A Calendar for the Australia Gold Coast
When you look at the quality of the beaches, the exquisite pace of life and weather that will please any sort of person, it’s hard to find a reason to avoid Australia’s Gold Coast at any time of year. Yet depending on your taste, some months might be better than others, so look over this schedule of events and pick your ideal month to visit.
The calendar of events listed below is by no means exhaustive. So do some of your own investigations as well as following our guide below.
January: The Magic Millions Carnival - A must event for those who love everything horse racing. The Magic Millions carnival in January brings Australian horse racing to the Gold Coast, combining the annual yearling sales with race meets, parties and dinners, all culminating in the Magic Millions race day, where over 3 million dollars in prize money is up for grabs.
February: Because of the light schedule in February, the traveler looking for quiet days at the beach will find them in abundance. The school holidays finish up, the tourists clear out and the Gold Coast has that local feel all over again. If you like to relax without remembering the society you left behind, come in February.
March: March is the surfers’ month, when the World Tour hits the Gold Coast and pro surfing’s best navigate their way through the pounding surf and excited crowds. The Gold Coast has always been a favorite for surfers from all over the world, so this period is a special time, when old friends get together and locals see the visitors all come out for a great time.
April: More surfing is on the schedule in April, but leave the flashy tricks behind, as our Malfunction Surf Festival is a paradise for the old school surfers. The nostalgia is thick in April as the longboards and baggies are seen everywhere on the coast, with plenty of classic surf memorabilia for sale and on display. If you’re longing for that classic surf culture, you’ll find it in April.
May: The Blues Festival in Broadbeach highlights the calendar in May, with blues music filling the air for nearly a week of shows and events. More than 100,000 people are on hand for the festivities, which cover the streets and feature a great lineup of blues music’s best performers.
June: The Whale Watching season begins in June. Come and watch these magnificent creatures as they make their annual migrations to the North.
July: If you are a runner up to the challenge, July’s Gold Coast Marathon is the event for you. Besides the exciting race, an entire weekend of events geared toward the fitness-minded surround the main event.
August: August in the Gold Coast is your time of year if you love to celebrate your taste buds. The annual Tastes of The Gold Coast Festival brings the best of the Gold Coast’s food and wine together, to be tasted and feasted upon, in Australia’s most idyllic settings. It is a true celebration of the Gold Coast lifestyle, wine and food producers, chefs and restaurants, who now count among some of the worlds best.
September: On Currumbin Beach in September, you’ll find a truly unique event in the Gold Coast’s annual Swell Sculpture Festival. Each sculpture is designed for and outdoor showing, so sensitive museum pieces are not around, with this festival showcases bold statements from artists thinking on a large scale. Enjoy the celebration of life and art at the street festival.
October: Car racing comes to the streets of Surfers Paradise. In years passed it was indy, more recently is the SuperGP. Regardless the race, its a massive festival for those who love all things auto.
November and December: When Australian teens finally finish their studies and graduate from secondary school, there’s one obligation left: Schoolies Week. In a party to end all parties, the streets of Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast at large are jammed with recent diploma holders bent on letting out all the frustrations of a lifetime in the classroom. If you are about to graduate and don’t want the same old boring events at your school, check out Schoolies Week.
For the more mature crowd, this Schoolies Week could seem like something out of a nightmare, but don’t be scared off. Booking a hotel outside of Surfers Paradise will keep you away from the epicenter of things. In Mermaid and Collangatta cooler heads can prevail and a relaxing time enjoyed by all.
Hopefully this planner will help — enjoy.
Damian Papworth has learned there is too much to see for ladies coming on a Gold Coast holiday. That is one reason why buying the right women’s shoes is so important.