There is a particular kind of January trip that needs more than a place to sleep. The Mitre National Futsal Championships are set for the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara from 12 to 16 January 2027. Five days of competition asks players, officials and families to plan a stay with more care than a usual long weekend.
At Contessa, Main Beach offers a different counterpoint to the court: a beach across the road, gardens on the river side of the building, and an apartment with the practical parts of the week already under one roof. It is a base for a family travelling with a player, a couple following the competition, or a small group that would rather stay in an apartment than split across hotel rooms.
First, hold to what is confirmed
Football Australia has announced Carrara and the dates. It has also confirmed the competition will be delivered by Football Queensland in partnership with Experience Gold Coast, and that it is part of a three-year Gold Coast hosting agreement.
The announced age and open divisions include U12 to U16 Boys, Youth Men and Open Men, as well as U13, U15 and U17 Girls, Youth Women, Open Women and Open AWD Mixed. Players are expected from eight Member Federations.
Everything else should be treated as forthcoming. Match times, the draw, registrations, access arrangements and any finals information belong with the organiser. Check the official Mitre National Futsal Championships site before booking flights or deciding the exact arrival and departure days.
Choose the apartment, then settle in
Contessa presents its holiday apartments individually, by apartment number and photographs. It is a straightforward way to book an actual apartment for the people travelling, rather than an anonymous room category. Every apartment has a private balcony, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and an in-apartment washing machine and dryer.
For this sort of trip, the laundry has a clear job. So does the kitchen, with its oven, stovetop, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher and dining table. Breakfast can happen before the day begins, uniforms can be washed between sessions, and a family can eat at the apartment when nobody wants to organise a table after an indoor day.
The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area is air-conditioned. Bedrooms have ceiling fans. Individual apartments have their own furnishings and outlooks, so check the apartment listing rather than assuming an ocean, river or garden view.
A Main Beach interval
Carrara is where the tournament happens. Main Beach is where the rest of the day can return to a simpler pace. The patrolled beach is across the road, and Tedder Avenue is a five-minute walk for a coffee or meal when the schedule allows. The G:link is about a fifteen-minute walk from Contessa, but tournament transport is best decided once the official draw and the team’s arrangements are known.
Within the building, there is a large indoor heated pool, an outdoor pool in the landscaped gardens, indoor and outdoor spas, a sauna, gym and full-sized tennis court. Racquets and balls are available for an additional charge. None of that is a substitute for rest before a match. It does leave a family with an option when one person is playing and another has time to fill.
Book the five days with the schedule in mind
The championships run Tuesday to Saturday, but the right dates depend on the eventual fixtures. Contessa check-in is from 2 pm to 5 pm and check-out is from 8 am to 10 am. Undercover basement parking is included, with no booking required. Full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival, rather than at the time of booking.
Use the Football Australia announcement as the current source for the event, then revisit it when the tournament details are released. January travel deserves that second check.
Browse Contessa apartments by number, or see the Main Beach location before planning a stay around the championships.