A multi-million-dollar refurbishment at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Golden Beach has made this resort feel shiny and new, with refurbished rooms and an attractive pool area where everyone has room to relax and swim. Easy pool access with no stairs and a strollable location make this the perfect resort for over 50s and multigenerational groups.
Located on the foreshore of Golden Beach, the Wyndham Golden Beach on the Sunshine Coast offers a quiet coastal ambience that we really enjoyed during our midweek winter stay. However, as it was low season and the weather was chilly, we didn’t think we needed to take the advice of the resort and pre-book our activities or restaurants. But it was lucky we did!
We only just managed to get the last carpark downstairs (parking is free), a table at the Copper Spoon Thai restaurant at the resort and complimentary electric bike hire. It wasn’t long before we realised that Club Wyndham Golden Beach is a special little getaway spot for those in the know who want a bargain stay in beautiful surrounds on the Sunshine Coast.
Speaking of Club Wyndham, this resort is unique in that it operates as a timeshare and a regular hotel, with some of the timeshare units available for hotel guests to rent. The advantage of this is hotel guests get to enjoy the flash timeshare facilities and things like bike hire for just $5 an hour (it’s free for timeshare guests) for the price of a regular room. If you want to book a hotel room, you can do it via the hotel website the same as you would for a regular resort stay. Or you can opt for vacation ownership and book your holiday using vacation credits.
At check-in, we are given a warm welcome and smile, along with a full rundown of the resort facilities, restaurant opening times, activities on offer and our room keys. Our accommodation was a refurbished one-bedroom ocean view studio room on the fourth floor. The resort has a mix of studio rooms and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments across multiple floors. All rooms have water views except the rooms on the lower floors which offer pool and garden views. Still nice, but not as nice as the view from up higher.
Arriving at our room, we were impressed and surprised by its thoughtful layout, shiny new bathroom, furnishings and kitchenette. We were also surprised by the view, which offered a stunning beach and seascape complete with pelicans, despite our accommodation only being on level 4. Another reason we loved this renovated hotel is it’s an older resort. Hotel rooms were much bigger 20+ years ago, so our renovated accommodation was extremely spacious.
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Another feature of the hotel rooms that we liked was the clever movable balcony shutters that are adjustable for morning sun or bright water reflections while you’re enjoying the outdoor area. There was a table and chairs for four too. The clever design of the studio made great use of space and was able to accommodate four people, although the foldout bed was probably better suited to children than a couple of full size adults.
Taking in our surroundings from the balcony, we noticed a steady stream of walkers, bikes and scooters, plus kayakers and paddleboarders taking in this idyllic beachside area which had a bike path that ran all the way up to Caloundra and beyond and a bay that was perfect for paddling. There is also a lovely walking track through the wetlands just down from the hotel.
A big bonus with staying at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Golden Beach is that electric and standard bikes, kayaks and paddleboards are all available for hire. As we discovered, these are popular, so book ahead if you want to do an activity at a particular time. As the resort attracts a more mature demographic, the vibe was relaxed with a laid back vibe, aside from the service which was spot on and very proactive throughout the hotel.
Also of note is the area around the Wyndham Golden Beach, which was another big surprise. There is a dizzying amount of fantastic dining, shopping and cafes within a few hundred metres walk of the resort. Chatting with the lovely staff, we received a list of the best coffee and dining do-not-miss spots, such as Cafe Sisily for excellent pastries and The Real Grocer & Little Sister Eatery for coffee.
On our first night, we had dinner at the in-house Copper Spoon Thai Restaurant & Bar which was terrific. We highly recommend dining here during your stay, the restaurant also does takeout. It was rainy on the night we dined so it was a bonus being able to get great Thai food just downstairs. The following night we enjoyed excellent Indian dishes at Dilon’s Kitchen. Both restaurants are popular for a reason so remember to book, even when it is low season.
Other facilities at the Ramada Golden Beach include a large resort-style heated pool and spa, laundry room, fitness centre, steam room, games room, tennis and pickleball courts and BBQ area. There is also an on-site spa offering massages, facials and detox treatments on level two of the resort, but booking is highly recommended.
Overall, I don’t want to recommend this property to anyone. Not because it wasn’t any good, but because it was so fantastic that I want to keep it a secret for as long as possible! Ramada Resort by Wyndham Golden Beach offers incredible value for money in a great location, with fantastic dining and coffee close by. This is the kind of place that travellers with Champagne tastes travelling on a beer budget dream of. Our first visit definitely won’t be our last.
Disclosure: The writers stayed as guests of Wyndham and received a credit towards their meal at Copper Spoon Thai Restaurant & Bar. They would not hesitate to stay at this resort and dine at the surrounding eateries again at their own expense and are already planning another visit.
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