Our guide to the best things to do for FREE (or really cheap) on the Gold Coast!
1) Beach it!
Head down to the beach for a day of fun that’s totally free! Throw your towel out on the sand and spend the day swimming, surfing, sun bathing or strolling along the shoreline.
Gold Coast beaches you could explore:
*Currumbin Alley
*Palm Beach
*Mermaid Beach
*Surfers Paradise
*Broadbeach
*Burleigh Heads
*Coolangatta & Rainbow Bay
*and more!
2) Parks and Picnics
Toss a few food items together and visit one of the Gold Coast’s many green spaces for a picnic. Many of the parks have great playgrounds where the kids will have hours of fun.
Some of our favourite parks for a Gold Coast picnic:
*Palm Beach Parklands – Pirate Park (directly opposite Currumbin Sands on the Beach)
*Laguna Park, Palm Beach
*Kurrawa Pratten Park Broadbeach (all abilities playground)
*Southport Broadwater Parklands
*Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Benowa
3) To Market, To Market
From morning Farmers Markets to food-inspired night markets, there are plenty of great markets happening across the Gold Coast on any given weekend. Soak up the good vibes, live music and enjoy a cheap outing mixing it up with the locals.
Gold Coast Markets not to miss:
*Palm Beach Currumbin Farmers Market –
Palm Beach Currumbin Highschool Thrower Drive, Palm Beach.
6am to 11:30am each Saturday
*The Sanctuary Markets –
28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin
4pm to 9pm every Friday
*Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets –
On the Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
4pm to 9pm each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night
*The Village Markets –
Burleigh Heads State School
8:30am to 1pm on the 1st and 3rd Sunday each month. See The Village Markets for upcoming dates.
4) C’mon Get Snappy …
Whether it’s Instagram or an old school film camera that you’re into, there’s plenty of amazing places to get snap happy on the Gold Coast!
Here’s our favourite five Gold Coast attractions to photograph:
*Currumbin Rock/Elephant Rock, Currumbin
The ocean, sand and these two amazing rocks will form the perfect back drop for a selfie or a sunrise.
*Tallebudgera, Palm Beach
Where the ocean meets the creek provides the perfect platform for snapping palm trees, sandy foreshores and Stand Up Paddle boarders gliding elegantly along the glassy surface of the creek.
*Burleigh Headland and Beach
From May to November this is a great place to spot whale during their migration process. It’s also a fantastic vantage point for a great sunrise shot, as the orange ball rises from the sea each morning.
*Surfers Paradise
The iconic Surfers Paradise sign is a must-do if you are visiting the Gold Coast for the first time! Pose with a gold-clad Gold Coast Meter Maid or get snapped outside one of the many unique attractions such as Dracula’s Haunted House, Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Wax Museum.
*Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
While entry isn’t free, taking your photo petting a kangaroo is … and we think that alone is worth the entry fee! There’s also loads of other great Australian birds and animals to check out while you’re there.
5) Festivals & Events
The Gold Coast is home to an amazing array of FREE annual festivals and events. Why not time you’re visit to coincide with one of the following:
*Bleach* Festival – March/April
*Surfers Paradise Live – April
*Blues on Broadbeach – May
*Cooly Rocks On, Coolangatta – June
*Broadbeach Country Music Festival – July
*Swell Sculpture Festival, Currumbin – September
*Buskers by the Creek, Currumbin – October
*Coolangatta Gold – October
*Quiksilver Pro / Roxy Pro – Snapper Rocks – tba 2018
Check with event organisers for upcoming dates.
Book your Gold Coast accommodation staying with us here at Currumbin Sands on the Beach, offering 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and great onsite facilities such as swimming pools and spas. CLICK HERE