So you’ve enjoyed an amazing evening meal but you’re not ready to call it a night… or there’s time to kill before your dinner booking. If you’re keen to keep the good times rolling, we’ve got you. The Gold Coast offers an epic lineup of entertainment experiences that stay open late, whether that’s a cheeky cabaret show, some family friendly games, nocturnal native animals or a sky high cocktail. Here’s our hit list of where to find the fun after dark.
THE PINK FLAMINGO
Round up your pals or your partner, book your front row seat and brace yourself for an unforgettable night at the the hottest stage-show in town. The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub is the daringly different after-dark sensation you’ve been waiting for, fusing an oh-so steamy combo of aerials, singing, dance and comic relief in an incredible art deco venue. This provocative performance is adults-only (you’ll soon see why) and the perfect after dark activity. After the last show, the venue transforms into a fabulous club so make it a late one and linger longer.
Where: Corner of Surf Parade and Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
SOAK BATHHOUSE
Head to this urban bathhouse in the evening for a different experience of Soak. Take your pick from mineral pools, hot tubs, sauna, stream room and cold plunge pool and rotate through them for some soothing relaxation and rejuvenation. After dark, the outdoor pools are lit up with LED lights giving the place an ethereal glow. And one of the many benefits of immersing yourself in a magnesium pool is you’re guaranteed to have a great sleep afterwards. Soak is open until 10pm daily.
Where: 2532/2540 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
GLOW IN THE DARK MINI GOLF
Mini golf is a beloved vacation/date night/family activity that never gets old… but it does get tricky to play after dark. Not at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach. Once the sun sets, three novelty courses light up so the fun continues – the only difference is you play with golf balls that glow in the dark. The Waterways course is particularly pretty, lit up with festoon lights, sparkling water features and an illuminated rainbow lagoon. Twilight Mini golf is a magical and fun-filled experience, available from sunset to 10pm every day of the week.
Where: 2492 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
LATE NIGHT SHOPPING
The Gold Coast has got a lot to offer when it comes to retail therapy and three of the major shopping destinations are open for late night shopping on Thursdays. Shops at Robina Town Centre and Pacific Fair (Broadbeach) are open until 9pm and at Harbour Town Premium Outlets (Helensvale) you can shop on until 7pm. All three precincts have dining options and cinemas onsite too so you can make a night of it. And then there’s the awesome Gold Coast night markets spread across the city where you can feast on a variety of cuisines, enjoy some live entertainment, browse market stalls and enjoy a decadent dessert to top off a perfect night out.
TWILIGHT TOUR AT CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
They say birds of a feather flock together and night owls will love the Twilight Tour at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Take a special guided tour through the beautiful grounds of the sanctuary to get a close up look at some of the nocturnal animals, including the Tasmanian Devils who are most active in the evenings. You’ll also get a unique insight into the ancient culture of Gold Coast’s traditional custodians, the Yugambeh people, with a light display depicting Dreaming stories and a taste of traditional bush tea. Add in a spotlight adventure, searching for some native Australian wildlife and it’s a brilliant experience. There are two different tours – one that requires a base level of fitness and mobility (Friday evenings), and one which caters for families with prams and people with mobility issues or using wheelchairs, which is a shorter route over flat ground (Saturday evenings). During school holidays Twilight Tours run multiple times a week but they’re very popular so be sure to book ahead.
INFINITY
This Gold Coast entertainment icon has stood the test of time for its ability to amaze. Hotfoot it to Infinity in Surfers Paradise for the ultimate apres-dinner adventure. A sensory overload awaits at this interactive indoor maze, where mirrors, lasers, special effects and optical illusions come together to create a 30-minute brain-boggling experience. Best suited for those eight years old and above. A word of warning – if tight spaces aren’t your thing, you might want to sit this one out!
Where: Chevron Renaissance Centre, 3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
SKYPOINT OBSERVATION DECK
Fancy ticking off a bucket list item while you’re on the Coast? How does scaling Australia’s Tallest Building sound? At Q1’s SkyPoint Observation Deck, you’ll reach jaw-dropping heights 270m above sea level (that’s 77 floors up!) while still keeping your feet firmly on the ground. Have your phone handy for some sky-high selfies because the views from up here are mind-blowing, with 360 degree panoramas stretching from the coast to the hinterland and beyond, not to mention the sparkling city lights of the Coast by night.
Where: 9 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
PADLOCK’D ESCAPE ROOMS
Padlock’d Escape Rooms have quickly gained traction as one of the Coast’s most popular after-dark haunts (but we’ll warn you now, this one’s not for the faint hearted). As the name suggests, this mind-bending indoor escapade challenges the brain and your ability to stay cool under pressure. You and your teammates have put your heads together and use your lateral thinking skills to solves the clues, crack the code and make your escape before the timer hits zero. Best suited to those aged 15+ years, in this choose-your-own-adventure (read: nightmare) style pursuit you can opt to solve the mystery of The Haunted Toy Store, or sneak into the office of an evil CEO and thwart his plan to launch a dangerous tracking app before it’s too late – it’s a tough choice…
Where: 3177 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
STRIKE BOWLING SURFERS PARADISE
Slip on your socks and strap on those gorgeous red bowling shoes, it’s tenpin time and we’ve got just the place in mind. Absolutely not your average alley, Strike Bowling Bar in the heart of Surfers Paradise takes bowling up a notch (or 10), with 10 lanes to choose from, a cocktail bar slinging your fave beverages, and a private karaoke room catering to 15 guests for those feeling brave. Tuck into on old-school-style sangas from the crew at Rando Sandos who are taking over Strike’s kitchen for a limited time – the Cubano Sando, Beef Brisket Sando and Ice-Cream Sando are our favs. Kids are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times, and once the clock strikes 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10pm Sundays – Thursdays, it’s time to say adieu to the youngsters so the adults can have some age appropriate fun.
Where: Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise
Loved this? Have a look at our 9 Favourite Gold Coast Nightlife Spots