Your Gold Coast fitness travel guide

Wherever you wake, there’s a beach nearby, so get to it – there’s 57km of well-trod coastline to break a sweat on. Whether running’s your rhythm of choice or you prefer a leisurely bike ride or morning stroll to the nearest coffee shop, you won’t be alone. Early-rising locals will be sharing the same gratitude as you each marvel at the endless horizon of the ocean. You’ll never grow tired of it.

There’s no doubt that the crystal-clear blues will lure you in. Head to Tallebudgera Creek and hop on a stand-up paddleboard for a drift, a sheltered inlet nestled between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach. It’s a popular spot for locals and dog owners, with plenty of lively walking trails surrounding the area.

For those more ‘extreme’ than ‘stream’, catch a wave at Burleigh Point or Rainbow Bay, while beginners can learn to surf and hone new moves at smaller breaks like Currumbin Alley. The sheltered inlet is a great spot to break in your skills.

Step back from the shimmer of the foreshore and the Gold Coast shines just as elegantly. In the Hinterland you’ll find lush foliage, graded hiking trails and an abundance of waterfalls to chase. Traverse 54km (or part of) the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk that weaves through World Heritage-listed beauty of the Springbrook and Lamington National Parks, or explore lesser-known plateaus like the Purlingbrook or Killen Falls trails.

For spin class on a whole new level, grab your MTB and head for Mount Tamborine or the Nerang National Park and State Forest. There’s plenty of cycling tracks that will push your fitness on the Gold Coast to the next level.

When the beaches are too fierce, head to train in a world-class sporting venue like the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, with six pools and a new 50-metre, 10-lane competition pool, diving facilities and a fitness centre.

Fuel your Gold Coast fitness adventure 

It’s simple. A nutritious diet is key to feeling fit. With health and wellbeing instilled in the locals’ way of life, the Gold Coast isn’t short of dining options for whole-body fitness. They say you can’t take a vacation from ‘you’ – so you best nourish yourself well!

Say good morning to the Barefoot Barista in Palm Beach. Their all-day menu has guilt-free delights like gluten-free ricotta hotcakes with fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, Canadian maple and coconut ice-cream, or a caprese sourdough with locally grown heirloom tomatoes & Mt Tamborine mozzarella.

Step into vegetarian heaven at Giri Kana Cafe in Southport where you can have your cake and eat it too – refined-sugar, gluten and dairy-free. Giri Kana, meaning ‘food from goodness’ opens its arms as a healthy haven, a pure vegetarian restaurant with lots of gluten-free and vegan options, as well as great organic coffee.

Similarly, OG ‘soul food’ café Blendlove in Southport has been whipping up clean eating treats and wholesome smoothies for a few years now, including brekkie and lunch menus that cater to all food intolerances.

Long-time favourites like Cardamom Pod in Broadbeach (and also Southport) and BSKT in Mermaid Beach still remain as delicious and nourishing as ever, while Greenhouse Canteen and Bar, now in Miami and Coolangatta, are serving up cruelty-free dishes on the daily.

Lift up the heart, feed the soul 

Enjoy the true purpose of a getaway – restoration.

Take mind over matter and start the day with a gentle stretch. There’s plenty of fitness spots on the Gold Coast that centre your mind and work with your body. Take it slow at Ritual Yoga and Pilates in Palm Beach, they offer everything from meditation and ‘release’ classes to Pilates and barre. If you’re fancy upping the pace a little – hit a barre Pilates class at Essence of Living in Mermaid Beach for an energising boost.

Take that vinyasa and flow all the way to the nearest day spa - the Bath House by Greenhouse in Burleigh Heads. While it may not have the structure of a Roman Bath, its homely vibe and Scandi-coastal décor will send you to a state of comfort that is so fondly attributed to the Gold Coast. Opt for a 90-minute soak session where you can dip into a magnesium plunge pool, detoxify in a red cedar sauna room or their custom-built wet steam room, lay back in a hydrotherapy spa or kick it on the sun lounges. Of course, massages are on the menu and you can tuck into treats (bubbles included) from their Botanical Bar.

If you need a little ‘how to’ in the kitchen, retreat to the Currumbin Valley. Tenteram Fine Foods offer Balinese-inspired cooking classes for small groups, utilising their own all-natural cooking pastes and sauces (gluten, dairy and preservative free, with low sugar and sodium levels). Owners Justin and Kay will give you the 411 on cooking a variety of dishes, and get your taste buds singing, in their gorgeous hinterland home and join you after class for a feast on the deck.

For the true Gold Coast fitness fanatics 

With an average of 300 days of sunshine each year, and temperatures sitting in the 20s, it’s no wonder the Gold Coast is home to a raft of world-class events. Whether you’re going for gold or cheering from the sidelines, add some additional fitness goals to your holiday plans by booking around some of the Gold Coast sporting icons like surf championships, marathons, triathlons and endurance events.