June/July 2009

Coffee Festival: Boutique roasters, growers and makers will display their wares alongside well-known coffee, chocolate, tea and spice houses, all with their roasts and blends available to sample. (June 14, Surfers Paradise)

Beaudesert Country and Horse Festival: The program includes a variety of horse and sheep-dog events as well as art, craft, heritage and children’s activities. (June 5 - 14)

Greek Festival: Enjoy the hospitality of the local Greek Community as they celebrate their culture with food, wine and dance. (Evandale Parklands)

Gold Coast Airport Marathon: Famous for its fast, flat and scenic course, this annual event also offers races for different levels of fitness including a half marathon, 10km run, 7.5km walk and junior dash events. (July 5)

Gold Coast Challenge: This flagship sporting event on the university calendar will see over 1000 university athletes from across Australia converge on the Gold Coast to compete in 11 team sports.

Old Skool and Torana Nationals: Get into gear for a series of races and rallies for cars, bikes, muscle cars and hot-rods all built before 1985.

December 2008

Cane Toad Pestival: This unique event celebrates this hideous creature with toad races, a reptile show and even a cane toad beauty pageant. (December 6 - 7)

February & March 2009

Golf: The ANZ Ladies Masters tees off at Royal Pines Resort, with some 20 countries represented.

Gold Coast Bridge Congress: The world’s best bridge players will be hoping to play their cards right as they battle it out for top spot. (February 28 -March 7, Gold Coast Convention Centre)

ARL Masters Rugby League: Veteran players will pull on their football boots once again in this tournament for players over 35. (March 11 - 14)

May 2009

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show: Last year’s event saw more than 390 boats on the water while there’ll also be hundreds of marine products on display in four large pavilions along the waterfront. (May 21 -24)

August & September 2009

Australian Formula One Superboat Series: This thrilling event forms the final part of a national seven round series and includes not only the elite Formula One racing but Mono Hulls, Thundercats and jet skis.

Tastes of Gold Coast: This annual festival celebrates the Gold Coast’s wine, food and arts industry with a host of events, tastings and classes held throughout the region.

Pura Milk Gold Coast Show: The largest community event in the Gold Coast boasts a wide-ranging program that includes rodeo, fireworks, vintage Cars, wood-chopping contests and much more.

ITU Gold Coast Triathlon World Championships: The competition will be fierce as elite triathletes from all over the world compete for this prestigious title. (September 9 - 13, Southport Broadwater Parklands)

Go Xtreme Festival: Held at the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds this festival for adrenaline junkies features freestyle motocross, skateboarding and other amazing kamikaze stunts of the “do not try this at home” variety.

October 2009

Street Torque and King of the Coast: This is a rev-head spectacular with over 500 cars on show as well as a stunt-bike demonstration, a bikini contest, driving competitions and more.

The Paradise Regatta: Thirty rowing crews (300 competitors) from around Australia and New Zealand will arrive in Surfers Paradise for an exciting programme of races.

Nikon Indy 300: Four days and four nights of fast-paced excitement will hit the streets of Surfers Paradise for the 19th Nikon Indy 300. (October 22 - 25)