Take a look inside the Gold Coast’s most outrageously luxurious mansions 

Some are stylish, some are tacky, all of them are huge – the Gold Coast is not only the playground for some of Australia’s wealthiest people but also for architects to create some of the nation’s most luxurious homes. 

Low interest rates, migration from southern states and a post-Covid-19 bounce back had created the perfect conditions for some of the Gold Coast’s most iconic properties to be sold at record prices.

Home cinemas, jet-ski garages, whisky bars and even private chapels are among the custom features of these amazing homes. 

Tulsa, Paradise Waters

If you can spend nearly $10million on a house, chances are you have spare change for a chopper to land on its dedicated waterfront helipad.

That’s the choice facing company director Glenn Molloy, who recently paid $9.95million for ‘Tulsa’, a three-level mansion on Commodore Drive at Paradise Waters.

Besides the helipad on the 30m of water frontage, the house includes a cinema, au pair quarters, waterside bar and a seven-car basement garage.

The five bedrooms are accessed by a nine-person lift. The master bedroom has a panoramic water view, plus sizeable dressing room and ensuite. Another bedroom acts as a self-contained unit, with kitchen facilities, living room, ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

Tulsa was previously offered for $14.5million in 2019 before Mr Molloy’s purchase.

Alston, Southport

Built at a reported cost of $14 million by bankrupt developer Graham Spottiswood in 2010, Alston is one of the Gold Coast’s grandest homes.

Designed for entertaining, the property features a six-metre long marble-topped bar, billiard room, music conservatory in the living room, and basement with a split-level cinema and adjoining bar. 

Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and, weirdly for the Gold Coast, six fireplaces, justify its tag as one of the most luxurious properties in the city. A lift services all three floors.

The 3,442 square metre site has its own private sandy beach with a jetty and pontoon.

An indoor recreation area includes a 15-metre heated pool, spa, gymnasium, and combined steam room-sauna.

Alston is currently on sale with a price tag of $25 million. 

Tallai ‘nightclub’

For when you need nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms… and your own nightclub, this estate is a no brainer.

Spread over 9,000 square metres, this mansion in the semi-rural Gold Coast suburb of Tallai is on the market with an expected price between $6.5million and $9million.

Built by developer Graeme Ingles, the outrageous party home’s most talked about feature is the nightclub with wet bar, karaoke stage and dance floor, which can accommodate 40 people. There is also a 16-seat cinema and state-of-the-art sound system.

After parking in the six-car underground garage, guests can sample a little something from the temperature-controlled wine cellar and tasting room.

Once the party’s over, the new owners can lie in the master bedroom and watch the stars at night through a retractable skylight, or admire the back garden, bathed in pinks, blues and greens by a unique multicoloured LED outdoor lighting system.

Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach

Hedges Avenue is known as ‘millionaires’ row’ on the Gold Coast because of properties such as this four-level waterfront home built in 2007.

A lift services all floors, including the six bedrooms, gym, sauna, wine cellar, and six-car basement.

Downstairs and upstairs entertaining terraces take full advantage of the stunning views. The ocean can be seen from all the main living areas, including the master bedroom and the open-plan living and dining room.

The finishes in the home likely account for a decent portion of its $15.75million price tag – marble floors and staircases, a kitchen with a cool room, butler’s pantry and imported ‘Crème-Sand’ marble finishes.

Security CCTV cameras, lighting, windows and other utilities are all automatically controlled.

Bellagio La Villa, Tallebudgera Valley

Chinese-born Gold Coast billionaire Riyu Li is currently trying to offload this 49-hectare estate in semi-rural Tallebudgera Valley for $50million. 

The grand mansion, which wouldn’t be out of place in rural France, cost $8million to build, on land that cost $7million in 2006. Mr Li has reportedly spent more than $7million on additional upgrades to the estate.

For $50 million the new owner will get a two-level house with 10 bedrooms (all with ensuites), a grand dining room, multiple living areas, a library, media and music rooms, a heated indoor swimming pool with spa, sauna and gym, a five-car garage that doubles as a ballroom, a caretaker’s cottage, two horse stables, shed, orchard, and two dams.

Mr Li’s plans for a hotel offering wellness retreats on the property was previously vetoed by Gold Coast Council.

Helensvale ‘resort’

Interior designer Dennis Clark and his wife Sharon have decided to sell their ‘private family resort’ at auction this month.

The resort tag is justified by the property’s 14-hole mini-golf course, including bunkers and a statue of a giraffe overlooking one green.

Other selling points include a secret whisky cellar and bar accessed through a moving mirror in the lounge room, and a tropical pool with swim-up beach bar.

Beyond the novelties, the home comprises five bedrooms, self-contained guest wing, showroom-style five-car garage, open plan living areas and bathroom decorated with Italian tiles and chandeliers.

North Tamborine ‘white’ house

Formerly the home of VIP Petfoods founder Tony Quinn, he and his wife Christina famously bought the eight bedroom ‘Great Gatsby’-style home from receivers in a half-finished state in 2011. 

The Quinns spent millions to complete the mansion and sold it for $5.5million in 2016, setting a Mt Tamborine real estate record.

The bright white 1930s-style extravaganza sits on a two-hectare estate and includes a 20-metre indoor pool, theatre, music room, marble pillars and floors, tennis court, landscaped gardens, water features, sculptures, caretaker’s residence and even a private chapel.

Runaway Bay

On the market for $7.9 million, this Runaway Bay property has been dubbed the ‘007 secret agent’ home by its current owner.

That’s because the six-bedroom theme park-inspired property includes a concealed ‘wet room’ that can house two jet skis, with direct access to the Broadwater from the back of the house.

Inside, there’s a seven-metre high indoor waterfall feature inspired by the Wet’n’Wild theme park not far away on the northern end of the Gold Coast.

Aspiring secret agents can de-stress from international espionage by using the full-sized indoor squash court (with basketball ring), parking the Aston Martin in the 10-car showroom-style garage, swimming in the pool with heated spa and waterfall, or watching a movie in the 12-seat surround-sound tiered cinema and bar. A glass lift transports residents between the four levels of the home.

A huge alfresco entertainment area opens onto the pool and 19m pontoon on the waterfront.