A sunny sojourn to the Gold Coast is always a good idea. And you don’t have to wait until the weekend hits to turn your getaway dreams into a reality. This slice of paradise is always on - with a booming culinary scene ready to delight your taste buds, endless stretches of golden sand to explore, and a lush hinterland where the adventures are endless. Sound like your kind of holiday? Here’s 10 reasons why you should throw out the rule book and take a sneeky mid-weeky to the Gold Coast.
1. Chase Waterfalls At Your Own Pace
While it’s absolutely true that the Gold Coast is always ‘on’, it’s also the perfect place to ground yourself and slow down if that’s your vibe. Immerse yourself in the sounds of nature with a visit to the Gold Coast’s magical Hinterland. Think: a World Heritage-listed playground with 100,000 hectares filled with rainforest and thundering waterfalls cascading down cliffs. Springbrook (in particular the 4km Twin Falls Circuit) and Lamington National Park (home to 130km of walking tracks) are absolute non-negotiables to start your adventure at. It’s time for you to explore the green beyond the gold.
2. Eat Your Way Through The Coast’s Incredible Culinary Scene
Getting an oceanfront table at some of the Gold Coast’s best restaurants can be a challenge, but mid-week, it’s easy peasy. Transport yourself to the Mediterranean at La Luna Beach Club, feel the ocean breeze in your hair while tucking into a long luncg, or soak up breathtaking hinterland views at The Paddock Restaurant in Beechmont. Want more? These ‘gram-worthy restaurants have your name on them.
3. Indulge In A Mid-Week Spa Session
Who says pampering yourself has to wait until the weekend? There has never been a better time than mid-week to book yourself into one of the Gold Coast’s many incredible day spas. Unwind in unparalleled luxury at One Spa at RACV Royal Pines. The pavilion is home to gorgeous treatment rooms with private decks that overlook a lake complete with swans floating by. Recharge with a sauna and mineral bath at Soak Bathhouse or really zen out with a few nights stay at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat where you can indulge in holistic wellbing treatments from facials to reiki.
4. Sip Cocktails Poolside In A Private Cabana
Give your mates major FOMO with a few snaps on your social media of you reclining poolside with a cocktail in hand. Gold Coast hotels don’t play around when it comes to their pools. QT Gold Coast, nestled at the top of Surfers Paradise is serving Palm Springs vibes with their black and white striped pool, breezy cabanas and decadent poolside menu. Think: sashimi tacos and carafes of cocktails.
JW Marriott is another must-try, with two pools to float in (including one filled with tropical fish), there’s loads of cabanas to recline in. Or head to Cali Beach Club, Australia’s largest rooftop bar, with daybeds, booths and cabanas available to book, several pools, live music and a tasty restaurant. (Image: JW Marriott Resort courtesy of Tourism Events Queensland.)
5. Make Your Mid-Week Birthday One To Remember
If you’ve just realised your birthday falls on a Tuesday this year, it’s time to change the narrative and book yourself a sneeky mid-weeky to the Gold Coast. What better way to celebrate yourself with a holiday to this dreamy spot? Start your day with a smooth coffee and flaky pastry at one of the best bakeries, go for a dip at one of the many incredible beaches, buy yourself a birthday present at one of these epic shopping spots, treat yourself to a long lunch with a view and top it off with a cocktail at a rooftop bar - the GC is brimming with them. Or hire a self-drive picnic boat and cruise the spectacular waterways. Now that’s a birthday to remember!
6. Take Your Office To The Beach
You know what makes replying to endless work emails 1,000 times better? Doing so while you dip your toes in the sand. If you’re out of annual leave, why not take your office to the beach? Grab a beach tent or pop up an umbrella on the edge of Tallebudgera Creek and spend your lunch break going for a stand-up paddle board sesh in the calm water. Or, park yourself and your laptop on the sand at Rainbow Bay and float in the crystal clear ocean between Zoom meetings, then refuel with a classic pub lunch at the iconic Rainbow Bay Surf Club.
7. Score The Best Hotel Rooms
From luxury high rises like The Langham, perched right on the beach, to magical retreats nestled in the hinterland, there’s a plethora of epic accommodation options for you to recharge at on the Gold Coast. And best of all if you book during the week you’re almost guaranteed a cheaper rate than those who holiday there on the weekend. That’s more money in your pocket to spend on the important things…like cocktails from the hotel bar.
8. Have A Mid-Week Reset
There’s no need to wait until Saturday to reset after a long week at work. Avoid burnout by breaking up your 9-5 with a cheeky getaway on a Tuesday. Book a couple of days annual leave either side and before you know it, the weekend has rolled around again and you’re back to chill time. Go at your own pace - you deserve it.
9. Seek Out Once-In-A-Lifetime Adventures
There’s bucket list-worthy experiences aplenty on the Gold Coast, and there’s no better time to discover them than during a mid-week getaway. See the Gold Coast from above on a helicopter tour, skydive, parasailing or in a hot air balloon.
Get your adrenaline pumping with a ride on Jetboat Extreme, whose 650 horse-power turbo engine will have you zipping around the Gold Coast waterways at speeds up to 80 kph. Or really test your nerve with Australia’s highest building climb, SkyPoint Climb, with the summit a staggering 270 metres above sea level. You’ll score 360 degree views of the sea to the hinterland. Finally, don some scuba gear and discover Wonder Reef, the world’s first buoyant reef - an underwater playground brimming with fish, rays, turtles and dolphins.
10. Tee Off Mid-Week
Did you know the Gold Coast has more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world? Peppered from the north to the south, along the ocean and up in the hinterland, there’s over 30 fairways to swing your way through. And there’s no better time to hit the green than mid-week with the fairways all yours to enjoy. Not much of a golfer? There’s hours of fun to be had at Top Golf. Grab your mates, slip into a booth and swing to hit various targets at a driving range that’s more adult playground than serious golfing. You can even order food (read: drool-worthy nachos and burgers) and drinks (read: amazing cocktails) to your seat, so you won’t miss tee-off.
Keen to book your own Sneeky Mid-Weeky? Check out these unbeatable deals on airfares, accommodation and experiences.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.