Looking to stretch your holiday or weekend budget a bit further? With a myriad of activities on offer in our beautiful city, we’ve sourced 10 of the best things to do on your next holiday or weekend adventure. And the best part? They’ll cost you less than $20 a pop!
1. GRAB A BUDGET-FRIENDLY BITE
Great food doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg! Get down to Bine Craft Beer Bar at Nobby Beach for $5 beer specials every day between 4pm and 6pm, and $5 sliders & fries on Mondays from 4pm till late. Visit Tupe-Aloha between 3pm and 5pm each day for $3 tacos and $5 drink specials. For million-dollars views on a budget, enjoy 2-for-1 meals from 5pm at Currumbin Vikings Surf Lifesaving Club (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Looking for something more central? Visit popular city newcomer Fat Freddy’s for some of the best burgers and diner eats in town – burgers just $10 on Mondays and 50cent wings on Wednesdays with any drink purchase.
2. EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Step away from Netflix on your beloved tablet and smartphone devices, strap on your sand-shoes and get exploring outdoors! There are a tonne of great hikes to get stuck into right here on the Gold Coast. Try Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, Tamborine Mountain or the try the walking track from Coolangatta to Point Danger or around Burleigh Headland for gorgeous water views. Then reward yourself with a coffee and bite to eat at the many café haunts around town.
3. BAREFOOT BOWLS
Visit the Burleigh Heads Bowls Club with a few mates and get stuck into $5 games of barefoot bowls. You’ll find it on offer every Sunday between 12pm and 5pm. The bowl-o also puts on live entertainment between 2pm and 6pm, offering up some pretty sweet bowls club beverage prices too. Looking to head south? Head just over the border to other local bowls favourite, Tweed Heads Bowls Club. Every Sunday from 3pm to 6pm you can join in social barefoot bowls absolutely free! No booking required.
4. MARKET CRAWL
Spend a morning exploring the very best markets on the Gold Coast, immersing yourself in that fabulous market atmosphere and scoping out cool arts and crafts, unique products, fresh food and more. Meander through Burleigh Farmers Markets, Gold Coast Organic Farmers Markets, Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets, Art and Craft on the Coast Markets and the awesome monthly Green Marquee Eco-Friendly Twighlight Market, held at the Eco Village in Currumbin Valley (every second Saturday of the month).
5. LOW-COST ACTIVITIES
Taking part in fun activities doesn’t have to break the bank either. You can catch a one-hour session at Bounce Inc for less than $16, play a round of Putt Putt at King Tutt’s for $15 or go ice skating at Planet Chill for two hours, for a nice neat $20 note (skate hire included).
6. CATCH A CHEAP FLICK
Hide out in a cold, dark movie theatre by catching a film at one of the Cineplex locations. Tickets go for $8.50 per adult, but budget Tuesday sees prices drop to just $6.50! On the Gold Coast, you’ll find the nearest Cineplex at Nerang. Looking for an affordable movie and outdoor shopping experience to boot? Look no further than Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Standard e-tickets at their Reading Cinemas are $11.
7. VISIT AN ART GALLERY
Entry at the Home of the Arts in Surfer’s Paradise is totally free, though a donation is welcomed. You’ll find rotating exhibitions showcasing works from local artists throughout the year, as well as a broader scope of talent too. If art’s not your thing, you can also watch some cinema or take a stroll along the lake.
8. CURRUMBIN ROCK POOLS
Spend an afternoon paddling around the cool water at the Currumbin Rock Pools or sitting under one of the small waterfalls. For bonus budget points, take a few friends with you for an afternoon picnic and some cold lemonade. It’s a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine without spending much at all.
9. JOIN A MEDITATION CLASS
Believe it or not, you can join a free meditation class on the Gold Coast. Sahaja Yoga Meditation Australia runs free classes to help you discover meditation for yourself. Meditation is an incredible tool that can help people cope with emotional troubles like anxiety and stress – just to name a few benefits. The Gold Coast City Council also provides an array of free wellbeing activities like yoga and tai chi (often held on the beach foreshores) as part of their Active & Healthy program. Check out the City’s website for updates on when and where these are held.
10. STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD
For a fun way to get active, hire a stand-up paddleboard and spend an hour paddling over the sparkling waters of the Gold Coast. You’ll find SUP hire available all over the Gold Coast, at a rate of around $20 for an hour. Check out Go Vertical SUP Hire, SUP in Paradise and the Currumbin Boat Shed, for kayaks and paddleboard hire.
And there you have it – a range of great holiday activities that will extend your budget for the better!
Like this article?
Subscribe to our email list below to receive holiday inspiration & exclusive deals straight to your inbox!
THE LATEST
News
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.