Weekend away: Turtle Beach Resort, Gold Coast

The air-conditioned three-bedroom apartment is spread over two levels, with becrooms, a bathroom and en-suite upstairs.

Downstairs is a self-contained kitchen, laundry, toilet, lounge and dining room, with a table and chairs on your front patio overlooking the closest swimming area.

There are 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments to choose from, with Foxtel and Free WiFi. All rooms are modern, comfortable and big enough for children to play happily.

Comfort factor

If you're looking for a romantic getaway, this might not quite be your cup of tea. But there is a friendly, happy vibe to the resort as children dart from pool to pool and parents laze on deck chairs.

Trees, gardens and water parks disguise the main road frontage, with units set so far back there is no traffic noise at all. And there's comfort knowing you can just step out of your unit with the kids, into a fully-enclosed resort complex with secure fences around all the pools.

A masseuse is also on hand five days a week at the day spa.

Food

A convenience store next to reception is handy for stocking your kitchen if you want to be self-contained. Get some sausages and make use of one of the garden barbecues.

The on-site restaurant is The Deck, which has all-day dining and a traditional woodfire pizza oven. It overlooks Splash Zone and is a brilliant spot for sitting back, pizza in one hand, beer in the other while watching the children swim.

You could also take a short five-minute drive to Broadbeach mall to try some fine dining or head to the beach for fish and chips.

Worth stepping out for

Turtle Beach resort has a close association with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which is 15 minutes away by car. That is worth an afternoon outing. Or plan a day at Sea World, Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet n’ Wild or the Outback Spectacular, 25 minutes back up the M1.

A good option is the Holiday Fun Pass; $100 for unlimited entry to Movie World, Sea World and Wet n’ Wild for 21 days. Pacific Fair shopping centre is just five minutes north.

The verdict

If you have a family and they like water, then this is a worthwhile option for your Gold Coast holiday. It’s better suited to a summer vacation, given that you might want to be in the water most of the time. You can stay put to enjoy a book and the resort facilities or you can head out and experience what the Gold Coast has to offer. It’s nice to have the option.

How to get there

Allow 90 minutes to get there from Brisbane. Head south on the M1 and take the Nerang-Broadbeach road exit. Follow it all the way to Pacific Fair then turn right onto the Gold Coast highway. Head south for a few kilometres to Mermaid Beach and Turtle Beach Resort is on your right.

Essentials

Turtle Beach Resort, 2346 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach. Prices range from about $179 through to $375 per night. Phone 07 5595 6666. Visit turtlebeach.com.au.

• The writer was a guest of Turtle Beach Resort.
• See other great Queensland Escapes.