Our Local Guide to Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast
These are the places we recommend to guests staying in our Surfers Paradise holiday apartments. They are grouped by what you are most likely to need, from restaurants within walking distance and rainy day activities to the hinterland and the theme parks.
We add to the list as we find more places worth sharing. At the bottom of the page you will also find a Monday to Friday guide to food deals nearby.
We recommend to eat in Surfers Paradise
Three places close enough to walk to from the apartments.
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Rumi Persian Restaurant
Surfers Paradise Boulevard · second room at Broadbeach
Persian cooking on Surfers Paradise Boulevard, with a second dining room on Surf Parade at Broadbeach.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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La Playa
2 Cavill Avenue · at the beach end
Modern Australian and Mediterranean cooking on Surfers Paradise beach, open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks from 7am.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Bar Italia
Chevron Renaissance, Elkhorn Avenue · same complex as our Family Beach Getaway
Italian in the Chevron Renaissance centre on Elkhorn Avenue, which is the same complex as one of our apartments.
Stay in the same complex: Family Beach Getaway
Restaurants further along the Gold Coast
Four restaurants along the highway that are worth getting in the car for.
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Etsu Izakaya
Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach · south along the coast
A Japanese izakaya on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach, a short drive south.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Eska Seafood
17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach · south along the coast
Seafood at Mermaid Beach, on Lavarack Road just off the highway.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Café Catalina
Broadwater Parklands, Southport · north along the coast
A café in Broadwater Parklands at Southport, on the water and north along the Gold Coast Highway.
Stay nearby: Southport Family Villa
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Jimmy Wah's
Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads · south along the coast
Modern Vietnamese share plates on the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads, south along the coast.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
Rainy days with friends and family
Three places within walking distance of the apartments that work when the beach does not.
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Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
An indoor attraction of oddities, illusions and curiosities on Cavill Avenue, built for an afternoon when it is raining.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Infinity
Chevron Renaissance · same complex as our Family Beach Getaway
A walk-through attraction of light, sound and mirrors in the Chevron Renaissance centre, which is the same complex as one of our apartments.
Stay in the same complex: Family Beach Getaway
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Hijinx Hotel
Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Level 1
Themed indoor game rooms booked by the hour, on Surfers Paradise Boulevard. Suits families with older children.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
The Gold Coast hinterland
Rainforest, waterfalls and lookouts, all within about an hour of the apartments.
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Natural Bridge
Springbrook National Park · inland
A rock arch with a waterfall falling through it into a cave, on a short circuit walk in Springbrook National Park.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Purling Brook Falls
Springbrook National Park · inland
A waterfall with a circuit walk that goes down to the base and back, also in Springbrook National Park.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Hinze Dam and café
Advancetown · inland
A dam with lookouts, picnic areas and a café on site, on the way into the hinterland.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Tamborine Mountain
Tamborine Mountain · inland, a full day
A hinterland village with rainforest walks, lookouts and places to eat. Enough to fill a day.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
Theme parks and wildlife
The Gold Coast's best-known attractions, all an easy drive from the apartments.
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Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild
Oxenford and Main Beach · Sea World about 5 min, the others about 25 min
The three Village Roadshow parks share one ticketing site, so multi-park passes are worth a look if you are going to more than one.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Dreamworld
Coomera · about 25 min north
A theme park at Coomera with rides, a water park and a wildlife area, about 25 minutes north of the apartments.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
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Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin · south along the coast
A wildlife sanctuary at Currumbin with Australian animals and keeper talks, south along the coast.
Stay with us: Surfers Paradise holiday apartments
Bites on a Budget
Feeding a family on holiday adds up. These are weeknight food deals within walking distance of our apartments. They are not recommendations, just affordable options to know about.
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Monday
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Tuesday
Surfers Paradise Beergarden
$5 tacos
11am–9pm
Corner of Cavill Avenue and Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
Deals checked October 2026. Venues change their specials, so confirm before you go.