Southport is Australia’s Gold Coast coastal hub where people come to shop, party and surf. Beside its skyscraper skyline, you’ll find golden stretches of sand and green parks to relax in, as well as warm seas for swimming. And with consistent swells all year round, you can discover surfing bliss on its main beaches. Beyond the shores, there's plenty going on in the city’s energetic entertainment venues, from international arts and cultural events to buzzing nightlife spots.
A Southport hostel puts you within the city centre and a 10-minute walk from the beach. Expect to find hostels with male and female-only dorms, as well as private bedrooms. If you’re after social vibes, Southport backpackers hostels love to make sure you have a good time – get involved with free barbecue nights, bar crawls or just chill out with other travellers in the hostels’ on-site bars or swimming pool areas. As soon as you check in, you'll be able to connect to free Wi-Fi.
The city is divided by the Nerang River. On one side are the main shopping districts around Nerang Street and the Gold Coast Highway. Opposite, along a thin strip of land called Southport Spit, you’ll discover the city’s beach. To the southern end of the city, Surfers Paradise is a bustling suburb with beachside shops, bars and clubs. It also plays host to free events all year round including firework displays, live music and the Sand Safari Arts Festival.
Southport is home to one of Queensland’s most popular diving sites, the Gold Coast Seaway. It's located at the mouth of the Nerang River and is teeming with all sorts of marine life from turtles to sea horses. In town, cook up a traditional Aussie barbecue lunch at Broadwater Parklands. At the southern end of the park is an Anzac Day memorial. Over at Surfers Paradise, check out the beachfront markets which take place every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday or climb the nearby SkyPoint Observation Deck for the best views across the city.
Gold Coast Airport is a 30-minute ride away by taxi from Southport and has both international and domestic flights. You can also hop on a bus to Broadbeach South station then a tram to Queen Street station, which takes about an hour. From Brisbane, the bus journey is also about an hour, and the train takes 1.5 hours. To get around the city and its surrounding areas, you can use the trams that connect up to Helensvale, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
Top rated hostels in Southport
