Home is where the heart is

Paul Burt is one of Robina’s most recognisable residents. ‘Burty’ – as he’s affectionately known – started his media career in 1993, and has clocked up more than 20 years in the TV industry; most notably presenting weather, surf, boating and fishing reports for Australia’s major media networks.  Burty has since come full circle, joining the Seven News team in 2013 – the station where he landed his first on-air gig.

Despite plenty of time spent travelling around the region for work, Burty loves nothing more than returning home to the Coast and the Robina house he shares with his family – including his wife, Elissa, and their two sons.

The insideR team recently caught up with Paul Burt in his Robina back yard to chat about his Gold Coast heritage and find out what his favourite Robina haunts are.

How long have you lived on the Gold Coast for?

I have lived on the Gold Coast my entire life, attending school at Labrador Primary School and Southport High, before moving to Coombabah High School when it opened.

My wife, Elissa, and I moved to Robina 11 years ago. It’s the perfect place to raise a family, with our two beautiful boys – 14-year-old Declan and 8-year-old Caelan – and two dogs – Barney and Ohana.

What do you love about the city, particularly Robina?

The Gold Coast has so much to offer. We travel a lot as a family but it is so nice to come back home. As Robina residents, we have so much variety at our fingertips. For example, if you choose to go to beach, it’s only minutes to Miami and in the other direction, it’s about the same amount of time to Mudgeeraba – the gateway to the hinterland. It takes less than 15 minutes to travel to Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta, and we are only a few minutes from the M1 if you need to travel to Brisbane.

Since moving to the suburb, we have witnessed so much growth, particularly around CBDRobina. Local Councillor Hermann Vorster is fantastic. Everything is done beautifully here; the streets are clean, it’s well-presented and laid-out, and it boasts great amenities, including schools and sporting fields.

What are some of the benefits of living in Robina?

I love the ‘community’ feel of Robina. It’s close to everything, but offers somewhat of a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle – the area is secluded, quiet and provides plenty of space, with bigger blocks and a range of housing.  There’s such a wide demographic here; including multi-million dollar homes and waterfront properties. There’s something for everyone.

What are your favourite venues to shop and dine?

Robina Town Centre offers a bit of everything. My family and I love to grab some lunch there, catch a movie and do some shopping too.

For coffee and a bite to eat, one of my favourite Robina haunts is The Lott Urban Dining & Espresso Bar, off Ron Penhaligon Way.  We are also fans of a really lovely restaurant called Kampung Malay, where I’ll usually order the Meleccan chicken curry.

What’s your ‘insideR’ tip for Robina?

The fishing here is red-hot, with some of the lakes behind Robina loaded with bass. You might even find a few barramundi lurking in the water that people have let go.

And if you’re keen to enjoy the great outdoors, why not hit one of the many tracks or trails? They’re ideal for everyone, whether you’re a bike rider, jogger, walker or family pushing a pram.