Gold Coast/Southport
Southport is the central business district (CBD) or business centre of the Gold Coast. Though it is the CBD of the Gold Coast, it is not as bustling as other places in the Gold Coast (such as Surfers Paradise), and if you happen to be driving through it, there's a good chance you may not even realise you're in the CBD.
Get in
By car
The Smith Street Motorway (SR 10) is the main connector between the Pacific Motorway (M1) and Southport. Whilst it's a motorway, it's essentially a glorified exit ramp of the Pacific's exit 66.
If you're travelling to Southport from Surfers Paradise and/or Broadbeach, follow the Gold Coast Highway (SR 2). While Southpoint is not a focal point listed on the highway signs south of Surfers Paradise, follow the light rail corridor until you pass Surfers Paradise.
By light rail
As part of the G:link tram or light rail, there are many light rail stops in Southport. They include:
- 🌍 Broadwater Parklands light rail station, located on Queen Street next to the parklands.
- 🌍 Southport South light rail station, an important stop which serves the southern portions of the CBD.
- 🌍 Southport light rail station, stopping at the CBD.
- 🌍 Nerang Street light rail station, stopping at Nerang Street. It's unlikely you will be stopping here, as the main reason this exists is to serve the Southport Health precinct.
- 🌍 Queen Street light rail station, on the corner of Queen and Wardoo Streets, mostly serving the residential areas of Southport.
See
- 🌍 Chinatown, Davenport and Young Streets. Though it may seem strange to think that a holiday city contains a Chinatown, it's one of the newer Chinatowns in Australia, only established in the 1990s. Today, the two streets of Davenport and Young contain many Asian restaurants, and not just Chinese.
- 🌍 Southport Military Heritage Museum, 201 Queen St., ☏ +61 437 732 575. First Sunday of every second month.. While a relatively hidden and unknown secret of the Gold Coast, this museum contains plenty of military equipment, including photos, former uniforms, galleries and memorabilia. Unfortunately, its limited opening hours mean that it is highly likely it will be closed when you happen to be at Southport (or the Gold Coast), but if you do happen to be there when it's open, it is well worth checking it out. Free.
Do
- 🌍 GC Aqua Park, Marine Parade, ☏ +61 7 5522 8222. 6AM–6PM. Gold Coast's Aqua park over the waters of the Nerang River and Coral Sea. However, as it is located near the CBD, it is not particularly large, but nevertheless worth checking out if you're staying in GC for a long time.
- 🌍 Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
Buy
- 🌍 Australia Fair Shopping Centre, 42 Marine Parade, ☏ +61 7 5556 6600. A large shopping mall with over 200 specialty shops and plenty of places to eat in its food court. Arguably, the variety of eateries in this one shopping centre may outrun the number you'll encounter in the streets.
Eat
- 🌍 Maruya Japanese Restaurant, 15 Davenport St, ☏ +61 7 5527 1199. 11:30AM–3PM, 5–9PM (closed Sundays). A small Japanese restaurant in a cosy setting. Unfortunately, Maruya is limited albeit the name (but do note that Maruya is Filipino, not Japanese).
- 🌍 Sen Lek Thai, 1/77 Scarborough St, ☏ +61 7 5511 0345. M–F 11AM–3PM, 5–8:30PM; Sa 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5–9PM. A modern Australianised Thai restaurant and cafe.
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel Cecil. An Art Deco hotel located on the southwestern corner of the intersection of Scarborough and Nerang Streets. It has been recommended that it be added to the Queensland Heritage Register due to its rarity, high architectural value and contribution to the character of the street.
- 🌍 Woodroffe Hotel, 22 White St, ☏ +61 7 5655 0465, 1300 315 608 (domestic), reservations@woodroffehotel.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A large hotel in the CBD that contains a restaurant with breakfast, a business lounge, and free Wi-Fi. Parking may be a bit of a problem, though. From $100.