5 things to do for free on the Gold Coast

1. Beach it

Head down to your local beach or take a road trip across the border to Byron Bay, NSW. The Gold Coast has miles of beautiful beaches that offer picturesque views at every turn.

View of the main beach at Byron Bay

While you’re at it, take a footy and have a game of beach rugby! If you’re not the sporty type you can catch up on some study while soaking up the sun (wearing sunscreen of course!). The best part is it’s for FREE! A good idea is to make a list of all the beaches you want to visit and go to a different one every week!

2. Picnic in the park

The Gold Coast is full of green space and national parks. Pack a basket and have a BBQ picnic with some friends. A crowd favourite is Broadwater Parklands located 10 minutes away (4.5km) from Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus. The Parklands are a hub of activity with events happening every weekend. You can fish off the pier, or have a dip in the ocean. There are even movie nights under the stars.

3. Get fit and spiritual

There are exercise machines and equipment which are free to use and can be found in most Gold Coast parks, as well as loads of walking and cycling paths along the beach and parklands. These routes offer a better view than your average treadmill and the best part is there’s no membership fee or lock in contracts. Or if you’re feeling stressed with assessment, why not get in touch with you spiritual side and de-stress through the ancient practice of yoga? There are free yoga classes on the beach in Burleigh Heads every weekend.

4. Support locals at the markets

There’s an endless list of markets on the Gold Coast ranging from farmers markets to car boot sales to art and craft markets. For quirky knick-knacks and treasures, head to the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To find vintage artworks, bohemian homewares and clothing, drop into the Village Markets, which are held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at Burleigh Heads State School. You can find the best car boot sales and deals at the Carrara Markets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month. Or, if you’re on a health kick but can’t afford expensive organic food from the super markets, head to the Gold Coast Organic Farmers Market where you will find, “fresh, picked yesterday” seasonal fruit, freshly made juices, organic cleaning products and makeup, information on leading a healthy lifestyle and other organic groceries at affordable prices.

5. Attend events and festivals

There are free events and festivals held on the Gold Coast every month. Bleach Festival, held annually, celebrates everything to do with art, culture, music and food. If you love fireworks don’t miss Seafire in April. Follow the beach south to catch another must see event held in Burleigh Heads; the Burleigh Pro, a surfing competition and festival held every January featuring the Coast’s finest surfing athletes.

To find more free events check out the City of Gold Coast’s community events listing.

If you’ve got other great ideas for free activities on the Gold Coast, comment them below!

– Sapph

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