Things to Do on the Gold Coast This Weekend (31 July–2 August)

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel

Skip Surfers. If you're chasing things to do on the Gold Coast this weekend, base yourself where the coast is at its best and the car can stay parked — 200m from Burleigh Beach, straight down Sixth Avenue, about a two-minute walk to the sand. Burleigh Gold Coast Motel sits on the Gold Coast Highway at Miami, Queensland, between Burleigh Heads and Miami Beach, with the SURFACE mural trail running right past the front door. Both footy codes are at home this weekend, the markets are on, and the humpbacks are moving past the headland — here's how to make the most of it.

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Friday night: ease in close to home

Check in from 2pm and stay local. Burleigh does the small stuff well — a swim before dusk, the Oceanway path, a cold drink with the windows open to the ocean. A few minutes up the highway, Miami Marketta runs its Friday session: a covered laneway of global street food, bars and live music, and an easy first night with a group.

Want the lights of Surfers instead? The Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets run Friday evening along the Esplanade, about 25 minutes north on bus route 700. For a sit-down night, the James Street strip in Burleigh Heads is a short walk or ride — generous Mediterranean, busy taco bars and a couple of good wine rooms. If theatre's more your speed, Big Fish: A New Broadway Musical is on at Benowa, around 15 minutes away.

Skaters, Friday's your last call: the Gold Coast Festival of Skateboarding wraps its final session. There's real pedigree on this stretch of coast — Olympic champion Arisa Trew grew up in Palm Beach and still trains at Pizzey Park skatepark in Miami, minutes from the motel, fresh off double gold at X Games Sacramento in June.

Saturday morning: Burleigh Farmers Market

Set an early alarm. The Burleigh Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 7am to 12 noon, rain, hail or shine, in the grounds of Burleigh Heads State School at the corner of West Burleigh Road and the Lower Gold Coast Highway. Entry is free and there's free parking on the school oval. (Don't confuse it with the Sunday beachfront Burleigh Markets — different market, different day.)

This is the real thing: spray-free fruit and veg from local growers, fresh seafood, deli meats, bakery treats, raw honey, flowers and plants, plus arts and crafts, with live acoustic music each week. Arrive early — the good finds move fast. Closer to home, breakfast is sorted. Paddock Bakery is 150m away, a leafy garden institution with big serves and excellent coffee, and Aldi and Coles are both a short walk if you're self-catering the weekend.

Walk the SURFACE mural trail — from our front door

Here's the part guests love: the SURFACE Festival murals are permanent, and the trail runs right past Burleigh Gold Coast Motel. During Surface Festival 2024, artist Justine McAllister painted “1910 Gold Coast Highway” — the motel's own address — onto the gable wall, so the self-guided trail literally starts at your door.

From there it's an easy walk or ride: more than 50 large-scale works threaded through Miami's streets and laneways, north to Nobby's Beach and south into Burleigh Heads. It's free, it's outdoors, and it's on every day of the year, festival or not. Time it to finish back at Miami Marketta for a feed.

Saturday: surf, footy and live music

On the water, Saturday is busy. Down at Coolangatta, the Kirra Longboard Klassic brings classic single-fin surfing to one of the coast's best point breaks — a relaxed, free watch about 20 minutes south. Out from Main Beach, the fleet sets off in the Gold Coast to Mackay Yacht Race, an offshore classic worth catching from the Spit.

Mid-afternoon, the footy's on your doorstep. The Gold Coast Titans host the New Zealand Warriors in NRL Round 22 at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina — 3pm Saturday, about 20 minutes from the motel, with public transport running out to Robina too.

Come nightfall, take your pick. Heathers The Musical — the dark, funny cult hit straight from London and New York — plays HOTA at Surfers Paradise from 7:30pm. For live music there's plenty: a High Voltage AC/DC tribute at Southport Sharks, the Creedence-flavoured John Fogerty show at the Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba, and Brisbane indie band The Valery Trails launching their new EP at Eddie's Grub House in Coolangatta.

Closer to home, Miami Marketta hosts the Love Me Again pre-loved designer market on Saturday evening, and the Messy Queer Pride exhibition opens the same day at One Arts Gallery in Surfers Paradise — a grassroots show of work by local queer artists. Or just settle in on James Street.

Sunday: AFL at Carrara, markets up the coast

Sunday belongs to the Suns. The Gold Coast Suns host the Melbourne Demons in AFL Round 21 at People First Stadium, Carrara — bounce at 3:15pm, about 25 minutes from the motel — and it's the Suns' last home-and-away game at the ground this year. The Demons start favourites, but they've won just twice away from the MCG all season and the Suns come in improving, so back yourself for a close, high-scoring afternoon. Pre-purchased tickets include free public transport, so the car can stay at the motel — just get there early for the pre-game.

Queensland's other AFL side, the Brisbane Lions, are away this round, but they're the ones setting the pace — the reigning premiers are back in red-hot form near the top of the ladder and among the flag favourites. The two rivals meet in the QClash at the Gabba, about an hour north, in mid-August if you're chasing a second footy hit.

If markets are more your Sunday, you're spoilt. The HOTA Farmers & Artisan Market runs at HOTA from 6am to 11:30am with fresh produce and makers' stalls, and the Gold Coast Art & Craft Markets set up beachside at Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach, from 8am to 2pm. Add a slow breakfast, a headland walk and a swim, and that's a Sunday.

Both footy codes at home this weekend

It's a rare treat — the Gold Coast Titans (NRL, Saturday) and the Gold Coast Suns (AFL, Sunday) are both playing at home on the same weekend. Cbus Super Stadium at Robina is about 20 minutes from the motel; People First Stadium at Carrara is about 25. Park once at the motel and you can do both games across the weekend without moving base.

On any weekend of the year

Even when the calendar's quiet, Burleigh delivers. You're 200m from Burleigh Beach — straight down Sixth Avenue, about a two-minute walk — for a morning swim or a surf check. From there the Oceanway traces the coast to Burleigh Heads village and Burleigh Head National Park, roughly a 2km, 25-minute walk with headland lookouts. Late July and August are peak humpback season, so time it right and you'll spot whales moving north past the point. The mural trail is on every day, the Burleigh Farmers Market runs every Saturday, and Miami Marketta fires up Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Add the free outdoor pool back at the motel and you've a full weekend without a single ticket.

Getting around without the car

Buses 700, 765 and 777 stop at Miami One, roughly 300m away, and it's just 50c a trip with a Go Card. The 700 has you at Broadbeach in about 15 minutes and Surfers in around 25; the 777 reaches the airport in about 25. The new Christine Avenue tram-and-bus hub is opening soon. Park once — free on-site, one permit per room — and let public transport handle the late nights.

Your base for the Gold Coast this weekend

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel keeps it simple and central: 36 rooms from $125 a night, each with a private ensuite, air conditioning, flat-screen TV (free-to-air), free Wi-Fi, microwave, bar fridge, and a kettle with tea and coffee. There's a free outdoor pool open all year, free on-site parking and a coin laundry, and reception is open 9am to 7:30pm.

Travelling as a group or family? The interconnecting rooms sleep five to six across two bathrooms — handy for a footy weekend — and the family and quad rooms give everyone a bed without a second booking. It's rated 4.7★ across around 977 Google reviews and was named Virgin Australia's Best Budget-Friendly Accommodation in Burleigh Heads. Best of all, you're 200m from the sand — so every entry on this list starts and ends with a short walk home.

For more ideas any time, browse our things to do hub, check the room types, or if your weekend leans north, see our Broadbeach accommodation.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the motel from Burleigh Beach?

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel is 200m from Burleigh Beach — about a two-minute walk. Walk straight down Sixth Avenue and you're on the sand.

What's near the motel for a weekend on the Gold Coast?

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel is walking distance to Burleigh Beach (200m), Paddock Bakery (150m) and Miami Marketta (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights), with Burleigh Head National Park about 2km along the Oceanway. Theme parks are within about 32 minutes and Gold Coast Airport about 25 minutes on bus route 777.

Is parking included?

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel offers free on-site parking, subject to availability, with one permit per room. Street parking is also available on Christine Avenue.

What are the reception hours and check-in times?

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel reception is open 9am–7:30pm daily. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out is by 10am. Arriving later? Call (07) 5576 3211 before you travel and we can arrange late check-in.

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Book your Gold Coast weekend

Rooms from $125 a night, 200m to Burleigh Beach, and the mural trail at your door. Book direct — no platform fees:

www.burleighmotel.com.au/bookyourstay  ·  (07) 5576 3211