The Best of Southport 2020

The essential intro to Southport on the Gold Coast – including the very best of local attractions, restaurants, things to do, and where to stay.

 

 

The longtime business district of the Gold Coast is one of the city’s larger suburbs featuring a mix of business, residential, recreation, and tourist attractions. The most well-known street in the suburb is Scarborough St. which features the popular Australia Fair shopping center with the surrounding streets featuring cafes, restaurants, and shopping.

 

 

Australia Fair is one of the Gold Coast’s largest malls featuring many of Australia’s top retailers, plus cafes, restaurants, and entertainment. It has hundreds of stores and two large food courts. Mostly targetting the value-seeking shopper with major stores including Jay Jays, Cotton On, Just Jeans, Roger David, K Mart, Sportsgirl, Sussan, and many more. There’s also a wide range of good value beauty services.

 

You’ll also find lots of shops surrounding the mall along Scarborough St and along Nerang St, which include variety stores and more eateries.

Across from Australia Fair is the Broadwater Parklands which is a newly developed park featuring loads of attractions and things to do for families including BBQ facilities, Bouncy Pillow and Rock Pools for kids, plus much more. Best of all, it’s free to go there and explore, plus there is also free wi-fi available in the park.

 

 

Right next to Broadwater Parklands is Aquatic Park which features Olympic standard swimming pools, children’s splash pool, creche, cafe, and fully equipped gymnasium. The fees are quite reasonable and anyone can get a membership or just pay for a single visit, you can see the schedule of fees here

The area also features mangrove wetlands, sculptures, boat ramp, beach volleyball court, fishing area, swimming enclosure, adventure playground and parking. During holiday periods you’ll find the ‘Big Wedgie’ at the northern end of the park offering super water slides.

At the southern end of the parkland is the Gold Coast Tourist Park which features caravan spaces and cabin accommodation in quite an enviable location by the waterside. Along the Gold Coast HWY/Marine Parade at Southport, there are also several other accommodation places that overlook the parkland and Broadwater.

Southport has long been a popular base for Chinese and centering on the intersection of Young and Davenport Streets you’ll find Chinatown, it’s still growing and more restaurants are opening up all the time and there are normally live shows at night on weekends.

 

Top Attractions in Southport

Southport offers up several attractions and I will list some highlights below and go here for a full list of things to do in Southport and all things to do, sights, and attractions in the region.

 

Shopping in Southport

Southport has a diverse range of shopping mostly targetted to local residents and a lot less touristy than Surfers or Broadbeach.

 

Restaurants in Southport

There are a lot of dining out options in Southport and the area is renowned for high-quality Asian offerings. Here, I offer up my picks for the best restaurants in Southport

 

Best Coffee

 

Bars and Nightlife in Southport

 

Hotels in Southport

 

Meriton Serviced Apartments Southport

5 Star | av rates 135 and up

A central location, facilities include fitness centre, indoor and outdoor resort-style pools, hot tub and sauna. There is a Woolworths Supermarket here and the G:Link light rail stop is at the front of the building.

Woodroffe Hotel

4 Star | av rates 110 and up

Located near Woodroffe Park, it’s a short walk from the shopping areas of Southport and the G:link station. It has free wifi, an onsite cafe offering breakfast and lunch.

See our full review of accommodation options on the Gold Coast

 

Transport

Southport is serviced by public buses and the G:Link light rail with the main stops being

  • Southport South G:Link station – Scarborough St near to Park Lane
  • Southport Station G:Link station – Scarborough St near to Nerang St
  • Broadwater Parklands  G:Link station – Queens St
  • Southport bus station  – Scarborough St near to Nerang St
  • Scarborough St at White Street bus station
  • Broadwater Parklands bus station – Ada Bell Way

 

 

Best of Southport Map

SHOP 1035, LEVEL 1 AUSTRALIA FAIR SHOPPING CENTRE, Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Ferry Road Tavern Cnr Ferry Road & Cotlew Street East, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Anglers Arms Hotel Motel, 50 Queen St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

26 Queen St, Goodna QLD 4300, Australia

146 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

50B Nerang St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

9 Davenport St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

9/54 Bailey Cres, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

36 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

154A Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

3/3 Brolga Ave, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Mercato on Ferry, shop 24/73 Meron St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Shop 2A/82 Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

2 Barney St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Sundale, level 1/2 Como Cres, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Musgrave Ave, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Southport Central, 56 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

2 Como Cres, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

107 Ferry Rd, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

59 Nerang St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

2/162 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

27 Margaret St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Gold Coast QLD 4225, Australia

Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Southport QLD 4215, Australia