Gold Coast 500 Guide & Trackside Accommodation 2024

The Gold Coast 500 is run on the streets of Surfers Paradise featuring Supercars battling for championship points and supporting races throughout the event. The now-famous Surfers Paradise Street Circuit is a 3 km track along Surfers Paradise Esplanade and Main Beach Parade, Breaker Street, the Gold Coast Highway, and Surfers Paradise Blvd.

The three-day event begins on Friday with two thirty-minute practice sessions. On Saturday, a qualifying race followed by a top ten shootout determines the starting grid for the main event, the 250km circuit race. This is repeated on Sunday with a final victor crowned after the combined results. Surrounding the event is a range of support races and áfter-race events including concerts and DJs on MacIntosh Island inside the race precinct. Plus, there’s the endless array of attractions that the broader Gold Coast offers.

Last year’s event was a huge success, attracting over 200,000 people to watch the event and enjoy the activities on and off track over the three days.

The 2024 event is set to take place on the 25th-27th of October and tickets are now available on the Supercars website.

GC 500 Accommodation 2024

Accommodation near the track and any with track views book out a long way in advance! Be quick 🙂 Check the GC 500 track map below for our top picks, the track is outlined in orange with entry gates marked in red and accommodation picks in green. Also, see our guide to Surfers Paradise for more accommodation picks. Most accommodation in Surfers is within walking distance or at worst, a short tram ride on the G:Link. Broadbeach and Southport are also convenient places to stay with easy links via the G:Link tram.

GC 500 track map 

Accommodation Picks – with track views (request room with track view)

Surfers Paradise JW Marriott Resort & Spa – the five-star hotel features a private saltwater lagoon, sandy beaches and an artificial reef with tropical fish, 5 on-site dining options, the Ruby Spa and a fitness centre. The air-conditioned rooms feature a private balcony offering views of the Gold Coast Hinterland, Surfers Paradise skyline or Pacific Ocean.

Narrowneck Court Holiday Apartments – Located opposite Main Beach, Narrowneck Court offers self-contained accommodation with private balconies and magnificent ocean views. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi internet, an outdoor swimming pool and barbecue facilities.

Seacrest Apartments – Guest facilities include 2 heated pools, a tennis court, a sauna and a games room. The air-conditioned apartments offer 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with free satellite TV and a DVD player plus fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities.

Accommodation withing walking distance to track

Sovereign – a 6 min walk from Gate 6, the four-star hotel features a hot tub, restaurant, a day spa with a sauna and a lagoon-style swimming pool featuring a waterfall.

Ruby Gold Coast – A seven-minute walk from Gate 6, the four-star Arise Ruby Collection provides accommodation with free WiFi, a garden with an outdoor swimming pool, pool views, and access to a fitness room and a sauna.

QT Gold Coast – A four-minute walk from Gate 6, the five-star QT Gold Coast is a designer hotel featuring an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a restaurant and a bar. All rooms boast a spacious balcony offering stunning ocean views.

Quarterdeck Apartments – A nine-minute walk from Gate 6. Three-star. All Olympus Apartments have full kitchen, laundry and ironing facilities. The bright and large living rooms have a flat-screen TV with free cable channels and private balcony.

GC 500 Event Schedule 2024

See the Supercars website for updates

• Friday, October 25
  • 10:15 AM – 10:35 AM: Pit Lane Walk
  • 10:45 AM – 11:05 AM: V8 SuperUtes Practice
  • 11:15 AM – 11:35 AM: S5000 Practice 1
  • 11:55 AM – 12:20 PM: Porsche Carrera Cup Practice 1
  • 12:35 PM – 1:05 PM: Supercars Practice 1
  • 1:35 PM – 1:55 PM: V8 SuperUtes Qualifying
  • 2:05 PM – 2:25 PM: S5000 Practice 2
  • 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Supercars Practice 2
  • 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Demonstration Events
• Saturday, October 26
  • 8:25 AM – 9:05 AM: Pit Lane Walks
  • 9:15 AM – 9:35 AM: V8 SuperUtes Race 1
  • 10:05 AM – 10:20 AM: Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying 1
  • 10:30 AM – 10:40 AM: Drivers Parade
  • 11:25 AM – 11:45 AM: Supercars Qualifying 31
  • 12:25 PM – 12:50 PM: V8 SuperUtes Race 2
  • 1:05 PM – 1:30 PM: Supercars Top Ten Shootout
  • 2:25 PM – 2:50 PM: Porsche Carrera Cup Race 1
  • 3:45 PM: Supercars Race 31 (85 laps)
• Sunday, October 27
  • 7:10 AM – 7:50 AM: Pit Lane Walks
  • 8:00 AM – 8:25 AM: S5000 Race 2
  • 8:35 AM – 9:15 AM: Porsche Carrera Cup Race 2
  • 9:25 AM – 9:45 AM: V8 SuperUtes Race 3
  • 9:55 AM – 10:15 AM: Supercars Qualifying 32
  • 11:35 AM – 12:00 PM: Supercars Top Ten Shootout
  • 2:15 PM: Supercars Race 32 (85 laps)

Visiting Tips

here are my top tips to make the most of your experience at the GC 500

• Book your accommodation early! The Gold Coast is busy during this event in late June so secure your hotel well in advance. I’d recommend staying somewhere central like Surfers Paradise if it’s affordable, otherwise choose somewhere close to the public transport network along the Gold Coast Highway.
• If you are flying into the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta, check out this guide for transfer options
• If you are flying into Brisbane Airport (BNE), check out this guide on how to get to Surfers Paradise from Brisbane
• Choose your day tickets based on your interests. Weekend passes give you access to more action while the weekday ticket is a little cheaper if you just want a taste of the action. The three-day pass offers the best value. General admission is perfect if you’re on a budget while you can spend a little more for Grandstand and Fanstand tickets.
• If you are not staying centrally in the Surfers area or within walking distance, take public transport, as traffic is hell usually and finding a park is just as painful.
• See here for info on using public transport. Last year it was free for GC 500 ticket holders.
• Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, and shades too. The weather is usually quite comfortable, around 25 c during the day and cool at night. Rain is a possibility but not so common in October.
• Stay hydrated, you can easily buy water but you may want to also take your own bottle and add in some electrolytes like Hydralite occasionally.
• Don’t forget you can take your own chair and or picnic blanket.
• Pick comfortable walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover getting in and around the track.
• Lines at the food stalls get very long and prices are hideous. Last year people could take their own food in, hopefully, it’s the same this year.
• Check the schedule so you don’t miss your favourite drivers in qualifying or the main races. Download the Supercars app for updates.
• Don’t forget all the other amazing things to do on the Gold Coast, here’s a list of over 100.