It might also be worth considering the Sunshine Coast or Port Douglas for places to get away - both have a range of resorts available, with their own beach frontage (and both destinations are definitely quiter and more laid back than the Gold Coast). Noosa and Port Douglas both have a good range of places serving quality food as well, so tick those boxes as well. Finally, both are well connected flight-wise with Sydney too - Port Douglas with Cairns (and all carriers fly from there to Sydney), and Sunshine Coast either direct (on Jetstar or Virgin Blue) or just an hour's drive to Brisbane (and then on Qantas from there).