What to do in Gold Coast when it rains
Caught by a shower in Gold Coast? There's history to explore indoors, art to admire, markets to browse and cafés to settle into until it clears.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Gold Coast Wax Museum 56 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM Shop 3/76 Bundall Rd, Bundall QLD 4217, Australia
- Gold Coast & Hinterland Museum Historical Society 8 Elliott St, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Southport Bathing Pavilion Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- Diecast Models in the BIG SHED Diecast Models in the BIG SHED, 6th Avenue IN THE BIG SHED, Carrara Markets, Corner of Gooding Drive and Manchester Rd, Carrara QLD 4211, Australia
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- HOTA, Home of the Arts 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- HOTA Gallery 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Royal Queensland Art Society Gold Coast 25 Broadbeach Blvd, Broadbeach QLD 4218, Australia
- Pickasso Antiques 2/99 Ashmore Rd, Bundall QLD 4217, Australia
- The Gold Coast Art School 25 Olympic Cct, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- One Arts 13 Verona Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Sundale Bridge Gold Coast Hwy, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- Pink Poodle Sign Fern St, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Walkway 1 Markwell Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Walkway XCPM+F4, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Foundation Stone 8 Young St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- Australasia Cable Info Board Cable Park, 3502 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Carrara Markets Cnr Manchester Rd &, Gooding Dr, Carrara QLD 4211, Australia
- Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Harris Farm Markets Isle of Capri Shop 7 Building 2/21 Via Roma, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Peters Fish Market 130 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
- HOTA Markets 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- IGA Queen St Village 129 Queen St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- O Bagel Broadbeach 2/2791 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218, Australia
- ELK Espresso Oasis Shopping Centre, Shop G044/12 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach QLD 4218, Australia
- McDonald's Cavill III 1 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Marina Mirage Centre Management, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
- Sandbar Surfers Paradise 52 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
- Southport Surf Life Saving Club MacArthur Parade, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Pacific Fair Shopping Centre 32 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach Waters QLD 4218, Australia
- Australia Fair Shopping Centre 42 Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- The Oasis 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218, Australia
- Southport Park Shopping Centre Corner Ferry Road &, Benowa Rd, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- Southport Central 5 Lawson St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
- Marina Mirage Centre Management, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.