One of the benefits of the pandemic was undoubtedly the widespread acceptance of working from home. You escape the daily commute, and you can casually hop on Zoom calls fresh out of bed.

However, fast forward a smidge and the shine begins to fade on WFH. You inevitably miss putting on nice clothes, washing your face and interacting with other humans IRL.

Enter the co-working space. The ultimate inbetween. Gone are the days of sitting in a cafe corner, nursing a two hour old long black while stealthily avoiding the disapproving glances of the cafe staff.

Coworking spaces are more than just places to work – they’re dynamic hubs that foster collaboration, idea sharing, and the vibrant energy of working alongside other professionals throughout the day. Our list of coworking venues is bound to ignite your creativity and make the hours until 5pm fly by. Embrace the flexibility and convenience that these coworking spaces offer, and say goodbye to the traditional office grind.

CoSPACES – Old Station Co. Southport
The biggest name in local coworking spaces, CoSPACES have a number of sites around the suburb of Southport. Their original space, however, is the Old Station Co. which is home to everything from private rooms to communal areas and is complete with outdoor areas and a coffee shop for when it’s time to step away from that blue light. Located on Nerang Street, Southport (and directly in front of G:Link Southport station) the space is next door to epic rooftop bar and deli, Mr PP’s. CoSPACES also has a photography studio and perfect little event space so you can host or get involved in anything your heart desires. Should you be the social type, you’ll be pleased to hear there is a sizeable contingent of local legends hanging out — sorry, working — here too.
Where: 45 Nerang Street, Southport

Flockd
Flockd is the daydream you once had of an idyllic office somewhere mashed with the upbeat and cosmopolitan vibes of Burleigh Heads. The result is dreamy, minimalistic style furnishings with airy and light surrounds, creating a mini utopia of productive behaviour and inspired work. You have the option of two slightly different buildings right next to each other where long-termers and hot-deskers converge as one. There’s even an adjoining café and day spa thrown in there for good measure, and all of the dogs are made most welcome — hopefully, they don’t distract you too much, though.
Where: 4 Starling Street, Burleigh Heads

The Productive GC
The Productive GC is the handiwork of mother/daughter duo Ashley and Angelique, and hats off to them: we can’t help but notice the place is teeming with good vibes. You can expect an all-white space and hanging plants and lolly jars scattered everywhere, ohh and the very best part is, you can BYO pets. That’s right, there are numerous dogs in residence on any given day, and you can take as many pat and stroke breaks as you need. The space lives on Upton Street, and there’s parking for days, which is nothing short of super convenient. Then throw in the fact you are central to everyone and everything in our city, and you’re onto a winner.
Where: Unit 5/21-23 Upton Street, Bundall

SOAK Bathhouse
Yep, you read that correctly. SOAK’s cowork space is where wellness meets work, allowing you to “WFH” (Wellness From Here) and supercharge your productivity. The coworking area is an open-plan communal workspace equipped with essential amenities like WiFi, air conditioning, and restroom and shower facilities. But here’s the kicker – you can turn your workday into a spa day with their “Soak & Work” deal, giving you access to the Bathhouse while you hustle. And if you’re just in need of a spot to type away, they’ve got half and full-day access to the cowork zone.
Where: 2532 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

WOTSO WorkSpace
Anywhere with a ping pong table that actively encourages you to rally with your co-workers between emails and proofreading documents will find its way onto this list. Of course, there are also meeting rooms with funky wallpaper and leafy green views, the highest speed Internet we’ve ever experienced, lounge-style spaces, phone booths and of course, desks for the actual working. The Varsity Lakes space is part of a larger organisation, which boasts over 20 sites across Australia, combining a rich culture of work provoking energy and offering full 24/7 access and all of the other perks to its permanent members. Coming soon to Robina Town Centre.
Where: Level 2, 194 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes

Blank Space Coworking
Coworking right in the heart of James St AND discounts to Local? Blank Space had us at hello. This boutique coworking space is thoughtfully designed to foster a tight-knit professional community where like-minded individuals and businesses thrive together. Here, you can craft your own workspace, collaborate collectively, and tap into the dynamic energy of Burleigh Heads, surrounded by its fantastic cafes, restaurants, bars, and just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful beach. With features like permanent reserved spaces, 24/7 access, business-grade internet, and more, Blank Space Coworking is your ideal base for growing and building your business.
Where: Level 1/33 James St, Burleigh Heads

Flex by Abacus, The Broadbeach Office
Located within The Oasis Shopping Centre, ‘Flex by Abacus’ is now a proud resident of The Broadbeach Office, a brand-new precinct that promises a workspace like no other. ‘Flex by Abacus’ caters to businesses of all sizes, offering flexible lease terms, from shared offices for solo entrepreneurs to spacious suites accommodating up to 30 desks. This modern and refined space features top-tier kitchen amenities, comfortable breakout zones, well-equipped meeting rooms, and private pods for focused work. As an added bonus there are stunning ocean views and it’s conveniently located next to some of the GC’s most renowned cafes and eateries.
Where: The Oasis Shopping Centre, 12 Charles Ave, Broadbeach

Words by Alex Mitcheson and Belinda Symons.

Lucy and Nikki first crossed paths while studying marketing in North Queensland, bonding over big ideas and even bigger energy while working at Red Bull. That spark led them to launch their fashion label, JGR & STN, and later, their wildly popular podcast, Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki – a cheeky, unfiltered show built on real talk, hilarious stories, and their shared adventures.

What started as a side hustle turned into one of Australia’s biggest podcasts for young women. With a cult-like following (yes, there are logo tattoos), sold-out live shows, and a community that hangs on every happy hour, Lucy and Nikki are now household names.

Their latest move? Teaming up with bobby, the better-for-you soft drink brand shaking up the bevvie scene, for a brand-new collaboration that’s as fun and fizz-filled as they are.

We caught up with the powerhouse duo to talk life, business, and what’s bubbling up next.

How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
Nikki: We’ve been on the Gold Coast since 2015 so we’re just coming on to 10 years!

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Nikki: We love the lifestyle! As people that travel a lot it’s nice to come back to a place where you can get into a routine, get up early and enjoy some good weather!

Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Nikki: Luckily enough with our jobs we are able to be the same person when professionally and in real life haha. We always are very grateful that we built our brand on having a good time and being super open about that, so there are no surprises when it comes to seeing us out and about enjoying a good night! With that being said, we also love exercise and routine. So I guess we are pretty balanced.

Happy Hour has become one of Australia’s most listened-to podcasts, what do you think has made it connect with so many people?
Nikki: I think it’s because we’re very relatable and a lot of female friendship duo’s probably know who their Lucy to their Nikki is when they listen.

You’ve always been open and unfiltered with your audience – has that helped shape how you approach business too?
Nikki: We like to consider ourselves professional when it comes to business so probably not AS unfiltered haha. But yes, we do have a pretty open desk dialogue in our office and keep things casual. Let’s just say there’s no corporate jargon happening at JGR & STN HQ.

This is bobby’s first co-created flavour, and your first time stepping into the beverage space. How did this collaboration with come about?
Nikki: We have always LOVED bobby so the brand alignment felt super organic! We’ve been drinking it for years so when we met the team and loved them and the concept it was a no brainer.

Strawberries & Cream is such a nostalgic throwback. What made you land on that flavour?
Nikki: We love the lollies so when they said they could make it sugar free we were like hell yeah!

What’s your advice for anyone looking to turn their online presence into a full-blown business or brand?
Consistency and authenticity. You’re gonna have to work hard at it before you earn the fruits of your labour.

What does the future have in store?
A live show tour at the end of the year!

How do you choose to spend your days off?
It could be anything between wholesome bath houses and boozy lunches into evenings at our favourite bar.

What are your Gold Coast favourites:
Nikki:
Café: Burleigh Surf Club Kiosk is low key epic
Restaurant: Maman & Rickshores in Burleigh Heads
Bar: Moustache in Nobbys
Beach: Burleigh or Greenmount

Lucy
Cafe: Holliday in Nobbys – for a cheese toastie!
Restaurant: Rick Shores for weekends, Goukai Ramen for weeknights
Bar: Moustache in Nobbys as well
Beach: Mermaid Beach

From networking events to nuptials, it’s always advantageous to keep abreast of the various function and event spaces on offer on the GC – particularly if you’re an email slinging, card-carrying member of the corporate world.

If you’re in the latter camp, you probably understand all too well that an events venue that ticks all the boxes can be surprisingly hard to come by, which is why you need to know about Robina Events Centre – a state-of-the-art, sustainably minded event space.

Centrally located within TAFE Queensland Robina campus, the innovative venue is one of the newest, and most exciting additions to our events scene. In the few short years since its inception in 2021, Robina Events Centre (REC) has set the bar as a progressive space shaking up the way professionals meet and connect on the Coast.

In our constantly changing corporate landscape, the needs of businesses and professionals are as diverse as they are ever evolving. With everything from environmental practices to tech requirements to consider – REC boasts a variety of versatile facilities and spaces – including eight multi-purpose function rooms that can effortlessly adapt to events of all scales and types.

It’s a forward thinking approach to sustainability that really sets Robina Events Centre apart, with a refreshing, future-focused ethos at the forefront of everything they do. Of the extensive facilities on offer, the largest is the magnificent Anna Rose Room. With the capacity to facilitate up to 300 guests, the multi-purpose, pillarless room has been designed with flexibility in mind – adapting to a multitude of configurations or dividing down to suit smaller functions.

The REC perks also extend to a variety of cutting-edge amenities – such as an expansive foyer, a fully equipped interactive demonstration kitchen, a purpose-built theatre, breakout rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant and on-site cafe… the perfect pick-me-up to keep the inspiration flowing after a day of corporate hijinks.

For entities and individuals who are also passionate about championing eco-conscious practices, it’s in this area that the change-leading REC shines brighter than a (renewably powered) spotlight on a keynote speaker. Fitted with 250 solar panels and dedicated EV charging stations, the venue has been thoughtfully designed to minimise environmental impact, in addition to ongoing sustainability measures, such as menus designed around locally sourced produce, closed loop composting and plastic-free practices.

It’s an ethos that’s evident everywhere you look- right down to the array of projectors and digital sharing options fitted throughout. The venue has also opted for eco-conscious materials wherever possible, such as the breakout spaces which proudly showcase reclaimed railway planks, and furnishing selections chosen for their high recycled content.

Impressively, REC also converts all its food waste into nutrient-rich compost, which is then donated to a local community garden. The passionate REC crew are just as eager about imparting their eco expertise to help hosts reach their sustainability goals, too – including a free guide that outlines their top ten tips for holding a sustainable event.

Combining environmentally conscious practices with leading-edge facilities? We think you’ll a-green, Robina Events Centre sets an impressive new standard for functions on the GC.

Where: Robina Events Centre, Level 4, TAFE Queensland, Robina Campus, 94 Laver Drive, Robina
When: ‍Monday to Saturday, 6:30am – Late
Website: www.robinaeventscentre.com.au
Instagram: @robinaeventscentre

Words by Kellie Leader.

STORY SPONSORED BY ROBINA EVENT CENTRE.