All products and services featured are independently selected by Forbes Vetted contributors and editors. When you make a purchase through links on this page, we may earn a commission. Learn more
Astrid Taran, Forbes Staff
Forbes Vetted
A popular surfing destination about an hour’s drive from Brisbane, Australia’s Gold Coast has long been a go-to holiday destination for city dwellers in Sydney, Melbourne and beyond. These days, a new crop of big-brand hotel openings—including the 2022 debut of The Langham, Gold Coast—has global visitors’ interests piqued.
Conveniently perched between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, The Langham, Gold Coast touts high-end service with an excellent location. During a winter trip to Australia, I was excited to explore the area for the first time. While I was there, I was able to check into The Langham to experience the property first-hand. Read my full review below.
Coral Moon at The Langham, Gold Coast.
Andrew J LOITERTON
The Langham, Gold Coast
Who Will Love It: Beach lovers seeking high-end service and a central location
All-Star Amenities: Spa with sauna and steam room; Diptyque amenities; 24-hour fitness center; ocean-facing pool with swim-up bar; sky terrace; six restaurants and bars
What Not To Miss: The bubble-adorned Grand Jewel cocktail at the Lobby Bar
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
All-Star Amenities
The Langham, Gold Coast is nestled within the middle of a three-tower beachfront complex called The Jewel, named for its resemblance to quartz crystals (the other two towers are home to serviced apartments). Large and majestic, they dominated the skyline as soon as they came into view on my drive from Brisbane; the property was the area’s first beachfront property to be built in decades when it opened in 2022, so a splashy first impression seems fitting. Upon entering, guests are greeted with the property’s signature ginger flower scent, as well as a lobby comprised of cream-colored marble design with pops of beachy color.
Outdoor pool at The Langham, Gold Coast.
Andrew J Loiterton
Given its location, it’s not surprising that the property is ocean-focused. The outdoor pool directly faces the sea and features a resort-style swim-up bar, bringing a beach day on-site. And because Aussies are known for their love of wellness, the property is outfitted with a full-scale fitness center complete with steamy sauna rooms and an indoor magnesium pool. Treatments at the on-site Chuan Spa are inspired by centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine, including hot stone massages, white clay facials and mud wraps.
Rooms
The property is home to 169 rooms in a variety of different categories and every room offers ocean views or views of the surrounding city. I stayed in a junior ocean suite, which had an expansive indoor-outdoor terrace and a small sitting area and table. The bathroom featured a standalone circular bathtub in the middle of the floor, while the room’s overall décor was a mix of creams and light pinks (the hotel brand’s signature color), alongside a cerulean blue rug that reflected the sea.
Junior Ocean Suite bedroom at The Langham, Gold Coast.
Andrew J Loiterton
I was particularly impressed by the smart integration found throughout the room: Electronic blackout curtains completely seeped the room in darkness at night (the only way I sleep), and the smart room lighting was very simple to adjust from the side of my bed. The Diptyque toiletries were divine and plentiful—a perfect way to refresh after a day on the beach.
Food And Beverage
The Langham, Gold Coast is home to the signature Cantonese restaurant T’ang Court. The restaurant first debuted in Hong Kong, where it earned three Michelin stars—today, it has seven other locations across Asia, with the Gold Coast outpost being its first in Australia. As a big fan of Cantonese cuisine, I was excited to get a table here, and the meal did not disappoint. From the vegetarian spring rolls with black truffle to the Peking duck and crispy pork belly, every dish I ordered was fantastic.
T’ang Court at The Langham, Gold Coast.
The Langham, Gold Coast
During my stay, I also enjoyed daily breakfasts at Akoya, featuring a robust buffet of global favorites, healthy dishes and Western classics. I also got to experience a classic Langham afternoon tea at the Palm Court, complete with towers of pastries and sandwiches alongside a glass of afternoon bubbles. The Lobby Bar’s wide selection of wines and cocktails is top notch as well. I highly recommend the very fun Grand Jewel, featuring local gin, Champagne, Italian herbal liqueur, and a housemade syrup with local hibiscus, underneath a berry-infused smoke bubble just begging to be popped.
What To Do In The Area
You’ll definitely want to make time to enjoy the Gold Coast’s famed beaches, with Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads being particularly great for surfers. Surfers Paradise is about a five-minute drive from the property, while Burleigh Heads is about twenty minutes. If you plan to head to Burleigh Heads, don’t miss lunch at Rick Shore’s, a Queensland institution set right on the beach, serving up excellent pan-Asian cuisine. A thirty-minute drive from The Langham, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers face time with koala bears and kangaroos; it was one of the highlights of my stay in the area.
How To Get There
The Langham, Gold Coast is an approximately 35-minute drive from Gold Coast International Airport (OOL). Guests can also arrive via Brisbane International Airport (BNE), which offers a wider variety of international connections, including several direct flights to the U.S. (Los Angeles and San Francisco).