HEAD TO THE MARKETS
There’s nothing like markets to kickstart the day, and the Gold Coast has a lot of great options. Surfers Paradise Beachfront Market is open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and boasts 120 stalls. The Village Markets in Burleigh Heads is on every first and third Sunday of the month and features fashion, both vintage and by local emerging designers. Tamborine Mountain Country Markets, every second Sunday, has international food, produce and rides.

RELAX AT THE BEACH
Surfers Paradise Beach is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, a great place for the family to enjoy the sun and surf. For those less inclined to enter the water there’s an outdoor learning centre that offers free history lessons about this famous stretch of sand. Connecting it all is the Gold Coast Oceanway that features 36km of uninterrupted shared bike and walking paths.

TAKE A HIKE
The Gold Coast is also blessed with some beautiful bushwalking areas. The Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area offers free, ranger- guided nocturnal tours for some serious wildlife spotting. Other locations to put on your list are Springbrook National Park, and for those feeling extra adventurous, there’s the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk – 54km of track with camping spots dotted along the way.
SAMPLE THE CUISINE
There are lots of options for delicious cheap eats. Freeman’s Organic Farm offers a range of fresh produce as well as farm tours. Witches Chase Cheese at Tamborine Mountain has a selection of handcrafted cheeses, including their specialty, ‘Tambembert’ a local twist on a French classic. As the sun is setting make your way to NightQuarter, a purpose-built market in Helensvale offering a huge range of food stalls including US-style barbecue and Asian classics.

The super-cool Vibe Hotel Gold Coast recently unveiled a multi-million dollar refurbishment and is within walking distance to the region’s famous beaches as well as the best shopping and nightlife, with views of the Nerang River, vibehotels.com. For more Gold Coast ideas, go to visitgoldcoast.com