Australia's first gated resort community is nearly 40, but still knows how to party

A sunny enclave on Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, dazzles with waterfront mansions, championship golf courses and a marina made for superyachts – all inside Australia’s first gated resort community.

The story of Sanctuary Cove is a glamorous, dramatic and highly publicised one. Much of the Gold Coast’s glitzy veneer is tied to this master-planned resort community – an ambitious vision to transform a dairy farm and mangrove swamp into a high-rolling, members-only golf haven and luxury boatyard.

It was the 1980s, and the Gold Coast was being pitched as Australia’s answer to Monaco or Miami. The so-called white-shoe brigade (flamboyant, cashed-up entrepreneurs and developers of Queensland) were pouring millions into luxury projects.

Sanctuary Cove opened in 1988 to much scepticism in the media. It launched with an extravagant week-long party referred to as The Ultimate Event, which included performances by music legends Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston. The precinct debuted with a 300-berth marina, a luxury resort and two championship golf courses – all wrapped inside Australia’s first gated residential community.

While the brigade has since mellowed out to a crowd of thongs and polo shirts, you can still see their original extravagant vision as you sail past the elite postcode’s impressive mansions along the Coomera River.

Today, the recently expanded marina is still the centrepiece. Each May, it draws more than 40,000 visitors and over 750 boats for the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, one of the most prestigious conventions in the southern hemisphere.

If you’re not a boat enthusiast, there’s a cluster of local boutiques and eateries to uncover in The Marine Village, including a Steinway piano showroom and white-tablecloth Italian restaurant Ioesco. Or make a booking at Jala Head Spa, for lush scalp and hair treatments in a serene, minimalist salon.

Many of the best experiences, however, are found in the Intercontinental Resort, which recently underwent a $6-million refurb. Here, The Fireplace is a woodfired diner that leans into flame-licked flavours and herbs plucked from the on-site garden. Or take a seat at Verandah, the hotel’s all-day restaurant and bar that feels like dining in a park rotunda. Come evening time, it shifts to a suave, spirit-forward spot offering more than 50 whiskies.

When your daily routine includes yachts and long lunches, a little indulgence is par for the course. At the resort’s Lagoon Beach Club, seafood platters and spritzes are served beside a one-acre lagoon pool. Just beyond the gates, there’s also high-end beauty day spa Vault Skin Lab. For yoga, Pilates and a clutch of massage treatments, make a stop at the Sanctuary Cove Country Club.

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If you’re after a lighter bite, Bistro 19 is the place for all-day breakfast with the usual suspects: chilli scrambled eggs, avo on toast, corn fritters and more. Next door, Rise Bakery serves French-inspired treats including extravagant cakes (available to pre-order), buttery croissants and picture-perfect pastries.

The locale also has one of the few helicopter pads on the Gold Coast, for those who’d rather fly in for lunch.

Sanctuary Cove insights

Why does this suburb appeal to high-end buyers?

Carlie Occhipinti, Amir Prestige: Sanctuary Cove is a world unto itself, an exclusive master-planned haven where privacy, prestige and resort living converge. A magnet for high-net-worth individuals, celebrities and international buyers, Sanctuary Cove is renowned for its 24-hour security both on land and water, delivered by highly trained personnel. Residents enjoy deep-water marina access, championship golf courses, private schools and buggy-accessible living. With an $18 million infrastructure upgrade underway over the next two years, the area is set to become the Northern Gold Coast’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination.

Houses for sale in Sanctuary Cove

Expressions Of Interest

5706 Observation Crescent, Sanctuary Cove QLD 4212

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Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac within Sanctuary Cove, this impeccably renovated 1100-square-metre riverfront home is a refined retreat for those who love to live and entertain well. Find a lush pool, chef’s kitchen, cinema room, wet bar, manicured gardens and an al fresco area overlooking grand views of the Coomera River.