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Suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Photo: Extranet (from English Wikipedia), CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Southport is the central business district (CBD) or business centre of the Gold Coast. Though it is the CBD of the Gold Coast, it is not as bustling as other places in the Gold Coast (such as Surfers Paradise), and if you happen to be driving through it, there's a good chance you may not even realise you're in the CBD.
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Though it may seem strange to think that a holiday city contains a Chinatown, it's one of the newer Chinatowns in Australia, only established in the 1990s. Today, the two streets of Davenport and Young contain many Asian restaurants, and not just Chinese.
While a relatively hidden and unknown secret of the Gold Coast, this museum contains plenty of military equipment, including photos, former uniforms, galleries and memorabilia. Unfortunately, its limited opening hours mean that it is highly likely it will be closed when you happen to be at Southport (or the Gold Coast), but if you do happen to be there when it's open, it is well worth checking it out.
Gold Coast's Aqua park over the waters of the Nerang River and Coral Sea. However, as it is located near the CBD, it is not particularly large, but nevertheless worth checking out if you're staying in GC for a long time.
A small Japanese restaurant in a cosy setting. Unfortunately, Maruya is limited albeit the name (but do note that Maruya is Filipino, not Japanese).
A modern Australianised Thai restaurant and cafe.
An iconic, heritage-listed Art Deco public house originally opened in 1908 and rebuilt in 1938. While it historically accommodated overnight guests, it now operates purely as a local landmark pub, family-friendly bistro, and lively sports bar featuring multiple screens, pool tables, and TAB facilities.
A modern 3.5-star boutique hotel located in the heart of the Southport CBD. Rooms feature a clean, contemporary layout equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and mini-refrigerators. Facilities include a business center, free Wi-Fi, and an on-site cafe serving daily breakfast. Note: There is absolutely no on-site parking available at the property, meaning guests traveling with vehicles will need to secure off-site public parking nearby.
A large shopping mall with over 200 specialty shops and plenty of places to eat in its food court. Arguably, the variety of eateries in this one shopping centre may outrun the number you'll encounter in the streets.
By light rail
As part of the G:link tram or light rail, there are many light rail stops in Southport. They include:
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Gold Coast · International · OOL
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