The Gold Coast has always been a place close to my heart.
I was born there in 1987 and the first six months of my life, I lived at Kirra Gardens – an apartment building right opposite beautiful Kirra Beach.
The Gold Coast was also a place I holidayed at a lot growing up. I distinctly remember the various hotels and motels I stayed at with my family over the summer.
None of them were ever luxurious hotels, but at that age, all that mattered to me was whether the room had Foxtel, if there was an ocean view, and of course how close busy Cavill Avenue and Pacific Fair – the world’s greatest shopping centre – were to me.
When I turned 19 or 20 and stopped holidaying with my parents, I would admit I was kind of tired of the Gold Coast, having spent so much time there when I was a young kid.
My mission was to travel the world and leave those domestic holidays behind.
So, recently when the opportunity arose to visit the Gold Coast again after nearly two decades, I was genuinely excited to return and see how much it had changed.
As this publication’s senior sports journalist, I was lucky to be invited to the Gold Coast to experience the city as a destination for world-class sporting events.
While Gold Coast sporting teams (I’m looking at you Titans and Suns) have often struggled for success on the paddock, that doesn’t mean that the city isn’t successful in hosting major professional and even semi-professional/amateur sporting events.
In 2018, the Gold Coast was the host city for the Commonwealth Games, which ultimately saw billions of dollars poured into local infrastructure, transport upgrades and the like in preparation for the massive international contingent.
When I was in town earlier this month, I got to witness the historic Australia v India T20 International at People First Stadium in Carrara. This was a huge deal for the region as it was the first-time ever that the Gold Coast had hosted the Indian men’s cricket team.
While the match ended with India winning comfortably over the Aussies, the best result was how successful the game was for Gold Coast tourism, with a record crowd for a cricket match of 20,470 in attendance.
Whether it’s the V8 Supercars racing through the streets every year, the annual World Surfing League Championship Tour or the Pan Pacific Masters Games, the Gold Coast has proven time and time again that it’s well equipped to be up there with Sydney and Melbourne as a prime destination for major sporting events.
In March, Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium – the home of the Titans – will host six matches of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, including the highly-anticipated Matildas v Iran fixture on March 5.
If you plan on visiting the region for the women’s football in March next year, or perhaps to see the GWS Giants or Penrith Panthers play there in May and June, there’s several places and attractions I would recommend you visit to make the most out of your few days on the Coast with the Most.
Where to stay…
Firstly, I’d recommend basing yourself at beautiful Broadbeach, particularly the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, one of the leading five-star hotels on the Gold Coast that blends French sophistication with the laid-back Australian coastal vibe.
I stayed at this amazing property for two nights in a Superior Room with an Ocean View and it was the perfect location for my tailored itinerary.
Not only was it a short walk to spectacular Broadbeach and its array of cafes, shops and world-class restaurants, but it was just a few hundred metres from The Star Casino and the popular Gold Coast Lite Rail, also known as the “G”, which, for 50c per ride, is the best value public transport in the world!
Where to eat…
If you happen to drive out to the picturesque Gold Coast Hinterland to visit the stunning and peaceful Cougal Cascades, make sure you pop in to Pasture & Co, located in the beautiful Currumbin Valley.
Pasture & Co is a family-friendly café that uses only fresh, local, organic and sustainably sourced ingredients. My recommendations are the delicious banana smoothie and the extremely colourful Zucchini + Potato Rosti with poached egg. I literally uttered ‘wow’ when this landed on my table!
For lunch, I had one of the biggest feasts of my life at Mamasan, which is located just a few steps from my hotel. The newly renovated restaurant boasts a bold menu of East Asian flavours set within an elevated dining venue. Everything I was served here was spectacular!
For dinner, you can’t go past the recently opened Meltemi, which was just a short walk from the Sofitel Broadbeach. The restaurant features flavours from the wind-swept Mediterranean coast, crafted with old age techniques and a touch of modern elegance.
I ordered the Pita and Taramasalata Dip for my entrée, the Shawarma for my main, the Bougatsa for dessert, and I washed it all down with the Nick the Greek cocktail, which was simply to die for! The staff here were amazing too and the spot where I was seated was just pure magic at sunset.
If you love your breakfast with a view like me, definitely head to Tower 28 Café, which is located at the Kurrawa Surf Club. Tower 28 is the only absolute beachfront café in Broadbeach, and they serve an amazing Iced Matcha and their French Toast with Apple and Cinnamon really hit the spot!
Where to drink…
The Gold Coast is full of amazing bars and hotels to grab a beverage and watch the ocean, but if you’re after something different, head to this secluded pocket of Miami for a brewery and distillery tour through the area.
The first place I hit up was Precinct Brewing Co for a $15 paddle of their finest ales. This place exists in a transformed old workshop and was heaving with great music and fun vibes.
The next place I checked out was Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery, which is the Gold Coast’s first and only craft gin, vodka, whiskey and liquor distillery. This venue, brimming with history, blew my socks off! The setting was phenomenal and the cocktails even better!
My final stop on my crawl was Roji Cat, right next door. This vibrant Japanese-inspired microbrewery and izakaya-style bar opened last year. The venue, which draws inspiration from the neon-lit, bustling backstreets of Tokyo, serve house-brewed beers, sake and delicious street food! The Tebasaki Wings here were insanely good!
Where to play…
Unlike some other major cities around Australia, there’s no shortage of things to do on the Gold Coast – hence its uber popularity. If you want to do something a little different to theme parks, but still want that adrenaline rush, I can’t recommend Arro Jet Boating enough!
With my highly skilled and experienced jet boat pilot “Magic Mike” at the helm, I had the time of my life on this thrilling adventure through the Gold Coast waterways, and so did everyone else on board! The reason Arro Jets stands out above the rest is because it skips slow zones, so you basically dive straight into 45 minutes of spins, 360-degree maneuverers, fish tail turns and splashes at speeds up to 90km/h. This is a must-do!
If you love the water but want a more relaxing way to spend your morning, the team at Australian Kayaking Adventures have you covered. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with my amazing guide Alex, who took me on a kayaking and snorkelling adventure through the tranquil waters of the Gold Coast. On our way paddling to nearby Wavebreak Island for a spot of snorkelling and breakfast, we spotted a couple of curious dolphins swimming by.
My snorkelling experience also needs mentioning. I’m notorious for not grasping snorkelling, but I can admit, thanks to Alex’s advice, I was finally able to get the hang of it and snorkel with hundreds of sub-tropical fish and marine life. Thank you, Alex – achievement unlocked!
After so many years apart, I’ve realised that the Gold Coast has changed. It was a great place to visit as a kid and it’s an even better place to visit as an adult!
Whether you’re visiting for a sporting event, a concert or a family holiday, the Gold Coast still reigns supreme as Australia’s ultimate playground.
Nathan Taylor is Parra News' sports journalist. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked in western Sydney media for more than a decade.