Things to Do in Burleigh This Weekend (24–26 July)

Burleigh Gold Coast Motel

Skip Surfers. If you're looking for things to do in Burleigh this weekend, base yourself where it's all happening — 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. Here's how to fill three days without moving the car far.

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Friday night: ease into it

Check in from 2pm and stay close. Burleigh earns its reputation on the small stuff — a swim before dusk, the Oceanway path, a drink with the windows open to the ocean.

For live music, Baby Animals play the Burleigh Town Tavern in West Burleigh as part of their Avalanche tour — a short hop from the motel and an easy night out. Prefer something bigger? The Australian Bee Gees Show rolls into The Star at Broadbeach the same evening, celebrating 30 years with the full multimedia treatment. Either way, Miami Marketta — the covered laneway food hall a few minutes up the highway — runs its Friday session with global street food, bars and live music.

For dinner near the motel, the James Street strip in Burleigh Heads has generous Mediterranean at La Fira and busy, lively tacos at Hail Mary — book both if you're eating late. Keep it walkable; the point of basing yourself here is that you don't need the car.

Saturday morning: the 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 event, different day.)

This is a proper farmers market: spray-free fruit and veg from local growers, fresh seafood, deli meats, bakery treats, raw honey, chutneys, flowers and plants, plus arts, crafts and collectibles, with live acoustic music each week. One detail worth timing around — Saturday 25 July is the last Saturday of the month, when the market adds its pre-loved rack sales, so there's a vintage-and-second-hand element on top of the usual stalls. Arrive early; the good finds move fast.

Back near the motel, breakfast is sorted — Paddock Bakery is just 150m away, a leafy garden institution with huge serves and excellent coffee.

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" onto the building itself, 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 down into Burleigh Heads. It's free, it's outdoors, and it's on any weekend of the year, festival or not. Time it to finish back at Miami Marketta for a feed.

Saturday night: Marketta or a concert

If you looped the mural trail through Miami, roll straight into Miami Marketta's Saturday-night session — casual, buzzy and easy with a group. Prefer a sit-down feed nearby? Tide Bar and Kitchen does standout Thai a few doors along (book ahead), SPEC bar & tapas runs Mexican with a beer garden and live music, and Miami Tavern has a big deck right on the sand.

Want to dress it up? Rockaria: The ELO Experience plays The Star Theatre at Broadbeach on Saturday 25 July — doors 7pm, a two-hour tribute to the Jeff Lynne–era Electric Light Orchestra catalogue. Broadbeach is a 15-minute bus ride up the highway, so you can leave the car parked at the motel.

Sunday: Chevron Island street party

Ease into the final day with a slow breakfast, then head up to the It's ON — ChevrON Street Party on Thomas Drive, Chevron Island, from midday — food, music and local traders in a relaxed open-street format. A good low-key way to close the weekend before a 10am checkout.

Every day's a good day around here, and the calendar backs it up — the Gold Coast Festival of Skateboarding rolls on through 31 July. Home-town hero Arisa Trew (Palm Beach, Paris 2024 Olympic park gold) learned to skate on coast parks like Elanora Bowl — she's competing at X Games New Orleans this same weekend, not locally. For what's still on here, check the What's On Gold Coast weekend listings.

On any weekend of the year

Even when the events calendar is 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 path traces the coast to Burleigh Heads village and Burleigh Head National Park, roughly a 2km, 25-minute walk with headland lookouts and, in season, passing whales. The SURFACE mural trail is on every day of the year, the Burleigh Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 7am to noon, and Miami Marketta fires up Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Add the free outdoor pool back at the motel and you've got a full weekend without needing a single ticket.

Footy this weekend

If you were hoping for AFL at Carrara, the timing's just off — the Gold Coast Suns are away this round (Carlton at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne), so it's a couch round rather than a terrace one. When they're home, People First Stadium at Carrara is about a 25-minute drive from the motel, and the Titans' Cbus Super Stadium at Robina is around 20 minutes — handy to bookmark for your next footy weekend.

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 for The Star; the 777 reaches the airport in around 25. The new Christine Avenue tram-and-bus hub is opening late 2026. Park once (free on-site, one permit per room) and let public transport handle the late nights.

Your base for things to do in Burleigh 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–7:30pm. 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, read our guide to what's on near the motel, or see our Broadbeach accommodation options if your weekend leans that way.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the motel from Burleigh Beach?

200m — about a 2-minute walk. Walk straight down Sixth Avenue and you are on the sand.

What are the top attractions near Burleigh Gold Coast Motel?

Near Burleigh Gold Coast Motel: Burleigh Beach (200m, walk down Sixth Avenue), Burleigh Head National Park (~2km), Paddock Bakery (150m), Miami Marketta (Wed/Fri/Sat nights), James Street cafes, and coastal bus route 700. Theme parks are within about 32 minutes; Gold Coast Airport is about 25 minutes on route 777.

Is parking included?

Yes — free on-site parking, subject to availability. One permit per room. Street parking is also available on Christine Avenue.

What are reception hours and check-in times?

Reception is open 9:00am–7:30pm daily. Check-in from 2:00pm. Check-out by 10:00am. Arriving after hours? Call (07) 5576 3211 before you travel — we can arrange late check-in.

See all motel FAQs → https://www.burleighmotel.com.au/burleigh-motel-faqs

Book your Burleigh weekend

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

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