Your guide to the Pho3nix Gold Coast Triathlon

What events are at the Pho3nix Triathlon?

The Gold Coast Triathlon takes place over two days, with events for kids on Saturday (5 April), and the triathlons and fun runs on Sunday (6 April).

The kid’s triathlon (100-metre swim, 1.2-kilometre cycle, and 500-metre run), duathlon and aquathlon events are for ages 7-13, while the real littles can get in on the action too, with a 1-kilometre fun run for ages three and up. These kids events won’t cost you anything as they are supported by the Pho3nix Foundation, a not-for-profit aiming to make sport integral for the personal development of young people.

Sunday is all about an event that’s become a sentimental favourite of many triathletes—the Luke Harrop Memorial, featuring a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre cycle and 5-kilometre run.

This one also serves as the AusTriathlon National Sprint Distance Championships and a double points selection event for the 2025 World Triathlon Age Group Sprint Distance Triathlon (Non-Draft Legal) World Championships to be held in Wollongong.

For those looking for something a little less taxing, Sunday also offers the ‘Enticer’—a 300-metre swim, 6.7-kilometre cycle, and 2.5-kilomere run—and Gold Coast 10 and Gold Coast 5 fun runs.

The Triathlon Course

Participants will face an exciting and challenging course set against the backdrop of Southport’s picturesque coastline.

Both the Sprint and Enticer triathlons start from Mitchell Park with a swim in the sparkling Broadwater, followed by a shoreline-hugging bike ride before a run along the iconic esplanade to bring it all home back at Mitchell Park.

Where to watch the Pho3nix Triathlon

Don’t want to get sweaty? Cheer on from the sidelines instead. Station yourself at Mitchell Park and give these ‘tough as nails’ triathletes an extra dose of encouragement as they transition between legs and cross the finish line. 

What else is there to do on the Gold Coast?

Wander through prehistoric rainforest, strap yourself onto a rollercoaster, or marvel at modern art — from natural wonder to art and culture, it’s on the Gold Coast.

Famous for sun, surf and sand, the Gold Coast is a surfing mecca. Learn to surf with Get Wet Surf School— they offer a money back guarantee if they can’t add your name to the list of 45,000 people they’ve helped stand up.

For a change of pace, head into the Hinterland for a hike in an ancient rainforest. Walk the O’Reilly’s Rainforest Circuit, a scenic loop through the lush greenery and rockpools of Lamington National Park, or chase waterfalls in Springbrook National Park.

The Gold Coast might be home to Surfer’s Paradise but it’s also a kid’s paradise. Check out the theme parks (heaps of fun for big kids as well), and see Warner Bros Movie World’s Wicked, Wizard of Oz precinct, conquer the family coaster Jungle Rush at Dreamworld or relax at Wet’n’Wild’s H2oasis.

Need a bit of R&R after the triathlon? We’ve got you! Head to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Pac Fair as the locals call it) for a spot of retail therapy, HOTA (home of the arts) for an injection of culture, or lay your towel on the sand at one of the Gold Coast’s many beaches. 

Where to eat and drink on the Gold Coast

Who serves the best cup of coffee on the Gold Coast? Look, it’s not for us to say but Southport’s Vector has to be part of the conversation.

Get your caffeine fix there or at Gold Coast brunch favourites like Bam Bam Bakehouse with its extravagant creations like custard bomb brioches, or Cardamom Pod, where the vegan eats are as colourful as they are tasty.

If Japanese food is your thing, you’re in luck. Book a table at Misono, where the teppanyaki chefs will demonstrate their intricate knife work and interactive theatrics while cooking up a storm, or Yamagen, where you’ll find market-fresh sashimi in a playful izakaya-style setting.

Other unmissable eats include the chef-hatted Palette at HOTA (it’s like eating art — they once made an edible version of Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s soup can), SkyPoint Bistro + Bar, with 360-degree views 77 floors up.

A little further but well worth the trip is the award winning Rick Shores which right on the beach (literally—you’ll feel the salt spray). The only thing better than the view is the food. Enjoy their famous Moreton Bay bug rolls, lightly-fried lobster and sriracha hot sauce on brioche bun.

Where to stay on the Gold Coast

With the event being held in Southport, there are plenty of accommodation options nearby. From luxury hotels to more affordable options, the Gold Coast has a myriad of options for racegoers.

Earn yourself a precious few minutes lie in and stay near the race precinct at Meriton Suites Southport, with its outdoor podium pool and sun deck, or TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast, where you can pamper yourself in the day spa or sauna.

For a spot of indulgence, choose from luxe options at neighbouring Surfers Paradise, with  JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa with its indulgent, generously sized rooms, or The Langham, Gold Coast and Jewel Residences, with its beachside lagoon pool and state-of-the-art health club.

For more affordable options, check out accommodation options dotted along the Gold Coast Highway strip between Biggera Waters, Labrador and Southport. Pull up stumps at Broadwater Tourist Park, Bayview Waters Apartments or Crystal Bay on the Broadwater for budget-friendly stays right in the heart of the Gold Coast.