Don't let the drizzle fizzle your plans.
Don't let the drizzle fizzle your plans.
Us Gold Coasters can find ourselves a little, well, lost when the rain falls and the mercury drops below 25.4 degrees. Occasionally the whole “beautiful one day, perfect the next” theory can exit stage left (for like, 4 days per year…or 304 days per year if it’s 2023). When you find yourself looking to fill your to-do list, we have some feel-good rainy day activities coming your way!
We’ve done the hard yards and compiled a list of failsafe ideas to keep you dry, entertained and smiling when you’re missing that natural vitamin D and reaching for your brolly. These activities prove that the drizzly days on the GC can be just as fun as the sunny days!
Eat your weight in pasta
If the cooler weather makes us want to do one thing, it’s eat pasta. And lots of it. So if you can’t be stuffed DYI-ing (us), head out to one of our many local Italian nosheries for some epic pasta pigouts! We’re dreaming of marinaras and carbonaras, but you can see our full list of soul-satisfying Gold Coast pastas here.
Eat your way through chocolate desserts
Ok so we’re still on the topic of eating but at the risk of sounding food-obsessed (we plead guilty), come on – who doesn’t love themselves a comforting choccy dessert on a wet wintery day and/or night. Whether it’s a slab of morish mud cake, choc dipped churros, or a decadent chocolate éclair, find your death by chocolate experience here.
Catch up with friends at a watering hole
Okay so this is something we’re partial to irrespective of what the weather’s doing, but on a rainy day or night, there’s added appeal to bunkering down in a bar with your mates. Whether you’re channeling a shiraz, pint of Guinness or a mojito so you can pretend it’s summer, hit up top spots to sink a brew or a grab a drink.
Snuggle by the fire
Nawww, does this not make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Possibly not if you’re single or phyrophobic, but we digress, because we’re not talking significant others or raging bushfires, we’re referring to the many cozy GC restaurants boasting a homely fireplace ambience. Find them here.
Get your soak and float on
Are your muscles and joints giving you grief in this rainy weather? At the risk of sounding like a bunch of middle-aged whining Karen’s, is it just us, or do your joints and muscles seem to cease up and ache way more when the temperature drops and the rain sets in? Cause same! And we think we have to treat ourselves to a little R&R to give you back that pep in your step! Check out a wellness centre or be pampered at a spa – either way, we are in!
Visit a winery
Look, wineries, like watering holes, speak to us all year round, but a drive (or Uber…) out to one of our beautiful local grape farms for a feed and a tipple is the perfect way to spend a rainy day. We’re feeling reds and moscatos to wash down a mouth-watering lunch infused with local ingredients. Don’t know where to go? Call off the search, because we have your one-stop-shop to wineries here.
Get creative
Fancy yourself as a bit of an artist? Why not explore your arty-farty side and what better time of year to do it! Whether you’re into sculpting, pottery, photography, drawing, jewellery making, painting, painting whilst wining (ding ding!), or gallery hopping, you can do all that and more in your own backyard. Check out your list of paint & sip classes here.
Make a charcuterie board and chill out with your friends
You had us and cheese, deli meats and antipasto. And look, basically anything that appears on a charcuterie board belongs in our stomachs. The rain makes it seem totally acceptable to indulge in such guilty pleasures so why not call in your squad and a make day of it.
Try a new workout class
With all this talk of chocolate, cheese, watering holes and wine, we’re thinking it’s wise to add a new workout class to your rainy-day must-try list. There are plenty of places to get your deep burn on, and donning your activewear is still entirely acceptable when it’s a bit frosty (bonus – excuse to buy that LSKD sweater you’ve been eyeing off).
Words by Bianca Trathen
When the weather doesn't want to play nice.
The Gold Coast might be famous for its sunshine, but she sure knows how to put on a moody thunderstorm (and don’t get us started on the humidity hair drama). So, when the skies decide to open up, don’t stress, we’ve rounded up 14 fun things to do on the GC that are totally rain-proof.
Yep, Surfers Paradise is home to the big one, and it’s basically an indoor theme park disguised as an arcade. Think bumper cars on a 200sqm track, laser tag to get the adrenaline pumping, a prize shop stuffed with more lollies and collectibles than your childhood dreams could handle, and the brand-new Colour Grid – Queensland’s first glowing digital playground where you can jump, step and race your way through walls and floors that literally light up. Add an onsite café to keep the troops fuelled and Zone Bowling right next door, and you’ve got hours of rainy-day fun sorted.
If you’ve got teens who claim they’re “too cool” for arcade games, MANIAX Axe Throwing (also inside Paradise Centre) is the ultimate trump card – supervised, safe, and wildly satisfying. Rain? What rain?
The ultimate triple threat, Hijinx Hotel, Archie Brothers and Holey Moley in Surfers offer the perfect opportunity to while away a rainy day. With immersive game rooms, all your fave arcade games, bumper cars and mini golf, this epic entertainment precinct is a game-changer for fun-seekers.
Where: Paradise Centre, 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise and 3197 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Level 1 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Infinity Attraction in Surfers Paradise is a crowd pleaser, a super fun activity to do with your friends! Infinity’s maze is both challenging and mind blowing. It’s an extraordinary series of 20 multi- sensory environments filled with unique special effects, emotive atmospheric sound fields, sensuous aromas, ultra-groovy music and spectacular illusions that appear to go all the way to infinity! Get 10% off entry with our coupon code INSIDEGC.
Where: Shop 31, Chevron Renaissance, Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
When the weather’s wet, let the kids bounce, climb and play their hearts out indoors! The Gold Coast is packed with epic indoor play centres: The brand new Area 51 at Westfield Helensvale delivers 1,500sqm of all-ages fun.
BOUNCE in Burleigh Waters is a 3,000sqm trampoline paradise complete with adventure courses, Big Bags, and the adrenaline-pumping X-Park Challenge, and iPlay offers high ropes, Clip n’Climb courses, arcades, redemption stores and heaps of party space. Rainy days never looked so action-packed, or so exhausting!
Where: Area 51, 1-29 Millaroo Dr, Helensvale, Bounce, 5 Sunlight Drive, Burleigh Waters, iPlay Adventure, Westfield Coomera, 103 Foxwell Rd, Coomera and iPlay, Harbour Town Shopping Centre, Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
Keen to channel your inner movie buff and catch the latest blockbuster? Maybe you’re more into the arty side of things with indie flicks and foreign films. Or perhaps you just need somewhere to plonk the kids so they’ll sit still (and quiet!) for a couple of hours these school holidays. Rainy day solved – the GC has you covered with many options, including Event Cinemas at Pacific Fair and Australia Fair and Reading Cinemas at Harbour Town. Popcorn mandatory, choc top highly recommended.
Where: Australia Fair Shopping Centre, Level 1/42 Marine Parade, Southport, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre,1571 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach and Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Gold Coast Hwy & Harbour Town Dr, Biggera Waters
Rain putting a dampener on your dinner plans? Not here. From Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm, Miami Marketta transforms into a buzzing undercover wonderland of street eats, live music and good vibes. Wander through the alley of food stalls serving up flavours from every corner of the globe, sip something delicious, shop the eclectic stalls, and soak up the atmosphere that made Marketta the GC’s original creative precinct. It’s the ultimate rainy-day date night (or mates’ night), and the best part? Entry is free.
Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
Feeling a little trigger-happy? Swap the beach for the Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre, where you can try everything from pistols and rifles to shotguns and tactical weapons – no licence or experience needed (the hardest part is choosing what to shoot!). Check out our experience here. Discount offer available here.
Or head to The Shooting Centre Gold Coast, a custom-built facility just minutes from Surfers, with expert instructors, top-notch safety, and an arsenal ranging from beginner-friendly pistols to beastly .50 calibre hand cannons. Rainy days don’t stand a chance when you’ve got this much firepower. Discount offer available here.
Where: Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre, 1/76 Ferry Road, Southport and The Shooting Centre Gold Coast, Unit 5, 41 Ferry Road, Southport
Believe it or not, but Ripley’s is a great indoor attraction for you, your family and yes, even your friends. It’s a museum full of odd, unique and incredible artefacts, art, photographs and stories of the 200+ countries Mr Ripley has visited over the years. Discount offer available here.
Where: Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise
The Wax Museum is one of the longest-standing attractions on the Gold Coast. Head in for a guided tour and discover some of the more gruesome torture methods that were used in ancient times. Or prepare to be starstruck, get up close and personal with some of Hollywood’s biggest names and grab a photo with royalty. Discount offer available here.
Where: 56 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Rain = the perfect excuse to go shopping undercover. The Gold Coast is a haven for indoor shopping centres, so if you’re in Broadbeach hit up Pacific Fair Shopping Centre or The Oasis Shopping Centre, if you’re in Surfers Paradise, the Paradise Centre or Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport.
Round up your crew, stash the phones, and dive headfirst into some brain-bending fun! Surfers Paradise is stacked with escape room action: test your wits at Fox in a Box Escape Rooms, Eclipse Escape Rooms, or Padlock’d, where you’ve got just 60 minutes to follow the clues, crack the codes, and make your grand escape. Feeling extra adventurous? Other World HQ takes it up a notch with immersive, pulse-racing scenarios that’ll have you questioning reality (in a good way). Rainy day? More like game day – click here for discount vouchers and get ready to see who really is the mastermind of your squad.
Where: Various locations in Surfers Paradise
Car lovers, start your engines – Muscle Car Museum in Bundall is a full-throttle Aussie muscle car heaven, rain or shine. Get up close to jaw-dropping Monaros, Toranas, SL/R5000s, and even a spot-on replica of the legendary Mad Max Interceptor. It’s not just for grown-up gearheads – kids (and big kids) can demolish pinball machines, battle on the Scalextric track, or explore the mega retro arcade. Throw in free soft drinks from a vintage machine and you’ve got a perfect rainy-day pit stop for the whole family. Discount offer available here.
Where: 76 Bundall Rd, Bundall
Slideways Go Karting Centre, just 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise, is your ultimate rain-proof adrenaline fix. Their indoor track is specially designed to let karts drift and slide for max fun, no matter the weather – rain, hail or shine! Take the wheel of one of 20 state-of-the-art European Sodi karts, powered by 9hp four-stroke Honda engines, and see if you’ve got the skills to nail a perfect lap. Feeling competitive? Discount offer available here.
Where: 10 Spencer Road, Nerang
Dracula’s and Australian Outback Spectacular both offer nights of total entertainment! The Australian Outback Spectacular is dinner and a show with a true-blue twist – think incredible arena effects, Aussie animals, and whip-cracking action, all served up alongside a hearty three-course meal and drinks. It’s family-friendly, wow-worthy, and guaranteed to have you yee-hawing in your seat.
Leave the kids at home for this one – Dracula’s is strictly MA15+ and unapologetically outrageous. Think a wild mash-up of comedy, live music, burlesque and jaw-dropping aerials, all wrapped up in a cabaret where fantasy and reality collide. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you’ll probably blush… and you’ll definitely have a bloody good night out. Bonus: you can even sink your fangs into a discount offer right here.
Where: Dracula’s, Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach and Australian Outback Spectacular, Pacific Motorway, Oxenford
Sometimes a little self-love is exactly what the doctor ordered, especially when the rain is tapping on the windows and all you want to do is stay snug inside. Treat yourself to a day of bliss at one of the Gold Coast’s top spas: think soothing massages, indulgent facials, hot saunas, and maybe even a dip in a heated pool while the storm does its thing outside. From luxe day spas to boutique wellness havens, there’s a perfect spot for every kind of pampering. Check out our hand-picked favourites here and make it a rainy-day retreat to remember.
Words by Belinda Symons
Solo girls just wanna have fun.
So we hear you’re sans a significant other. Don’t worry, we got you – and haven’t you heard, single is the new relationship! Or maybe it’s just us saying that. Who cares, because what’s more of a vibe than knocking back an entire pack of Tim Tams for dinner while you binge watch MAFS like no one’s watching? Because no one is watching.
Soak up that glorious singledom and being responsible for no one but me, myself and I (and my dog) because it turns out there are loads of things you could be doing to fill up your cup as the Gold Coast’s most eligible Bachelor or Bachelorette.
Try all the foods
One of the best things about being single is being able to eat whatever you crave without compromise. Feel like gelato for dinner? You got it! Cooking not on the menu? Uber Eats from your favourite Thai it is. Craving Jimmy Wah’s but got no one to go with? Who cares! There’s something we love about a solo dinner date. No eating something you don’t want because the person you’re eating with is fussy/boring/not vibing the same menu as you. Our favourite spots for solo dinner dates? Try Rosella’s, Local or Cantina in Mermaid Beach for epic eats and people watching.
Get crafty
Let your inner Picasso run wild at one of the multitude of adult craft workshops on offer around the GC. Mesi Studio is one of the Coast’s newest craft, paint and sip venues, with textured art classes taking centre stage #yippee. The Craft Parlour, offers everything from floral embroidery to bead & sips and kokedama workshops. Or if you like to get your hands dirty, why not try a clay and sip experience at Stone Studio & Co in Currumbin? Come alone or come with a crew, either way you’re guaranteed a good time.
Shop ‘til You Drop
If you’re anything like us, there’s a good chance your retail therapy will cost more than your actual therapy #yolo. We’ve got some of the country’s best shopping centre’s in our backyard, so it’d be rude not to shop up a storm at Pacific Fair if you ask us. If you’re being budget-concious (or just love a good bargain) head north to Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre. They’ve got all your favourite brands for loads less with a spiffy eats and sips precinct to boot.
Self Care’s The Word
Spa days are the ultimate single gal good time. There are plenty of places to indulge on the Coast from escape-for-a-week retreats like Gwinganna to the luxe and spa-kling new embodiment of bliss, the Spa By JW. Nothing says ‘self care’ like a soak session at Soak Bathhouse. Go solo or grab your girl gang and cycle through the warm magnesium baths and cold plunge pools. If you’re wanting more – add on a luxe massage or solo infrared sauna session, listen to an audiobook while you sweat it out and we promise you’ll feel a million bucks for it. Smooth skin and super chill vibes await.
Let’s Get Physical
Hit the pavement and get your heart rate up at one of the many run clubs calling the GC home. Our personal fave? Unfit Run Club, because who doesn’t want to finish a jog with a jug of beer! A way to get fit AND meet new peeps? Sign us up.
If you’re more about the great outdoors then explore one of our incredible Hinterland hiking trails. If you’re lucky and the weather gods have been good to you, you’ll even get a solid waterfall spotting – perfect spot for a refreshing dip.
Movie Date
It might feel cliché but there’s just something so liberating about taking a solo movie date. Because when was the last time you went to the cinemas, be honest? Book yourself some tix to that rom-com you’ve been dying to see (Gold Class, because you deserve it) and treat yourself to your favourite sweetie treaties. No compromising and being forced to watch the 456th Equalizer movie. Hot tip, DENDY at Queen Street Village, often screens previews and opening night specials including a glass of sparkling wine with your ticket purchase #fancy.
Get Your Mermaid On
‘Oh naurrrr Cleo’ we hear you say, but we know deep down you’ve been dying to have your mermaid moment and there’s no better place than Currumbin Rock Pools. The ultimate sanctuary for singles, pack a bag with a book and a baguette and you’ll be set for at least a couple of hours to soak up the tranquil vibes. If saltwater is your preference, perch up at Talle Creek or one of our other incredible beachside spots and ground yourself while you become one with the ocean. Bliss.
Bingo’s Not Just for Old Ducks
Get the girls (and guys if they must) together for a night of ugly laughing with Miami Marketta’s iconic Drag Queen Bingo. Thing big costumes and even bigger personalities, it’s a fixture on the GC events calendar for a reason. There’s a DJ spinning your favourite camp tunes and bringing the vibes all night long. The best bit? You can book in tables of two, four or six so grab a bestie or five and get ready for the night of your lives.
Get Your Exhibitionist On
Not like that, you weirdo. We mean to get better acquainted with the Arts at HOTA, one of Queensland’s most impressive Galleries and a very welcome addition to the Coast’s art and culture scene. The exhibits change every few months so there’s always something fresh to look at. Finish it off with a bite or beverage at HOTA’s rooftop bar, The Exhibitionist. Sounds like a pretty perfect day.
Learn to Surf
It’s pretty much a rite of passage if you’re a Gold Coaster, so if you can’t surf then what have you been doing?! Currumbin Alley is renowned for being one of the most beginner friendly spots to catch a wave, so book a spot at one of ripper surf schools and let your inner grom out. Currumbin Alley Surf School even have a 6 week surfing challenge so you can find some mates (or a mate) and put those new skills to work.
Chill out
If there’s ever been a time or a reason to focus on me, myself and I, it’s when you’re single. So what better way to dig deep and honour yourself than with the legends at Cool 2 Be Conscious. They’ve brought community breathwork, meditation and ocean dips to the masses and there’s a reason why hundreds – yes, hundreds – rock up rain, hail or shine for their sessions each and every week. As Australia’s largest breathwork movement, it’s the perfect spot to dip your toes into the concept of breathwork (pun intended). Sounds wholesome, because it is.
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski.
Shake up that boring old routine.
Feeling a little ho-hum over your usual sweat sesh rotation? Or maybe your rickety rig has been feeling less like a temple and more like a ‘fixer upper’ of late?
Whether you revel in any reason to get the ole’ bod moving, or the thought of exercise bores you to your very core – having some exciting new options to throw in your trusty repertoire can never be a bad thing. So without further ado, here are 10 unique exercise experiences on the GC to try your hand at. Because, y’know, variety is the spice of life, and all that.
Aqua Sculpt
Pilates, but make it float. Aqua Sculpt has officially landed on the Gold Coast, bringing you a full-body workout like no other – on water! Set on JW Marriott’s iconic Saltwater Lagoon Pool, these 45-minute sessions fuse Pilates, balance and strength training on a floating platform.
Where: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Retro Fit
Dust off those cowboy boots and bootscoot your way through a morning of country-inspired grooves, with a few cheeky pop throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Whether you’re a two-left-feet newbie or a seasoned grapevine pro, their friendly instructor will have you stepping in sync in no time.
Classes are held at The Junction in Burleigh Heads, with an onsite café for your pre- or post-class coffee fix. Expect plenty of laughs, moves you didn’t know you had in you, and a guaranteed good time. No partner, no prior experience, just bring your dancing shoes – Retro Fit will take care of the rest.
Where: 14 Junction Rd, Burleigh Heads
Lights Out and Dance
For the rhythmically challenged among us; if the chance get your groove on under the cover of pitch black darkness sounds a dream, get on down to Lights Out and Dance and ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ (literally). Get those endorphins flowing while you lose yourself to some sweet dance beats in what is basically the most unintimidating group setting you can get. The intuitive-style sessions are held in a dark room so you can work up a sweat shaking what your mama gave you without a care in the world; and have stacks of fun in the process. Post-workout glow, incoming!
Where: Broadbeach Cultural Centre, Hooker Blvd &, Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach Waters and Runaway Bay Youth Centre, 379 Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay
Yoga Paws
No, we haven’t gone barking mad – Puppy Yoga is very much a thing… and yes, it’s exactly as amazing as it sounds. Stretch, reset, and snuggle some seriously cute pups at Yoga Paws’ fortnightly Puppy Yoga sessions in Miami. It’s all about moving through beginner-friendly poses while playful puppies roam, cuddle, and generally steal the show.
Bonus: it’s good for them too! These sessions help socialise the puppies in a calm, fun setting, building their confidence for future adventures. Breeds are kept a surprise, but one thing’s guaranteed: maximum cuteness.
Where: House of Motion: 1924 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami
Run Clubs
If your typical cardio rotation consists only of running away from your problems and jumping to conclusions, the various iterations of social run clubs that call the GC home will make a runner out of you yet. If you’re looking for a supportive environment where you can slide on in at snail’s pace without so much as a second glance, Parkrun is a perennial fave. With community events held weekly from Coomera through to Kirra, participants are welcome to walk, jog, run, or simply spectate. Or for a little extra incentive we’d recommend checking out clubs that strategically plan their routes around our fine assortment of local watering holes, such as Unfit Run Club.
Where: Assorted clubs/locations across the Gold Coast
Aerial yoga
If you’ve seen one tree pose, you’ve seen them all, right? Well, not necessarily… If you’re looking to shake up your usual stretch-and-breath sesh, Aerial yoga is where its at! Experience yoga from a whole new perspective, with an invigorating workout that involves performing poses gracefully suspended from a mix of hammock, silk and ring style contraptions. And the best part? You don’t even need to be a card-carrying yogi to get in on the fun! A variety of beginners classes mean people of all ages and abilities can learn the moves ‘on the fly’. Go on, why not give it a whirl!?
Where: Hapy Studio, 9/5 Traders Way, Currumbin
Therapy Fitness
When it comes to changing up the same ol’ workout grind, spin is hardly a revolutionary (geddit, heh) concept – but hear us out, because what we’re proposing is anything but your typical cycle class. At Therapy, Mermaid’s multi sensory fitness studio, the immersive ‘therapy’ sessions are all about boosting mental as well as physical wellbeing… and who doesn’t love a to-do list two-fer?! Combining music and movement, each of the fully integrated studio spaces have been optimised to get both the mind and the bod feeling fab. You’ll be glowing from the inside out in no time.
Where: Cnr Markeri St &, Southport Burleigh Rd Q Super Centre, Shop D2/D3, Mermaid Waters
POUND Fitness
Alright so remove any expectations you might have about what this entails and get excited for an extra fun time… because this workout ROCKS. Get ready to bliss out with ‘ya sticks out – fluro green drumsticks – that is, with the exhilarating full-body cardio jam session known simply as POUND. A rockstar-worthy workout that combines sweet beats with pilates inspired strength training and the sweat-dripping fun of drumming. What a time. Now this is the kind of exercise we could really ‘drum up’ some enthusiasm for! *ba dum tiss*.
Where: Various locations across the GC
She’s Spicy
If your idea of a good time involves spicy glutes, sunrise stretches and a post-sweat latte, She’s Spicy has you covered. Every Friday, their events are focussed on the pilates, coffee & connection. Free 5:30am beachside Pilates sessions at Mermaid Beach (right opposite Rafiki). Expect good vibes, easygoing moves for all levels, and a solid excuse to grab a coffee or go for a swim after class. BYO mat, bring your besties, and join the crew for your weekly dose of movement and mateship.
Where: Mermaid Beach, opposite Rafiki
Pole dancing
Does the thought of yet another yoga or pilates sesh low-key have you yawning? Why not step it up a notch and have a pole lot of fun challenging and contorting your core in ways you never even knew possible! Even if you’re not typically the flexy type; the pros behind some of our local studios promise there’s no previous experience or even coordination pre-requisites to give it a go! So really, we’ve got nothing to lose, and a whole lot of flexibility, and strength to gain. Sounds pretty badass to us.
Where: GCPOLEFIT, 87 Griffith St, Coolangatta and Rokh Fit Studio, Unit 2/19 Township Dr, Burleigh Heads
Words by Belinda Symons
