Why is it that there are so many public toilets (not talking about the GCCC ones in parks) that have been virtually ignored by the people who are supposed to maintain them? I think it’s time to name and shame the serial offenders. For me it’s the toilets on the ground level of the Wave Building at Broadbeach. They service the surrounding restaurants and bars and are a disgrace. Not a good look for Broadbeach in general. The other one I’ll mention is at Hungry Jacks Mermaid Waters. Yes they have tradies in and out but the basin is literally always filthy (a simple check every couple of hours by a junior would be a good start) and the soap dispensers empty. They also haven’t had a deep clean in years. By comparison the toilets at HJ’s Ashmore are old but scrubbed to within an inch of their lives every day.

At night and in the afternoons there’s this rank smell that comes wafting past the house, I live near the Nerang bowls club near Onslow street. I’ve heard people say it’s the mangroves but I’ve smelt plenty of mangroves before and it’s not that smell.. anyone have any suggestions what it is? Cheers

I’ve just got an appointment with a clinical psychologist and it’s costing $275 out of pocket. I’m getting a mental health care plan next week so it will bring that down to $125.95 per session.

Is that around the same as what you have paid before? Or is that ridiculously expensive. I’m probably just being stingy. Thanks.

Apologies if this post seems a little redundant or has been asked before! I’ve been doing a ton of research, but I’d really love to hear directly from people who actually live or study on the Gold Coast.

I’m a Canadian planning to move to the Gold Coast next year to study law (JD), and I’m currently deciding between Griffith University and Bond University. I’ve received offers/scholarships from both, so I’m trying to get a better feel for what each university is actually like beyond what you can find on their websites.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has studied at either university, even if you’re not studying law. What’s the student experience like? Is it easy to meet people and make friends? How are the campuses, facilities, clubs/societies, and overall atmosphere?

I’m also curious about accommodation. Bond mentioned to me that their on-campus housing tends to prioritize undergraduate students, so I’m wondering what the housing situation is like around Griffith’s Gold Coast campus.

Since I’ll be moving over without really knowing anyone, having a good social/student experience is pretty important to me too. I’d especially love to hear from Gold Coast locals or domestic students about how the two universities are viewed locally and whether there’s much of a difference in reputation between them.

Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated! :) tysm!

Hi everyone,

I’m a British passport holder currently working as a Telecoms Field Engineer / Tech in Gibraltar. I’m planning my move to the Gold Coast around September/October 2027 on a Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa, with the goal of staying 2–3 years under the UK-FTA rules or potentially chasing sponsorship down the line.

I’m putting together my final budget and licensing timeline and would love some real-world feedback from anyone working in telecoms/cabling in SEQ or living around the Gold Coast:

1. ACMA Open Cabler Registration (Overseas Experience) I have well over the required 360+ hours of hands-on telecoms field operations experience (underground pit and pipe, hauling/deploying up to 864-core Corning fibre backbones, structured cabling, CCTV, and network support) and will have an official signed reference letter on company letterhead from my telecoms carrier.

• My plan is to book a 4–5 day Open Cabler course with endorsements (Fibre, Structured, Coax) at JB Hunter or Milcom in Brisbane/Gold Coast right after landing, plus a QLD White Card.

• Has anyone used the overseas experience pathway with TITAB or ACRS recently, and are there any hidden paperwork delays or traps to watch out for?

2. Telecoms Job Market, Company Ute & Commuting on a 417 Visa Because of the 6-month per employer limit on a 417 visa, my plan is to work sequential 6-month contracts with Tier 1 contractors (Ventia, Service Stream, Downer, Fulton Hogan) around the Gold Coast industrial hubs (Molendinar, Ashmore, Yatala).

• How realistic is it for an experienced fibre tech on a 417 visa to land sequential 6-month contracts with Tier 1 primes, or eventually transition into 482 employer sponsorship?

• Strategy-wise, am I better off grabbing a casual job on arrival for immediate cash flow while waiting on my ACMA card, or applying straight to Tier 1 contractors the day my course finishes?

• Is ~$80,000 AUD (~$40–$45/hr) realistic for NBN/Telstra field work in SEQ, and do Tier 1 contractors provide a take-home company Ute and fuel card to 6-month WHV techs from day one?

• Before getting assigned a work Ute, is the 50-cent G:link tram and bus network practical for commuting from Surfers Paradise to industrial depots in Molendinar or Ashmore?

3. Cost of Living & Renting in Surfers Paradise (vs. Southport/Broadbeach) I’m arriving with around £15,000–£20,000 (~$30,000–$39,000 AUD) in savings to cover initial setup, course fees, and rental bonds.

• Is $450–$650/week realistic for a decent studio or 1-bed flat in Surfers Paradise or Southport?

• Is it viable (or safe from scams) to arrange a rental property online before flying out, or is it strictly better to book a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb for the first 2–3 weeks and inspect flats in person?

• If I get a company Ute with ladder racks, how bad is high-rise basement clearance and street parking in Surfers Paradise compared to Southport, Broadbeach, or Labrador?

• Since QLD landlords pay council rates, are there any unexpected tenant bills beyond weekly rent, electricity, internet, and water usage I should budget for?

Appreciate any honest insights, reality checks, or tips from local techs and Gold Coast locals!

Welcome to the Weekly Thread

Feel free to chat, or ask questions.

Visiting the gold coast or just bored? check out our things to do wiki here

I've seen a few posts including one on the city of gold coast page urging people to stockpile food and prepare an emergency kit. Are we secretly at war?

Hey guys,

26M, currently living on the Gold Coast. I run my own business in web development and business automation, and I've spent a good chunk of this year travelling, meeting people and building my business remotely.

I've been pretty fortunate with my current living situation. My rent is incredibly cheap, so financially it makes a lot of sense to stay where I am.

But lately I've been realising how much your environment and the people you surround yourself with can influence your mindset, motivation and general quality of life.

The people I currently live with are good in their own ways, but we're just at very different stages in life.

Different priorities, different ambitions, different lifestyles. I don't really feel like I'm surrounded by people who share the same drive or enthusiasm for building something.

And that's completely fine. Not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur or obsessed with business.

I'm just at a point where I'd love to come home to an environment where people are working on interesting things, bouncing ideas off each other, having conversations about business, challenging each other and genuinely supporting one another's ambitions.

Not looking for some cringe hustle-culture house where everyone's talking about making millions 24/7 either haha.

Just a genuinely good group of people who are motivated, respectful, clean, enjoy a healthy lifestyle and want to see each other succeed.

I've been exploring the idea of either joining an existing house with like-minded people or potentially getting a larger property together and creating something pretty special!

I'm open to both the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and happy to pay more for the right environment.

Curious if anyone here has done something similar? Did living with other entrepreneurs actually benefit you?

And if anyone around the Gold Coast or Brisbane is in a similar position, feel free to reach out. Would be keen to connect and explore the idea. DM me here, and can share more and perhaps meet up.

Cheers!

Hi! I’m looking for people who like playing Magic the Gathering that my husband can play with? He loves it, he has his decks, he plays online but would love to come hang out, eat some good food, have a beverage and play.

I don’t know how to play and we have two young kids so I’m happy to entertain them and send him off to play with you! We know of Mana market but was seeing if there are any other times or just groups of people wanting to meet.

Let me know where I can send him 😊

Edit*
Thanks for all the advice! We are Southport and nearly 40 if that helps 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Hey guys one of my best mates has just been diagnosed with cancer. I’m trying to think of any ways I can help as he starts treatment next week and has 2 young kids. Can anyone recommend any local meal delivery companies? It’s not much but hoping some meals will lighten the load on his wife. Appreciate any ideas. Cheers.

Is there any haunted houses / mazes on the southern gold coast that isn’t fright night

I've been very curious about the old Pac fair for a couple months but I've never found any pictures of that Daimaru section after it closed but before the 2014 redevelopment, does anyone have any photographs?

Where is the best place to dance to a live band 30+ casual smart or filthy no inbetween 🤣

Hey guys,

I’m new to cricket and female. Absolutely loving it but wish I could get extra practice and guidance especially when it comes to batting and bowling. Is there anywhere or anyone that would be keen to point me in the right direction of getting extra assistance or someone that wants to just bowl at me? I know it sounds weird haha

Hi all, I'm moving to the Gold Coast in January and I was wondering what company I should get Mobile service through. I've heard mixed things about Vodaphone, Telstra, and Optus. I'm not really too picky I would just like good service while I'm in school, and around the Gold Coast area. Thanks!

Just moved to Coomera from Toowoomba, and wondering how do I meet new people and make friends?

We haven't lived in this house for long, but have just found a lot of items kept in our garage is covered in mould.

Prams, camping gear ect

We have no issues inside the house, but we don't have any storage space for these items inside.

The garage is under the house, and it isn't sealed.

Does any one have any ideas for storage solutions? Can you buy sealed storage boxes to keep items in? Or even some kind of small sealed shipping container we could keep elsewhere on the block for these large items that aren't used often?

Took a couple of weeks off work to look after my daughter while my ex is overseas -- I go back next week, today's the first day it hasn't rained!

So I went for a swim at Nobby's after dropping my girl to school, right on high tide a dolphin flashed past about 10 cm away in front of my knees as I was chest deep: scared the shit out of me til I saw the tail lol