Gold Coast’s Trophy Market Fires Up for Summer. But It’s Not The Beach.

The Gold Coast prestige property market has ignited ahead of summer, but this time the heat isn’t coming from the beachfront. Instead, high-end buyers — both local and interstate — are turning their attention inland, where sprawling acreages and riverfront estates are redefining luxury living.

The latest headline-grabbing sale is Rivers Bend in Carrara (pictured), which has changed hands for a record $26 million — the highest price achieved along Main River this year and the second-largest riverfront sale in Gold Coast history.

Set on 6,300 sqm, the estate offers a masterclass in design and amenities. The primary residence features five bedrooms, including a master suite with a Nero Marquina marble ensuite and a 1.2-tonne freestanding bath. A gym, theatre room, 700-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar, and garaging for 12 vehicles add to the home’s appeal.

Outdoors, the riverside entertaining terrace features a commercial-grade bar and kitchen. In contrast, the 18m saltwater pool — complete with spa, swim-up bar, firepit and TV — overlooks a championship-sized tennis court and rooftop pavilion. A self-contained two-bedroom guesthouse, complete with its own pool and spa, rounds out the estate.

The sale of Rivers Bend follows that of Redwood, the Currumbin Valley acreage that was quietly sold for $28 million earlier this year. The 2.88-hectare estate, last purchased for $2.55 million in 2017, was transformed by vendor Bridget Deer, wife of Ignite Travel founder Randall Deer.

The only other sale this year to break through the $20 million threshold was a Hamptons-style riverfront home in Southport, selling for $22 million.

Designed by Bayden Goddard, the four-level, 1,805sqm residence on Macmillan Court showcases century-old red ironbark flooring, Carrara marble, and chandeliers sourced from New York and Paris.

Among its highlights are five ensuite bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen with a cold room and three ovens, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, an Aspen-inspired games den, and a six-bar basement.

The top floor is dedicated to leisure, featuring a gym, steam room, and a rooftop bar that accommodates up to 50 guests, complemented by open-plan living spaces that flow seamlessly into a north-facing saltwater pool and spa.

The newest addition to the trophy market is The Estate in Tallai, listed by former AFL player turned tech entrepreneur Brad Moran and marketed by Kollosche. Carved into the mountainside of its 8,888 sqm site, the ultra-luxury residence makes a statement from arrival, with a circular driveway of 75,000 hand-laid cobblestones and a five-element fountain finished in 24-carat gold mosaics.

The 2,240sqm home spans three levels and features 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a whisky bar, poker room, 16-seat cinema, and a wellness centre complete with gym, yoga studio, sauna, steam room, and hydrotherapy pools.

Outside, a “private fun park” includes a 160m go-kart track, putting green, basketball court, and 20m gold-tiled infinity pool.

Three self-contained “Sky Residences” cater for guests. At the same time, a glass-fronted garage gallery with space for nine cars — plus a race simulator and executive office — cements The Estate as one of the Gold Coast’s most spectacular offerings.