Splendour lives here

Already a popular getaway for those living in the Emirates and looking for a break from the summer heat, the Gold Coast is perfect all year round.

(That is, perhaps, because Australia's winter months last from June to September.)

While the heat is on in the UAE, the Gold Coast is basking in temperatures of 25 to 28 degrees, with perfect sunshine.

Start the day with a walk on gleaming white sands before having a late breakfast in one of the many roadside cafés.

Feast on pancakes with maple syrup, fresh tropical fruit and steaming cappuccinos before heading off to the shops to discover some relaxed fashion statements or designer labels that are available at the many boutiques.

Gold Coast is famous for its laid-back lifestyle, good food and easy-going people.

And now, for those who want to have an exceptional experience, there are two great places to stay in.

Versace-style

Australia's most remarkable new luxury resort, Palazzo Versace, sits to the north of Surfers Paradise.

Facing the calm waters of a spectacular “lagoon'' on one side and being adjacent to the Pacific Ocean surf on the other, this 205-room resort is worthy of the title “palazzo''.

Property of the famous Italian fashion house, the resort is resplendent with baroque decoration and symbols favoured by the late Gianni Versace.

Sienna and cream marble add to the grand air of the interior while the colour and richness of Versace's designs create a mood of pure luxury, which seeps through every part of the experience, including the restaurants and recreational areas.

The first impression that the Palazzo Versace resort gives is one of sunlight, gold leaf and impressive pillars, which punctuate the expansive reception hall.

Scattered across the floor are circular ottomans covered in brilliant Versace fabrics and topped with green, leafy plants and colourful orchids.

Underfoot is an enormous Medusa mosaic.

All-round opulence

The Medusa motif is Versace's, as well as the resort's, signature emblem and is featured throughout — on the glassware, bed linen and designer robes.

The bright, vivid entrance leads to the equally palatial sunlit lounge and restaurant areas.

And beyond — behind a long wall of glass — is the 65-metre pool, affectionately known as “the lagoon'', which curves around the complex.

At night, when the lounge is lit by hundreds of tiny candles, the pool shimmers and reflects the tiny blue lights set into the walls.

Both of Gianni's siblings, Donatella and Santo Versace, who took over his business empire, were largely responsible for the style and concept of the resort.

Each and every detail, from the furniture to the carpets and the glorious fabrics, include Gianni Versace's designs.

Designer's legacy

At the resort's heart is the sunken central lounge, which has as its backdrop the blue lagoon and palm-filled gardens.

This is the place to meet friends, have afternoon tea or just sit and relax, enjoying the views.

The combination of silk-covered sofas and armchairs makes this large, open space seem cosy and intimate.

The passageways are filled with reminders of the designer's creative life — fashion sketches, large-format photos of models and celebrities sporting his beautiful clothes.

The beautiful rooms and suites are sumptuously decorated in one of three colour schemes — gold with white, blue or saffron.

The pure-silk cushions on the beds and sofas display some of his more baroque motifs while the sheets' fold-over is worked with a Greek key pattern and Medusa head.

With a huge spa bath in each room and delectable views of the outside through the huge Juliet balcony windows, the rooms can be a haven of privacy or a bright experience.

The same can be said for the restaurants, too.

Palazzo Versace offers bistro dining in Il Barocco. It is the perfect place to start the day with a lavish buffet breakfast.

Just across the lounge, the resort's signature restaurant, Vanitas, provides elegant evening dining and a real gastronomic experience.

The menu is creative without losing respect for the basic flavours of the ingredients.

Palazzo Versace hasn't overlooked the other important element of a luxury hotel: pampering and health facilities.

Gym, spa and steam room and full-body treatments are also available.

Whether you are looking for high-energy thrills or just want to lie back and enjoy the good life — with superb food, all-over pampering and luxurious surroundings — Australia's Gold Coast is perfect.

From its golden sands to its glamorous shops, it is the ultimate escape.

— Scott Adams is a Madrid-based freelance writer

Shopping ... Bitsy buys

Good news for those in need of retail therapy.

Surfers Paradise shops are open seven days a week until 9.30pm.

So, after dinner, you can pop in and check out the fashions, gifts and homewares at one of the 14 shopping centres or elegant arcades in Surfers Paradise.

As an added bonus, every Wednesday and Friday, from 5.30 to 10pm, are the night markets along the beachfront, which prove irresistible for most shoppers.

For art lovers who would like to take home a little bit of framed Australia with them, there are more than a dozen art galleries in Surfers Paradise.

Choose from contemporary works by artists such as Ken Done or discover the visually diverse paintings by some of Australia's highly talented Aboriginal community.

Menu ... Have your fill

When it comes to eating, Surfers Paradise has hundreds of great places where you can enjoy fine food.

Australia's love of cuisines from other parts of the world shines forth. Take your pick from Italian, Indian, Chinese, seafood or Spanish.

For fine dining, don't miss the chance to have dinner at Vanitas, within Palazzo Versace, which constantly wins awards for its delicious cuisine.

Overlooking the lagoon, the interior is a dramatic statement in black and white.

The menu offers modern interpretations of classic dishes.

If you like Italian, then head to the alfresco dining experience at Domani's in central Surfers Paradise.

Delicious servings of pasta, pizzas and fresh seafood make it a great family choice.

Family attractions ... Let the show begin

For family fun, Gold Coast offers unparalleled adventures.

Just a short drive from Surfers Paradise is a whole world of marine life, rides and shows at Sea World.

Dive in and catch the dolphin, shark, polar bear and sea lion performances or take a tour to find out more about what underwater life is like.

For more hair-raising thrills and spills, head to Dream World, which boasts six of the world's fastest and tallest rides, including the totally awesome Tower of Terror and Tidal Wave Wipeout.

But, of course, if your nerves aren't up to it, take in an IMAX film or visit Tiger Island.

If you are a real fan of films, don't miss Warner Bros Movie World.

This is the place to hang out with your TV cartoon pals such as Scoobie Doo or the Road Runner.

Also, discover some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of film-making.

Living the high life

Piercing the skyline like a gleaming needle at the centre of Surfers Paradise is the newly opened Peppers Resort at Q1.

There was huge expectation as the clock ticked to the opening of this spectacular building — the tallest residential structure in the world.

Inspired by the 2000 Sydney Olympic flame torch, the 80-floor colossus seems to shimmer and dance in the late afternoon Queensland sun, thanks to the glass curtain that covers the entire structure like a transparent skin.

The upswept curve of the roof, at 322 metres, is a direct reference to the Olympic flame.

Rising gracefully from the Observation Deck is the massive 93-metre-high oval spire, which crowns the building.

At ground level, the design elements provide a flowing link to the tower and beyond.

A series of metallic ribbons wrap around the elegant tower and hover above the entry plaza area, providing cover and shade.

The tension in the free form is expressed by the gradual twisting of the aluminium-clad ribbons as they wrap themselves around the building, providing an open-air, Italian galleria-like shopping precinct, which carries the eye out over the Pacific Ocean.

Storeys to look for

Before lazing in the sun with a cool tropical drink and a light lunch at the water's edge, take a dip in one of the two outdoor lagoons with sandy beaches.

Providing a haven of tranquillity high above the city is Peppers Resort.

The reception area offers an atmosphere that is modern and sleek, with double-height ceilings and massive glass walls.

For an unbeatable experience from high, book into the elegantly designed Skyrise suites on floors 62 and 68.

Q1 is also unique for its sky-high rainforest on the 60th floor. Rising up ten storeys within the building, this man-made forest is full of trees, ferns and waterfalls.

For a feeling of being on top of the world, take the express lift to the elegant, fully enclosed Observation Lounges on the 77th and 78th floors.

If you arrive at sundown, you'll be rewarded with a magical scene as the lights come on all along the coast and the horizon turns into a dazzling array of colours.

From your lofty vantage point, you can even see the shimmering lights of Queensland's capital, Brisbane, in the distance.

Order an exotic fruit drink at the café and take a seat on one of the lounges and just watch the scene unfold.