When is the Gold Coast 500 and how do I get tickets?

The 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026. It is Round 12 of the Repco Supercars Championship and the opening round of the Finals, with 10 drivers still in title contention on Friday and only seven left standing by Sunday night. Tickets come as General Admission, reserved Grandstand seats and behind-the-scenes Paddock Passes, all through the official Supercars site. Children aged 12 and under enter free with a paying adult on General Admission, which makes it one of the better-value big events for families. Book grandstands early if you want a numbered seat at a specific corner, as the best chicane views sell first.

How do we actually get to the circuit from St Tropez?

This is the part the event site can’t tell you: from our front door on Orchid Avenue, you are already inside the fence. The 2.96 kilometre circuit wraps the blocks between the Esplanade and Ferny Avenue, and the main spectator gates are a few minutes’ walk down Cavill Avenue towards the beach. In the week before the race, streets across the precinct close for the concrete-barrier build, so your car is best left in our undercover park for the weekend. Do not plan to drive to a gate; there is nowhere to go. The G:link tram still runs through Surfers for anyone heading to Broadbeach or Main Beach, and on foot you can come and go from the apartment between sessions, which no trackside carpark allows.

Which sessions are worth watching?

The weekend builds. Friday is practice and qualifying, plus the support categories that share the bill, so it is the quietest day to walk the fences and pick your corner. The support bill typically runs alongside the main game across the weekend, with categories such as the Porsche Carrera Cup, S5000 open-wheelers and the V8 SuperUtes filling the track between Supercars sessions, so there is barely a dull moment on the timetable. Saturday and Sunday each carry a 250 kilometre championship race, and those are the sessions the 200,000-strong crowd comes for, engines echoing off the high-rises in a way television never captures. Between the racing, the ticket includes trackside concerts each afternoon, a long-running Gold Coast 500 tradition that has drawn major Australian acts to the stages. If you only pick one day, make it Sunday for the feature race, but Friday is the value day and far easier with young kids or a pram.

Where do we eat over the race weekend?

Inside the circuit there are food and drink vendors at every gate, though queues build around the feature races. The advantage of a central base is that Orchid Avenue and Cavill Avenue restaurants sit on your doorstep the moment you step back out of the gates, and our full apartment kitchen means you can cook a quick breakfast and pack lunch to skip the vendor lines entirely. For a proper sit-down between sessions, our guide to the best Surfers Paradise restaurants covers the spots within a short walk. Book a table for Saturday night well ahead; the whole town fills up, and walk-in tables get scarce once racing finishes for the day.

Should we book early, and what is it like staying in the middle of it?

Gold Coast 500 weekend is one of the busiest of the Surfers Paradise year, and central apartments book out months ahead, so lock in your dates as soon as they are announced and book direct for the best rate. Staying inside the precinct means the soundtrack comes with the room: expect engine noise through the day, which most fans love and light sleepers manage with earplugs. In return you get something no shuttle-bus package offers, the ability to walk home for a nap, a swim in our heated pool, or a quiet dinner, then stroll back for the next session in minutes.

FAQs about the Gold Coast 500 from St Tropez

When is the Gold Coast 500 in 2026?

The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 on the Surfers Paradise street circuit. It is Round 12 of the Repco Supercars Championship and the opening round of the Finals, so the racing carries real title stakes across the weekend.

Can you hear the cars from Surfers Paradise accommodation?

Yes, clearly, and from a base inside the circuit precinct like ours you hear every gear change. Most guests treat it as part of the experience, but light sleepers and young children should pack earplugs. Racing runs during the day, so evenings settle down once the track goes quiet.

Do you need a car for the Gold Coast 500?

No, and driving is the hard way to do it. Streets across Surfers close for the circuit build, so your car is better left parked. From a central base you walk to the spectator gates, and the G:link tram still runs through town for trips further afield.

Is the Gold Coast 500 family-friendly?

Yes. Children aged 12 and under enter free with a paying adult on a General Admission ticket, and the weekend mixes racing with support categories and afternoon concerts. Bring ear protection for little ones and plan around nap times, since the middle of the day is loudest.

There is no closer way to do the Gold Coast 500 than from an apartment inside the circuit, with the gates down the street and your own bed, kitchen and pool to retreat to between races. When the 2026 dates open, check availability and book direct with us, and see what else is on while you are here on our Surfers Paradise events guide.

Image credit: Supercars

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When does the sun actually come up over Surfers Paradise?

Distance: about a 3 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up Orchid Avenue, turn towards the water along Cavill Avenue, straight to the sand. Hours: beach open always; lifeguard patrol 8am to 5pm daily.

Because Surfers Paradise Beach faces due east, the sun comes up straight out of the Pacific, and in September that happens just after 5:30am. The stretch in front of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club is the closest dawn swim to our door, and at that hour it is wide, glassy and almost empty. Before 8am there are no lifeguards, so keep an early dip shallow and wait for the flags for anything more. Guests keep mentioning how the beach at first light belongs to a handful of swimmers and fishers, the sand ribbed and untouched. Bring a towel and thongs; you will want the coffee straight after.

Where do we get coffee before 7am?

Distance: about a 5 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: down Cavill Avenue to the Esplanade, then along the beachfront. Hours: from 6am daily.

The Esplanade wakes up before the rest of town. Common Coffee and ESPL Coffee Brewers both roll their shutters up at 6am, and the Surfers Paradise Beach Cafe follows at 6:30am, so a proper flat white is easy well before the crowds. This is the pre-work rhythm of Surfers: tradies grabbing takeaways, runners cooling down, the odd surfboard drying against a rail. Order at the counter and take it back to the sand while the light is still low and gold. Guests keep mentioning the value of these first-hour coffees, quiet tables with a beach view that the same seats will not have by ten.

What is the best early walk or run?

Distance: about a 4 minute walk to the path from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: down Cavill Avenue to the Esplanade; the Oceanway runs north and south along the foreshore. Hours: open and lit around the clock.

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a flat, sealed foreshore path that runs the length of the beach, and before 7am it is one of the best free things in Surfers. Head north towards Main Beach and the Spit, or south towards Broadbeach, with the sunrise over your shoulder and the dune grass silver with dew. It is easy underfoot for a walk, a run or a pram, and the east-facing promenade catches the first light before the towers do. The local rhythm out here is runners, walkers and dog owners nodding as they pass, the whole strip yours until the day properly begins.

Is the riverside worth the walk at dawn?

Distance: about a 12 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: head inland along Cavill Avenue, then follow the streets down to the Budds Beach riverfront. Hours: open always.

Budds Beach sits on the calm Nerang River side of Surfers, and at dawn the water goes glass-flat while the beach is still finding its swell. It is the quiet counterpoint to the ocean: paddleboarders gliding out, dog walkers on the little river beach, and the first sun catching the high-rises across the water. There is a small sandy stretch and a scattering of benches, and the local rhythm here is slower and more suburban than the Esplanade. Come for the stillness, then loop back towards the beach for breakfast. It suits anyone who wants the morning without the surf.

Can we watch the early light from up high?

Distance: about a 12 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: down Cavill Avenue, along Surfers Paradise Boulevard, then Hamilton Avenue to the Q1 tower. Hours: SkyPoint opens 7:30am daily.

If you would rather see the coast wake up from above, SkyPoint opens at 7:30am on Level 77 of Q1, 230 metres up. It is after sunrise rather than before it, but the low morning light throws long shadows across the beach and you get the whole coastline, hinterland to Broadwater, before the day-trippers arrive. The 360 degree deck is fully indoors and pram-accessible, and the lift gets you up in about 38 seconds. Gold Coast residents pay 15 dollars and visitor tickets are cheaper booked online. Come at opening for the quietest deck and the best of the morning haze burning off the ranges.

FAQs about early mornings in Surfers Paradise

What time is sunrise in Surfers Paradise in September?

The sun clears the Pacific just after 5:30am in early September, edging closer to 5:15am by the end of the month. Because the beach faces due east, the light comes up straight out of the ocean, so the Cavill Avenue beach entry three minutes from our door is a front-row seat.

Is it safe to swim at Surfers Paradise before the lifeguards start?

Lifeguards patrol from 8am to 5pm, so before 8am the beach is unpatrolled. Keep an early dip shallow, never swim alone in the half-dark, and save a proper swim for once the towers open and the red and yellow flags are up. Rips run along this coast even when it looks calm.

Where can I get coffee early in Surfers Paradise?

Common Coffee and ESPL Coffee Brewers both open at 6am on the Esplanade, and the Surfers Paradise Beach Cafe follows at 6:30am. All three are a four to five minute walk from St Tropez, so you can be back with takeaway cups before anyone else is up.

Is Surfers Paradise quiet in the early morning?

Yes. Before 7am the beach and the Esplanade belong to swimmers, runners, fishers and dog walkers. The crowds and the traffic arrive with mid-morning, so the first few hours after dawn are the calmest, coolest and cheapest part of a Surfers day.

The best mornings on the Gold Coast cost nothing and happen before the town is awake, and a base right on Orchid Avenue puts all of them at the end of the street. Come home to a self-contained apartment, drop the wet towels, and start the day while everyone else is still checking out. When you are ready to wake up here, check availability and book direct with us, and see how central we sit on our Surfers Paradise location page.

Image credit: Sheba Also, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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How do we get to South Stradbroke from Surfers?

The Tour to Tipplers departs by beach landing at Lionel Perry Park, Main Beach, a short hop north of St Tropez. It is about a 6 minute drive up the Gold Coast Highway, or a few stops on the tram to the Main Beach station and a walk to the sand. Parking around Main Beach is metered and fills early, so the tram or a rideshare is the easier call. Departure is 9:30am Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with a 1pm run on Sundays. Aim for the Saturday cruise: that is the day both the boat and Tipplers Cafe are running, so you are not stuck on the island with the kitchen closed. The one-hour crossing threads the Broadwater past the marinas and the northern spit before landing at Tipplers. Tickets run about 210 to 220 dollars for adults and 125 to 130 for children aged 4 to 12, with all Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service fees included, and the trip needs a minimum of four passengers to run. Pack water, hats, sunscreen and a little cash, because the island has one cafe and no shops.

What is the one thing not to miss on the island?

Take the 45 minute guided conservation-park walk across to the eastern ocean beach. South Stradbroke is undeveloped wilderness inside the Southern Moreton Bay Marine Park, and the ocean side is a wide, empty surf beach where you may be the only people on the sand. In August, humpbacks are on their winter migration, and from the dunes you can sometimes catch them passing offshore. It suits anyone happy on their feet; the track is flat but sandy, so it is a carry for toddlers. If you are short on time or travelling with little legs, skip the walk and stay on the calm Broadwater side by the cafe, where the wallabies graze right up to the tables. The walk itself passes through native paperbark and eucalypt forest alive with birdlife, and the guide points out the island rhythms most day-trippers never notice.

Where do we eat at Tipplers?

Lunch is at Tipplers Cafe, the licensed cafe that is the island’s only kitchen and reachable by boat alone. It serves modern Australian food with a local lean: the snapper comes beer-battered, herb-crumbed or simply grilled, and guests keep mentioning the steak sandwich and the calamari rings as the reliable orders. Because it is fully licensed, a cold drink with the water view is part of the deal. It also does coffee and cake through the afternoon if lunch was big and you just want a flat white with the water in front of you. The kitchen runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus all Gold Coast public holidays, which is exactly why the Saturday cruise is the safe bet. Order early once you land, since a full boat and a small kitchen can mean a wait at the busiest stretch around 12:30pm.

What happens in the afternoon and the return?

With lunch done, the afternoon is for the Broadwater beach right by the cafe: calm, shallow water that is easy with children, plus paddleboards and kayaks if the operator has them out. This sheltered side is the swim; the ocean beach is the walk. When the boat calls time, the return crossing runs back through the waterways to the Surfers Paradise beachfront, putting you ashore by mid-afternoon. If you would rather not rush, do less: pick either the ocean-beach walk or a long lazy lunch, not both, and let the island set the pace. Either way you are back at St Tropez with the afternoon still open for a swim at our own patrolled beach.

FAQs about a South Stradbroke day trip

Is there a public ferry to South Stradbroke Island from Surfers Paradise?

There is no large public ferry like the one to North Stradbroke. The reliable way across is a small-group cruise such as Beachcomber Charters’ Tour to Tipplers, which lands on the Surfers Paradise beachfront and carries a maximum of 12 guests, so booking ahead matters.

Can you swim at South Stradbroke Island?

Yes. The Broadwater side at Tipplers is calm, shallow and sheltered, which makes it good for children. The eastern ocean beach is an open, unpatrolled surf beach, so keep a close eye on anyone in the water there and treat it as a walk-and-paddle rather than a swim.

Do you need to book the South Stradbroke cruise in advance?

Yes. The Tour to Tipplers is capped at 12 guests and needs a minimum of four to run, so it can sell out or be cancelled at short notice. Book ahead, and aim for the Saturday departure when Tipplers Cafe is reliably open for lunch.

How long is the South Stradbroke day trip?

About five hours all up. The cruise runs roughly an hour each way through the Broadwater, with around three hours on the island in between. A 9:30am departure has you back on the Surfers Paradise beachfront by mid-afternoon, in time for a swim at our own beach.

A day on South Stradbroke is the easiest kind of escape from a Surfers Paradise base: no car, no big plan, just a boat and a wilderness beach a short cruise from the front door. Come home to a self-contained apartment where the sand is still in the beach bag and dinner is a short walk away. When you are ready to build your Gold Coast trip around a day like this, check availability and book direct with us, and see what else sits within reach on our Surfers Paradise attractions page.

Image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

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Where can toddlers meet the ABC Kids characters now?

Distance: about a 35 minute drive from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: head north on the M1 and take exit 54 for Coomera and Dreamworld. Hours: open daily from 10am (generally 10am to 5pm; check the park calendar for extended holiday hours).

The old ABC Kids World precinct closed in 2023, so here is what changed: the ABC Kids rides now live inside Dreamworld’s Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland. You will find the Bananas in Pyjamas Carousel, the Humpty-Go-Round, the Play School Wheel and the Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze, plus daily appearances from B1, B2 and Rat in a Hat. It all comes included with park entry and is built for toddlers and preschoolers. Paths are flat and pram-friendly, and you can easily fill half a day with the wildlife precinct next door. Tip: arrive close to opening while the characters are out and the ride queues are short.

Is SkyPoint worth it with young kids?

Distance: about a 12 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: walk down Cavill Avenue, turn along Surfers Paradise Boulevard, then follow Hamilton Avenue to the Q1 tower. Hours: open daily from 7:30am to 9pm.

SkyPoint puts you on Level 77 of Q1, 230 metres above the beach, and the lift gets there in about 38 seconds, which is half the fun for kids. The 360 degree views take in the whole coastline from the hinterland to the Broadwater, and because it is fully indoors it works whatever the weather does. The lift makes it completely pram-accessible. Gold Coast residents pay just 15 dollars, and visitor tickets for adults and children are cheaper booked online. Allow about an hour. Tip: come on a clear morning or time it for dusk to watch the town switch from day to lights.

How good is the beach for little ones in winter?

Distance: about a 3 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: walk to the top of Orchid Avenue, turn towards the water along Cavill Avenue, and the sand is right there. Hours: patrolled 8am to 5pm daily year-round.

Surfers Paradise Beach is free, flat to reach and watched over by the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, which has been saving lives here since 1925. In July the water sits around 21 degrees, cool but swimmable for hardy kids, and most little ones are happy building in the sand and paddling the shallows in the winter sun. Tower 34 marks the Cavill Avenue entry, so you step onto the sand almost between the flags. Prams roll easily along the promenade, though you will carry the smallest ones the last stretch onto the sand. Tip: mornings are calmest and mildest, and the beach is at its widest before lunch.

Is HOTA a good free or wet-weather day out?

Distance: about a 7 minute drive from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: cross the river via Bundall Road to 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise. Hours: HOTA Gallery open daily 10am to 4pm.

HOTA, Home of the Arts is the Gold Coast’s cultural precinct, and general admission to the gallery is free, so it is one of the best-value family outings in town. Kids can roam the six levels of the gallery, ride the lift to the free rooftop for another skyline view, then spill out into the Evandale parklands with their concert lawn, lake and picnic space. There is a cafe on site if you would rather not pack lunch. It is fully pram-friendly, costs nothing for the gallery and grounds, and easily fills half a day. Tip: pair the gallery with a parklands picnic so the kids get both quiet and running-around time.

What is there to do in the evenings for free?

Distance: about a 5 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: walk down Cavill Avenue to the Esplanade; the stalls run along the beachfront. Hours: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 9pm, year-round.

The Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets line the Esplanade three nights a week with more than 100 stalls, buskers and food vans, and entry is free. It is an easy, no-pressure evening for families: browse the handmade stalls, grab a cheap dinner, and let the kids watch the street performers with the beach as a backdrop. The Esplanade is flat and open, so prams and scooters have plenty of room. Give it one to two hours. Tip: Friday is the busiest night, so arrive around 5pm to eat before the dinner crowd builds and the queues at the food vans lengthen.

FAQs about July holidays in Surfers with kids

When are the July school holidays in Queensland in 2026?

The Queensland winter break runs from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July 2026, with Term 3 starting Monday 13 July. That gives families a full two weeks, and Surfers Paradise sits right in the middle of the state’s most popular winter holiday patch.

Is Surfers Paradise Beach patrolled during the July holidays?

Yes. Lifeguards patrol daily from 8am to 5pm all year round, with Tower 34 stationed at the Cavill Avenue beach entry, three minutes from our door. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, even on calm winter mornings when the water looks gentle.

Do we need a car for a family holiday in Surfers Paradise?

Not for most of it. The beach, the beachfront markets, SkyPoint and the Cavill Avenue tram are all a short walk from St Tropez. You only really need the car for Dreamworld or HOTA, and it stays in our free undercover car park the rest of the time.

Is Dreamworld suitable for toddlers and preschoolers?

Yes. The ABC Kids rides now sit inside Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland, with gentle spinning rides and daily character appearances aimed at under-sixes. Add the wildlife precinct and Tiger Island shows and there is a full, low-adrenaline day for the littlest travellers.

Two weeks is plenty of time to work through this list without rushing, and a self-contained apartment makes the whole thing calmer: room for the kids to spread out, a kitchen for easy breakfasts, and the beach at the end of the street. When you are ready to lock in your winter break, check availability and book direct with us, and browse more of the family attractions near St Tropez to fill the rest of the fortnight.

Image credit: Dreamworld

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Is Ripley’s Believe It or Not really worth a rainy morning?

Distance: about 4 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up Orchid Avenue, left along Cavill Avenue towards the beach, into Soul Boardwalk. Hours: 9am to 10pm daily.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not is the classic wet-weather anchor: fifteen themed galleries and more than 300 genuine artefacts, all completely indoors on Soul Boardwalk. Kids from about six upwards get the most from it, and the weird-but-true factor keeps teenagers off their phones for a solid hour and a half to two hours. It is a ticketed attraction in the mid range, with discounted entry often available online before you go. Being open until 10pm makes it a strong after-dinner option too, and the walk over is short enough that one umbrella covers the family. Cosy, strange and completely rain-proof.

Where is the big arcade everyone talks about?

Distance: about 3 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up Orchid Avenue to Cavill Avenue, left into the Paradise Centre; Timezone is on Level 1. Hours: 9am to midnight daily.

Timezone Surfers Paradise is the world’s largest Timezone, five thousand square metres of arcade games, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a laser tag arena, bumper cars and mini bowling, spread through Paradise Centre where the whole approach is under cover. You load a game card and pay as you play, so the cost band is entirely yours to set; families on a budget can cap the card and let the kids run it down. Guests keep mentioning it as the place their teenagers voted to go back to twice. Allow one to three hours depending on willpower. It suits every age that can hold a steering wheel, and the midnight close means the rainy evening is covered as well.

What is the Infinity Attraction, and which kids does it suit?

Distance: about 6 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: along Cavill Avenue to Surfers Paradise Boulevard, then into Chevron Renaissance at the Elkhorn Avenue corner. Hours: 10am to 8pm Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday.

Infinity Attraction is a walk-through maze of around twenty glowing, mirrored, music-filled chambers, a roughly thirty minute sensory journey that feels like stepping inside a video game. It is entirely indoors at Chevron Renaissance, so you arrive dry through the shopping centre. The ticket sits in the lower-mid price band, cheaper than the big-name attractions, and the experience suits kids from about five up through to adults who enjoy a bit of disorientation; very small children can find the dark rooms intense. Pair it with a hot chocolate in the centre afterwards and a rainy afternoon disappears. Book nothing; walk in.

Can we do mini golf indoors when the weather turns?

Distance: about 6 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up to Surfers Paradise Boulevard, corner of Elkhorn Avenue; Holey Moley is on Level 1 of the Galaxy Centre. Hours: 10am to midnight daily; under-18s welcome until 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 8pm Friday and Saturday.

Holey Moley turns mini golf into eighteen themed indoor holes, with bowling, arcade games and challenge rooms alongside and a full kitchen and bar for the adults. Pricing is per round in the budget-to-mid band, and the holes are silly enough that nobody keeps honest score. Families own the daytime; note the evening age cut-offs above, which make it a daytime plan when the kids are along and a fun adults option later. Realistic duration is about an hour per round, longer if the bowling lanes tempt you. Everything, including the walk through the centre, keeps you out of the rain.

Is there an indoor way to actually enjoy the storm?

Distance: about 5 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: south along Surfers Paradise Boulevard to the Q1 building; the SkyPoint entry is in the street-level piazza. Hours: 7.30am to 9pm daily, last entry 8.30pm.

SkyPoint Observation Deck reframes bad weather as the show. The fully enclosed deck sits 230 metres up the Q1 tower with 360 degree views, and watching rain squalls roll in off the Pacific while you stay warm with a coffee is a Gold Coast experience most visitors never think to have. Tickets are mid-band with family and child discounts, and the ride up takes 43 seconds. Toddlers to grandparents all manage it easily. Time it for a clearing sky or for evening when the lights of the coast switch on; on a genuinely fogged-in day, swap it for Timezone and come back tomorrow.

FAQs

What can families do in Surfers Paradise when it rains?

Plenty, all within a six minute walk of St Tropez: Ripley’s Believe It or Not on Soul Boardwalk, the world’s largest Timezone arcade in Paradise Centre, the Infinity Attraction maze at Chevron Renaissance, Holey Moley mini golf and the SkyPoint Observation Deck. None of them depend on the weather.

Do we need the car for indoor attractions in Surfers Paradise?

No. Every attraction on this list is a two to six minute walk from our front door, much of it under shop awnings and mall cover. Leave the car dry in our free undercover car park and carry one umbrella between you.

How long does rain usually last in Surfers Paradise in winter?

June is actually one of the Gold Coast’s drier months, and winter rain tends to come in short bursts rather than washed-out days. Most rainy mornings clear by afternoon, so an indoor morning plus a beach walk later the same day is a very normal Surfers Paradise day.

Is SkyPoint worth it on a cloudy day?

Yes, with one tip: check the sky first. The observation deck sits at 230 metres, fully enclosed and open 7.30am to 9pm daily, and watching rain sweep across the coastline from above is genuinely spectacular. On a truly low-cloud day, save it for the evening when the city lights come on.

A rainy day in Surfers Paradise from St Tropez is really just a different kind of good day: arcade tokens, mirror mazes, storm views from 230 metres, then home to a hot shower and your own kitchen. Browse the rest of the year-round list on our Surfers Paradise attractions page, and book your stay at St Tropez, umbrella optional.

Image credit: Ripley’s Believe It or Not

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Why do reviewers keep calling a nightclub-strip building an oasis?

Distance: 0 minutes, this one is about the building itself. Directions: 27-35 Orchid Avenue, the three storey building with the red and white awnings. Hours: reception assistance daily; quiet from the moment your door closes.

The word oasis appears in our guest reviews more than any other, which reads strangely for an address on Orchid Avenue until you understand the building. A Melbourne guest summed it up as an oasis in the middle of Surfers, and a reviewer who stayed four nights wrote that she was surprised how quiet it was given the nightclubs nearby. The practical explanation guests keep mentioning: solid concrete construction between apartments and a low-rise layout set back from the strip, with rear apartments the pick for the lightest sleepers. One six-night guest specifically praised the quiet of the rear apartments. You get the buzz of Surfers Paradise at the front gate and none of it in your bedroom.

How close is everything, really?

Distance: 2 to 4 minutes walk to the beach, Cavill Avenue and the tram. Directions: out the front door, up Orchid Avenue, and you are in the middle of it. Hours: the suburb never really shuts; the beach is patrolled 8am to 5pm daily.

Location is the second-biggest theme, and reviewers are specific about it. A Sydney guest praised being near Cavill Avenue with easy theme park access, and several reviews use some version of walked everywhere, never moved the car. From the front door it is about three minutes to the patrolled sand, two to the Cavill Avenue tram stop for Broadbeach and Southport, and four to the Beachfront Markets on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Guests with kids keep mentioning the flat, stroller-friendly walk to the beach as the detail that made mornings easy. The reviews decode simply here: the location claims on this page are the thing reviewers confirm most often.

What is the story with the heated pool?

Distance: downstairs, in the central courtyard. Directions: lift or stairs to ground level; the pool sits in the sunny middle of the complex. Hours: daylight hours; maintained daily.

Family reviewers mention the pool constantly. One guest travelling with friends listed the heated pool first among the things she loved, a solo mum called it great for her kids, and a booking platform reviewer noted the heated pool alongside the safe feel of the complex. The heating is the detail that matters: it keeps the pool genuinely usable through autumn and winter when many complexes’ pools sit cold and empty, and it is cleaned and pH-tested daily. Around it you get outdoor seating and barbecue areas that repeat guests, including a couple who return every year, single out for family dinners. Decoded: the pool is not a bullet point here, it is where half our reviews were mentally written.

Where does the value for money reputation come from?

Distance: not applicable, this one lives inside the apartment. Directions: every floor plan includes a kitchen, laundry facilities and a proper living area. Hours: your schedule, not a hotel’s.

Amazing value for money is a direct, recurring phrase in our reviews, from a Canberra guest among others, and the pattern behind it is consistent: reviewers compare what they paid with what they got, then list the space. A guest from Hobart who stayed seven nights praised a clean, modern apartment that fit her whole family; another wrote simply that you get more than you pay for. The mechanics are unglamorous and effective: a kitchen means breakfasts and a few dinners cost supermarket prices, the laundry means you pack half as much, and separate bedrooms mean parents get an evening after the kids crash. Budget-friendly is the label; the reviews decode it as space that does the saving for you.

FAQs

Is St Tropez quiet at night given it is on Orchid Avenue?

Yes, and it is the single most repeated line in our reviews. Guests describe the building as an oasis and say they slept well despite booking in the middle of Surfers Paradise. Solid concrete construction and rear-facing apartments do the heavy lifting; ask for a rear apartment if you are a light sleeper.

Is the St Tropez pool heated?

Yes. The pool is heated and maintained daily, and it comes up constantly in reviews from families who used it every day of their stay. It sits in a sunny courtyard with outdoor seating and barbecue facilities, so plenty of guests build whole afternoons around it.

Do the apartments have a full kitchen and laundry?

Yes, every apartment has a kitchen and laundry facilities, which is exactly why reviewers keep writing that they got more than they paid for. Cooking a few meals in and washing as you go makes a family week cost far less than it would with a hotel room and restaurant bills.

Is parking included at St Tropez Holiday Apartments?

Yes, free secure undercover parking is included with every stay, with secure building entry on top. Reviewers, especially solo parents, mention the parking and the safe feel of the building as a reason they rebook, and the beach and Cavill Avenue are a short flat walk so the car mostly stays put.

We publish the reviews and then we read them like guests do, because the pattern is the promise: quiet, warm pool, real space, and everything on foot. Read the originals for yourself on our guest reviews page, and when the themes line up with the holiday you are planning, book your stay at St Tropez and come write the next one.

Image credit: St Tropez Holiday Apartments

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What actually changes in the water and the weather?

Less than you would think, and that is the point. The sea off Surfers Paradise averages 25.4 degrees in April and still holds 24.2 degrees in May, so the ocean stays swimmable long after the southern states have packed their beach gear away. You can check the live reading any week on Sea Temperature. Air temperatures settle to around 26 degrees by day and 16 at night, the sticky summer humidity fades, and the heaviest of the wet-season rain tapers away through April. April still averages around seven and a half hours of sunshine a day, which is beach weather by any honest definition. One schedule change worth knowing: the extended summer lifeguard hours of 6am to 6pm finish at the end of March, and patrols return to the year-round 8am to 5pm. The flags still fly every single day, just inside slightly shorter hours, so plan the dawn swim accordingly.

What opens, what closes, and what quietens down?

Nothing closes for the season here, which surprises guests from cooler climates. The Beachfront Markets keep trading every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night on the Esplanade, the tram runs to its normal timetable, and every attraction on Cavill Avenue holds its usual hours. What changes is the rhythm. Easter lands on 3 to 6 April in 2026 and brings the last big school-holiday wave; once those families head home in mid April, the beach widens out, cafe queues shrink, and the whole suburb exhales. Guests keep mentioning how they had whole stretches of sand almost to themselves on May mornings, minutes from the middle of Surfers Paradise. That post-Easter pocket, running until mid May, is the true value window: lower nightly rates, easier restaurant tables and no queue for the good sun lounges by our heated pool. Our free undercover parking matters less in autumn too, because the tram and your own two feet cover almost everything, but it is there for the hinterland day trips that suit this season so well.

What is the signature autumn event worth planning around?

Blues on Broadbeach, running 14 to 17 May in 2026 for its 25th year. It is one of Australia’s biggest music festivals, and most of it is completely free: stages spill across the streets of Broadbeach with international headliners and homegrown acts playing from Thursday to Sunday. From St Tropez, ride the tram from Cavill Avenue two stops south and you are in the middle of it, no parking, no driving, no designated-driver debates. The Teskey Brothers headline the ticketed Sunday show in 2026, but you can fill four days without spending a dollar on entry. As a bonus for late-autumn visitors, the first humpback whales start passing the coast from late May, so whale watching boats begin their season just as the festival wraps up. Tens of thousands of humpbacks make the northern migration along this coast each winter, and the earliest scouts reliably appear off the Gold Coast in the final week of May.

What should we book ahead, and how far out?

Autumn splits into two booking speeds. Easter weekend and the April school holidays behave like summer: apartments, especially two-bedroom ones, book out months in advance, so lock those dates in as early as you can. The Blues on Broadbeach weekend also fills fast right along the coast, because 100,000 plus visitors converge on four days; two to three months of lead time is a sensible buffer for that mid-May window. Mother’s Day, 10 May in 2026, books out the popular breakfast spots, so reserve a table a couple of weeks ahead if that lands during your stay. Outside those three pockets, autumn is the most relaxed booking season of the year, and midweek stays often cost noticeably less than the same apartment on a Saturday. If flexibility is your superpower, aim for the last week of April or the first week of May. That fortnight combines the warmest remaining ocean, the quietest beach of the season and the best pick of apartment types, and it sits far enough from both Easter and the Blues weekend that prices settle right down.

FAQs

Is the water still warm enough to swim in autumn?

Yes, comfortably. The ocean at Surfers Paradise averages 25.4 degrees in April and 24.2 degrees in May, warmer than many Australian beaches manage in summer. Most guests swim right through autumn without a wetsuit, and the beach stays patrolled daily all season.

When is Surfers Paradise quietest in autumn?

The fortnight after Easter Monday through to the Blues on Broadbeach weekend in mid May is the calm pocket. School holidays end, flights and apartments cost less, and you can walk into restaurants that need bookings in January. Midweek stays are quietest of all.

What is on in Surfers Paradise during autumn 2026?

The Beachfront Markets run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night year-round, and Blues on Broadbeach plays 14 to 17 May 2026, a mostly free street festival two tram stops from Cavill Avenue. Whale watching boats also start spotting humpbacks from late May.

Do we need to book ahead for an autumn stay at St Tropez?

For Easter and the April school holidays, yes, those weeks book out months ahead. Outside them, autumn is the easiest time of year to secure the apartment size and floor you want, though the Blues on Broadbeach weekend fills fast across the whole coast.

Autumn rewards the travellers who know the rhythm: warm water, softer prices, a festival weekend worth building a trip around, and a quieter version of the suburb we get to enjoy year-round from Orchid Avenue. Compare apartment sizes on our Surfers Paradise apartments page, then book your autumn stay at St Tropez while the value window is open.

Image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

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How do we get to the beach without crossing a single busy road?

Distance: about 3 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: walk to the top of Orchid Avenue, turn right onto Cavill Avenue, and follow it straight to the sand. Hours: patrolled 8am to 5pm daily year-round, 6am to 6pm in summer.

The famous stretch in front of Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, saving lives here since 1925, is the closest swim to our door. Lifeguards watch from four towers along this section, from Clifford Street up to Staghorn Avenue, and Tower 34 sits right at the Cavill Avenue entry, so you step off the footpath almost between the flags. Rips do run along this coast, so keep to the flagged area even when the water looks gentle. Go early: guests keep mentioning how different the beach feels at 7am, wide and quiet with just walkers and the odd fishing rod. It suits everyone, but early risers get the best of it. Carry the boogie boards; it is flat concrete the whole way.

Where do we catch the light rail, and is it worth using?

Distance: about 2 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up Orchid Avenue to the corner, then a few steps along Surfers Paradise Boulevard to the Cavill Avenue station. Hours: trams run roughly 5am to midnight, later on weekends.

The Cavill Avenue G:link station is the busiest stop on the network for good reason: it drops you back in the middle of everything. Trams run every 7 to 8 minutes through the day and every 15 minutes off-peak, so you never plan around a timetable. Ride south two stops to Broadbeach for Pacific Fair, or north to Southport and the Broadwater’s calm swimming, and from mid-2026 the extended line reaches all the way south to Burleigh Heads. Tap on with a contactless bank card, no paper ticket needed, and check fares on Translink before you go. It suits families skipping parking stress and couples heading out for dinner up the line.

What is the Esplanade path like for a morning walk?

Distance: about 4 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments to join the path. Directions: down Cavill Avenue to the beachfront, then turn left or right along the oceanfront path. Hours: open always; best before 9am or around sunset.

The paved oceanway runs behind the dunes for kilometres in both directions, so once you join it at Cavill Avenue you can walk to Main Beach heading north or towards Broadbeach heading south without touching a road. It is pram-friendly, skateable and lit in the evenings. The Esplanade section directly in front of Surfers is backed by a fenced foredune with numerous marked beach access tracks, so you can drop onto the sand whenever the mood takes you. Guests keep mentioning sunrise here as the highlight of their stay, and it costs precisely nothing. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings the beachfront markets set up along the same stretch, which turns the walk home into a browse. Take water; the drinking fountains are spaced out.

Where are the quiet streets when we want a slower afternoon?

Distance: about 12 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up Cavill Avenue away from the beach, cross the Gold Coast Highway, then follow Ferny Avenue north to the river streets around Cypress Avenue. Hours: open always; the reserve facilities close at dusk.

Budds Beach Reserve sits on a calm bend of the Nerang River, a pocket of shady grass, barbecues, a playground and a shallow, sheltered swimming edge that small children love. The council reserve has toilets, showers, picnic shelters and a boat ramp at the Birt Avenue end, and the still water is ideal for stand-up paddleboarding because the river bend is protected from the prevailing winds. Dolphins turn up in the river often enough that locals barely look up. Across the road, Bumbles Cafe on River Drive opens from 6.30am for breakfast with river views, and its high teas and cakes have a loyal local following. It suits toddler families and anyone after a slow riverside afternoon.

FAQs

Do we need a car to get around Surfers Paradise?

No. From St Tropez the beach, Cavill Avenue, the tram, supermarkets and dozens of restaurants are all within a six minute walk, and your car stays in our free undercover car park. Most guests only drive for theme park days or hinterland trips.

How far is the beach from St Tropez Holiday Apartments?

About three minutes on foot. Walk to the top of Orchid Avenue, turn towards the water along Cavill Avenue, and the patrolled sand is right there. It is flat the whole way, easy with kids, boards and beach trolleys.

Is Surfers Paradise Beach patrolled?

Yes, all year round. Lifeguards patrol daily from 8am to 5pm, extending to 6am to 6pm across summer, with Tower 34 stationed right at the Cavill Avenue beach entry. Always swim between the red and yellow flags.

Where does the tram from Cavill Avenue go?

North through Main Beach to Southport, the hospital and Helensvale, and south to Broadbeach for Pacific Fair and The Star. Trams run every 7 to 8 minutes during the day from around 5am to midnight, so you rarely wait long.

Everything above starts at the same front door on Orchid Avenue, which is exactly why guests who stay with us once tend to leave the car keys in the apartment drawer for the whole trip. Have a look at what else sits within reach on our Surfers Paradise attractions page, and when the dates firm up, book your stay at St Tropez and bring comfortable walking shoes.

Image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

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Can we grab dinner without leaving Orchid Avenue?

Yes, and it barely counts as a walk. Costa D’Oro is a few doors along Orchid Avenue at number 27, roughly a minute from our awnings, so it is the easy first-night pick.

Distance: about 1 minute walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: turn right out the front door and continue a few doors down Orchid Avenue. Hours: 11.30am to 10pm, seven days.

This family Italian has traded here since 1987, which tells you plenty on a strip that turns over fast. Order the wood-fired margherita or the veal parmigiana, and let the kids split a bowl of spaghetti bolognese. The garlic pizza bread is the quiet hero while you wait, and the tiramisu is worth saving room for. Walk-ins are welcome and the room turns over quickly, though on a Friday or Saturday you may wait 15 minutes for a table by the window. It is licensed, so the adults can share a carafe while the little ones colour in. It leans family-friendly early, then fills with couples later, so an early sitting suits tired travellers who just want a proper plate of pasta on night one.

Where is the quickest takeaway for a late arrival?

If your flight landed late or the drive ran long, head to Guzman y Gomez in the Paradise Centre on Cavill Mall.

Distance: about 3 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: walk up Orchid Avenue to Cavill Avenue, turn left, and it is inside the Paradise Centre. Hours: 10am to 10pm Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to midnight Thursday to Saturday.

This is the late-night saver. The burritos, nachos and mini quesadillas travel well back to the apartment, and you can order ahead on the app so it is bagged and ready when you arrive. Guests keep mentioning the fast counter service even at peak times. Grab a spicy chicken burrito bowl for the adults and a cheese quesadilla for smaller eaters, carry it the three minutes home, and eat on the balcony with the kettle on. If the little ones have crashed in the car, one adult can duck out and be back before the others have found the remote. No booking, no fuss, and open well past most kitchens.

Is there a no-booking feed for a fussy group?

When everyone wants something different, Betty’s Burgers at Chevron Renaissance keeps the peace.

Distance: about 6 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: up to Cavill Avenue, left towards the Boulevard, then across to Chevron Renaissance on Elkhorn Avenue. Hours: 11am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday, later on Friday and Saturday nights.

Betty’s is the classic no-booking fallback. You line up, order at the counter, and grab a table, so there is no reservation to stress about after a long travel day. The crowd-pleaser is the Classic cheeseburger with a side of crinkle-cut chips, and the thick concrete shakes in vanilla or salted caramel win over the kids every time. There is a veggie pattie for anyone off the meat, and the menu is easy to read at the counter when hungry kids are hovering. Queues move fast even on weekends. It suits families and mixed groups who can’t agree on a cuisine, and the flat walk back down Cavill Avenue is stroller-friendly.

What if it is a market night?

Time your arrival right and the Esplanade throws you a dinner. The Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night from 4pm to 9pm.

Distance: about 4 minutes walk from St Tropez Holiday Apartments. Directions: down Cavill Avenue towards the water, then onto the Esplanade beside the beach. Hours: 4pm to 9pm, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only.

More than 100 stalls stretch along the beachfront, and a good chunk of them are street food, so you can graze your way to a cheap dinner while the kids look at the makers’ stalls. Entry is free. Guests keep mentioning the relaxed, seabreeze feel of eating here on a warm night. Grab a paella box, a bratwurst or a fresh doughnut, find a low wall facing the sand, and let the first night settle in. It runs rain, hail or shine most weeks, though a wild night can thin the stalls out. If you land on an off night, save it for later in the stay.

FAQs

Where can we eat near St Tropez without a booking?

Costa D’Oro next door and Betty’s Burgers at Chevron Renaissance both take walk-ins, and the Beachfront Markets on the Esplanade need no booking at all. On a busy Saturday you might wait 15 to 20 minutes for a table, but you will not be turned away hungry.

What is open late for a quick dinner in Surfers Paradise?

Guzman y Gomez on Cavill Avenue serves until 10pm Sunday to Wednesday and midnight Thursday to Saturday, so a late arrival still gets a hot burrito. Costa D’Oro runs to 10pm every night, and plenty of Cavill Avenue takeaways stay open past that.

Is there anywhere cheap to eat with kids on the first night?

Yes. Betty’s Burgers does an easy family feed with burgers and thick concretes, and Costa D’Oro plates up wood-fired pizza and pasta the whole table can share. Both are a short flat walk from St Tropez with no stairs or long queues.

How far is the nearest food from St Tropez Holiday Apartments?

Costa D’Oro sits just a few doors along Orchid Avenue, about a minute from our front door. Cavill Avenue and its food options are a two to three minute walk, and the Esplanade markets are around four minutes, so nothing is far when you arrive tired.

That first night sets the tone, and the beauty of staying on Orchid Avenue is that a hot, cheap dinner is only ever minutes away, then it is a short stroll back to your own kitchen and balcony. When you are ready to plan the rest of the trip, browse more of our favourite Surfers Paradise restaurants, and if you are still weighing dates, you can book your stay at St Tropez and let the good eating start the moment you arrive.

Image credit: Costa D’Oro Italian Restaurant

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Must Book Surfers Paradise Events Before They Sell Out

2026 is shaping up as a strong year for local experiences around Surfers Paradise. Planning early makes the busy summer stretch a lot easier, especially if you want to stay close to the action and still keep your days flexible.

Upcoming Surfers Paradise events are already drawing attention, with several taking place close to the centre of town. Here’s what’s on in Surfers Paradise and nearby this season.

TAB Magic Millions Carnival – Jan 7 to Jan 20

This iconic racing carnival sets the pace for the year. Fashion, elite racing, and the famous Barrier Draw on the beach make it a major drawcard among Gold Coast events that visitors plan around.

Silks Under The Stars – Jan 23

A twilight race meeting at Aquis Park with live music and dining. It’s an easy evening option that suits summer nights on the coast.

Australia Day Celebrations – Jan 26

Fireworks and free entertainment fill beaches and public spaces across Surfers Paradise. It remains one of the busiest days on the Queensland events calendar for families and couples.

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets – Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

These evening markets line the Esplanade with handmade goods, art, and street food. They’re a regular highlight on any what’s on in Surfers Paradise list and are easy to visit after dinner.

Light, Colour And Culture Along The Coast

Summer brings a lively cultural pace to Surfers Paradise, with evenings shaped by music, light, and local creativity.

Gold Coast Water Lantern Festival – Jan 17

Held at Evandale Parklands, this evening event combines live music, food trucks, and a calm waterfront setting. Guests write messages on lanterns before releasing them onto the water.

Local Live Shows – All Summer Long

Touring productions, illusionists, and stage performances pop up across Surfers Paradise and nearby venues such as HOTA. If you’re keen to catch a show Gold Coast audiences talk about, it’s worth checking what’s playing during your stay.

Sunday Music At The Markets – Weekly

Beachfront market nights often come with a relaxed soundtrack, with acoustic performers adding atmosphere near the shoreline. It’s an easy way to wind down while still enjoying Gold Coast entertainment outdoors.

Summer Sports and Stadium Buzz

Sports fans don’t need to look far for action in January. The Gold Coast runs a steady lineup of matches, training sessions, and coastal competitions, and it’s easy to add one to your plans without giving up beach time.

The QLD events calendar kicks off early, adding energy and variety to your holiday.

Brisbane Bullets v Adelaide 36ers – Ignite Cup – Jan 28

This headline basketball match is scheduled at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara, around 40 minutes from Surfers Paradise. It’s a clear highlight in the Queensland events calendar and suits families and groups chasing a competitive night out.

Gold Coast Suns Pre-Season Training – January Sessions Open To The Public

Preseason access lets guests watch the team run drills and get a closer look at the stadium setup. These sessions are a relaxed way to tap into Gold Coast sports without needing a ticketed event.

Local Beach Sports Comps – Various dates

Lifesaving carnivals, beach volleyball games, and community triathlons run throughout the summer. These casual events are a good reminder that Gold Coast sports are part of what defines the season.

Where To Go On The Gold Coast For A Full Holiday

Some of the best days come together without a tight plan. These local picks add rhythm to your holiday Gold Coast itinerary without turning it into a checklist.

Morning Market + Afternoon Barrier Draw Itinerary – Jan 13

Start at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets, then make your way to the Magic Millions Barrier Draw, where horses and jockeys gather on the sand in one of the season’s standout moments.

Beach Yoga and Weekend Fireworks – Ongoing in Summer

Bookend your day with a coastal yoga session, then head out later for a fireworks night when one is scheduled along the foreshore. Both are easy to slot into your week when you want something light between bigger events.

Art And Food Trails – January And February Weekends

Follow a loose trail through Broadbeach and Southport with galleries, pop-ups, and casual tasting stops. These flexible outings are easy additions to your list of Gold Coast attractions, especially when you want a change of pace from the beach.

Wrapping Up Your 2026 Calendar

Once your key dates are locked in, the rest of the summer planning gets easier. Pick a few standouts, keep some breathing room, and let the week unfold.

These Surfers Paradise events bring together what makes January on the coast so enjoyable. Markets by the sea, outdoor entertainment, high-energy sport, and twilight celebrations add variety to the Gold Coast events calendar without forcing you into a packed schedule.

Stay Central, Stay Spontaneous: Book With St Tropez

Great events are easier when your location keeps things simple. Staying near the action changes how your holiday runs.

With St Tropez Resort as your base, you’re positioned just steps from key Surfers Paradise events. Being able to walk to venues keeps your plans flexible, and it gives you time back for the beach, dinner, or a slow start.

The self-contained apartments give you space to reset between outings, and the tropical garden pool is there when you want a quieter hour away from the crowds. If you’re narrowing down where to stay on the Gold Coast next, a central stay keeps the best of the season within easy reach.

Book your stay at St Tropez Resort and keep Surfers Paradise events within easy walking distance. 

Image credit: Gold Coast Water Lantern Festival 

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