So I’m flying alone to Gold Coast on the first weekend of July for the Gold Coast Marathon but I have no clue what I should do for the rest of the time I’m there. The only ideas I’ve got so far is have dinner at Dracula’s and possible visit a theme park 😂. I had a look at the skypoint climb but reviews have hinted that you basically get an elevator to the top and walk at most 100 steps up.
Any Touristy Suggestions for Gold Coast in July?
SlappersOnly on 26/05/2023 - 09:31
Comments
Carrara Markets
Have you been recently? I remember these were amazing about 10-15 years ago. I moved to Brisbane and went maybe 2-3 years ago and they were terrible. Filled with junk like Paddy’s Market in Sydney.
i went about 8 years ago
Yeah ok. Maybe I missed the boat. It was very run down last time I went :(
Went a few weeks ago, it's still terrible. Won't be going back and wouldn't recommend.
Possibly the worst thing to do on the GC unless you have young kids and want to take them for a pony ride - even then there are better options
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
I rate pac fair, actually a pretty nice shopping centre after the refurbs and a nice 1 stop destination as it has some premium brands you wouldn’t see in a normal suburban westfield
Robina Town Centre is pretty nice too as a shopping centre, and Harbour Town in Biggera Waters for some bargains (DFO style outlet stores).
Used to have a Harbour town in Melbourne. Found many good bargains there over the years. It's been rebranded for a few years now and is no longer outlet worthy. Mainly just RRP.
Not arguing but … visiting the Gold COAST and spending time INSIDE air conditioned shopping centers? Bet you Melbourne, Sydney and even Brisbane must have BETTER shopping centers.
Yes they are nice, some are very nice, but a shopping center is a shopping center all over the world. Same but different. And still exactly the same.How about something unusual and forgotten: VISITING THE BEACH!
Sandy, clean, virtually empty of people, a never_ending strip of white, fine sand.
Watch out for the seemingly timid ocean. Has an appetite for careless tourists.Carrara? Please don't!
Buy property there if that desperate, but that's it. Carrara Markets started as a big and nice open fruit shop (weekends mainly). Circus plus now.How about something unusual and forgotten: VISITING THE BEACH!
I can do that in Melbourne.
Sandy, clean, virtually empty of people
same……but different.
Been there, done that.
Yes, the "beach" in Melbourne is as attractive as the beach in Easter Patagonia … in winter, at night …
Yes, different.BUT … Gold Coast beaches are even more different … as in a different difference … a welcome difference … some call it "actually nice" :]
Yes, the "beach" in Melbourne is as attractive as the beach in Easter Patagonia
You are obviously going to the wrong ones.
Pentagon Grand
I went to movie world solo last time I was in the area
I’m pretty sure I’ve been to dreamworld half a dozen times but have never been to movie world before
movie world solo
Is movie world solo any different to the original movie world?
Movie world original is sponsored by Coca-Cola
This concludes @jv’s Gold Coast tour
Lol. I’ll be sure to mention their name so they get the referral commission.
The theme parks suck these days. Overcrowded and half the rides are shut or broken down. Surfers is gross. Straddie is cool, hinterland is great.
Went to Dreamworld last Sunday, first time back in more than 30 years when I was a kid. It's just a depressing run down dump. Half the rides were closed either permanently or for maintenance. Most of the food places were closed as well except for the main eating area. No vibe around the place either, no live shows or street entertainers.
Yet, the kids still liked it and want to go back soon!I was at Dreamworld with my mum on the 1st of May and we were extremely disappointed. Mum and used to loved seeing Tiger Island but even that wes depressing. Tigers looked like they weren't happy and only 1 show per day to show what the handlers trained them to do. Nothing like it used to be.
As mentioned by others, most food places were closed and if they weren't there was very little selection. Most of the rides were also shut down for maintenance or permanently.
I was really disappointed in how run down and empty it was on a public holiday.
The best part was the Lego shop on the way out but I won't be going back there any time soon unfortunately.
Does anyone know if Seaworld is still a good one to goto for adults?
May I request a few more details: where are you staying; for how long; will you have wheels; are you a foodie; do you like to do retail when you're travelling; do you prefer natural wonders over man-made?
Qube Resort Broadbeach,
no wheels,
Saturday and Sunday with early flight Monday,
not a big foodie but could always try,
Rarely shop, I’m kind of a Kmart dresser 😂
Natural wonders would be interesting but they seen more accessible with a car.Sat: carbo loading, takeaway pasta from Gemelli Broadbeach
Sun: race day + recovery, take the light rail to Surfers Paradise, visit the iconic beachfront, get a quick bite at Seascape Bistro, head back to Broadbeach and wander through the Casino - but be wary the dining options there aren't great. For a light meal go to Betty's Burgers in Pacific Fair or the Lamb Shop in Oracle Boulevard. It's pretty busy on that weekend with accommodation 100% booked.Cheers. I went with a truffle deluxe burger at Betty’s burger for lunch
Maybe book a day tour to Tamborine mountain, do the skywalk, visit couple of falls and ended with a glow worm tour?
glow worm tour?
You know they are not really worms, right?
I’ve commented below, most of these are accessible via easy bus from broadie, especially Burleigh which is well worth while. Ubers are also very available.
You can hire a bike and there is a bike lane all the way down hedges ave (check out the mansions, stop for a coffee or breaky at BSKT) and cycle to Burleigh, just need to go around north Burleigh headland and the there’s a cycle path all the way along the esplanade to Burleigh hill where you can either do the walk or get some fish and chips and admire the view.Matsuzuka (sp) teppanyaki, on the water in Labrador. Should be able to get there by public transport I think.
Matching tats?
Lip fillers?The beach - glorious in winter.
Walk around Burleigh headland down to Tallebudgera Creek
The top of HOTA has nice views and is free
Visit one of the fashionable bakeries like Tarte, Paddock or Bam Bam
Have a drink at Burleigh pavilion or one of the SLS clubs over looking the beach
Go see alley rock and elephant rock at currumbin and have a surf at currumbin alley (if you don’t surf you can do lessons, hire a board, great spot for beginners)
Paddle board at talle creek, Currumbin creek or buds beachI rate Bam Bam, Custard Canteen & Cubby Bakehouse but I don't think OP can fit them into a race weekend.
Yes true…. All good places too.
Did you ever have che Che chicken? I miss that place.
I had it when it was in Broadbeach I think, circa 2013, I think it moved to Kirra later - yep tasty.
Nearest airport,then somewhere nice?
Is it too cold to snorkel? That's got to be the ultimate tourist activity.
Good point. It’s almost too cold for me to leave the house right now. I’m assuming water at the coast would be terrible 😂
It’s lovely - I’ve been in twice this week.
The water temp is fine to swim all year round on the Goldy (IMHO) of course some choose not to. I went in this week, just swimmers no wetsuit. The Gold Coast is not typically great for snorkelling as its surf beaches for the most part. The creeks you can snorkel, but there’s not a lot to see unlike the reef etc. The places with better snorkelling are also popular with bull sharks. The snorkelling with baby hammerheads as recently seen in the media is a rarity, the surf is often too big to snorkel in that spot
Catch a canal cruise if you're interested in housing or architecture, or just in speculating how people earned the money for some of the waterfront homes (my money is on drugs). If you can get there, treat yourself to lunch or dinner at Georges Paragon restaurant at Sanctuary Cove.
Thanks to everyone who responded. Definitely got some googling and event planning to do.
Go to the beach and watch it erode.
If you are into cars amdmo.eynisnr am o next or hoj want to treat yourself, there is a driving experience on red balloon. It I think you can also do it via other sites. They take you through Tamborine and you can have a drive in a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Includes a lesson.
Plenty to explore in the hinterland: waterfalls,walks, etc.
A whale watching cruise can be a good experience.
Can anyone tell me whether the Skypoint breakfast buffet and day pass is worth checking out or is there a better option for a nice view with a nice late breakfast / early lunch?
I’ve never done the Skypoint one but it seems to be good value to include breakfast and a view noting that it’s not really a late breakfast - ends at 10:30am (not sure if that’s last sitting or close time)
If you like buffets there’s also Akoya at Langham that has a view (more expensive, but perhaps better food)
19 at Star has a breakfast menu (not buffet) also not really late breakfast https://www.star.com.au/goldcoast/eat-and-drink/restaurants/…
Similarly Hyde Paradiso at Broadbeach does breakfast and is elevated enough for a view.
There’s countless cafes along the beach but most have road in between them and the beach or aren’t elevated enough for a view. Exceptions are probably surfers paradise slsc which you can see the beach from (road in between) or the cafe at Kurrawa surf club which is right next to the beach but not elevated.
Further south either Burleigh or North Burleigh surf clubs have nice views and do breaky.
I would probably just go for breaky without the view at one of the better cafes and go to the beach for the view after, but I’m a local. I reckon the Skypoint would be a pretty good experience but imagine the food would be low tier compared to a top notch breakfast cafe.
Also note if you’re not from QLD, Queenslanders seem to do breakfast early, and then ‘brunch’ is kind of really at lunch time with lunch foods not breakfast food (this was a mindset shift for me when moving here). You will find cafes with an all day menu, but most in a premium position will have dedicate lunch and dinner menus, some which are more premium locations and venues only offer set menus for brunch.
Seems you're only free Sunday after the Marathon before your early flight Monday. A short walk east of Qube is Kurrawa Surf Club with ocean views and balcony dining or a little further north along the beach walkway (30mins) is the smaller Northcliffe Surf Club, again with ocean views and dining. You'd pass a small beachfront cafe called 26&Sunny under The Langham Hotel. Sunday Pacific Fair closes "early" at 5pm. Skypoint for an hour would be worth it just for the views but it's enclosed - not so the food.
jump on group on. see what merchants are offering for local attractions.
whale watching, top golf are always a couple of good ones to do.