01/08/17 - Q1 building SkyPoint observation deck
Anyone who has ever visited the Gold Coast, or seen pictures of Surfer’s paradise, has seen the Q1 building. At 1058 ft, it is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, dominating the Gold Coast skyline, and it can be seen for miles. Obviously, the views from the observation deck, 235m above the beach, are unrivaled, so of course we had to go and see it for ourselves.’
The weather here is always warm, always sunny, and always clear, so we didn’t have to worry about not being able to see anything once we got up there. The lift takes you up to the 77th floor in 43 seconds, and for those who are interested, and not scared of lifts, or heights, a video on the ceiling of the elevator shows the ascent up the elevator shaft, as though you were looking through glass. Once you reach the observation deck, you are treated to breathtaking 360 degree views. To the north is Surfer’s Paradise and Brisbane, looking east you can see nothing but beautiful blue ocean, to the south, you can see to Coolangatta, and if you look west, you can see the mountains of the hinterland, and the rivers that spread throughout the region.
As well as the stunning views, there’s loads of information provided about the region, and the building itself. You can stand in the direction of Toronto or Japan and know how many km away they are, there are travel tips, destination guides, and interesting facts about the construction of the tower. If you fancy, you can also eat and drink up there. It is possible to purchase day and night entry, which allows you to visit during the day for the views, and return at night to enjoy a drink, 770 ft above Surfer’s Paradise.
For the braver ones, there is the opportunity to do the SkyWalk Climb. Australia’s highest external building climb offers you the opportunity to climb steps to a height of 270m (885ft) above sea level, on the outisde of the building, enjoy the views, and have your picture taken. We quite fancied it but having seen it up close, I’m not so sure anymore, you’d definitely have jelly legs!
I enjoyed the visit to the observation deck, the views were spectacular, and I’ll struggle to find better during my time here. But I will say that I found it a bit on the pricey side. An adult general admission ticket is $24, almost £15, for one person to just look out the window! Don’t get me wrong, the views are amazing, I just wish they would lower the price so that more people could enjoy them
