Beaches & Outdoors

The tree might still be up (guilty), but Christmas is done and dusted! January on the Gold Coast is all about slowing down and soaking up summer. Think long beach days, chilled nights and saying yes to spontaneous plans. School holidays are in full swing, Australia Day long weekend is incoming, and there’s no shortage of things to do across the city! From horse racing and food festivals to live music, family entertainment and the much loved weekly markets — January is the perfect time to be out and about. If you’re visiting or planning a staycation, here are all the January events and markets on the Gold Coast you’ll want to add to your calendar: TAB Magic Millions Carnival When: 7 – 20 January Where: Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall What to expect: One of the biggest events on the Gold Coast calendar, Magic Millions is more than just racing. It’s a time to dress up, enjoy those long lunches, and trying to not spend all your winnings at the after party drinks. A Gold Coast summer staple - check out the official website for more event details. Australian Seniors Tennis Championships When: Early January Where: Gold Coast (various venues) What to expect: A mix of fun and competitive matches, with a few familiar faces.. Watch former tennis greats back on the court, bringing plenty of energy and entertainment. Easy to watch, great atmosphere… Voltaren recommended. L.A.B & Stan Walker When: 3 January Where: Broadwater Parklands What to expect: Summer festival vibes, food trucks, drinks and live music by L.A.B and Stan Walker. Dancing in the Shadows of Motown When: 10 January Where: The Star Gold Coast What to expect: A feel good night of Motown classics, smooth vocals and familiar hits. Dress up, sing along, and get your steps done while dancing the night away! Revolve Festival When: 24 January Where: Carrara Markets What to expect: One for the dance music lovers, with performances by 2HOT2PLAY, BIG WETT, CHARLIE SHELL, CHOOMBA, DATSKO, DJ ASSAULT and more. Tickets are essential - grab yours from Megatix . The Taste Festival Gold Coast When: 23 – 26 January Where: Currumbin RSL What to expect: Four days of food, drinks and good times? Yes please! The Taste Festival is coming to the Currumbin RSL showcasing local wine, spirits, craft producers and gourmet eats. Ideal for a long weekend catch up, the Currumbin RSL has stunning views and a playground to keep the kids busy while you catch up. Australia Day Celebrations When: 26 January Where: HOTA, Broadwater Parklands & across the Gold Coast What to expect: A day of family friendly fun! HOTA will be putting on a *FREE* event with live music, activities, local performers and food trucks. Scattered around the rest of the city you’ll find many venues hosting their own Australia Day celebrations with music, set menus & events. Gold Coast Markets to Visit in January... No matter the month, the Gold Coast’s market scene never disappoints! From pre-loved fashion to wholesome farmers markets, every weekend there are multiple options to choose from. The Village Markets When: 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month, 8am – 1pm Where: Burleigh Heads State School The vibe: Ever wanted to shop inside an influencer’s wardrobe? The Village Markets are known for their incredible range of preloved fashion, local labels, unique gifts and food stalls. A must visit for the bargain hunters! Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets When: Every Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 4pm Where: The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise The vibe: The classic Gold Coast beach markets, wander through stalls of local brands, handmade goods and sweet treats. Broadbeach Art & Craft Markets When: 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month, 8am – 2pm Where: Pratten Park, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach The vibe: One of the most popular family-friendly markets on the Gold Coast. Expect handmade art, jewellery, gifts, local designers and plenty of food options! HOTA Farmers & Artisan Markets When: Every Sunday, 6am – 11:30am Where: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise The vibe: Fresh produce, artisan goods, live music and a wholesome Sunday morning atmosphere. Perfect for stocking up on local produce for an afternoon platter or enjoying breakfast outside before exploring the city. That’s all for an action packed January! Check back next month for your go to Gold Coast February guide.

If you need your retail therapy fix, the Gold Coast is the place to be. From ultra famous malls and markets, to beachside boutiques and vintage stores - there is something for every type of shopper. Think of this guide as your new money spending bestie, full of all the hidden gems and local favourite boutiques just waiting to be explored. Whether you're after a full day mall mission or a slow morning browse, I’ve rounded up all my favourite spots... Famous Gold Coast Shopping Centres Pacific Fair (Broadbeach) The one and only. If someone says they’re ‘going shopping on the Gold Coast ’, 9 times out of 10 they’re probably going to Pacific Fair. Think over 400 stores, a massive movie theatre, casual and fine dining, and every brand you can imagine. You’ll find Mecca, Sephora, Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, Culture Kings, Homebodii, designer labels, department stores, and so many boutiques. You will need to clear a full day in your schedule to make the most out of the experience. Robina Town Centre (Robina) A little more chilled but still packed with everything. I choose Robina when I want a big mall without the chaos. There’s endless restaurants, a food court, David Jones, Mecca, Sephora, Apple , plus all the big-name brands. Super easy to navigate and heaps of parking. It’s also home to my favourite movie theatre, and has a row of great restaurants along the man made lake. If you are a gamer, or nostalgic for the old times, be sure to check out Super Retro games. Harbour Town Premium Outlets (Biggera Waters) If you are a bargain hunter, add this stop to your list. With over 220 outlet stores, Harbour Town is home to discounted designer labels, sportswear, sunglasses, homewares and everything in between. It’s a bit of drive to get to, but the best spot for outlet shopping on the Gold Coast. For Boutiques, Vintage Stores & Slow Shopping... Burleigh Heads If you prefer slow mornings and plenty of coffee breaks while you browse, Burleigh will be your destination of choice. Take your time to explore James street and surroundings - it’s a hub of boutiques, cafés and restaurants. You’ll find Emte, Bird on a Wire, Kivari, Freedom Store, St Harlowe, Maison & Maison and plenty of other unique finds. If you’re making a day of it, break for lunch at Local or treat yourself to post shopping cocktails at the Burleigh Pav . Palm Beach Palm Beach is the place to shop for the vintage lovers and those who like putting in the work for those unique finds. You’ll find Billy Bones Club, Bonita Boutique, White Bohemian, Hand on My Heart , plus lots of great second hand stores hidden between cafés and restaurants. Coolangatta Coolangatta has more of a relaxed, old school beach vibe and its shops reflect the pace. At The Strand and surrounding streets you’ll find plenty of op shops and tropical boutiques like Beach and Beyond , Things We Love, Olive and Vern and Saba Lifestyle . There is the iconic Boardriders Surf Store , and a handful of surf clubs for quick lunch or happy hour post shop. Don’t forget to stop in at Kirra while you are down that end of town, home to boho heaven Gypsy and the Muse Boutique. For the Homewares Hunters Warning: The Gold Coast is dangerous if you love homewares and knick knacks. You may need to add on some extra checked in baggage just to get everything home. Cotton Living (Kirra) A coastal chic homewares store with its own French coffee patisserie? Say less. Maison & Maison (Burleigh) One for the boho lovers - think Moroccan rugs, jewellery, cushions, candles and more. St Barts (Burleigh Heads) It can be tricky to find as it’s hidden in Burleigh’s warehouse district, but it is worth the visit. Unique homewares, décor, furniture, plus a cute terrace café and interior styling services. Kira & Kira (Burleigh Heads) Hidden halfway down a side street, it’s a must visit if you love architectural, earthy styled pieces and artwork. Bridal Shopping on the Gold Coast The GC is often overlooked for Bridal shopping trips, but we are home to some of Australia’s most well known designers and accessories labels. If you are hoping to ‘say yes to the dress’ while on holiday, be sure to check out: Grace Loves Lace (Burleigh Heads) Made With Love Bridal (Burleigh Heads) The Bridal Lounge (Southport) Homebodii (Pacific Fair) With enough recommendations to put a solid dent in your credit card, we hope you have found a new favourite and enjoy your time exploring the Gold Coast!

Mariah Carey is everywhere, shops are busy, staff are stressed — it’s officially Holiday Season ! December on the Gold Coast is an exciting month; schoolies week two is still ongoing, Christmas parties, staff celebrations and festive markets officially begin. Spilt Milk festival hits the Gold Coast, and everyone gets ready for a month of saying 'yes' to letting their hair down. We are spoilt for choice with our regular markets on the Gold Coast, and in December they get even sweeter! Think additional pop up markets, twilight settings, festive themed eats and drinks. Here are all the December events and markets you'll want to add to your calendar: Majors Christmas Carols at HOTA When: 6–7 December, 4:00pm–9:00pm Where: HOTA - Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise What to expect: Fireworks, live performances, carol singing, children’s entertainment and one of the largest public Christmas display experiences on the Gold Coast. Carols on the Lawn When: 11 December, 5:00pm–8:00pm Where: Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast What to expect: Waterfront lawn seating, live Christmas music, carol singing and family entertainment in one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic resort precincts. Astra Lumina Christmas Village When: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout December, 6:15pm–8:15pm Where: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary What to expect: An immersive Christmas-themed light trail experience set within the rainforest, featuring food trucks, pop-up stalls and one of the most visually unique holiday installations in South East Queensland. Schoolies Week Two Dates: 29 November–6 December 2025 Where: Primarily Surfers Paradise event venues and entertainment precincts The Vibe: Week Two continues at a notably slower pace than the first week. Traditionally reserved for interstate graduates, this period sees smaller crowds while still offering the signature Schoolies atmosphere across official event partners,. Spilt Milk Festival When: 14 December Where: Gold Coast Sports Precinct Headliners: Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Sara Landry, Dominic Fike, ScHoolboy Q Local performers: IXARAS, JJ4K, KESSIN and SADBOY GC Potters Arts and Crafts Market When: 7 December, 8:00am–1:00pm Where: Gold Coast Potters Association, Ashmore Road, Benowa What to expect: Brought to you by the Gold Coast Potters Association, this market is the perfect Christmas present hunting ground! Handmade ceramics, art, crafts, food trucks, and live music. Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets When: 12–13 December, from 4:00pm Where: The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise What to expect: Sunset shopping, local fashion labels, artisan gifts, market food and a special summer Christmas markets setting along the beachfront. HOTA Christmas Twilight Markets When: 20 December, 4:00pm–9:00pm Where: Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise What to expect: A limited-edition twilight Christmas market featuring handmade gifts, pop-up vendors, street food and a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere. GC Christmas Markets When: 19–21 December, 4:00pm–10:00pm Where: Macintosh Island Park What to expect: The largest Christmas markets event on the Gold Coast including children’s activities, handcrafted gifts, live entertainment and seasonal stage acts. Dreamworld Christmas Markets When: Fridays and Saturdays throughout December, 4:00pm–9:00pm Where: Coomera, Gold Coast What to expect: A full theme-park transformation featuring holiday stage shows, Santa meet-and-greets, Christmas shopping stalls, festive dining and evening entertainment. We wish everyone a safe, happy and fun filled December!

Welcome to part three of our Live Like a Local blog series! One of the worst feelings after a holiday is realising you hardly explored your destination, and there was much more to see. While we are all for encouraging you to come back again (and again) our aim is to make sure you pack the most into each and every Gold Coast visit. The Gold Coast is one of those rare places where each suburb carries its own vibe, and we're here to help you find your perfect fit. This week, our company founder, Jennifer, is letting you in on all her favourite hidden gems. Spoiler alert : as someone who is always on her laptop and working, she knows exactly where the best ( and strongest ) coffee spots on the Gold Coast are hiding. Jen has been calling the sunny Gold Coast home for 6+ years, with her favourite suburbs to soak up the sunshine being Miami and Mermaid Beach. Here are her tried-and-true Gold Coast insider spots… Go to coffee and brunch spots: Velvet Lounge (Miami) Tip: The booths are super comfy, and it's a great spot to smash out some work and a latte at the same time. Dinner or Drinks with friends: Gemillini (Nobbys Beach) Favourite Place for a Sweet Treat: Getting a Froyo at YOMG (Broadbeach) Favourite Local Beach: The Spit. I love to watch the doggies running around! Best date night spot: Tommys Italian (Currumbin) Tip: The views are amazing, so it's worth making it a date day or getting the early for last light drinks. If it’s a sunny day you’ll find me: Working, or by the pool. Favourite weekend market : It’s been said before, but nothing beats the HOTA markets! Tip: Make sure to get there early, best for parking and snapping up the best baked goods before they sell out. Best-kept secret in your area: Once again I have to say Velvet Lounge! From brunch to dinner, it is always 10/10. Favourite local businesses to support: Baked by Michiko, and Platters & Blooms. We use both regularly whenever we have an office event, and can vouch for how great they are. They know our address well, so if you are looking to have anything delivered as a surprise to make your stay extra special - please reach out to them! IG: baked.by.michiko (send her a DM) IG: plattersandblooms | www.plattersandblooms.com.au That's all for this week - we hope you have found a new favourite to try!

There is nothing worse than leaving a holiday feeling like you barely scratched the surface of your destination. While the tourist spots are popular for a reason, there is so much more to the Gold Coast than what you’ll find on Google or ChatGPT. Our aim is to provide our guests with insider tips on where to visit and what to do on the Gold Coast. We’re hoping that not only will it help you have the best trip possible, but also help support our local community and small businesses. Each fortnight we interview one of our team members — all of whom have different favourites and 'must-dos' to recommend. This week, I’m spilling my very own secret spots, and trust me…I have a lot of secrets to share. While I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, I’ve lived in Sydney, Manila and Indonesia. After all my adventuring, the Gold Coast is well and truly home, and one of the most beautiful places I’ve had the privilege to experience. Depending on what suburb you’re in, the Gold Coast can feel like a completely different city (or country!). We hope you make the most of your time here and get to experience it all. Here are my tried-and-true Gold Coast insider spots… My go to for Coffee and Brunch Tarte (Burleigh or Currumbin) Tip: Burleigh is closer to our Wow Stay properties, but Currumbin has beautiful views by the water. At Currumbin, there’s even a place to hire paddle-boards and venture around the river! Paddock Bakery (Burleigh Heads) Tip: Don’t be afraid of the huge line — it moves fast, and that’s how you know it’s worth it. You must get cookies to take home and put them in the oven to melt. Thank me later. Dinner or Drinks with Friends Etsu (Mermaid Beach) When you first get to Etsu, you’ll think Google Maps is taking you for a ride. Hidden behind the roller door is one of the best Japanese fusion restaurants on the Gold Coast. Food, service, cocktails — all consistently 10/10. Mexicali (Nobby’s Beach) Mexicali ticks all the boxes: great food, perfect share plates, and every possible margarita variety you could want. Located in Nobby’s Beach, it’s an easy choice for bar hopping afterwards. Favourite Place for a Knock-Off Drink For something close to the office, I can’t go past a good old-fashioned Irish pub. My favourites in Surfers Paradise are Waxy’s or Finn McCool’s . For something closer to home, I love Backbone Ba r in Tugun. They have 23+ different craft beers on tap, plus delicious dumplings, karaage chicken and bao buns. Best Date Spots Cooly Breeze (Coolangatta) for fine dining and amazing views, Balboa (Palm Beach) for Italian, or Miami Fish Market for something fancy you can take home. Tip: Miami Fish Market has drool worthy platters and ready to go sashimi packs. Take one down to the beach for the ultimate boujee picnic. Favourite Walk to Do Hedges Avenue in Mermaid Beach is the best street for house oogling. It’s a cruises walk and home to some of the most stunning (and expensive) properties on the Gold Coast. I love doing the walk while pretending I'm picking my future house, then stopping at Rafiki Café for brekky. For beach views, you can't go past the Burleigh Hill Walk. It feels magical walking through the rainforest, and it's worth the climb to the top for views all along the coast. Best-Kept Secret in your area Palominos Deli (Tugun) While it’s a bit out of the way from most of our Wow Stay properties, Palominos Deli is absolutely worth remembering. If you’re on your way to/from the airport, or venturing down south for the day. Tip: You must get there before 11am and order the OG brekky roll with jalapeños. It is so good I’ve officially named it my death-row meal. That's all for part two of our series - I hope I've helped you find a new favourite!

The bottle shops have tripled their supply of cowboy shot buckets…instant noodle sales are front and centre at Woolworths…it can only mean one thing: Schoolies Season is upon us. As an accommodation provider, November on the Gold Coast is one of our busiest (and craziest times) of the year! If you have planned your family holiday for November fear not - Schoolies is so well organised now you’ll hardly even know they are here. There are plenty of events, markets and family friendly spots to escape to, check out our top picks below: NOVEMBER EVENTS Nitro Circus: Off the Rails World Tour When: November 1, 2025 – 7:00 pm Where: People First Stadium The Vibe: A high-octane spectacle of FMX, BMX and scooter stunts, pyrotechnics and non-stop action. Expect adrenaline-filled thrills and big crowds. Surfing State of Origin When: November 15 & 16, 2025 Where: John Laws Park, Burleigh Heads The Vibe: A surf showdown between Queensland & New South Wales, where the top 8 teams battle it out. The local surf clubs will be packed, and it’s a great way to experience local culture. Rolling Sets Festival When: November 29, 2025 Where: Ebenezer Park, Tweed Heads The Vibe: Think coastal music festival meets surf/skate culture. Headliners include Hilltop Hoods, Spacey Jane and the Parcels, with plenty more acts to follow. Lee Kernaghan – Boys From The Bush The Concert When: November 29, 2025 Where: The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach The Vibe: One of Australia’s leading country music acts, expect feel good tunes and plenty of sing alongs. Schoolies Week One & Two Week One: November 22 – 29, 2025 | Week Two: November 29 – December 6 2025 Where: Typically around Surfers Paradise / official Schoolies venues. The Vibe: Two weeks of pure chaos. Just kidding, while it can seem the streets are a little busier than usual it’s an extremely well run event - beach parties, theme nights, concerts and group events. Week One is usually busier as it’s for Queensland students, with numbers dropping off for Week Two / interstate guests. NOVEMBER MARKETS Love Me Again Markets When: November 15, 8am - 12pm Where: Miami Marketta: Hillcrest Parade, Miami The Vibe: One of the best pre-loved fashion markets on the Gold Coast! Grab a coffee, grab a bag, and scout a vintage bargain. The Village Markets When: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, 8am - 1pm Where: Burleigh Heads State School, The Vibe: Ever wanted to shop in an influencer's closet? That’s what the Village Markets are for. A huge range of preloved clothes, plus food stands, local labels and gifts. Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets When: Every Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 4pm Where: The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise The Vibe: Beach vibes, local labels, gifts and market food galore. Come for the sunset, stay for the shopping. B roadbeach Art & Craft Markets When: October 5 & 19, 8am – 2pm Where: Pratten Park, Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach The Vibe: One of the most popular markets on the Gold Coast for families. These markets are full of handmade gifts, art, jewellery, local labels and of course - plenty of food! HOTA Farmers Markets When: Every Sunday, 6am – 11.30am Where: 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise The Vibe: Fresh produce, live music and a relaxed Sunday morning vibe. Perfect for picking up local goods and enjoying breakfast outdoors. Be sure to check back next month for your December go-to guide featuring all the best Holiday Season events!

Discover Gold Coast hidden gems only locals know — from secret surf spots to tucked-away brunch cafés, handpicked by the Wow Stay team.

Gold Coast Events You Can’t Miss 

What to Do on a Rainy Day on the Gold Coast