It may be home to the Gold Coast’s bustling business district but Southport can also boast a huge array of incredible eateries, culture and general good times.

We’ve rounded up 15 things locals love about the place and we reckon you might enjoy them too.

In no particular order, enjoy.

Southport Sharks
There is many a good time to be had at Southport Sharks including dining at one of the delicious dish-packed restaurants, drinking at Aviary Rooftop Bar overlooking the city, joining in on one of their classes at the Health + Fitness Centre or getting involved in one of their many good time events. The possibilities are endless. It’s the perfect spot for a family event or take the crew for a Sunday afternoon session. Happy days no matter what.
Where: Olsen Avenue and Musgrave Avenue, Southport

Southport Yacht Club
Waterfront dining is the name of the game at Southport Yacht Club with two venues to choose from and stunning scenes from whichever you choose. You’re also welcome to just sit back and kick up your heels with a cold beverage or two while gazing lovingly at one of the many beautiful yachts in the marina. It’s one of the Coast’s best locations and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
Where: 1 MacArthur Parade, Main Beach

Zero Latency
Zero Latency is a free-roam, virtual reality experience like no other. With up to eight players per game, you’ll have the BEST time fighting zombies, exploring mystical places and challenging your friends on space stations. All you need to do is put on the VR headset, strap into the backpack and pickup the controller. Get 10% off here. It really is so good.
Where: 34 Smith Street, Southport

Panezski Distillery
The Coast’s first vodka distillery opened in Southport a few short months ago and what a treat. The family-owned business are whipping up three types of vodka, two types of gin and even a couple of beers on the premises and you can pop in to grab a bottle to go, or you can sit down and enjoy a cocktail and a charcuterie board and spend a bit of time. Very cool. 
Where: Unit 7/55 Bailey Crescent, Southport

Vinnies Dive
Who doesn’t love a good dive bar. Particularly one that doubles as a live music venue and has a huge range of your favourite beers on offer (and some you may not have heard of). Head in there to discover some new music from both local and interstate bands and if you’re in the mood for a party, which we know you are, you can hire the space out for your next one.
Where: 44A Nerang Street, Southport 

Mr PP’s Deli & Rooftop Bar 
On the ground floor of the building you’ll find the deli section of the establishment, with an array of delicious meats and cheeses that will be brought together in platter form for your feasting pleasure. Upstairs, the rooftop bar boasts tasty cocktails, even more delicious eats and views across the city. It’s a real good time.
Where: 43 Nerang Street, Southport

Randy Wallhole
To put it bluntly, you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted a Randy Wallhole bagel. There are eight flavours to choose from which means you have multiple per day if you so choose. Go for the Pulled Bas first up, it’s got Smokey BBQ pulled beef, peri mayo and apple slaw. Wash it down with some of the best coffee on the Coast and be on your merry way.
Where: 4/21 Nind Street, Southport 

Boudoir Lounge
A newbie amongst the Southport bunch, Boudoir Lounge is the very best spot for a tasty brunch with the girls or simply a few cocktails after work. Found on Como Crescent, it quickly became the go to spot for those looking for some delicious eats, in a sweet setting and with unique sips of course. Inside there’s also a hair and beauty bar so you can get fabulous before you head out on the town. Perfect.
Where: 410/1 Como Crescent, Southport

Broadwater Parklands
Whether you’re four or 40, there’s tons of fun to be had at Broadwater Parklands. For starters, you can sit and stare out at the yachts you’ll never set foot on. Then, there’s the bouncy pillow (maybe don’t go on there without a child), a kiddies train, a water playground and weekly events from theatre shows to foodie markets. See, fun.
Where: Marine Parade, Southport

D Point Ten
Oh donuts, how we love you. D Point Ten can be found on Stevens Street and, in keeping with the general donut vibe, is a little hole in the wall space pumping out the freshest of donuts we may have ever excitedly shoved into our greedy mouths. In all the best flavours no less. Go the Ferrero Rocher for sure.
Where: 6/1 Stevens Street, Southport

Cardamon Pod
The delightful folk at Cardamon Pod are serving up delightful dishes with a focus on clean eating but of the prettiest variety. They offer vegan and gluten free options for breakfast and lunch with a side of organic coffee and vegan desserts. All very delicious and it’s very hard to stop at just one thing or not to post on your Instagram.
Where: Brickworks Centre, 3/3 Brolga Avenue, Southport

Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Southport’s centre of swimming is something for all of us to be proud of. It’s as pretty as a collection of swimming pools can be and, as it was home to all the Commonwealth Games water activities, it’s world class. The architecture is sleek and there’s a training room featuring pits filled with foam for the divers to practice in.
Where: Marine Parade, Southport 

Escape Hunt
Imagine being wrongly accused of murder, chained to a wall and having to rely on your friends’ detective skills to free you. Who you gonna call? Welcome to Escape Hunt, Southport’s brain bending game guaranteed to test your problem solving skills like they’ve never been tested before. There’s a few scenarios you might be faced with, all of which involve solving a mystery with a set of intricate clues. It’s the most fun you can have inside a locked room. Make sure to take your smart friends. Grab 10% off here.
Where: 2/162 Scarborough Street, Southport

Brickworks Centre
Where to start. There are SO many excellent places to peruse at the Brickworks starting with Ferry Rd Market where you can nab yourself everything from beautiful flowers to the freshest breads, seafood and fruit and veggies galore. God it’s good. Within the Centre, there’s also stunning homewares, fashion and design stores and health and beauty services. Oh, there’s also always some really cool events.
Where: Ferry Road, Southport 

Words by Kirra Smith

Now the dust has settled on the grand opening of HOTA’s brand new and utterly impressive Gallery; we assume that everyone has had a chance to scoot along and check out this fantastic space for themselves? If not, where have you been?!  The new $60.5 million HOTA Gallery opened to the public Saturday, 8th May 2021. Spanning six levels and including over 2000m2 of AAA-rated, international standard exhibition space, a dedicated Children’s Gallery, and the $32 million City collection, HOTA Gallery is the most extensive public gallery outside a capital city in Australia.

If that’s not impressive, then we don’t know what is!

After an already well-received first exhibition, the gallery plans to spend no time hanging around with eager plans for their second major exhibition celebrating the beguiling and well known Australian artist William Robinson AO. Titled Lyrical Landscapes: The Art of William Robinson, the exhibition will run from Saturday 31st July — Sunday 3rd October 2021.

In his 85th year, the Brisbane born artist has been awarded both the Archibald and Wynne Prizes and is much celebrated for his multi-perspectival canvases that transformed the way we view Australian landscape painting.

It’s no secret that in 1984 Robinson lived on a 208-acre farm on the western slopes of Beechmont in the Gold Coast hinterland — a pivotal period of the artist’s life, drawing much inspiration from the neighbouring environment. After all, our hinterland is a pretty special place!

Lyrical Landscapes will herald the bringing together — for the first time — of his entire Creation Series, which was produced over 16 years. Exclusively guest curated by former Governor-General and close friend of the artist, Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO the works are widely considered his masterworks and highlight the artist’s spiritual connection to the natural world. This includes HOTA’s own The Rainforest, a painting by Robinson that already hangs proudly in the gallery: depicting Botan Creek in the Beechmont rainforest as it flows into a waterfall and descends into the Coomera River — a must-see if you get the chance.

Put the dates in your diary, and make sure you set some plans to check out this second exciting exhibition to grace the HOTA Gallery. And if you feel like pushing the boat out even further, and spoiling all your senses, remember that Palette and Exhibitionist Bar are on hand to tantalise your tastebuds as well.  A well-rounded affair if we say so ourselves!

When: Saturday 31st July — Sunday 3rd October 2021
Where: HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

We love the Gold Coast. Isn’t that obvious?! And we love how it’s made up of local businesses and attractions that draw many a tourist to our very own backyard each and every year. What we love more is how our city constantly evolves. Of which, one element is how it’s shaped by developments and structures that seem to always be happening in our bustling city. So it excites us that we had the opportunity to get to know Philip Follent, who was Gold Coast City Council’s first City Architect and also appointed Queensland Government Architect in his career. Read on to hear more about what he loves the most about the GC and where his career has taken him. (Including being part of the Tom Atkin Hall building redesign.)

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
Arrived on the GC, April 27th, 1979.

Tell us a bit about you.
Born in Rockhampton, son of an Air Traffic Controller and moved to Brisbane for most schooling and uni. The Gold Coast beckoned after working in brilliant architectural practices of James Birrell and then Geoffrey Pie. The Gold Coast practice of Davis Heather Group capped great practical training prior to branching out on my own with only a kindergarten playground to design. Lucky breaks with good clients led to about 20 years of practice before a few forks in the road to local and then state government as City then onto State Architect. From here, academia as inaugural Head of School at the Abedian School of Architecture at Bond. Back to practice and (school tuckshop) in 2013 and the rest is a plethora of fulfilling honorary roles with community and cultural organisations like: Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast Open House, Tugun Lights Up, along with environmental and community organisations and advocacy for a better city.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Currumbin Estuary with its emerging rainforest on the Palm Beach Parklands Spit is a remarkable place of beauty and emerging viable habitat…so rare now in urbanised settings! It is the link from hinterland to ocean. That area would have been lost to development in 1979 were it not for community action.

You have won over 20 architectural awards in your career, but what do you consider your favourite project to date?
My first and last projects exhibit a Japanese aesthetic as does a mid-career favourite project (1999) of the Elephant Rock Café, Currumbin. Every project is special in some way and smaller-scale projects do elicit great relationships with clients…almost like a short-term marriage but ending as good friends. Current favourites are the arrivals and welcome building at an indigenous eco-cultural project in Cairns and now underway the site statement for the Chinese Temple archaeological remnants in Croydon near the Gulf of Carpentaria.

What does a typical day in the life of you look like?
Like being in a pinball machine but in slow motion. I can’t complain, every bounce is interesting and there’s no time to be distracted by trivial issues. Mind you, it is nice to be reminded to breathe.

What does your ‘creative process’ look like?
Do the homework and research VERY thoroughly. Understand the place, people, and the needs. Be quiet with it. Sleep on it. Have a shower when you wake up. The answers come. Our subconscious is our most under-used asset. 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Design inspiration has to be tempered by the knowledge that no matter how original we might think we are or want to be …it has always been done before. Like all designers, I am constantly taking in clues and cues from everything I encounter. This adds to my biases and therefore my approach to design. I find it easiest NOT to set out to design something that will turn heads. Focusing on the project and not on a predetermined, stylistic outcome while remaining faithful to the key tenets one has set up at the outset seems to elicit a result that turns heads anyway.

How did your involvement in the Tom Atkin Hall come about?
Joined the Tugun Progress Association in 2013 with the Tugun Lights Up initiative and saw that the hall needed love and heaps of maintenance if it were to last. Kirsten Baker initiated Saltwater Cinema to broaden the hall’s appeal. I then sketched the façade reno in 2014 which has since evolved into the 40’s/50’s picture theatre design currently being built, and which hopefully will attract a myriad of culturally enriching events.

Why do you think the rejuvenation of the Tom Atkin Hall is so imperative for the community?
The Hall has provided the stage for community advocacy, entertainment, special birthdays, and protests for 55 years. It is a tangible link from the 91-years-old Tugun Progress Association to the community. The hall needs to appear more welcoming but also strengthen its old bones if it and the TPA are to be relevant to the community for the next half century. This is the time to show that if 4 men and an army of volunteers could build the hall in the early 1960’s then surely the community today can at least breathe life into it now. The hall, still only half-finished has already re-established the hall as the people’s place….. a genuine civic and meeting place for (and owned) by the community. Real heritage action is not always about being precious about the building but about preserving its role in the community.

Tell us the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and why you consider it the best?
1. Life is too short to be dealing with turkeys. When you see feathers…head off bush.
2. Everybody just wants to feel they’ve been heard…genuinely heard.
3. Philip, you don’t hate yourself enough to go into politics.
4. Remember to breathe.
The desire for people to feel really listened to is key. It’s a shame that modern-day government interaction with the public and individuals is no longer consultation but “telling” and “informing” …not really listening. This leads unnecessarily to enormous community frustration.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…?
Café: Hidden Gem, Tugun
Coffee spot: MADE Barber & Barista, Tugun
Restaurant: Yamagen Japanese Restaurant, Surfers Paradise

How do you choose to spend your days off?
Every day is a day off…. but apart from Currumbin Estuary, Kyogle and the bushland of northern NSW is the place of rejuvenation. Nimbin too, partly because my oldest, almost 106-year-old aunt, just passed away there, and maybe ‘cause Nimbin holds 1970’s Aquarius Festival memories…. that’s the region that refreshes.