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Beach holidays are ingrained in Aussie culture, the sand and the surf occupying a special place in our national identity. Lathered in sunscreen, armed with beach umbrellas and eskies, we head to the beach for a cooling swim, a game of beach cricket, a feed of fish and chips while seagulls greedily hover.

It’s the perfect holiday for recharging the batteries, beneficial for body and soul, the only holiday where you really, truly get to relax.

Queensland’s Gold Coast is the quintessential holiday playground, catering for people of all ages and interests. Let the days roll by as quickly or as slowly as you wish, surfing, swimming and enjoying long walks on the sand, or getting an adrenaline fix skydiving, go karting, or hanging over the edge of Q1, one of the world’s tallest buildings.

In the heart of Surfers Paradise, moments from the beach, Vibe Hotel Gold Coast is great for a family getaway. Kids love splashing about in the pool and it’s a short drive to Sea World, Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World and other theme parks.

Culture buffs appreciate the hotel’s proximity to HOTA, the swanky new Home of the Arts, while nature lovers marvel at the lush rainforests, waterfalls and hiking trails less than an hour’s drive away. Food and wine lovers have a plethora of restaurants, cafés, upscale bars and craft breweries to choose from.

Similarly blessed, the Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough provides the perfect family getaway, with guests able to relax at one of Western Australia’s most popular beaches yet close enough to downtown Perth, Fremantle and Rottnest Island to visit in a day.

With 50 kilometres of coastline, Perth has an enviable choice of beaches, but the soft white sands of Scarborough are hard to beat. The foreshore boasts a lagoon-style pool, state-of-the-art playground, and skateboard, tennis and basketball facilities. From the hotel’s prime beachfront spot, watching the evening sun dip spectacularly into the ocean is a treat you can never tire of.

Holidaymakers have a choice of wonderful beaches in and around Sydney, NSW, along with cool bars, restaurants and cafés. Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach is ideally located just metres from Bondi Beach and only 20 minutes’ drive from Sydney’s CBD. Enjoy brunch - Bondi’s favourite meal - downstairs at Bills or cook up a delicious meal in your hotel apartment with the array of fresh produce on offer at the local Bondi Farmers Market. Go for an early morning swim at picturesque Bondi Icebergs or tackle the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. 

Also situated in one of Sydney's beautiful beachside suburbs is Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee Sydney, just 200-metres from the Coogee Beach. 

Step outside the hotel’s front door and explore the suburb’s relaxed beachside dining, enjoy a swim and a massage at beautiful Wylie’s Baths, or follow the underwater nature trail at Gordons Bay. Venture on a coastal walk, take a bus into the CBD, and end your day with a rooftop cocktail at the Coogee Pavilion. 

Just as the Sydney beachside hotels, Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong is also a great base for beach swims, foreshore walks and coastal and country drives. The 140-kilometre Grand Pacific Drive passes through Wollongong and along the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge.

Just a few blocks back from the Adina, Wollongong City Beach is very popular, as is North Wollongong Beach. Lake Illawarra to the south is popular for water sports while Stanwell Tops is famous for hang-gliding and paragliding. Secluded Stanwell Park Beach is popular with families.

Whichever beach getaway you choose, set aside some time for a digital detox. Studies have shown that being constantly ‘plugged in’ leads to stress, depression and sleep loss. Enjoy your holiday the old-fashioned way.