Southport is the Gold Coast’s longtime business district, one of the city’s larger suburbs and a genuine mix of business, residential, recreation and tourist attractions in one place. The main street, Scarborough Street, runs past Australia Fair shopping centre, with cafes, restaurants and shopping filling the surrounding blocks. Unlike Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach, Southport isn’t built primarily for visitors, it’s where a lot of the city’s everyday business actually happens, and that gives it a different, more grounded character.
Australia Fair is one of the Gold Coast’s largest shopping malls, with hundreds of stores, two large food courts, and major retailers including Jay Jays, Cotton On, Just Jeans, Kmart, Sportsgirl and Sussan, along with a wide range of beauty services. More shops line Scarborough Street and Nerang Street around the mall.
Across from Australia Fair, Broadwater Parklands offers a genuinely good free day out for families: BBQ facilities, a bouncy pillow, rock pools for kids, mangrove wetlands, sculptures, a boat ramp, a beach volleyball court, a fishing area, a swimming enclosure, an adventure playground and free wi-fi throughout. During school holidays, the ‘Big Wedgie’ at the northern end of the park adds water slides. Right next door, Gold Coast Aquatic Centre has Olympic-standard swimming pools, a children’s splash pool, creche, cafe and gym, with reasonable entry fees and membership options.
Southport has long been a popular base for the Gold Coast’s Chinese community, and the intersection of Young and Davenport Streets is home to Chinatown, still growing, with more restaurants opening regularly and live shows on weekend nights.
| Feature | Summary |
|---|---|
| Known For | Australia Fair, Broadwater Parklands, Chinatown, and being the Gold Coast’s original business district |
| Best For | Residents, value shoppers, families using the free parkland attractions, visitors after Asian dining |
| Atmosphere | Practical, business-driven, less touristy than the coastal suburbs |
| Crowds | Moderate, mostly locals and shoppers rather than tourists |
| Walkability | Good around the Scarborough Street and Australia Fair core |
| Dining Scene | Strong, particularly for Asian cuisine around Chinatown and Sundale |
| Local Character | Established, mixed residential and commercial, genuine local population rather than purely tourist-driven |
| Hospitals | Gold Coast University Hospital is located within Southport itself, the city’s major public hospital; Pindara Private Hospital (Benowa) approx 10 minutes |
| Schools | Southport State School (primary) and Southport State High School (secondary) both within the suburb; Griffith University Gold Coast campus also located here |
| Transport | Three G:link stations directly in the suburb; OOL airport approx 35-40 minutes south |
Southport Boundary and Location Map
Top Attractions in Southport
Beyond Broadwater Parklands and the Aquatic Centre, Southport has a handful of attractions worth knowing about: Boomerang Art, an Aboriginal fine art gallery, The Escape Hunt Experience for escape-room enthusiasts, and Holoverse, a holographic entertainment venue. None of these are full-day destinations on their own, but they round out a visit well alongside the shopping and waterfront parkland.
Shopping in Southport
Southport’s shopping is mostly aimed at local residents and noticeably less touristy than Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach. Beyond Australia Fair, the Brickworks Centre, Sundale Retail Precinct and Southport Central Retail all offer everyday shopping, dining and services for the local population.
Restaurants in Southport
Southport is genuinely well regarded for Asian dining. Jasmine Room (Sundale, Level 1-2, Como Crescent) covers Chinese cuisine and yum cha, JFX Noodle & Tapas Bar (Shop 2A, 82 Marine Parade) mixes tapas and Japanese, and Ramen Danbo (Shop 24, 73 Meron Street) is a casual, reliable ramen spot. For something different, Carmody’s at Southport Sharks (Musgrave Avenue) offers modern Australian cuisine, and De Vito Waterfront Restaurant (2 Barney Street) covers Mediterranean. The Cardamom Pod, a vegetarian cafe in the Brickworks Centre, is a solid option for plant-based dining. CSI Club Southport and RSL Southport both offer reliable, good-value pub-style meals.
Best Coffee in Southport
Silipo (9/54 Bailey Crescent) and 42Fifteen (9 Davenport Street) are the two standout coffee spots in Southport, both worth seeking out if you’re in the area.
Bars and Nightlife in Southport
Southport’s nightlife runs more toward sports bars, clubs and pub gaming rooms than the nightclub strip you’ll find in Surfers Paradise. CSI Club Southport offers a sports bar, gaming and regular live music. Last Night On Earth is a newer, popular dive bar. The Railway Hotel, The Cecil Hotel, Anglers Arms Hotel, Ferry Road Tavern and Hotel Pacific round out the suburb’s pub and gaming venues.
Accommodation in Southport
Meriton Serviced Apartments Southport sits in a central location with a fitness centre, indoor and outdoor resort-style pools, a hot tub and a sauna, plus an on-site Woolworths and a G:link stop directly out front. Woodroffe Hotel, near Woodroffe Park, is a short walk from Southport’s shopping precincts and the G:link, with free wifi and an on-site cafe for breakfast and lunch. Check current rates directly with each property, as pricing varies by season and availability.
What It’s Like to Live Here
Southport is one of the more genuinely lived-in suburbs covered on this site, less a tourist precinct and more the suburb that actually keeps a lot of the Gold Coast running day to day. Locals know Southport less as a destination and more as the place with the hospital and the university, the original business district where the practical infrastructure of the city sits. The mix of established residential streets, the Broadwater frontage, and the business district core gives Southport a settled, everyday feel that’s distinct from the more performance-driven energy of Surfers Paradise just down the coast.
Hospitals
Southport is unusual among Gold Coast suburbs in having genuinely major hospital infrastructure within its own boundaries. Gold Coast University Hospital, the city’s major public hospital with a full emergency department, sits at 1 Hospital Boulevard in Southport itself. Ask anyone who’s had to get there in a hurry and they’ll tell you living in Southport, rather than commuting in from further down the coast, makes a real practical difference. Pindara Private Hospital in nearby Benowa is approximately 10 minutes away for private care.
Schools
Southport State School and Southport State High School both sit within the suburb, giving local families a full state schooling pathway without needing to travel. Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus is also located in Southport, adjacent to the hospital precinct, adding a genuine tertiary education presence to the suburb.
Transport
Southport is well served by both G:link light rail and public buses. G:link stations include Southport South (Scarborough Street near Park Lane), Southport Station (Scarborough Street near Nerang Street), and Broadwater Parklands (Queens Street). Bus services run from Southport bus station (Scarborough Street near Nerang Street), Scarborough Street at White Street, and Broadwater Parklands bus station (Ada Bell Way).
By car, Surfers Paradise is approximately 10-15 minutes south via the Gold Coast Highway. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) is approximately 35-40 minutes south via the M1, with a taxi or rideshare typically costing $55-75.
FAQ
Is Southport worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for value shopping, Broadwater Parklands with kids, and genuinely good Asian dining around Chinatown and Sundale. It’s a less touristy alternative to Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach, better suited to a practical day out than a beach holiday base.
Is Southport a good place to live?
Yes, and it has a genuine practical advantage most Gold Coast suburbs don’t: Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport State School, Southport State High School and Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus are all located within the suburb itself. Combined with three G:link stations and Broadwater frontage, it’s a strong option for residents who want established infrastructure over beachfront tourism energy.
Is the hospital actually in Southport?
Yes. Gold Coast University Hospital, the city’s major public hospital, is located at 1 Hospital Boulevard, within Southport itself, alongside Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus.