10.  Hit the Markets

Photo: Mi Gold Coast

Gold Coast offers a diverse array of street shopping, from farmers markets to night markets and everything in between, to satisfy every need. From fresh produce, art and craft, fashion, gifts and knick-knacks, Gold Coast has something to delights everyone.

Here is our recommended 5 must-visit markets in Gold Coast:

Burleigh Heads Farmers Markets

Start your weekend right with a trip to the Burleigh Heads Farmers Markets on Saturday morning. The Markets offers the freshest locally-grown fruits and vegetables, beautiful blooms, gourmet foods and deli items, artisan bread and pasta, meat and fish, handmade crafts and clothing as well as an overwhelming selection of treats for your breakfast.

There’s a good range of authentic global food to choose for a quick meal or takeaway: handmade gyoza without MSG, fabulously thin gozleme (from Gozleme World) served with carrot dip and hummus, German bratwurst from the Kransky Brothers, raw desserts, fruit-filled frozen yoghurt as well as coffee, among many more.

When: Every Saturday, 7:00am – 12:00pm

Where: Burleigh Heads State School, Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Bundall Farmers Markets

Bundall Farmers Market sells a great range of fresh produce and gourmet delights. Stalls are brimming with vegetables and fruit straight from growers, fresh meat and fish, specialty foods, olives, cakes and slices, baked goods and bread, smallgoods, dips and biscuits, jams and pickles, and other gourmet delights as well as a few organic beauty products.

Grab a coffee from Kubil’s and linger over gozleme, bagels, sausages or gyoza for breakfast in the undercover area, dining to the sounds of live music.

When: Every Sunday, 6:00am – 11:30am

Address: Gold Coast Arts Centre, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets

Photo: Gold Coast Bulletin

Located along the iconic Gold Coast beach with a hundred colourful stalls, Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets is lined with quirky stalls, albeit fairly touristy. Although it has goods such as jewellery, home wares, fashion and beauty products, it carries more Gold Coast-oriented tourist wares. Nonetheless, you might get “caught up” in the moment and spend more than you were planning because the goodies are too good to resist.

When: Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, 4:00pm – 9:00pm

Where: The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Miami Marketta Street Food Markets

Photo: The Huffington Post Australia

The Miami Marketta Street Food night market is the ultimate foodie’s heaven on the Gold Coast. The place comes alive under twinkling fairy lights, with buzzing atmosphere and music. At the back of the market, you’ll find stalls of street food from around the globe from Mexican chimichanga, Sicilian meatball panini, Venezuelan mix plate to Japanese yakisoba stir-fried noodle dish. Marketta also has a designated dessert hall filled with traditional Gelato, French Crepes, macaroons, cakes and donuts for those with sweet tooth.

Tapas Club (Every Wednesday, 5:00pm – 9:00pm)

Street Food Market (Every Friday, 5:00pm -10:00pm; Every Saturday, 4:00pm -10:00pm)

Address: Rabbit + Cocoon, 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami

Carrara Markets

Opened every weekend, Carrara Markets is the largest permanent one in Queensland with more than 400 stalls over 10 acres land to explore. The markets offer abundance of fashion accessories, tasty food, pots and plants, books, toys, art, collectables and more. Whether you are after a last minute gift or you’re keen to stock up your pantry for the week, Carrara Markets have everything. Even the most random thing from classic toy collections, cross stitch patterns, to old-school music memorabilia, and more quirky treasures.

When: Every Saturday and Sunday, 7:00am – 4:00pm

Where: Corner Gooding Drive & Manchester Road, Carrara