Surf’s up: Your guide to the Gold Coast Open

When: TBC February 2025

The epic right-break point off Burleigh Heads will host some of the world’s best surfers when the Gold Coast Open surfing competition returns this February.

Watch the pros do battle, say namaste at sunrise yoga, or kick back in the chill-out zone—the Gold Coast Open brings together surfing competition and coastal fun into a free, three-day festival. 

Come for the Open, stay for everything Burleigh offers, from fried bug rolls on the beachfront to ice-cold sundowners at a craft brewery or stand-up paddleboarding a postcard-perfect creek.

Not sure how to fit it all in? Don’t worry— we’ve put together a Gold Coast Open surfing event guide so you don’t wipe out, covering the essential details as well as where to eat, drink, play and stay.

Gold Coast Open Essentials

What is the Gold Coast Open?

Held within the world’s 8th World Surfing Reserve, the Gold Coast Open is a WSL QS1000 rated comp (that means it’s a qualifying event for the World Surf League’s top-tier Championship) for Men’s and Women’s QS Shortboard, and for the first time, Men’s and Women’s QS Longboard.

It takes place at Burleigh Beach, home to a right point break just off Burleigh Head (where volcanic columns meet rainforest and eucalypts) that’s known for its endless production line of barrels.

First held as the Burleigh Pro in 2010, the Open attracts Australian and international surfers, with previous winners including Taj Burrow, Owen Wright and the Gold Coast’s very own Julian Wilson.

This celebration of surfing and coastal culture includes activities and entertainment from morning yoga to skateboarding demos as well as outdoor live music, food trucks and a pop-up beach bar. 

How to get to the Gold Coast Open

Burleigh Heads is located towards the southern end of the Gold Coast’s 57-kilometres of coastline. If you’re coming from Brisbane, it’s a 1.5 hour drive down the highway.

Coming from interstate or overseas? Fly straight into the Gold Coast from most of Australia’s major cities, or from international including Auckland and Kuala Lumpur.

Plan your day at the Gold Coast Open

As a free event, there’s no need for a ticket—just bring yourself, sunscreen, and a hat. 

The events place in and around Burleigh Hill. This park on Burleigh Head is the perfect vantage point to watch the competition unfold, and is where the live music, yoga and other activities take place. Check out the Gold Coast Open website for more details.

Parking is available in surrounding streets (check signage for parking restrictions), or you can get a taxi, rideshare or bus. See the Translink website for bus timetables and information.

Burleigh Beach has accessible beach matting access to the sand, as well as Hippocampe all-terrain wheelchairs, waterwheels and all-terrain rollator beach walkers available for hire from the Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving club.

What else is there to do on the Gold Coast?

Stand-up on a surfboard, ride the southern hemisphere’s fastest hypercoaster, or hike scenic trails—from serene natural wonder to pulsing night life, you’ll find it on the Gold Coast. 

Connect with nature and lose yourself in Burleigh Head National Park’s scenic walking trails or embark on a spot of kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding in the stunning Tallebudgera Creek. 

For a change of pace, hit up one of the Gold Coast’s world-class theme parks. Chase thrills on the rides at Dreamworld, meet characters from the silver screen at Warner Bros. Movie World, make friends with marine life at Sea World or enjoy Wet’n’Wild’s water slides and endless summer.

Once the sun goes down, the Gold Coast nightlife heats up, from the upscale-dining and gaming of the The Star Gold Coast, to the bars and night clubs of Surfers Paradise. 

Want to hang ten? Follow the locals into the water at Kirra Beach or ride the point break at Snapper Rocks. See here for a guide to some of the best surfing spots on the Gold Coast.

If you’ve never surfed before, why not learn at one of the region’s many surf schools. We like Get Wet Surf School—they’ve helped 45,000 stand up. Even better, they offer a money back guarantee if you can’t stand up by the end of your first lesson.

Where to eat and drink on the Gold Coast

Perched right on the beach at Burleigh (literally—you’ll feel the fine mist of sea spray in the air) is the award-winning Rick Shores. Don’t be fooled by the super-chill coastal vibes—the pan-Asian food here is gold-standard, from fried bug rolls to spiced lamp rump and black bean glazed rib eye. 

Upstairs you’ll find the always-happening Burleigh Pavillion. Sit on the balcony overlooking the surf and sip on an Aperol Spritz as you enjoy prawns on ice or wood-fired pizza. 

Next door you’ll find the Topic, the ‘Pav’s’ (as the locals call it) more formal restaurant, with a menu featuring seared market fish and black angus rump served with a sea breeze.

Start each morning the best way possible, with cold-pressed coffee and an acai bowl amongst the indoor greenery at Social Brew, or at Palm Springs, where Southern Cali-vibes and Slim Aarons prints provide the backdrop to vegan breakfast burritos and chilli scrambled eggs.

Burleigh Heads is home to some of the Gold Coast’s best breweries, including Black Hops, named Australia’s Best Craft Brewery in 2022 (their award-winning Pale Ale tastes like a day at the beach), and Burleigh Brewing, where you’ll find seasonal brew alongside favourites like Twisted Palm Ale.

Where to stay on the Gold Coast

Don’t want to miss any of the Open? Check into Bujerum Apartments where you can see, hear and smell the surf from your modern, well-appointed two or three bedroom suite (or the penthouse if you want to splash-out) with Queenslander-style flourishings.

Also adjacent to Burleigh Beach are the Burleigh Esplanade Apartments. These affordable, spacious apartments are set across two octagonal shaped towers. You’ll have a whole floor to yourself as well as stunning panoramic ocean views.

Families will love Nobby Beach Holiday Village, with a 35-metre waterslide, twin-heated pools and massive playground to keep the kids busy. Stay in a studio, garden house, villa or penthouse, or camp at one of the powered sites. 

The Gold Coast is home to every type of accommodation you can think of, from boutique hotels like renovated 1960s-era Crystal Pacific at nearby Palm Beach through to super-luxe like the five-star Langham at Broadbeach. See here for even more accommodation options for every traveller.

More surfing action on the Gold Coast

From the Gold Coast Pro (April) to the to the Kirra Longboard Klassic (July) for amateurs, the Gold Coast is no stranger to hosting epic surfing events.

Looking for more surfing fun? Try these surf events and competitions around Queensland.