Keeping yourself fit and healthy has become big business here on the Gold Coast, but you may feel overwhelmed in amongst the swarm of gym-junkies and tricky looking equipment at the chain gyms. There’s something different about entering a smaller studio with regular friendly faces. Being a fitness — and espresso martini — focussed bunch of folks here on the Gold Coast, we have a smorgasbord of fantastic personal studios where you can work up a sweat and get those endorphins flowing. Slip into some lycra and grab your water bottle; here is our take on the intimate studios you need to visit to live your best active life.

Lighten Up
When you enter this Robina-based studio, the intention is set from the beginning: this is your sanctuary and a chance to nurture your body. Thirty-five classes run across the week, and a modest weekly membership fee means making up for all that tequila on the weekend is not only easy but affordable. Once signed up, you can enjoy a selection of reformer and mat pilates, plus yin and flow yoga sessions which give you the chance to completely mix and match the way you break a sweat!
Where: Suite 3, Level 1 Easy T Centre, Robina

Free Living Studio
So much more than just fitness, you’ll find a mindful movement community devoted to health, wellness, yoga, and more at this Palm Beach-based studio. The understanding here is recognising that physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is all closely connected and each as important as the other. Classes are methodically split under the four pillars of Strength, Burn, Sculpt, and Restore; with a comprehensive schedule of classes and handy membership options, there’s no easier way to get/keep in top physical (and mental) shape.
Where: Shop 1, 32 Brooke Avenue, Palm Beach

Xtend Barre
Located with a leafy outlook on a backstreet of Burleigh Heads, Xtend Barre is the perfect studio if you regularly find yourself around one of the Gold Coast’s most happening suburbs. Workouts have been curated around combining the science of pilates with the dynamics of aerobic dance to thoroughly tone the body and revive the mind. And with the friendliest bunch of instructors you’ve ever come across, it’s little wonder this life-changing workout has been a smash hit with the locals.
Where: 3 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads

Hustl
By their admission, this ultra-chic studio doesn’t do normal. Located upstairs above the rather epic BSKT café, Hustl is an inspiring minimalistic space with an incredible view over Nobby Beach. What a place to undertake a morning class as the sun rises! Their program cleverly fuses advanced pilates with resistance-based cardio to bring you a workout like no other spread out across two slightly different classes. Suitability is geared towards everyone, fitness fanatic or not. And if you join as a member, you’ll also have access to their sister studio in Byron Bay. (For when the borders open back up!)
Where: 4 Lavarack Drive, Mermaid Beach

Pilates + Co
Starting your fitness journey, or maintaining it, has never been easier than with the team at Pilates + Co. There is a wide selection of classes — with a maximum size of 14 participants — multiple week challenges, and private sessions in place for you to smash your goals and a uber approachable team to make it all happen. Their original location in Burleigh Heads is now joined by a newly opened space in Bundall, and should you find it hard to make it to either of these, they also have a state-of-the-art home workout platform with exclusive videos allowing you to work out on your terms.
Where: Unit 5, 75 West Burleigh Road & Units 8-10, 25 Upton Street, Bundall

Kbod Fitness
Do you love to dance like nobody is watching, but also love the high and good feelings you get from a high-intensity workout? Kbod is touted as Australia’s first dance-based fitness centre and is run by an ex-professional dancer of 24 years. Getting in great shape doesn’t have to be boring — Kbod is the studio where you can achieve a dancer’s physique and have a whole lot of fun along the way. Because the best sort of fitness is the fun type!
Where: Unit 4, 40 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads 

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Life inevitably takes its toll – you don’t have to tell us twice. Whether you’re juggling work, children, or a questionable affection for rosé (guilty), your body and mind are going to feel the effects. Enter: the ultimate fix, the humble soak session. Okay, it may not solve ALLLLL of your problems, but we promise it’s a good start.

In order to achieve an upgraded level of vitality and mindfulness, you needn’t go it alone. You’ll require some assistance, and this is where soak and float centres come in. These are the kind of spaces where tranquil surroundings and expert insight go hand in hand to pull you from that long road to ruin: a five-minute break with a strong cup of tea just isn’t going to cut it these days.

We took it upon ourselves to do some research, and lucky for us, the Gold Coast has a sizeable selection of such places where you can unwind, soak and nourish yourself back to previous glory. Here are our top 8 picks to recuperate and rejuvenate when rosé life has gotten the better of you.

Soak Bathhouse
Conveniently located in Mermaid Beach, Soak Bathhouse is the comprehensive answer to looking after yourself with a holistic approach. By their own ethos — it’s time to start feeling great again — they invite you to experience opulent mineral spa baths and steam rooms. If you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the cold plunge that sits at a very fresh 10 degrees to get the blood pumping. But it’s so much more than just a spot for a soak, if you’re after the full wellness experience why not add on an infared sauna, LED facial or massage? Because health is wealth. If soaking up the vibes with a beverage in hand is more your vibe then the Soak and Sip is a must-do, we’re partial to their Wine Not Wine Pouches because rosé all day! And if you feel the need to hit the emails between sauna and plunge pool circuits, they have a gorgeous co-working space to nut out some work.
Where: 2532 – 2540 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Greenhouse The Bathhouse
The Bathhouse team were behind one of the original venues to open allowing you to soak your weary body and relax in a serene setting. Now nestled in Tallebudgera Valley – the ultimate destination for relaxation if you ask us – Greenhouse The Bathhouse has everything you need to switch off and kick back for a few hours. Soak up a 90-minute session in their magnesium spas and then soak up some rays (using protection of course) on the sun terrace and garden lounges. An ode to traditional bathhouses and sweat lodges, they offer intuitive massages on demand and have even got a beautiful restaurant and botanical bar onsite so you can refresh and rehydrate.
Where: 286 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera Valley

City Cave Float & Wellness Centre
Seeking the ultimate relaxation with added health benefits? Yep us too. City Cave Float and Wellness Centres have six convenient locations across the Gold Coast and specialise in float therapy, remedial, sports, pregnancy and relaxation massages while also offering Infrared Sauna facilities. It’s about time you look after your mind, body and gut at City Cave with their holistic services.
Where: Markeri St, Mermaid Waters, 76-84 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, 3/201 Ferry Road, Southport, Helensvale Plaza Shopping Centre, 12 Sir John Overall Dr, Helensvale, 340 Hope Island Rd, Hope Island or Shop 2, Coomera Square, Coomera

The Bathhouse at Ground
As if you needed another reason to take a sojourn out into peaceful Currumbin Valley, you can certainly add this new decadent bathhouse to the list. Set within the tranquil grounds of the Currumbin Eco Village, book yourself an hour here and simply let life’s stresses fade away. Spend your 60 minutes of luxury jumping from giant hydrotherapy spa pools to a genuine Finnish sauna before sinking into a refreshing pool packed with salty goodness all under the canopy of their gorgeous fig tree If this isn’t enough for you, be sure to book a massage or other heavenly treatment which take place in their adjoining fairy-tale-looking century-old Queenslander.
Where: 2 Village Way, Currumbin Valley

Native State
Another goodie for the southern Gold Coasters, Native State is where luxury, wellbeing and peak performance coexist in perfect harmony – sounds pretty inviting if you ask us. The marriage of gym, movement classes like yin and vinyasa yoga if you want to get it om, and of course the bathhouse is pretty much everything you need in one spot. Native State offers both casual sessions as well as full studio memberships if you can’t enough of the holistic health haven.
Where: 3/2 Creek Street, Coolangatta

Floating Away
Float therapy sounds exactly like our kind of therapy, Floating Away is the ultimate spot to do just that in your own float tank and leave the weight of the day behind. It’s that time of year when we’re pretty much crawling to the finish line, so a session of sensory deprivation to escape the outside and immerse yourself in a deep state of relaxation sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Or why not sweat it out before you soak it up in their infrared sauna? Guaranteed to leave you feeling rejuvenated. Because we’re all about that journey to self discovery we were totally intrigued by their Yoni Steaming offering. An ancient practice of vaginal steaming and yes, you read that right – a steamer for your nether region – the Kardashian-approved treatment helps to promote circulation and hormonal balance. It’s basically a facial for down there. Because every part of you deserves self-care.
Where: The Oasis Shopping Centre, Level 1/75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

Organic Aum
Possibly one of the Gold Coast’s best-kept secrets, Organic Aum, a Japanese fusion day spa, is a hinterland haven nestled in Lower Beechmont. With natural rainwater used to fill the spas before being topped with magnesium, the open-air wooden hot spas are the ultimate place to beat muscle fatigue or wind down for some stress relief. Now when you visit our beautiful hinterland it makes sense to make a day of it. If you’re going solo our pick is one of their indulgent facials or if you’re planning on making a date of it their massage rooms are perfect for two. If you’ve been trying to find a way to relax and recentre we’re big fans of a sound healing session (if you haven’t tried it, you need to) and Organic Aum introduces the Singing Ring – a new instrument invented in Japan – that uses crystal-infused metal to cleanse, recharge and refresh your energy. Sign us up.
Where: 113 North Road, Lower Beechmont

The Banya
Ok, so it’s not technically on the Gold Coast, but like Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, we’re happy to claim it! Set in the heart of the ‘biggest little town in Australia’, The Banya is a total #mood. Indulge in allll the offerings, from lap pools to hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, steam room, and a refreshing cold plunge hugged by lush foliage and cobblestone pathing. With 5 massage treatment rooms and a rooftop sundeck, relaxation awaits. Post-soak, savour a leisurely lunch or drinks at the on point on-site bar and dining. Explore small share plates, nutritious options, and a selection of wine, cocktails, and health elixirs – perfect complements to elevate your relaxation experience. Namaste!
Where: 35-37 Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby

Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski.