The Gold Coast is hosting the eToro Rugby Union Championships, with a thrilling double header showcasing Los Pumas vs the Wallabies, and then the Springboks facing off against the All Blacks. There’s already been so much action at the Gold Coast international rugby matches, and with a near sell-out crowd the latest instalment will continue to delight and entertain.

If you’re on the Gold Coast, make the most of what the area has to offer and check out our top tips on how to spend your time before you head to the rugby.

The Results So Far

In Round 3 in the CBUS Super Stadium, the All Blacks beat Los Pumas 39-0, while the then-world champion Springboks lost to the home side in a thrilling 26-28 finish that came down to the final moments. Round 4 brought the teams to Suncorp Stadium, where Los Pumas managed 13 to the All Blacks 36, and the Wallabies managed a more decisive win at 19-17. Round 5 was held in Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium, and the teams mixed it up with a new draw. This time, the Wallabies beat Los Pumas 27-8, while the All Blacks won against the Springboks 19-17.

Now it’s time for Round 6, and Queensland are making the most of the hosting opportunity right here on the Gold Coast.

Whether you’re visiting, or a local looking for some fresh ideas – here are some of our top tips for spending time on the Gold Coast before the international rugby matches.

Head to the Beach

While you’re on the Gold Coast, it would be a crime to miss out on the white sands and blue waters that are the defining feature of the beautiful beaches. You really can’t go wrong with anywhere along the coastline, but there certainly are some stand out spots. Surfers Paradise has rightly earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the hours fly by as you soak in the sun. Check out the Spit, right next to the seaway where the Broadwater meets the ocean – it’s a fantastic place for a picnic, or just a stroll along the walkway. Or if you have kids in tow, the Broadwater offers calm waters and idyllic views of the many boats and yachts sailing by, and the Broadwater Parklands have a fantastic park and plenty of things to do to keep them entertained until the match kicks off.

Retail Therapy

There are so many shopping destinations that will allow you to while away the hours in style. For retail therapy combined with tourist attractions, Cavill Avenue is a bustling lane of shops and exciting entertainment, right off the Surfers Paradise beach. For more dedicated shopping, check out one of the many malls or markets that are within easy reach by car or public transport. We’ve made it easy to find your perfect place to pay a visit with our list of 10 shopping destinations to check out while you’re on the Gold Coast.

Check out the attractions

The Gold Coast has plenty of world-renowned attractions waiting to be discovered. From theme parks like Movie World, Sea World, Dream World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, and more, to plenty of wild-life themed escapes, you’re always within a short trip of something spectacular. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has hectares of pristine rainforest to explore. If you want to kill some time before heading to the game, you can’t miss the lorikeet feeding held by the café just outside the sanctuary, for only a small donation to cover the food. There are plenty of exciting adventure activities around the area, like Slideways Go Karting in Pimpama, or stand-up paddle boarding in various locations across the Coast. 

Dining on the Gold Coast

Whether you’d like to go fancy or stay in your swimmers, you can find somewhere delicious to deal with those pre-match hunger pains. The Surf Clubs are a great place to start – drinks and great pub-style food, and many have great views to match. The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club and Currumbin Vikings SLSC are some stand out dining options. Perfect for dropping in pre-game, from 7am – 12pm, the Marina Mirage Farmer’s Markets are full of freshly picked farm produce to artisan baking. Meet the farmers and producers while sampling the freshest food in town.  There are plenty of other excellent places to check out – have a look at our blog for some ideas.

Getting Around

Airtrain services run every 15 minutes on-peak and every 30 minutes off-peak, so you can skip the traffic and arrive at the Gold Coast in comfort.

Airtrain stops at all Gold Coast stations from Ormeau to Varsity Lakes, including Ormeau, Coomera, Helensvale (connect with the G:link tram at Helensvale station), Nerang, Robina, and Varsity Lakes. From there, trams and buses provide connecting services to other locations around the Gold Coast, or you can take advantage of our AirtrainConnect (Train & Transfer) service.

There are a range of ticketing options that Airtrain can help you with. Airtrain & Tram takes you via the G:link tram to Southport, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach. If you require an airport transfer direct to your Gold Coast address, Airtrain offers a premium door to door service called AirtrainConnect that will get you exactly where you need to go.

All South East Queensland public transport uses a smart card for travel, or you can purchase a paper ticket. Visitors should check out the go seeQ card, which allows you unlimited travel for 3 or 5 consecutive days on buses, trains, ferries, and trams. It also includes 2 Airtrain journeys to/from the Brisbane Airport. The go explore smartcard allows you travel in the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for up to 8 days, but you don’t have to use them consecutively. 

You can easily get around with a go card – just touch on at your station of departure and touch off when you arrive at your destination. The go card is accepted on all translink transport throughout Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

To purchase your smartcards or to find out more, head to the nearest Airtrain counter. You’ll be able to purchase tickets for travel, attractions, and events around South East Queensland.

Heading to the Gold Coast International Rugby

Public transport is your best way to get to the game – after your Airtrain journey, all public transport is covered by your ticket from 4 hours before the event and 4 hours afterwards. Robina Station is the closest, with a 350 m walk to the stadium after you disembark. Event shuttle buses run from Park & Ride facilities in Broadbeach South G:Link Bus Stop (Gold Coast Highway), Firth Park, Mudgeeraba (Somerset Drive), and Burleigh Heads State School (Lower Gold Coast Highway). For more information on getting to the CBUS Super Stadium, check out their page.

Spending time on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is full of entertainment and exciting destinations. Whether you have a few hours or live locally, you’ll never run out of things to do.  If you’re heading to the Gold Coast, choose the best way to get there on time and in comfort. Start your journey well – travel with Airtrain.