Sanctuary Cove's Delectable Dining and Luxurious Atmosphere

Sanctuary Cove is a 474 hectare gated community in the suburb of Hope Island in the Gold Coast. It’s an upscale, albeit self-contained residential environment that boasts of a laidback subtropical atmosphere. Its commercial hum is found mostly in its Marina Village which has over 90 specialty stores and fashion boutiques on low-set one-or-two level shops overlooking the tranquil marina’s 297 berths spread across 4 harbours. The community has 2 golf courses, 15 restaurants and a Hyatt Regency hotel.

Sanctuary Cove's Marina Village. This photo only from their website.

The shops are truly reflective of a functional community with dentists and lawyer’s offices, and even convenience stores. There are buggy rides transporting residents and the attractive row of white yachts beside their moorings.

We went to the cove for lunch at George’s Paragon Seafood Restaurant, a delectably sophisticated restaurant that offers half price lunches set in several Mediterranean styled settings: comfortable leather couches with colorful throw pillows; another has white rattan-style set pieces with white-and-blue striped pillows. Then there’s the traditional, open-air fine-dine setting with peacock-shaped napkins beside tall shrubs. Or you may prefer the enclosed, airconditioned atmosphere with very attentive waiters hovering around you. All these are a few feet away from the yachts. 

We had sea bass on tartar sauce (half price at $17.50), Caesar’s salad and a lemon lime drink. The mere presentation was mouth watering so you can imagine how scrumptious it tasted. The place, with its variety of settings, is huge but they fill easily because of the half-price lunch promos. Somehow you get the feeling that with all the white motif shrouding you, you’re in Ibiza; and with real grapes hanging down trellis, you might as well be dining in some Greek or Italian island. But of course this is exotic and summery Australia.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

A convenience store at the Marina Village.