming pool, Il Barocco dishes up contemporary and classical cuisine, in a setting that is Versace from head to toe—right from the table linen to the gold rimmed water goblets. Loading my plate with goodies from the sea like grilled scampi, tuna nigiri and some fresh Tasmanian oysters, I tucked in with manic gusto, lifting my face out of my plate every now and then to sip an iced tea made from the anti oxidant rich green tea or so I was told by the Aussie chef who told me that in his spare time, he could be found riding the waves on his surfboard. Inspired by him to hit the beach (I was on the Gold Coast after all), I set off on foot towards the popular Main Beach for a spot of sand minus the sun that was beginning to caress the horizon passionately, ready to lose itself in the vast depths of the tranquil sea.
Walking along the happening Tedder Avenue that has earned itself a reputation for having some of the most excellent food and coffee places, I took in the myriad sights of young surfer dudes returning back to shore after a sunset surf, of children packing up their beach toys. Still not yet done with my walk, I meandered down the Federation Walk that stretches from The Spit in the north past the Main Beach Bathing Pavilion all the way through to Surfers Paradise. As I was told by a rather loquacious septuagenarian lady, the Federation Walk is a rewarding experience for true nature loves as it courses its way through areas that are undergoing regeneration as a littoral rainforest. After around an hour or so of walking, my trusty wristwatch indicated that it would do a lot good for me to head back to my room and jazz myself up for my meeting-over-drinks with Chantal Pike, a fellow writer and Gold Coast resident I had met earlier on in Adelaide. Her choice for our tête-à-tête was the brand new, super-hot champagne lounge—Lauxes—the Gold Coast’s version of an Adult’s Disneyland!
All I told the cabbie was “Lauxes” and ten minutes later, he pulled up outside a glass and steel edifice that took my breath away. Situated on Victoria Park, Lauxes is just opposite the legendary Conrad Jupiters Casino and Hotel with a clientele that boasts of celebrities such as Kylie Minogue and party girl extraordinaire Paris Hilton frequenting the lounge. With neither Kylie nor Paris in the house that night, I settled for Chantal who proceeded to give me a crash course on what makes Lauxes the ‘IT’ spot on the Gold Coast. As it so happens, Lauxes serves up the most impressive list of champagnes in all of the southern hemisphere boasting of some fine grand crus and award winning wines in a setting that is straight out of an episode of The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. After sampling a healthy selection of its offerings, we called it a night or should I say morning, considering that the good old watch had chimed in the witching hour a good 45 minutes ago.
Back in my room, I nibbled at the chocolate truffles that magically found themselves on my pillow and drifted off to the land of Zzzz snugly ensconced in the fine Egyptian cotton sheets. “Man, I could really get used to this life!” was the last thing I heard myself mumble as the champagne-induced sleep took over.
Rousing out of bed, I realized that I was precisely 12 minutes late for my pre-breakfast massage at the Plazzo Versace’s unique Roman Bath style spa aptly named Salus Per Aquum which means ‘Health Through Water’. But my tardiness was forgiven by Brendan Long, the spa’s managing director who introduced me to Megan, my masseuse. Like most of the hotel, the Salus Per Aquum’s interiors too are accentuated by the iconic triumvirate Versace logos of the Medusa head, the olive branch and the perfectly geometric parallel lines that gently rise into squares every now and then. Done up in pale marble mosaic, the Salus Per Aquum spa combines design features from the opulent palaces of Europe and the classical architecture of Roman times to great success. Booked in for the Body Renewal Treatment (AUD265 for 105 min) that commenced with a full body exfoliation using loofahs, soft brushes and sea salts, followed by the application of a body moisturising mask, I was all aglow and invigorated once the masseuse was done with me.
Forgoing a previously planned sumptuous feast in favour of a ‘humble’ breakfast of buttered croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice, I took one last jaunt around the fine establishment that has—thanks to its mega success—spawned another sibling in the form of the soon-to-be-ready Palazzo Versace Resort in the Arabian Bays on the Dubai Creek, that I have no doubt will be just as classy as its older sibling down under. “I’ll be back”, was what I told the valet who wished me a pleasant journey back. And I have every intention of doing just that—coming back for an encore.
P.S. Later that evening, en route back to Brisbane, I fed my destination address into the sedan’s GPS, while at the same time flicking on the radio in a futile attempt to lighten up the somber mood that the dusky evening sky has brought on. Another cheesy song was on offer—Bill Medley’s I’ve Had The Time of My Life was the choice of the mellifluous-voiced RJ. But this time, I couldn’t have agreed more with the lyrics and I joined in lustily, paying a deaf ear to the incessant honking around me. Yes, that was the extent of the ‘damage’ caused to me by my tryst with the twin seductresses—Palazzo Versace and the glitzy Gold Coast!
(First published in India Today Travel Plus)
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