We recently enjoyed a weekend away at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. It may only be about 2.5 hours drive from our home on the Sunshine Coast but it really is completely different and makes for an exciting mini-break.
We opted to stay at Broadbeach because of its central location, yet it’s far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Surfers Paradise that it’s still a relaxing, peaceful break.
Broadbeach: An ideal base for exploring the Gold Coast:
The beautiful beach at Broadbeach
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
Broadbeach has a stunning patrolled white sand beach, making it the perfect spot to relax and take a dip in the Pacific Ocean (remember to swim between the Surf Lifesavers’ red and yellow flags). It’s still popular but not nearly as busy as Surfers Paradise, so it makes for the perfect compromise of pristine white sand, while still boasting the convenience of having your hotel and a wide range of cafes and restaurants only a few steps away.
SHOPPING
If you’re looking for a spot of retail therapy, you needn’t look far. Pacific Fair is just across the Gold Coast Highway and offers an expansive collection of luxury, iconic global brands and leading Australian retailers. Having previously lived in London for 10 years, we made a bee-line for our old favourite H&M, but you’ll find pretty much all of the big chains at Pacific Fair. (FYI: It also offers a free shopping shuttle service for visitors from as far north as QT Surfers Paradise and south to Nobby Beach.)
The view from SkyPoint
SURFERS PARADISE & SKY POINT ARE ONLY A SHORT WALK
If you do want to visit the tourist hot spot of Surfers Paradise or check out the spectacular view from the top of SkyPoint, it’s only a short stroll along the beach or beachfront footpath. Yet, because you aren’t in the heart of Surfers, you’re less likely to have your sleep broken by late night/early morning revellers. And, if you get up early enough for sunrise, you’ll also likely be treated with beautiful golden reflections of the Broadbeach and Surfers’ skyscrapers in the wet sand at the water’s edge.
FOOD & DRINK
A range of top quality cuisines to meet all budgets can all be found in Broadbeach. We enjoyed a morning coffee from No Name Lane, and were recommended to try out Mecca Bah for delicious Mediterranean style food and Gemelli’s Italian for a casual, authentic Italian, or the slightly more upmarket Social Eating House. But given the stunning views from our room at Pepper Broadbeach and the fact we were there with our young children who were a bit tired after a big day exploring the area, we opted to enjoy dinner in our room to take advantage of the view. There’s a range of takeaway options in the area. We tried tacos from Guzman y Gomez and pizza from Crust. There is also a BWS bottle shop in the Oasis Shopping Centre, just off the Broadbeach beach front if you want to enjoy a drink in your room.
The view of sunrise over Surfers Paradise from Broadbeach.
YOU CAN TRY TO MAKE IT RICH
The Star Gold Coast (previously known as Jupiters Casino) is in the heart of Broadbeach, so if you’d like to have a roll of the dice and try your luck at striking it rich, you can. (Remember to gamble responsibly!) Arguably a better feature is the access to the wide range of dining, live entertainment and big name acts that regularly play at The Star. So, if you’re looking for a bit of nightlife on your doorstep, The Star is a great option.
G LINK (AKA LIGHT RAIL)
You can easily get around from Broadbeach by hopping on the G Link (ie the Gold Coast Light Rail public transport system) which runs from Broadbeach South all the way north to the Gold Coast University Hospital. It’s an ideal way to get up to Surfers Paradise if you don’t want to walk and/or want a novelty ride to entertain the kids.
BURLEIGH AND MORE BEUTIFUL BEACHES
Take a short drive south and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches. We highly recommend stopping to take in the view from Mick Schamburg Park, which is an easy walk and offers stunning views both north and south from the lookouts. Next stop should be the iconic Burleigh Heads. You can enjoy lunch overlooking the water at the Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Club, or go a little more upmarket and dine almost on the sand at Oskars on Burleigh or Rick Shores (very yummy!) The headland is also an ideal spot to watch the sunset, with views of Surfers Paradise in the distance.
*Information correct at the time of publication.
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