SkyPoint Observation Deck
Level 77 of the Q1 tower, 230m up, with 360° views of the coast and hinterland. Open daily 7:30am–9pm, with a bistro and bar, plus the SkyPoint Climb for the brave.
Official siteSurfers Paradise guide
Things to do in Surfers Paradise
Our guide to the best of the Gold Coast from the front door of Athena by the Sea on The Esplanade: where to eat, what to do, what’s on and how to get around.
Eat & drink
Dinner is a stroll away
A few favourites along The Esplanade and around Cavill Avenue, all within walking distance.
Nahm Talay Thai
Beachfront Thai with a balcony over the sand. Lunch and dinner daily. Website
La Calabrese Ocean
Wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta, a short stroll along The Esplanade. Website
Valentina Restaurant & Bar
Mediterranean dining with ocean views; breakfast daily, lunch and dinner Wed–Sat/Sun. Website
Coast Beach Bar & Kitchen
Charcoal-grilled steaks and beachside drinks. Website
Castaway Coffee Bar
Beachfront coffee and brunch. Website
SkyPoint Bistro + Bar
Breakfast, lunch or a sunset drink 230m above the beach. Website
Things to do
Days out from the Olympus
Travel times are approximate, from Surfers Paradise.
The theme parks
Sea World (Main Beach) is closest; Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld are further north along the M1.
Official site
Whale watching
Humpback whales pass the coast each year. Cruises run from the Broadwater, and guests have watched them from the balcony with the binoculars in the apartment.
Official site
Cavill Avenue & Ripley’s
Shops, bars, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the Beachfront Markets on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Official siteBurleigh Head National Park
A rainforest headland with the Oceanview Walk and some of the coast’s best views back to Surfers.
Official siteCurrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Koalas, kangaroos and lorikeet feeding, plus a treetop ropes course. Open 9am–4pm daily.
Official siteHOTA, Home of the Arts
Gallery, theatre, outdoor stage, cinema and Sunday farmers market by the lake.
Official siteSpringbrook & Natural Bridge
Rainforest, waterfalls and glow worms at night in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Official siteHijinx Hotel & Archie Brothers
Rainy-day fun at the Galaxy Centre: challenge rooms, arcade games, bowling and bars.
Official siteEvents
Coming up on the Gold Coast
Checked every month against official listings. See the interactive calendar to match events to your dates.
BLEACH* Festival
The Gold Coast’s arts festival: performance, installations and community works around the HOTA precinct. Details
Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500
Supercars race on the streets of Surfers Paradise. Expect road closures and engine noise near The Esplanade, and plenty of atmosphere. Details
Schoolies Week
School leavers celebrate in Surfers Paradise, with a Safer Schoolies zone on the beach and extra patrols. Details
New Year’s Eve fireworks
Free fireworks over the beach, traditionally at 8pm and midnight. Check times closer to the night. Details
Magic Millions Carnival
Summer racing carnival with yearling sales, polo and showjumping on the Broadwater. Dates as published; confirm on the official site. Details
Gold Coast Open (surfing)
Five days of pro surfing at Burleigh Heads, with live music and skating. The G:Link tram runs all the way to Burleigh. Details
Gold Coast T100 Triathlon
World-class triathletes race through Surfers Paradise, plus a 10km fun run. Details
Gold Coast Running Festival
Closed-road running and walking events for all levels. Details
Cooly Rocks On
Retro cars, rock ’n’ roll and vintage style take over Coolangatta. Details
Gold Coast Marathon
The coast’s biggest running weekend, with the course along the beachfront. Details
Gold Coast Film Festival
Films, premieres and talks at HOTA. More info
Blues on Broadbeach
Free blues festival in Broadbeach, a short tram ride south. More info
Whale watching season
Humpbacks pass the coast on their migration. Guests have spotted them from the balcony. More info
Markets
Weekly markets
From night markets on the beachfront to farmers markets on Sunday morning.
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
Wed, Fri & Sat, 4–9pm (check seasonal dates)
On The Esplanade near Cavill Avenue: handmade goods and live music.
Getting around
Easy without a car
The G:Link light rail runs the length of the coast, and the Cypress Avenue stop is about 3 minutes’ walk from the Olympus.
G:Link tram
Runs from Helensvale through Southport and Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads. Use a go card or tap on with a contactless card. Translink
From the airports
Both by car, depending on traffic. Buses and shuttles also run from Gold Coast Airport.
Driving
The car park has a 1.8m height limit, so check roof racks and vans before you arrive.
On foot and by bike
A shared path runs along the beachfront. Guests have enjoyed hiring the e-bikes parked along it.