Surfers Paradise is one of Australia’s prime holiday destinations, with its wide sandy beaches, family attractions and plenty of high-rise hotels, restaurants and bars. I visited as a backpacker in 2008 and hadn’t been back until my recent stay at Mantra Circle on Cavill Surfers Paradise, a 3-star apartment hotel with stunning views of the ocean on one side and the river on the other.
Location
It doesn’t get much more central. The hotel is steps from Cavill Avenue, the pedestrian mall that leads directly to the beach, with plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes to enjoy. The tram station is a three-minute walk, connecting you with Main Beach, the cafes of Southport and outlet shopping in Harbour Town. You can also use the tram and a connecting bus to reach the Gold Coast theme parks, so it’s a great hotel choice if you don’t want to hire a car. If you do have a car, the hotel offers undercover parking for $20 per night.
Mantra Circle on Cavill is a 30-minute drive to Gold Coast Airport and 90 minutes from Brisbane Airport. Once you’re inside the hotel and up in the rooms on the higher floors, you feel a world away from the hustle and bustle below. I stayed on the 32nd floor on the ocean side, and I could barely hear anything.
The Rooms
I love an apartment hotel. I’m usually travelling with kids, so it’s ideal having a separate living space, a kitchen for prepping meals and snacks, a space to unwind when they have gone to bed and often most importantly, laundry facilities. On this trip, I was travelling without the kids, but I still absolutely loved having the space.
I stayed in a One Bedroom Spa Apartment with the most incredible views of the city, the beach and the ocean. I was really blown away when I walked in to see one whole wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and the horizon welcoming me to my home for the night. At nighttime, the view is lit up by the twinkle of city lights and the occasional boat in the distance. The rooms also have balconies, which I have to admit I found a little nerve-racking, being so high up. But I spent a bit of time out there during my stay.
The rooms are big, with a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable lounge area, dining area and a walk-through wardrobe leading to the bathroom. As the name suggests, these rooms have a spa bath, which I made the most of while travelling without kids. The bath looks into the bedroom and then out to the ocean through a glass window, which can be covered if privacy is required. But it means you can relax in the bath while enjoying the views. A definite highlight.
Should you want to watch television, there are flat-screen TVs, plus broadband internet. All rooms have air conditioning and heating.
Facilities
Mantra Circle on Cavill has some really great facilities, and I spent quite a bit of time during my stay enjoying them, and only left the hotel twice (though there is plenty to do right on the doorstep). There are two outdoor pools and one heated indoor pool, so whatever the weather, you can swim. The lagoon pool was my personal favourite, with water features all along one side. The hotel gym is very well equipped, and there is also a sauna and steam room.
For movie fans, there is a 12-seater cinema room which can be booked out by guests for the night and kids (or adults) can play in the games arcade and children’s outdoor play area. The hotel also has plenty of seating and relaxation areas, including a lounge room and viewing deck on level 55.
Food & Dining
The hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant, but it really doesn’t need it as the Circle Precinct below has lots of great food options, plus even more choice on Cavill Street and the surrounds. If you prefer to cook yourself, there is a Woolworths supermarket downstairs, and the hotel has barbecue areas as well as your own fully equipped kitchen in the rooms.
During my stay, I had dinner at Mantra’s sister resort, Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise. Their beachfront restaurant, Hyde Paradiso, has a Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring delicious share plates. A few oysters on the balcony before dinner is a must!
Best for
- Families and groups who want space, self-catering and easy access to beach + city amenities.
- Travellers who prioritise being in the action rather than off in a quiet suburb.
- Longer stays where the kitchen/laundry make a difference
May not suit you if…
- You want cocktails or food service at the pool
- You’re looking for a beachfront hotel
- You prefer low-rise accommodation
Would I go back?
Yes, if I was looking to visit Surfers Paradise with my family, as the location and apartment-style rooms make it an easy place to stay with kids.
