If you grew up holidaying at the Goldie, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve seen it all.

I recently set myself the challenge of experiencing the Gold Coast from new angles, including 270m above sea level.

Reaching new heights

I’m standing tethered to the outside of Australia’s tallest building, Q1, peering over the edge of the sheer drop when our guide tells me to let go for a photo.

She demonstrates the move and while my brain can logically see that I’m harnessed to the safety rail, my body won’t cooperate.

She’s pointing her camera at me, poised to take the Instagram shot of a lifetime.

I take a deep breath and lean back, but only one hand will let go of the chain that’s keeping me from tumbling down, down, down to the sea of buildings, swimming pools, canals and beaches that are spread out like an intricate patchwork below me.

She takes the photo anyway, which is still impressive enough to feature on my social media feed.

Then we continue climbing the almost 300 stairs that wrap around the building, with me sticking as close to the internal stair handrail as possible.

At the summit, with only the building’s spire above us, we pause on a platform to take in the uninterrupted views. And what an outlook it is. A light plane glides over the sparkling ocean and one of our group points out that we are standing higher than it is flying.

We spy Mount Warning in the south, but my eyes are drawn to the seemingly endless stretch of golden sand that has been attracting tourists for decades.

The region’s natural beauty witnessed from this aerial view is unquestionable, but almost equally striking is the cityscape displayed before us.

The city’s first high-rise was built about 60 years ago in Surfers Paradise. From a small seaside village in the 1950s sprung one of the world’s most famous holiday destinations and the Gold Coast is now Australia’s sixth-largest city.

I look for the apartment building where I’m staying for the weekend, the luxurious Vue Broadbeach.

Some lucky locals call this complex home and it’s easy to see why they would make their stay permanent.

With floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing expansive ocean views and only a 120m stroll to the beach, living there must feel like an eternal holiday.

Impressive skyscrapers aside, the other awe-inspiring sight from this elevated angle are the 480km of rivers and streams, as well as 774ha of lakes, dams and canals, that wind their way through the landscape.

Cruising the canals

It’s in one of these canals that I next find myself, ready to view the region from a completely different vantage point.

No boat licence is needed for Duffy Down Under electric boat hire with five vessels available, allowing you to cruise the Gold Coast’s canals and marvel at the grand homes of celebrities and business moguls.

The boat drives like a car, so even kids can have a (supervised) go at the helm.

After a safety briefing, I’m let loose on the water as the captain of my own 5.5m vessel.

It’s whisper-quiet, shaded by a canopy, and travels at a relaxing six knots, which gives me plenty of time to gawk at the palatial homes (we spotted Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s holiday home, among others) and keep watch for dolphins.

To make the occasion more festive, you can BYO food and drinks or order catering when you book your boat.

Taking the road less travelled

With air and sea ticked off the list, it was time for a leisurely drive through the Gold Coast hinterland’s lush rainforest, stopping to soak up the verdant views before continuing to Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation.

Boasting award-winning coffee, a tour of the plantation (one of only five places in the world where you can experience the whole process, from growing in the field to tasting in their onsite restaurant) should be on every caffeine lover’s hit list.

Co-owner Sam Williams tells me the cherries (the fruit that houses the coffee beans) are all hand-harvested from their 650 trees, which thrive thanks to the fertile soil, altitude and temperate climate the mountainous region offers.

Like winemaking, processing the coffee cherries into beans is both an art and a science, and Sam explains the flavour profile is affected by each step of the process, from drying to roasting.

After touring the fields and processing facilities, Sam prepares me a coffee and explains there are 36 aromas, such as roasted hazelnuts and dark chocolate, that can be detected when drinking our daily heart starters.

I breathe in the cup of steamy, heady goodness, but all I can smell is coffee. Delicious, freshly roasted, locally produced coffee.

Story by Cath Johnsen

The writer travelled as a guest of Destination Gold Coast.

Visit RACQ Travel to plan your Gold Coast getaway