Climb the tallest residential tower in the southern hemisphere
Cutting 270 metres skyward, the Q1 building is one of the most iconic landmarks on the Gold Coast and the tallest residential tower in the southern hemisphere. The best thing about it is that you can climb it. Arriving after lunch, I am met by Josh from SkyPoint Climb, who steps me into what looks like a moon suit (I mean, these things are supposed to keep you alive in harsh environments, right?) and a full-body harness. From here, the only way is up.
We launch to level 77 in SkyPoint’s high-speed elevator, one of the fastest in Australia. Once tethered to the railings, we proceed to complete a further 30-metre climb on the outside of the building. The Gold Coast skyline is awash in sunshine and Josh chats about points of interest on the horizon while we adjust to the dizzying heights surrounding us. Winding through the suburbs below, five river systems and over 270km of navigable waterways radiate skywards. That adds up to nine times more canals than Venice in Italy. Perhaps it’s this that contributes to the destination being a major film hub, producing 75% of movies in Queensland and being Australia’s most biologically diverse city, home to more than 1300 animal species and 1700 plant species.
“It really is quite high, isn’t it?” my adult daughter, Bobbie, says delicately, leaning out from the platform where high-rises become low-rises below us.