# Few apartments, each one generous. Spacious Main Beach apartments with wraparound balconies, resort facilities, and the Gold Coast at your door. Step out to Tedder Avenue, wander to the beach, or stay in for ocean breezes and long balcony evenings. [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) ## A quieter Gold Coast stay with space to live. No two apartments, quite the same. [Explore – All apartments](/accommodation/) - 178 m² – Every apartment, or larger - 2–3 – Bedrooms, two bathrooms - Light – Wraparound balconies - 10/124 – Released for holiday stays ## Two pools. A sauna. Tennis court. Gym. Two acres of garden hold the outdoor pool. The heated indoor pool, sauna and gym sit a short walk from the lobby. The marina opens onto the river. - Outdoor pool - Indoor heated pool - Outdoor spa - Indoor spa - Sauna - Gym - Tennis court - Private marina Pools, spa, sauna and tennis, all part of the stay. [Explore – All facilities](/stay/facilities/) ## Main Beach, quietly so. ## The quiet end of the Gold Coast. Main Beach is the suburb locals move to when they want the coast without the crowds. Leafy, residential, walkable. Tedder Avenue is its heart, a single short strip of independent restaurants, cafés, a bakery and wine bars. Surfers Paradise is close enough for a night out. Far enough not to hear it. [Explore – The location](/experience/location/) Tedder Avenue at one end of the street. Surf and sand at the other. Read the longer pieces, or just the headlines. [The journal](/experience/blog/) ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ## From our guests > Contessa has been the best place we have stayed at on the Gold Coast. The apartment was meticulous and modern, as was the rest of the building. A truly sophisticated building, with grounds and facilities to match. A truly top-notch building, and hopefully we can buy an apartment there soon. > > – Stephanee > We have stayed at a variety of properties at Main Beach over the last 15 years. Contessa is the only place to which we have returned to stay again and again. The accommodation has always been clean, well-furnished, and well cared for by friendly staff. The location could not be better, next to a quiet river but a quick stroll to the beach or a variety of restaurants on Tedder Avenue. > > – Alison D. > One of the most enjoyable weeks we have experienced on the Gold Coast. The manager, residents in the apartments, facilities and location are the best we have experienced on the Gold Coast. The presentation of the whole apartment building, common areas, gardens, and other facilities are a credit to management. > > – James > Lovely apartment building in a great location close to the beach and Tedder Avenue restaurants. Kind and friendly staff, friendly people who live in the building. The pools and spas are great, as are the lawns and gardens. Access to the canal at the back was a bonus. > > – Ingrid > This is our fourth time holidaying at Contessa. Each time seems to get better and better. The location is fantastic, just a short walk to so many wonderful eateries, the light rail and buses. The complex has a huge outdoor pool and a large spa and magnificent gardens, a great spot for the kids to play, as well as a tennis court. The beach is only a stroll away. > > – Gina A. > A truly great holiday stay. Very spacious, clean and comfortable apartment. The location of Contessa is excellent. Accessible to the beach, highway and Tedder Avenue, but a very quiet and secluded location. The spa, pool and sauna were excellent. We had the perfect stay. > > – Stephen ## The best apartments, before anyone else. Members hear about new release dates, member-only rates and the occasional last-minute opening, a quiet note two or three times a year. --- # Two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 - 178 m² – Every apartment, or larger - 2–3 – Bedrooms, two bathrooms - Light – Wraparound balconies - 10/124 – Released for holiday stays ## From our guests > We have stayed at Contessa over the last 10 years or more. It's a great location, equidistant from the beach and Tedder Avenue. The best thing about the property is the outdoor pool area and tennis courts. The gardens are old-style grand. There is also an indoor pool and gymnasium. The apartments are large and breezy. We'd always make Contessa our first choice for Main Beach accommodation. > > – Lu > We had a three-bedroom apartment which had ample room. Beautiful wraparound verandah with view of river, pool and beach. Very quiet apartment, great for families, close to everything but tucked away from the hustle and bustle. Staff were friendly. Pool areas always clean and well maintained. > > – Sandra C. > What a beautiful property. Spacious and clean, well fitted, and the best garden and pool area on the coast. Walking distance to Tedder Avenue and the tram into Surfers if you need it for shopping. We have stayed here many times. We have tried others but we really can't go past this place. > > – Rod > This is our second holiday at Contessa and it won't be our last. The location is perfect for both families and couples, with the beach just a few short steps away and fabulous dining just around the corner. The apartments are immaculate and spacious, so you can have visitors and there is room for all. > > – Anne > This place is in an ideal area of Main Beach away from busy Surfers Paradise. We are a family of six and we stayed in a three-bedroom executive apartment, the most spacious I have ever booked. Contessa has a great indoor pool and spa, and outdoor pool and spa as well. If you are into tennis, a court is also on site. I would truly recommend Contessa Apartments for families as well as couples. > > – Borgy > We loved our stay at Contessa. The wonderful sun-soaked north-facing balconies and the sea breezes, a few minutes walk to the beaches and restaurants at Tedder Avenue, make Contessa our favourite place to stay. We enjoyed the tennis court. The apartment was beautiful, clean and spacious for the three of us. > > – Bev ## The best apartments, before anyone else. Members hear about new release dates, member-only rates and the occasional last-minute opening, a quiet note two or three times a year. --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 6 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 62 - 2 bed - 2 bath - 178 m² - Sleeps 4 A bright, well-proportioned sixth-floor two-bedroom, with a wraparound balcony that holds the morning light. Sixth-floor 2-bedroom. Two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining space, and a wraparound balcony that holds the morning light. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 16 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 164 - 2 bed - 2 bath - 178 m² - Sleeps 4 Sixteen floors up, a two-bedroom with generous open-plan living and a wraparound balcony. Mid-tower 2-bedroom with a wraparound balcony that wraps two sides, so you can follow the light through the day. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan kitchen and living. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 19 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 191 - 3 bed - 2 bath - 203 m² - Sleeps 6 A larger 3-bedroom on the nineteenth floor. Sleeps six in three separate bedrooms, with a wide wraparound balcony. Three-bedroom on level 19. 203 square metres, three full bedrooms, and a wraparound balcony wide enough for a six-seat dining setting. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 19 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 193 - 2 bed - 2 bath - 178 m² - Sleeps 4 A nineteenth-floor 2-bedroom with a wraparound balcony off the lounge and the master bedroom. A two-bedroom on the nineteenth floor. The wraparound balcony opens off both the lounge and the master bedroom, the right spot for morning coffee. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 20 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 201 - 2 bed - 2 bath - 178 m² - Sleeps 4 Twenty floors up, generous, bright and well-proportioned, with a wide wraparound balcony. Top-floor 2-bedroom with a wraparound balcony that wraps two sides, holding the light from sunrise into the evening. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 211](/accommodation/apartment-211/) – Level 21 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [All apartments](/accommodation/) Level 21 Kitchen: Fully equipped, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, full-size fridge Laundry: Washer and dryer in-apartment Balcony: Wraparound, private, with outdoor furniture Air conditioning: Open-plan living area Bathrooms: Bath and shower in each, free toiletries Parking: Free undercover basement # Apartment 211 - 2 bed - 2 bath - 178 m² - Sleeps 4 A twenty-first floor 2-bedroom, bright and well-proportioned, with a wraparound balcony. Twenty-first floor 2-bedroom. Two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and living space, and a wraparound balcony that wraps two sides of the apartment. ## In the apartment - Fully equipped kitchen · oven, dishwasher - Washer and dryer in-apartment - Wraparound private balcony - Air conditioning · open-plan living - WiFi included - Free undercover basement parking - Two bathrooms · bath and shower in each - Linens and towels provided ## Book Direct Best rate – guaranteed [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) Best rate when you book direct ## Other apartments - [Apartment 62](/accommodation/apartment-62/) – Level 6 - [Apartment 164](/accommodation/apartment-164/) – Level 16 - [Apartment 191](/accommodation/apartment-191/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 193](/accommodation/apartment-193/) – Level 19 - [Apartment 201](/accommodation/apartment-201/) – Level 20 ## From our guests > Accommodation spacious with everything needed. Panoramic view from the lounge and each bedroom. Lie in bed and watch the whales playing in the ocean. Indoor pool and outdoor pool and tennis court for leisure activities. One block to Main Beach. Walk to Surfers Paradise in 20 minutes. Would definitely stay again. > > – Maryanne S. > The apartment was large, clean and well furnished. It had three balconies all with sea views, and our bed was very comfortable. It had everything that we needed for a holiday, including a full and well-appointed kitchen, and a good washing machine and dryer. Contessa has an outdoor pool and spa set in extensive grounds, and an indoor pool. About a two-minute walk to the patrolled beach, and four minutes to Tedder Avenue. > > – Sawley > My wife and I stayed here for four nights en route to a business conference. Great two-bedroom apartment yet again. Spacious, modern apartment. Every amenity. Great views. Next to Tedder Avenue restaurant strip. Managers very friendly and helpful. We stay here on average three times a year and would stay nowhere else. You feel like you are living in your own world. > > – Eric B. > The view from our 16th-floor apartment was wonderful. Three bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, separate toilet, large kitchen and dining area, large lounge room, small laundry. Everything you need for a great week away. Great views from the balcony. We watched sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, as well as moonrise. Indoor pool and spa, sauna and gym. Tennis court available too. > > – Allison > We had a wonderful stay in a three-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor. The view was unbeatable, and as a family of five it was great to spread out. Most amenities were available, and the manager was friendly and happy to give us directions to the nearest shopping. Beds were comfortable, and having the beach just across the road was great. > > – Jodi > The best location and value for money on the Gold Coast, and I have stayed at lots of places in the area. We stay regularly, great for kids and as a base to explore the Northern Gold Coast. Great pools, big apartments, awesome indoor and outdoor pools, and you even have direct access to the Broadwater and can moor your boat. > > – Ben --- [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) # A residence, not a hotel. Two acres of garden, a private marina, two pools, a sauna, a tennis court. Everything is shared, nothing is rationed, and Tedder Avenue is five minutes on foot when you want to step out. ## Wake to the river, walk to the sand. Contessa is a working residence first and a hospitality address second. The lobby is quiet, the gardens are private, and the apartments live like apartments, not hotel rooms. Settle in for a week and the rhythm of the building becomes the rhythm of your stay. [Browse – The apartments](/accommodation/) ## Pools, spa and tennis, all yours. From the marina to the sauna, every door is yours. [Explore – All facilities](/stay/facilities/) - Outdoor pool – Set in two acres of garden - Indoor heated pool – Year-round, gentle morning swims - Outdoor spa – Heated, in the gardens - Indoor spa – Heated, by the indoor pool - Sauna – Off the indoor pool deck - Gym – On site, no booking required - Tennis court – Full size, racquets at reception - Private marina – Direct onto the river - Undercover parking – Free, no booking required ## On-site management, on hand. Baggage storage at reception before check-in and after check-out, deliveries accepted while you are out, and a real person on the desk for every question. Most guests are repeat visitors; the team know the suburb properly and the recommendations land. [Reach – Reception](/contact/) ## From our guests > The apartments were very spacious with spectacular views. Walking distance to the beach, surf club and Tedder Avenue cafés. The building and gardens were very well maintained. > > – Jean > Location: excellent. Five minutes walk to Tedder Avenue. Many good cafés and restaurants nearby. Environment: silent yet safe, clean, spacious and cosy. Facility: quite enough for general staying, cooking stuff, washing machine, clothes line, extra blanket, all expected necessities are ready. An awesome apartment for vacation. > > – Brenda > Brilliant location with large rooms in a classy apartment block. Great location, close to the beach, close to Tedder Avenue shops, the Gold Coast tram and the park. Just perfect. The room size is great and the 22nd-floor view of the coast was magical. > > – Chris > Great location (north of the hustle and bustle that is Surfers), great facilities (indoor and outdoor pools) and great apartments (well-appointed, spacious, neat and clean). We would definitely stay here again. > > – Sarah L. > A fabulous holiday escape. Contessa and its facilities are a lovely destination, surrounded by the best of the Gold Coast. Michelle and William were wonderful hosts. > > – Stacey > Anyone thinking of staying on the Gold Coast would be well advised to keep Contessa apartments in Main Beach in mind. The staff were fantastic, nothing was too much for them. Our room had great views, it was well laid out, and the kitchen was a joy to be in. The kids loved the pool and tennis courts. Walking distance to Tedder Avenue. > > – Junnay ## Common questions. ### What are the check-in and check-out times? Check-in is between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Check-out is between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. If you expect to arrive outside these hours, let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate. ### Do you take a deposit at booking? No. We take full payment 48 hours before your arrival, not at booking. A AUD $200 damage deposit is taken on arrival and refunded within 14 days, after the apartment inspection. ### Is parking included? Yes. Free undercover basement parking is available for every apartment. No booking required. [All questions](/stay/faqs/) ## Space to settle, and stay a while. ## River at the back, beach across the road. Ten apartments out of one hundred and twenty-four, presented individually, photographed individually, booked individually. The rest of the building is private residence, and the rhythm of the place reflects that. Everything is shared, nothing is rationed: two acres of garden, two pools, a sauna, a gym, a tennis court, a private marina. Reception is on site, and Tedder Avenue is five minutes on foot. [Browse – The apartments](/accommodation/) Two acres of garden, a private marina, two pools, a sauna, a tennis court. --- [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) # Two pools. A marina. A tennis court. Eight shared facilities, included throughout your stay. Two acres of garden hold the outdoor pool. The heated indoor pool, sauna and gym sit a short walk from the lobby. The marina opens onto the river. - Outdoor pool · two acres of garden - Heated indoor pool - Outdoor spa - Indoor spa - Sauna - Gym - Full-size tennis court - Private marina on the river - Free undercover basement parking - Free Wi-Fi - Fully equipped kitchen - In-apartment laundry - Wraparound private balcony - Two bathrooms in every apartment - Lift access to all floors - On-site reception ## Two pools, two spas, sauna, sunlight. A large outdoor pool sits in two acres of garden, open year-round. The heated indoor pool, indoor spa and sauna are downstairs in the wellness suite, useful when the wind is up. Both pools are quiet most mornings. ### Pool \& Wellness - Outdoor pool, set in two acres of garden - Heated indoor pool, indoor spa - Outdoor spa - Sauna ## A private marina, on the river. A genuine point of difference. The marina opens directly onto the river at the back of the gardens, which makes Contessa a sensible base for guests arriving by boat or wanting to explore the inland waterways. The deck above the river is the quietest spot in the building. ### River \& Marina - Private marina on the river - Direct river access - Deck above the water - Quiet, residential setting ## Tennis court, gym, on-site management. A full-size on-site tennis court (rackets and balls available at reception for a small charge), a gym, and on-site management. Free undercover basement parking, free Wi-Fi, baggage storage at reception. ### Recreation \& Reception - Full-size tennis court - On-site gym - On-site management - Free undercover parking --- [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) # The answers we give most often. Pulled from a decade of guest correspondence. If your question is not here, reception will gladly answer it directly. ## Common questions. ### What are the check-in and check-out times? Check-in is between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Check-out is between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. If you expect to arrive outside these hours, let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate. ### Do you take a deposit at booking? No. We take full payment 48 hours before your arrival, not at booking. A AUD $200 damage deposit is taken on arrival and refunded within 14 days, after the apartment inspection. ### Is parking included? Yes. Free undercover basement parking is available for every apartment. No booking required. ### Are the apartments air-conditioned? The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area is air-conditioned. Bedrooms are cooled by ceiling fans rather than air conditioning. Most guests find this comfortable year-round, particularly given the sea breeze through the wraparound balcony. ### Are the pools heated? The indoor pool is heated year-round. The large outdoor pool, set in two acres of garden, is unheated and best between October and April. ### Is Wi-Fi included? Yes. Wi-Fi is included in the tariff at no extra charge. ### How big are the apartments? Every apartment at Contessa is 178 m² or larger, with a wraparound private balcony, two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and a full in-apartment laundry. ### How many apartments do you have? Contessa is a residence of 124 apartments, of which only ten are released for holiday stays. The website launches with six of those ten, presented individually by apartment number with their own photo sets. ### Can I request a specific apartment, floor or view? Yes. Each apartment is bookable individually. The apartment number, level and outlook are confirmed at booking, so the residence shown on the page is the residence you will stay in. ### Are extra beds and cots available? Cots are available at AUD $10 per night, with a 3-night minimum. Rollaway beds are AUD $35 per night. Both should be requested at booking. ### Can the three-bedroom apartment really sleep six? Yes. The three-bedroom layout has two queen or king-style beds and two singles, sleeping six adults across three separate bedrooms. The two-bedroom layouts sleep four guests, with a maximum of five. ### Is there a restaurant or cafe on site? No. Contessa is a residential apartment hotel, so each apartment has its own fully equipped kitchen. The Tedder Avenue precinct is five minutes on foot, with a short, walkable strip of independent restaurants, cafés, a bakery and wine bars. ### Is there daily housekeeping? No. There is no daily housekeeping or room service in the hotel sense. Linen and towels are provided fresh on arrival and a mid-stay service can be arranged at additional cost. ### Are pets allowed? No. Pets are not permitted at Contessa. ### Is smoking permitted? No. Contessa is smoke-free throughout, including on private balconies and in all common areas. ### Do you accept Schoolies bookings? No. Contessa does not host Schoolies. Quiet hours apply between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. ### Do you accept American Express? Yes. American Express attracts a 2.25% surcharge. ### How far is the beach? About 50 metres. Main Beach is patrolled and sits across the road, around a one-minute walk from the front door. ### How far is Tedder Avenue? About five minutes on foot. Tedder Avenue is the heart of Main Beach, with cafés, restaurants, a bakery, boutiques and wine bars. ### How far is Surfers Paradise? About five minutes by car, or fifteen minutes on the G:Link light rail from Florida Gardens. Far enough not to hear it; close enough for an evening out when you want it. ### Do you have a marina? Yes. The private marina opens directly onto the river at the back of the gardens. Useful if you arrive by boat or want to explore the inland waterways. ### Is there a tennis court? Yes. A full-size on-site tennis court is available to guests. Rackets and balls can be hired at reception for a small charge. ### Is there baggage storage before check-in or after check-out? Yes. Reception holds bags both before check-in and after check-out at no extra charge. ### Is the building accessible by lift? Yes. Lift access is available to all upper floors. Two-bedroom apartments sit between levels 8 and 28. ## Reception is happy to help. Call us, send an email, or book direct and we'll be in touch. - [07 5591 6815](tel:+61755916815) - [Email us](mailto:info@contessa.com.au) --- # A decade of stays, in their own words. Every review below was left by a real guest. We don't edit, we don't curate, and we don't pay for placements. These are the words people choose when they get home. > We love Contessa. Stayed here a number of times, as well as in many other holiday apartments on Main Beach, and we keep coming back. Contessa is one of the best complexes, an exceptionally well-maintained building with a great swimming pool facing the sun in the afternoon, which is always naturally warm. Grounds and facilities are immaculate. Walking distance to Tedder Avenue and the beach. The friendliest and most helpful managers we've come across in our extensive travels. > > – Minna G. > I booked the executive plus apartment and it was a great size and had a homely feel. It had a modern style and a large modern kitchen. Ducted air con, which is always a plus. I was lucky enough to get an apartment on the 25th floor, and the views out over the ocean and the broadwater from the entire apartment were spectacular. A large outdoor pool and spa, and a large indoor pool and spa. The foyer and facilities were always clean and well maintained. The lawn surrounding the outdoor pool was immaculate. Of all the apartments I have stayed in over the past few weeks, this has exceeded the others. > > – Sandy H. > What a wonderful time our family had at Contessa. Great walking distance to Tedder Avenue (and some great eateries), Main Beach itself, and a leisurely stroll up to Sea World (if you are up for it). The grounds were immaculate, the pools delightful to splash around in, and the warmth of the greetings from management was outstanding. The rooms had everything we needed, and then some. Heaps of room in the apartment for us all too. > > – Belinda > We stayed at Contessa under very sad circumstances. My young sister was terminally ill and we did not know just how long our stay would be, which meant our booking was not straightforward. We were accommodated in every way by the office staff. They were polite, efficient and understanding. The apartment was a lovely place to come "home" to, very clean, well furnished and maintained. The public areas, BBQ, pools and entry showed the eye for detail of the management and remained sparkling at all times. Hopefully we will be able to return in the future to enjoy a stay under better circumstances. > > – Christine > This was our third time staying at Contessa in an executive plus apartment. Each time was simply awesome. The facilities, locality and management were outstanding. You literally just need your clothing as the apartments are so well equipped and maintained. The ease of booking and planning ahead is expertly managed by the on-site managers. > > – Cathryn > We spent nine nights at Contessa in Main Beach and loved every moment. The location is excellent, a flat walk to all the restaurants and cafés. Close to the theme parks and other holiday activities. The outdoor pool is huge, plenty of room for all, and the outside spa is magic. The indoor pool and spa are equally great. It was clean and so comfortable, very homely with some nice touches. The view from both bedrooms and the dining and family area was unbelievable. The sunrises and sunsets were awe-inspiring. Parking is plentiful, and packing and unpacking was easy due to the trolleys left in the garage. > > – Gina A. > Our recent stay was our fourth visit to Contessa. We love the executive plus apartments, especially the 27th floor. The all-day sun on the balcony is unbeatable on the Gold Coast and the views are stunning. Managers Jan and David are welcoming, and they are always most obliging and helpful. I have been travelling to the Gold Coast for 30 years and Contessa apartments are my first choice. > > – Jane > A large group of my friends and I (around 10 of us) booked two apartments in the December summer break. We were very pleasantly surprised when we walked through the apartment doors for the first time. They were extremely clean and very homely, and reasonably fancy. The lounge was very spacious and the bathrooms were amazing. The outdoor facilities such as the tennis courts and swimming pools were equally amazing, and the service was just fab. Heaps of help with pointing out different places to go and explore. > > – Chelsea W. > We stayed at this property for five days in early November, and shared a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with another couple. The apartment is in a perfect location in that it is near all the action in Surfers, but just far enough away (10-minute walk) so as to not be too loud and noisy. The Tedder Avenue shops and restaurants are only a few blocks away, and the beach just one block. The apartment we had was on the 27th floor, so we had a fabulous view of not only the ocean, but the inner waterways as well. The balcony was huge, and a great place to eat your breakfast. > > – Paul > I stayed at Contessa for two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. The apartment itself was beautiful and very comfortable. Excellent location and a lovely spacious apartment with good facilities. > > – Karen > The place was very nice and the staff were very welcoming. The apartment where we stayed was a beautiful apartment, in the perfect location and close to everything, the shops, transport, and the beach was two minutes away. The swimming pool was beautiful. A great place to stay with family. The rooms were very clean. I would stay there again. > > – Bettina > The two-bedroom apartment was very spacious with amazing views. The hotel managers were extremely kind and generous. Close to shops and Sea World. Great location, with underground parking available which was handy. Couldn't be happier with this apartment. > > – Colleen > Our apartment was on the 19th floor with a direct view of the Pacific Ocean. Superbly located, with a parking space in the underground garage. Just a few minutes to the tram that leads directly to Surfers Paradise. Main Beach is much quieter. Well-equipped kitchen. > > – Simon > Quick, friendly check-in. Stayed with our two teenage children. Our room was exceptionally clean. Apartment fitted with quality appliances. Comfortable beds. Beautiful quality linen. Great WiFi. Parking included. Would definitely stay again. > > – Nicole P. > These apartments offer spacious rooms with two bathrooms. The outdoor pool is great, but the indoor heated pool is superb, always warm, even in winter. The view from the apartment is sensational, and passing whales can be viewed in the winter months. A very short walk to the beach, restaurants, coffee shops and surf club. The light rail stop is only about a 400-metre walk. The staff are very friendly and always willing to help. > > – Amanda > Wonderful 360-degree views of the beach, the river and the mountains, all in a relaxing location. Contessa Apartments are a must-stay destination at Main Beach on the Gold Coast. I highly recommend it. > > – Stephen > Excellent apartment in a great location. Ladies at reception were very lovely. The car park underneath was great and had good-sized spots. The apartment was spacious and very clean. Our balcony had a bit of every view. Lovely park right next door. > > – Belinda > Excellent place to stay and would love to return. Great location and facilities. Clean. Large apartment with good-sized rooms. Soundproof between rooms. > > – Raelene > Well-maintained, beautifully renovated apartments, beach theme, big TVs in each room. Very big fridge. Had an enjoyable stay as a family. > > – Khantulga > Perfect location to the beach and shops and walking track. Excellent in-house pool, spa and gym. Check-in was easy with a great staff member with a lovely manner and informative. > > – Jennifer > I want to thank all the Contessa staff and management. The apartment was so well appointed. I loved everything. There is no fault I could give. We are a FIFO group of friends that wanted to spend our time on the Gold Coast to experience what it has to offer. Contessa Apartments was close to everything. > > – Nikkita > Absolutely beautiful. Michelle the manager was so amazing, couldn't believe how accommodating she was. Would recommend her and the apartments to everyone. > > – Stacey > Had a wonderful holiday. It was nice to have some warmer weather. The staff were very helpful and it was a great location, as it was around the corner from my eldest sister who lives in Main Beach. > > – Lee > The hosts couldn't be more accommodating. It was just like staying with family. > > – Joy > Perfect for the family, great-size rooms, great pool and close proximity to the beach. Great value and comfortable. > > – Vicki > Everything was wonderful, the view was spectacular and the facilities of the apartment were so comfortable. We highly recommend this property. > > – Rushaniia > Family-friendly, good area, places to eat, coffee shops, close to the tram line. Quiet, beautiful apartment, amazing facilities. > > – Louise > What a beautiful place. The facilities were fantastic and it had everything our family needed and enjoyed. The location was superb. > > – James > We loved our stay. The indoor heated pool and spa was a family favourite, and the apartment was very nice and comfortable. > > – Rebecca > Very well maintained property, nice neighbourhood, posh locality, responsive owner, great ambience. > > – Sushil > Absolutely beautiful. The manager was so amazing, couldn't believe how accommodating she was. Would recommend her and the apartments to everyone. > > – Carriage > We always enjoy staying at Contessa. The location is convenient, with transport and shopping close. The staff are polite and helpful. The apartments are clean, spacious and contain everything you could need. > > – Karb > Our room was spacious and well furnished to make our stay comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable. We were able to prepare food in the apartment when we needed to, and similarly were close to Tedder Avenue if we wanted to pop out. The indoor pool and tennis court were frequently used and created a valued bit of exercise. We enjoyed great views of the ocean. The reception staff were very polite and helpful. > > – Nik > We were surprised when we arrived how good our apartment was. Excellent value, and the facilities were great. Being in Main Beach, it is close for theme parks, and there are plenty of shops, banks and an ATM within walking distance. Only one block from the beach, and the views were fantastic. > > – Deb > We have used Contessa Apartments twice now, and each time we have had a great two-bedroom apartment at Main Beach on the 21st floor. The view is amazing, and a small walk takes you onto the beach to watch whales and have a dip. Four of us stayed in the apartment, with two toilets and two shower-bath facilities, you cannot go wrong. Each apartment has its own laundry with washer, dryer and ironing equipment. Access is secure, as is the undercover parking. > > – Alex B. > We stayed here for a week and used the apartment as a base from where we explored the nearby attractions. Close to the highways in all directions, as well as the nightlife of Surfers Paradise. Very central and very comfortable, with great views. The pool, spa and indoor heated pool were a bonus. The apartment has full laundry facilities as well. > > – Deon V. > My family and I spent five days here. We will be visiting again. It was lovely. I highly recommend these apartments, and they are within walking distance to some lovely restaurants. My children enjoyed both the outdoor and indoor pool. > > – Angie G. > We loved everything about this place. It was exactly like in the photo. Very large four-bedroom apartment, comfortable, with great views from the huge glass-window lounge, kitchen and bedrooms. The amenities were great and we felt at home. The surrounds are very classy and we will definitely be back. > > – Jacky > We have been taking our family to Contessa for the past three years and have always been very satisfied with the location, the overall standard of the accommodation, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. > > – Desiree > Great location, great grounds to relax or play. The establishment was close to transport. Shops were within walking distance. The friendly staff were amazing. Beautiful outdoor and indoor pools. View from the apartment was amazing. > > – Debbie D. > This was our first holiday to Queensland. We were very happy with Contessa. The apartment was clean, neat and very comfortable. There was lots of room and the view was lovely, as we overlooked the pool and garden and could see the beach. Everything was so close to us, so it made it easy to go out for the day or the evening. The staff were helpful and friendly. > > – D. Phillips > The apartments have larger, much more spacious rooms, good old quality fittings and marble tiling. The beautiful grounds and pool area are such a feature of the place and provide guests with a really perfect environment to holiday in. Rarely do you find such a setting on the Gold Coast. > > – Rod A. > It was a great size with lovely views. The pool was awesome and it is a short, easy walk to the beach. There is a small village shopping type area a few minutes walk away too. We'd stay again. > > – Trevor S. > A really comfortable apartment in close proximity to the beach and the cafés of Tedder Avenue. Away from the hustle and bustle of Broadbeach, but still within 10 to 15 minutes drive to that, and Pacific Fair. Strongly recommend for an easy holiday for the family, or those just wanting a peaceful few days. > > – A. C. > After holidaying faithfully on the North Coast for the past 20 years, our family hesitantly ventured south to Contessa. We stayed for three nights and four days, and were totally impressed with the apartment, facilities and location. Highlights for us were the spacious and comfy lounge room. Our three-bed apartment offered a queen bed and two single beds in the other two rooms, which adds to a comfortable holiday for our children. Easy walking distance to the beach and lovely cafés and restaurants. > > – Evie > The apartment was spacious and comfortable for six adults. We had three bedrooms, two bathrooms. The living area had a view out to the sea. It is a short walk to the beach and also to local shops and cafés with a range of food options. Plus the kitchen is well equipped to cook at the apartment also. > > – Pjej > This is the second year we chose to stay at Contessa for the V8s, and we have already booked for next year. We stayed for eight nights and loved every minute. The apartment, facilities and staff are first-rate. Nothing was too much trouble. A huge thank you to Jan for everything. > > – Jack > This was our second stay at Contessa apartments to celebrate and experience the GC600 motorsport event, and I cannot fault the management and facilities of Contessa. The apartments were a calm and reassuring presence amongst the hectic pace and massive crowds of the event. Views of the track were exceptional, and the signage of all guest expectations was clear and concise. > > – K. > We were recommended by a dear friend of ours whose mum lives in the complex. The room received was better than the picture online. My in-laws used all the facilities, and were very happy. Great location if you have a car, three to five minute drive from Surfers Paradise main city centre. Apartment was very cosy and warm. We will be back for sure. We were in a three-bedroom on level 19. > > – T. Weizman > Excellent location in Main Beach on the Gold Coast, gives you good access to all things on the Gold Coast. Awesome location for the GC600 V8 Supercar race. Very good facilities, excellent property managers. Great experience. We have been going here at least once a year for the past four years. > > – Mick > Return stay, we repeat this stay as often as we can. It's the perfect all-rounder, close to the beach, shops and restaurants on Tedder Avenue. We prefer summer stays, but when we can only get away in winter the heated pool is perfect for the kids, and I have all ages covered. > > – Mon > Amazing view of Surfers Paradise and the beach from the 12th floor. Great location, walk to the beach. Kids had a great time in the pool and playing tennis. Good kitchen facilities. Wish we could afford to stay for longer. > > – Angela > We loved our stay at Contessa. The location was fabulous. So easy to get to all the theme parks and a beautiful quiet area. The accommodation we stayed in was a three-bedroom and it was huge. The views were just lovely and you could see so far because there are no other big buildings close by. Indoor pool bonus, and the outdoor pool was just lovely. > > – K. Shawkins > Main Beach at Contessa is a terrific place to enjoy the Gold Coast. Good value in the best place to get to the beach or catch the light rail and enjoy your holiday. Local restaurants within a few minutes walk. Great views from the apartments, and the kids love the indoor and outdoor pools. > > – Bruce > This was our second stay at Contessa. A well-looked-after property with lovely owners and staff. Close to restaurants and a short walk to the beach. Would recommend for families. Beautiful pool and a well-equipped gym. > > – Julie > Had a great time at Surfers Paradise due to the good location of this apartment. It was during the Christmas period and it was great. The apartment is well equipped, great arrangement for families. Clean and inviting. > > – Mogo > We love Contessa. We've stayed twice and won't stay anywhere else now on our annual trips to the Gold Coast. We love that it's at Main Beach. Tedder Avenue is a short stroll away with lots of restaurants and cafés, plus the usual convenience stores, newsagent, chemist. The beach is very close, and the Gold Coast Highway is at the end of the street. The apartments themselves are spotless and wonderfully appointed, with every modern convenience. > > – Noz \& Kez > We were looking for something away from Surfers and Broadbeach and found this great property at Main Beach. Perfect location, massive apartment for the family and great facilities. We had a great stay. > > – Sarah > Great spot. Everything there that you need. Open, spacious living area in apartment. Service from the managers very good. Both indoor and outdoor pools meant we could swim whatever the weather. Highly recommend. > > – Tanya > My travelling companion and myself recently stayed at Contessa at Main Beach. The location was excellent, within walking distance from the beach, Tedder Avenue with the most amazing restaurants, and public transport. The apartment we stayed in was very spacious, clean, had everything we needed for our holiday, and had a fantastic view of the beach. The staff were so friendly and helpful. > > – Sandra A. > Stayed in a three-bedroom apartment on the 16th floor for a week and loved our stay. Plenty of spare blankets and everything else you could need (laundry facilities, kitchen stuff). Loved the indoor pool, and our view was amazing. Could see the lovely outdoor pool and everything else. Felt very safe too. Close to everything. Lovely staff, and other guests and residents were lovely too. > > – Sam S. > We had a great stay with our daughter and two small granddaughters (three and one). There was plenty of room for us all. The views are fantastic from the 20th floor, and the pools are great too. Handy to Tedder Avenue for coffee and restaurants and some shops. Walking distance to the beach, surf club and yacht club, and a longer walk to Sea World and Marina Mirage. > > – Kez > The staff were lovely and the apartment was very clean and had beautiful views. The property is very centrally located, close to shops, restaurants and public transport, and beautifully quiet, with wide surround balconies. > > – Desiree F. > We stayed at Contessa for 14 nights, in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. We found the service excellent, and the apartment on the 21st floor was great. We had wonderful views of the Gold Coast. The best part was the location to all the theme parks, and it was only a walk to the beach. The kids loved the two pools at the end of the day after we visited the theme parks. > > – Eugene > I found Contessa to be in a great location and was nice and quiet. Very close to the restaurants and shops in Main Beach. I would have no hesitation in staying there again. > > – Joanne > Great apartment and great location. Hassle free and enjoyable. Large and spacious, quiet, with the Tedder Avenue café and restaurant strip three minutes walk away, and patrolled beach just three minutes in the other direction. Pool and other communal areas well maintained. > > – Rolf > Thanks Contessa, we have a big age bracket for our children and we were able to cover all aspects while staying at Contessa. Both indoor and outdoor pools for all, beach on their own for the older ones and me, as well as shops in walking distance for teenagers who need to shop regardless. The apartment was clean, tidy, generously spacious and modern enough for our tastes. We had a fantastic time as a family. > > – Mon > Stayed in a two-bedroom apartment for a week mid January. The apartment was very clean and spacious, with nice modern furniture. Great location, a short stroll to the restaurants and shops of Tedder Avenue, and just one block to a patrolled section of the beach. Our apartment was on the 17th floor, with great views of the beach. Large pool, tennis court, undercover parking and beautiful, well-kept grounds. > > – Lou > Had an excellent apartment, better than expected, and close to Main Beach for restaurants and bars. Everything both inside the apartment and in the common areas was neat, clean and smelled fresh. Good people managing it too. > > – Kimi > I have stayed in a lot of places on the Gold Coast, but this one is one of my favourites. It's away from all the noise and tourists, so it's easier to relax and enjoy the weekend. The view we had was beautiful, and the rooms were decorated lovely. > > – Nikki > Thank you for making our holiday to the Gold Coast so enjoyable. Travelling with a family, Main Beach was the perfect choice. Contessa was really terrific and offered all the facilities that we needed as a family, including undercover parking, walking distance to beaches and restaurants, and theme parks only a short drive away. > > – Graham > The location of Contessa is excellent. A block to the beach, walking distance to Tedder Avenue precinct, and a short drive to Sea World. My three young kids enjoyed both the heated indoor pool and huge outdoor pool. The three-bedroom apartment was excellent and well equipped, with fantastic views. > > – Melissa > We had a lovely time at Contessa. Our apartment on the 27th floor was excellent, large, spotless, well catered for, with awesome views. The staff were very helpful and friendly. Both swimming pools received a lot of use from us, and the indoor pool was nicely heated, even the outdoor pool didn't feel too chilly for early November. Contessa is ideally located, with only a short walk needed to reach Tedder Avenue or the beach. > > – Lucas \& Alicia > Very happy with the holiday. Kids loved the indoor and outside pool. Close to shops and theme parks. Great beach views from the apartments. Staff very friendly and helpful. Would recommend Contessa to friends. > > – Sonia > This is our third time at Contessa and it's so good we keep on coming back. The staff are so friendly and helpful, and the apartments are very conveniently located to public transport and shopping. We love being able to use the pool and gym. > > – Susie > The apartments are always presented in a spotless condition and well-furnished throughout. The pool area is always inviting and crystal clear water in the large pool. > > – Maree > Contessa Holiday Apartments are the only place we will stay, not only for the GC600 but for any type of getaway. We highly recommend Contessa. The apartment itself was perfect, with everything provided, very clean and spacious. We will definitely be back again next year. > > – Jack > We are regular visitors to the Gold Coast and have stayed at Contessa for several of our trips now. It is always spotlessly clean, the apartments are wonderfully appointed, and the proximity to everything is wonderful. > > – Noz \& Kez > I was in the middle of moving and needed a place to stay, and Contessa was the best of many places I tried. It is such a handy location and the apartment was wonderful. Highly recommend this property. > > – Jen --- [Check availability](https://www.onlinebooking.direct/property/contessa-holiday-apartments) # Main Beach, quietly so. Two acres of garden between you and the rest of the Gold Coast. The Pacific across the road, the river at the back gate, Tedder Avenue five minutes on foot. ## A boutique address on the river side of Main Beach. Contessa sits on Serisier Avenue, a single block back from the sand on the river side of Main Beach. Pacific Ocean on one side, the river on the other. [Explore – The location](/experience/location/) ## A walkable strip, at the quiet end of the coast. Tedder Avenue at one end of the street. Surf and sand at the other. [Browse – The gallery](/experience/gallery/) ## Main Beach, quietly so. ## The quiet end of the Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise is close enough for a night out. Far enough not to hear it. The G:Link tram runs the full length of the coast from Florida Gardens, fifteen minutes on foot. Most guests do not bother with a car. [Explore – The location](/experience/location/) Tedder Avenue one way. Surf and sand the other. Read the longer pieces, or just the headlines. [The journal](/experience/blog/) ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips --- # The quiet end of the Gold Coast. ## Two waters, one address. Beach mornings, river-and-marina afternoons. The cosmopolitan strip of Tedder Avenue at one end of the street, surf and sand at the other. Contessa sits at 1 Serisier Avenue, on the river side of Main Beach. Pacific Ocean across the road, the river at the back gate. [Skim – At a glance](#highlights) Beach mornings, river-and-marina afternoons. - 50 m – To Main Beach - At the back gate – The river - 5 min – To Tedder Avenue - 5 min – To Surfers Paradise ## Beach mornings, river afternoons. Cross the road for the Pacific. Walk through the back gate for the river. Main Beach is patrolled in season, leafy in shoulder months, quieter than the Cavill Avenue stretch even at the height of summer; the deck above the marina is the quietest spot in the building. [Browse – The location gallery](/experience/gallery/) ## Tedder Avenue one way. Surfers the other. Close enough for a night out, far enough not to hear it. [Inside – The residence facilities](/stay/facilities/) ## Easy to reach, easy to get around. ## Half an hour from the airport. Fifteen minutes on foot to the tram. Gold Coast Airport is around 22 km, 30 minutes by car. Brisbane Airport is 82 km, around 75 minutes, easier in the long run for international arrivals. The G:Link light rail at Florida Gardens is a fifteen-minute walk on the way home and runs the length of the coast through Surfers, Broadbeach and beyond. Most guests do not bother with a car at all. [Ask – Get in touch](/contact/) - [1 Serisier Avenue, Main Beach QLD 4217](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1%20Serisier%20Avenue%2C%20Main%20Beach%20QLD%204217) - [07 5591 6815](tel:+61755916815) - [info@contessa.com.au](mailto:info@contessa.com.au) One block from the sand. Half an hour from everywhere else. Contessa Holiday Apartments, 1 Serisier Avenue, Main Beach QLD 4217 --- # Inside Contessa, apartment by apartment. Each apartment, one residence. The exact rooms you will book, photographed individually, plus the facilities, the building and the suburb. ## Apartment 62 ## Apartment 164 ## Apartment 191 ## Apartment 193 ## Apartment 201 ## Apartment 211 ## Facilities ## The building ## Location --- # Local guides and stories. Guides to Main Beach and planning notes for your stay at Contessa. - Travel tips – [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) - Travel tips – [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) - Travel tips – [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) - Travel tips – [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) - Travel tips – [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) - Travel tips – [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) - Travel tips – [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) - Stay tips – [A quiet Gold Coast winter, riverside at Main Beach](/experience/blog/winter-main-beach/) - Local guide – [Whale season at Main Beach, from ocean to river](/experience/blog/whale-season-main-beach/) - Local guide – [Six beaches within an hour of Main Beach](/experience/blog/main-beach-beaches/) - Local guide – [Five places to eat on Tedder Avenue, a five-minute walk away](/experience/blog/tedder-avenue-dining/) --- # Reception is happy to help. Whether you have a question about a specific apartment, want a recommendation for the area, or are checking availability for an awkward date, we will come back to you the same day. - [Reception \& address: 1 Serisier Avenue, Main Beach QLD 4217](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1%20Serisier%20Avenue%2C%20Main%20Beach%20QLD%204217) - [Call us: 07 5591 6815](tel:+61755916815) - [Email: info@contessa.com.au](mailto:info@contessa.com.au) ## Tell us how we can help. A specific apartment, a date question, or a sense-check on the location, share what you need and we will reply. [info@contessa.com.au](mailto:info@contessa.com.au) New photos and short notes on Instagram and Facebook. [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/contessaholidayapartments/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/contessaapartments) Contessa Holiday Apartments, 1 Serisier Avenue, Main Beach QLD 4217 --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address > The Pacific Airshow returns to Surfers Paradise on 14 to 16 August 2026. From Contessa, a block back from the sand on the river side of Main Beach, the weekend splits in two: the beach for the morning flying, the garden and pools for the hours between. --- The **Pacific Airshow Gold Coast** returns for three days on **14, 15 and 16 August 2026**, its aerobatic display drawn out over the water off Surfers Paradise Beach. The 2025 season was lost when Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and a run of king tides pulled the sand back past the precinct; the beach has since been rebuilt. From Contessa, a block back from the sand on the river side of Main Beach, the weekend arrives on its own terms: the beach for the flying, the quieter side for the hours between. ## A morning at the beach, an afternoon by the river Contessa keeps two waters – the Pacific across the road and the river behind, with a private marina at the back of the building and a broad run of garden holding the two apart. The flying is a morning affair, so the mornings belong to the beach; the afternoons, once the jets have landed, belong to the quieter side, where the garden and pools sit well away from the crowd up the coast. There is a large outdoor pool in the gardens and a heated indoor pool for the cool end of an August day, with a sauna and spa alongside. ## The show over the water The Pacific Airshow is the Australian edition of the long-running Huntington Beach event, first staged here in 2023 and, with 2025 surrendered to the weather, running for only its third time in 2026. The organisers counted more than 270,000 spectators across the 2024 weekend, and the program keeps its established shape: Australian and international performers, jet-team formations and civilian aerobatic acts. The display is held **over the ocean** – the organisers buoy a sterile aerobatic box offshore, patrolled by Queensland Police and on-water security through the flying window, with the ticketed precinct laid out along the sand opposite **Cavill Avenue**. Because the box sits out on the water, the show carries the length of the coast, visible from the sand a block from Contessa as readily as from the precinct itself. From an upper-floor wraparound balcony, the ocean in front of you, the flying comes to the apartment and you need not go looking for it. ![Wide horizon over the Pacific from a Gold Coast vantage point](/assets/photos/location/josh-withers-YeXISDSjx6g-unsplash.jpg) ## Ten apartments, taken by number Contessa is a boutique proposition inside a larger building – of its 124 residences, only ten are released for holiday stays, each presented on its own, by apartment number, with its own photographs. You book a specific apartment rather than a category, which matters on a weekend like this: some look straight out at the water, others over the garden and the river, and knowing which is which is the difference between a balcony seat for the show and a fine room facing away from it. Each runs to 178 square metres or more, with a private balcony, a full kitchen and laundry, and air-conditioned open-plan living with ceiling fans in the bedrooms. ## Getting to the precinct Cavill Avenue is a short tram ride south on the G:link from Main Beach station, or a twenty-minute walk down the Oceanway. Heading in, take the tram – the beachfront road and its cross-streets close for the three days, the perimeter is patrolled, and driving in is discouraged; check [ridetheg.com.au](https://ridetheg.com.au/) the week before for the 2026 services. Inside the gates: gates from 9:00 am, flying from roughly 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, and the full program on all three days, so weather on one is covered by the other two. Nothing flies after dark – it is a daytime affair, held in winter light over still water, which is as much as you can ask of the conditions. ![Open beach view over the Pacific with rolling surf and sky](/assets/photos/location/pexels-rachel-claire-4577541.jpg) ## Tickets, or the free sand Tickets are sold across several zones. **General Admission** and **Show Centre** are standing or picnic-rug areas without seating – **Premium GA** and **Cabana** include a seat, and **Hospitality** brings shade and catering. Child, Concession and Accessible fares are offered as well, with early access reserved for subscribers to the organisers' mailing list, and the current prices, the zone map and the confirmed 2026 performers sit on [pacificairshowaus.com](https://pacificairshowaus.com/). For families or older guests a seated zone is money well spent; otherwise the free view from the Main Beach end holds its own. ## Four unhurried days The airshow runs Friday to Sunday, but Thursday to Monday is the more comfortable stay: an unhurried Thursday arrival before the crowds, the quieter Friday, the busier weekend, and a slow Monday coffee on Tedder Avenue once the closures lift. Through all of it, the garden and the river keep their calm a block back from the sand, waiting for you when the day's flying is done. ## Reserve for the weekend **14 to 16 August 2026.** Check-in is 2:00 to 5:00 pm and check-out 8:00 to 10:00 am, and there is no deposit at booking – full payment is taken 48 hours before you arrive. [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/), or look through [the ten holiday apartments](/accommodation/) presented one by one, by number, so you can see the exact residence and its outlook before you book. The official [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast](https://pacificairshowaus.com/) site carries the 2026 lineup, the ticketing menu, the precinct map and the day-to-day logistics. ## More from the journal. ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river > The Gold Coast Show runs 28 to 30 August 2026 at Broadwater Parklands in Southport, a short drive north of Contessa. Free entry, fireworks every night over the water, and the quiet of the river to come back to. --- On each night of the Gold Coast Show, fireworks rise over the Broadwater at Southport at 6.45pm and carry across the water. It is a fine way to end a day, and it ends better when the drive home is a short one to the quiet side of Main Beach. The **Gold Coast Show** runs **28 to 30 August 2026** at Broadwater Parklands, a straightforward trip north of Contessa – the kind of outing that suits a family or a couple who want a full, noisy day and a still evening to follow it. ## Three days at Broadwater Parklands Nothing is charged at the gate, so the Show is an easy yes even for an hour or two. The carnival is all there, the rides turning in Side Show Alley from **9am to 9pm** and the showbag halls beneath them, but the quieter corners reward a slower visit. The Arts Pavilion at the northern end has the feel of a gallery, its aisles hung with painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture from across the coast, down to a primary-school scarecrow competition that is worth the walk on its own. In the evening the Live and Loud stage fills in with free music, and on the Sunday, line dancing takes the Great Lawn through the late afternoon, right up to the last of the fireworks. This year's full program sits on the official [Gold Coast Show](https://goldcoastshow.com.au/) site. ![Contessa building viewed from the pool deck and riverside gardens](/assets/photos/facilities/building-from-pool.jpg) ## Getting there, and parking Broadwater Parklands is a short drive north into Southport, and the G:link light rail runs the coast if you would rather leave the car behind – a sensible choice on a day when the streets around the grounds get busy. If you do drive, Contessa has **free undercover basement parking** with no booking required, so the car slots away the moment you are home. Either way, the return trip is the point: a busy afternoon at the Show, then back to the river in minutes rather than an hour on the highway. ## Back on the river Contessa sits a single block from the sand, on the river side of Main Beach, in **two acres of landscaped gardens** with a marina at the back. Of 124 residences, only ten are released for holiday stays, and each is presented on the site by its own apartment number, so you see the exact residence you are booking. After a day in the sun that scale earns its keep: apartments run **178 square metres or more**, with a **wraparound balcony**, open-plan living that is **air-conditioned**, and ceiling fans in each bedroom. There is an indoor heated pool and a large outdoor pool in the gardens, an indoor and an outdoor spa, and a sauna – the antidote to a long, loud day up the coast. ## The quiet end of Main Beach The morning after is where staying here settles the argument. The sand is across the road for an early swim, and Tedder Avenue is a five-minute walk for a long, unhurried lunch – the day at the Show behind you, nothing on the agenda but the river and the light on the water. **28 to 30 August 2026**, with the Friday a Gold Coast public holiday. Check-in is 2 to 5pm, and full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival rather than at booking. [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/), or read more about [Main Beach and the area](/experience/location/) before you decide. For dates, ride details and this year's line-up, see the official [Gold Coast Show](https://goldcoastshow.com.au/) site. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to > Crafted Beer \& Cider Festival marks a decade at Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach, on Saturday 12 September 2026 – a tasting-paddle afternoon for eighteen-plus guests, a short tram ride from Contessa's river side of Main Beach. --- Ten years of pours, and Broadbeach marks the milestone properly. **Crafted Beer & Cider Festival** returns to **Kurrawa Park** on **Saturday 12 September 2026**, gates **11 am to 8.30 pm**, eighteen and over, photo ID required. It's an afternoon built for tasting rather than drinking to get through the day – the kind of outing that suits a couple, or two, more than a crowd. ## The tier worth a look The **Crafted Legends Club** ticket is the one to consider – prime seating, a brewery meet-and-greet, a wooden tasting paddle and a stubby cooler to take home. For guests who'd rather taste than tour the whole park, **Carafe Wine** pours eight varieties on tap plus frosé and champagne, and runs the **Rosé Blending Masterclass** and the **Sparkling vs Champagne Showdown** as ticketed add-ons early in the day, both led by owner and winemaker **Archie Cox** – a civilised hour inside a day that otherwise runs loud. Tickets, tiers and current pricing sit on [craftedfestival.com.au](https://www.craftedfestival.com.au/). ![Gold Coast street scene with palm trees in afternoon light](/assets/photos/location/city-of-gold-coast-HoB3IMAZN30-unsplash.jpg) ## Getting there without the car The G:link stop nearest Contessa is about fifteen minutes on foot, and the line runs south through Surfers Paradise to **Broadbeach North**, on Old Burleigh Road just shy of Kurrawa Surf Club, the closest stop to the park, a short walk in from there. The festival itself is cashless, so a card and photo ID cover the day, and there are no pass-outs, so the afternoon runs as one visit rather than several. Leave the car in the free basement parking; Broadbeach's streets narrow to a crawl around the precinct by early afternoon. Non-alcoholic pours sit alongside the tap list for whoever's happy to taste rather than drink through the afternoon, and the grounds themselves are flat and grassed, with accessible parking and Companion Cards honoured at the gate. ## What's on the tap list Local names – **Black Hops**, **Burleigh Brewing**, **Carbon 6**, **Fell** and the Belgian-inspired **Madocke** – sit alongside touring breweries and a proper cider selection. **ALLORA** and **Laurel Hill** play through the afternoon, and the **Crafted Smokeshow** keeps a quieter table going too, slow-roasted meats and open-fire cooking for anyone after a break from the tasting paddle. ## Two waters, one quiet evening Contessa sits on the river side of Main Beach, gardens and marina on one side, the beach a block the other way. Coming home from a tasting afternoon means a walk past the water rather than a queue for a lift. There's a choice waiting: the **large outdoor pool** in the gardens, or the **large indoor heated pool** if the day's run long enough that the light's already going. Either way, dinner on Tedder is a short walk once the pool's done its work. ![Marina and garden grounds at Contessa in late afternoon light](/assets/photos/facilities/marina.jpg) ## Reserve the weekend **Saturday 12 September 2026.** Check-in runs 2 to 5 pm, check-out 8 to 10 am. Full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival rather than at booking, and a Friday-to-Sunday stay leaves a quiet morning on either side of the one loud afternoon in the middle. [**Reserve your apartment for the weekend**](/accommodation/), or read more about [the residence and its facilities](/stay/facilities/), including the gardens and the two-acre grounds between the river and the road. The masterclass calendar, confirmed pours and ticket availability firm up on [craftedfestival.com.au](https://www.craftedfestival.com.au/) as the date nears. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later > BLEACH Festival returns under a new Artistic Director and a new spring date, 1 to 11 October 2026 at HOTA, opening with a community choir and closing eleven days later with a work at Theatre 1. Two acres of garden sit between either night and Contessa. --- **BLEACH Festival** has moved to spring for the first time in its history, running **1 to 11 October 2026** at HOTA under a new Artistic Director, **Felix Preval**, who previously led Darwin Festival and produced Melbourne Fringe. The festival itself dates back to 2012, a modest pilot founded by Louise Bezzina that ran alongside the Quiksilver Pro and drew around 30,000 people; within a few years it had grown into one of the country's most distinctive site-specific arts festivals, earning a Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award along the way, and it remains the largest arts festival on the Gold Coast by geography. Eleven days this time, longer than any edition before it, and a genuinely different festival to walk into. ## The choir opens it, on the lawn at dusk **BEACON**, a large-scale installation in HOTA's Lakeside Precinct by UK artist Morag Myerscough and Gold Coast group Everybody NOW! (a Home Company at HOTA in its own right), opens the festival on **Thursday 1 October** with a community choir singing a musical setting of author Holly Ringland's poetry, arranged under choral director Alex Van den Broek. From there the installation stays lit through all eleven nights, hand-painted gateways by day, neon after dark, without needing a return visit on any particular evening. ![Outdoor pool set in landscaped gardens with white shade structures and high-rise towers](/assets/photos/facilities/outdoor-pool-and-grounds.jpg) ## A closing weekend at Theatre 1 The festival's final weekend belongs to Theatre 1, where **No One Gets Out of Here Alive** – a work by The Farm, a company known for bold physicality and emotional directness – plays **Saturday 10 October at 6 pm** and **Sunday 11 October at 4 pm**. It sits with mortality without solemnity, weaving in the small endings alongside the large one, a death of dreams or past selves as much as anything final, and uses humour and audience participation to get there. It runs an hour and carries content notes for haze and nudity, and like BEACON, it is backed by the EGC Arts Fund. A considered bookend to a festival that opened with a choir. ## The program either side **THAW**, Legs On The Wall's physical theatre piece built on three tonnes of melting ice, opens the festival at dawn on Thursday 1 October on Surfers Paradise Beach, with a second, later staging at HOTA Lake Precinct that Saturday. The Outdoor Stage carries its own two nights the same weekend: **Lady Blackbird & Electric Fields** open it free on the Friday, and **SIX60** headline the Saturday with support from Sub-Tribe, New Zealand's best-known live export making its first Gold Coast return in seven years. ## Crossing the river to get there The nearest G:link stop to Contessa is about a fifteen-minute walk, then a ride north to the crossing HOTA directs every visitor to: over Chevron Island and the Green Bridge, close to twenty minutes on foot from the Surfers Paradise stop. Guests who'd rather manage one crossing instead of two can drive the whole way; the property's own undercover parking is free and needs no booking, simpler than competing for one of HOTA's fee-free bays once the grounds fill up for a festival night. ![Large heated indoor pool with spa, seating and gardens visible through windows](/assets/photos/facilities/indoor-pool.jpg) ## Reserve the stay Two acres of garden and a private marina sit between the festival crowd and either apartment – the indoor heated pool and sauna for a cooler evening, the outdoor pool, tennis court and gardens for the mornings in between. Check-in runs 2 to 5 pm, check-out 8 to 10 am, and full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival rather than at the time of booking. Of the 124 residences in the building, only ten are released for holiday stays, each presented on the site by its own apartment number and photographs rather than a category and a stock image, one more reason a boutique stretch of Main Beach suits either end of an eleven-day festival better than a room built for one night. [**Check the six apartments and reserve yours**](/accommodation/), or read more about [the residence and its facilities](/stay/). Session times for Theatre 1, and anything else added to the program, sit on the [official BLEACH Festival site](https://bleachfestival.com.au/). ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base > Groundwater Country Music Festival returns to Broadbeach on 16 to 18 October 2026. Free, sprawling across more than a dozen stages. Two acres of garden between you and the rest of the Gold Coast remains the right answer. --- The **Groundwater Country Music Festival** returns to Broadbeach on **16, 17 and 18 October 2026** for its thirteenth edition – more than a dozen stages set up in parks, on the mall, along the boulevard and inside the suburb's pubs and bars. The 2025 weekend drew more than 60,000 people through Broadbeach by the organisers' count, with an estimated $15 million lift to the local economy. The whole thing is free. A festival on that scale is a fine thing to walk into and a better thing to walk home from. Contessa sits a block back from the sand on the river side of Main Beach, in two acres of landscaped gardens – far enough that the festival noise never reaches the building, close enough that the tram has you in the middle of it in minutes. That distance, and the garden it ends in, is the booking case in a sentence. ## A boutique base, one block from the sand Of the 124 residences in the building, only ten are released for holiday stays, and each is presented on the site by its apartment number with its own photographs – you book the exact apartment you will sleep in, not a category and a stock photo. Every one runs to 178 square metres or more, with a wraparound balcony, a full kitchen and a proper laundry. Outlooks range across ocean, river, marina, garden and pool depending on the number you choose, so the site shows each individually and there are no surprises on arrival. That scale earns its keep across a festival weekend. A long Saturday in the Broadbeach crowd is a different day when you come back to cook dinner on a wide balcony rather than fight for a table on Surf Parade. The gardens run to their own quiet rhythm – a large indoor heated pool for after a hot day, an outdoor pool among the lawns for the morning before, an indoor and an outdoor spa, a sauna, a full-size tennis court at the back, and a private marina on the river behind the building. Mornings on Tedder Avenue, five minutes' walk away, keep a local pace whatever Broadbeach is doing. ## A free festival across Broadbeach Groundwater is run by [Experience Gold Coast](https://corporate.experiencegoldcoast.com/) with support from the Queensland Government, and it sits unusually among Australian festivals – no ticketed perimeter, no main-arena gates, no wristbands. Broadbeach itself is the venue. Stages go up across Kurrawa Park beside the surf life saving club, along the Victoria Avenue mall, in the Oracle Boulevard area to the south, and on Surf Parade a block back from the beach, with a long list of pubs and venues besides. The 2025 program ran 14 stages with more than 40 artists; the 2026 lineup is announced in the months before October, and the [official festival site](https://groundwatercmf.com/) and app carry the precinct map and the day-by-day schedule when they land. It is a genuinely family-friendly weekend – beginners' line dancing on the Beach Deck, a Sunday bluegrass breakfast, country cocktails on the mall, the Farm Angels charity tent at Kurrawa Park – and the daytime program runs all ages. ![Beach with swimmers and waders along shoreline with breaking waves](/assets/photos/location/pexels-gregory-mellotte-59230857-7968254.jpg) ## Getting in and out The tram does the work. The G:link stop nearest Contessa is a short walk from the residence – about fifteen minutes – and the line runs south through Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach North, the festival's official drop-off, a few minutes down the coast. Kurrawa Park is a two-minute walk from that stop. Leave the car in the free basement parking on Friday afternoon and let the tram handle the weekend – Broadbeach roads close in pieces and slow to a crawl by Saturday lunch. ## The shape of a festival weekend Thursday to Monday is the booking that suits it best. Thursday is an easy arrival – the precinct is still going up, the gardens are yours. Friday runs light – the first of the festival days, gentle enough to find your feet. Saturday and Sunday are the full programs – long, loud, worth every hour, and better still for knowing a quiet balcony is waiting a few tram stops north. Monday is the reward – a slow coffee on Tedder, a walk on the sand, the city back to itself. Full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival rather than at booking; check-in is 2 to 5 pm, check-out 8 to 10 am. ## Book for 16 to 18 October [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/), or read more about [the residence and its facilities](/stay/) and the two acres of landscaped gardens on the river. The 2026 lineup, the festival map and the stage schedule appear on the [Groundwater Country Music Festival](https://groundwatercmf.com/) site and its app in the lead-up to October. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track > For the Gold Coast 500, 23 to 25 October 2026, the southern hairpin of the Surfers Paradise street circuit sweeps past the end of the street. From Contessa's upper floors, a wraparound balcony gives a working line of sight over the track, coffee in hand. --- Contessa is built for the race weekend you watch from home. The southern boundary of the Surfers Paradise street circuit swings past the Tedder Avenue end of Main Beach, a few minutes' walk from the door, and from the upper floors the building's wraparound balcony looks straight down the southern run of the track. For the **Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500** on **23, 24 and 25 October 2026**, that is the proposition – follow the racing from your own balcony, and walk down to the gate only when you want to be in the thick of it. ## The view, and the coffee that goes with it Two-bedroom apartments at Contessa sit between levels 8 and 28, high enough for the wraparound balcony to clear the low buildings between here and the circuit. The line of sight runs over the southern hairpin end of the track; behind it, the river and the marina. Bring an espresso out at nine as the first session fires up and the shape of the morning is laid out in front of you, engine note rolling up off the concrete a beat after the cars pass. It is an unhurried way to take in a weekend that is, everywhere else, a scramble. This is a boutique building – 124 residences, only ten released for holiday stays, each presented on the site by its own number with its own photographs. Outlooks differ apartment to apartment: ocean, river, marina, garden, city. Not every one faces the track, so if the balcony view is the reason you are booking, say so and book early. Race-weekend availability across ten apartments is genuinely thin. ![Contessa building viewed from the pool deck and gardens](/assets/photos/facilities/building-from-pool.jpg) ## The circuit, in short The layout is the 2.96-kilometre loop the event has run since 2010 – fifteen turns, two chicanes, finishing at the Turn 14 hairpin near Tedder Avenue. The **Main Beach entry gate** is a four-to-five-minute walk when you do want to be trackside, and **Main Beach G:link station** sits inside the course perimeter for the far side of the circuit. During a session the track closes to cars, but the marshalled resident gates let guests through on foot. Supercars posts the year's gate map and ID rules at [supercars.com/gold-coast-resident-information](https://www.supercars.com/gold-coast-resident-information). One honest note, because a balcony does not make it silent: the V8s are loud and they run from morning to late, and race-weekend noise reaches every apartment here in some measure, whichever way it faces. A quiet weekend this is not, and there is no point pretending otherwise. ## Three days at the track Detailed session times publish closer to the date, but the pattern holds. **Friday** is practice and qualifying – lighter crowds, shorter queues, the cheapest single-day general admission. **Saturday** runs the full support card alongside championship day-one racing. **Sunday** is the main championship race, with support events, fireworks and the chequered flag. **General admission** starts at **AU$76 a day**; **fanstand and grandstand** seats from **AU$93 a day**; a **Pit Lane Walk upgrade** adds paddock access from **AU$30**. Tickets are at [supercars.com](https://www.supercars.com/events/2026-gold-coast/tickets-and-packages). If you spend a day at the fence rather than on the balcony, take ear protection – at that range the noise is a different thing entirely. ## Getting down there When you do head out, leave the car. The G:link runs an expanded race-week timetable, usually posted closer to the event, with **Main Beach** and **Surfers Paradise North** bracketing the circuit; a **go explore pass** covers a day of unlimited light rail and bus travel, and both the timetable and the fares live on [ridetheg.com.au](https://ridetheg.com.au/). Parking inside the cordon is scarce, so Contessa's free undercover basement parking is the sane option – park on arrival and walk the few minutes to the gate. ![Surfers Paradise skyline rising behind Main Beach buildings at dusk](/assets/photos/location/city-of-gold-coast-J3KfhPauf_0-unsplash.jpg) ## Between two waters Contessa's other advantage announces itself the moment the racing stops. On site there is a large indoor heated pool and a separate large outdoor pool set in the gardens, an indoor and an outdoor spa, and a sauna – the recovery end of a long, warm day trackside. Apartments run a generous 178 square metres and up, with full kitchens, so the meal after Sunday's flag can be a proper one at home while the restaurants along Tedder Avenue turn people away. And then there are the two waters. The building sits a single block back from the sand on one side and opens onto two acres of riverside garden on the other, so once the engines are quiet the weekend can drift either way – a late swim in the Pacific, or the hush of the marina and the gardens with the last of the sun on the river. ## Book for October 2026 **23 – 25 October 2026.** Check-in is 2 to 5 pm, check-out 8 to 10 am; a stay from Thursday to Monday sits comfortably around the three days of racing. There is no deposit at booking – full payment is taken 48 hours before arrival. [**Check availability and reserve your dates**](/accommodation/), or read more about [Main Beach and the area](/experience/location/) before you book. Published session times, the ticket range and the 2026 circuit map all sit on the official [Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500](https://www.supercars.com/events/2026-gold-coast/tickets-and-packages) page. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # The Gold Coast Marathon from Main Beach, with room for the whole crew > The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon returns 3 and 4 July 2027. Contessa's apartments start at 178 m2, with room for the runner, the partner and the grandparents minding the kids, and no deposit taken until 48 hours before you arrive. --- The **ASICS Gold Coast Marathon** returns on **3 and 4 July 2027**, dates already confirmed by race organisers. Year after year the event makes the same case for itself: a flat, fast coastal course that the organisers call the quickest road marathon in Australia, and a genuine shot at a personal best. What that case leaves out is everyone who travels with the runner. If the trip is a runner, a partner and grandparents along to mind the kids, the deciding factor is not the finish time. It is whether there is room for all of you under one roof. At Contessa, in Main Beach, there is. ## Space is the whole point Contessa's apartments start at **178 m²**. On a marathon weekend that number does real work. There is a separate dining table big enough for the carb-load the night before, a full lounge to stretch out on afterwards, and bedrooms set far enough back from the front door that a 5 am alarm and a quiet exit do not wake the grandparents or the kids. The three-bedroom layouts take a multigenerational group comfortably; a two-bedroom suits a running couple with one set of grandparents on child duty. Every apartment has two bathrooms – both with a bath and a shower – so the pre-race routine and the post-race soak never collide. Contessa is boutique by design. Of 124 residences in the building, only ten are released for holiday stays, and each is booked by its own apartment number with its own photos – you see the exact residence you are getting, wraparound balcony and all. ![Outdoor swimming pool set in landscaped gardens at Contessa](/assets/photos/facilities/outdoor-pool.jpg) ## The two mornings, and getting to the start The race has run over two days for years, and the same pattern is expected for 2027. **Saturday 3 July** would carry the Half Marathon, the 10 km, the other short-distance events and the wheelchair races, along with the compulsory race-pack pickup at the Broadwater Parklands expo. **Sunday 4 July** would carry the **Marathon (42.195 km)** and the **Wheelchair Marathon**, historically away around **6:15 am** from Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade, Southport, finishing back at the same precinct. The course has long run out and back, crossing the river into Main Beach and south through Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach before turning for home. The full program and course map for 2027 go up at [goldcoastmarathon.com.au](https://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/) as the event gets closer, worth checking before you lock in a schedule. Broadwater Parklands sits a short trip north of Contessa – a walkable distance by the bridge across the river, or a short tram ride. Main Beach tram station is around a fifteen-minute walk, and the same G:link line stops at the start precinct, so race morning is one straightforward ride with no transfers. In past years the tram has shifted to a special race-morning timetable, listed at ridetheg.com.au closer to the weekend. ## A building built for recovery Back at Contessa after the race, the facilities earn their place. There is an indoor heated pool and a large outdoor pool in the gardens, an indoor spa, an outdoor spa and a sauna. The indoor heated pool is the one tired legs will want on a cool July afternoon, and again on the Monday for a gentle swim when running is off the table. The kitchen is fully equipped, so the recovery dinner happens on the wraparound balcony, on your own clock, without a booking. ![Timber sauna interior with wooden bench at Contessa](/assets/photos/facilities/sauna.jpg) ## The day before, and paying for it The calm helps too. Contessa sits on the river side of Main Beach in two acres of garden, a single block back from the sand – a quiet place to keep a runner's nerves in check the day before. Tedder Avenue and its cafes are a five-minute walk for a slow breakfast; the beach is across the road when someone wants a barefoot loosener. One practical comfort for a group trip: Contessa takes no deposit at booking. Full payment comes 48 hours before you arrive, not months out when the marathon entry has already gone on the card. Undercover basement parking is included, no booking required, which matters if you are driving down from Brisbane. ## Book for marathon weekend **3 and 4 July 2027**, confirmed. Check-in 2 to 5 pm, check-out 8 to 10 am. With only ten holiday apartments in the building, the marathon weekend is a small inventory in real terms, so reserve as soon as your entry confirms. [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/), or browse the [apartments by number](/accommodation/) to find the one that fits your group. Registration and the course map, once published, are on the official [ASICS Gold Coast Marathon](https://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/) site; sign up there before arranging the stay. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # A quiet Gold Coast winter, riverside at Main Beach > Winter is when Contessa's indoor half comes into its own: 178 square metres of apartment, a heated indoor pool, an indoor spa and sauna, and two acres of riverside garden a block back from a quiet Main Beach. --- Between June and August the Gold Coast slows down. The summer crowds head home, Tedder Avenue clears by mid-morning, and the two acres of garden on Contessa's river side settle into their greenest, quietest stretch of the year. Winter rewards a place you can settle into, and Contessa has the room for it. ## The case for space in winter Every apartment at Contessa runs **178 square metres** or more. In summer, when most of the day happens outside, the floor area is almost beside the point. In winter, when more of it happens indoors, it becomes the reason to choose a residential apartment over a hotel room. There is room to spread out, room for a family to share a building without sharing an elbow, and room for the routines a longer stay settles into: coffee at the kitchen bench, an afternoon with a book on the lounge, a slow dinner around a full table. Of 124 apartments in the residence, ten are released for holiday stays. The six on the site are listed individually, by number, each with its own photo set – so the apartment you book is the apartment you walk into, not a category stand-in. ## Indoor heated pool, spa and sauna Contessa keeps a large outdoor pool in the gardens and a **large indoor heated pool** off the same complex. In summer the difference barely registers. In winter it is the whole point. The outdoor pool is not heated, so once the season turns it is the indoor heated pool that earns its keep: warm water, a glass-bright room through the middle of the day, and no southerly to swim against. Returning guests mention it first on the cooler mornings. Alongside it sit an **indoor spa**, an **outdoor spa** and a **sauna**, all included – the kind of slow, warm end to a winter afternoon a hotel room can't offer. There is a full-size tennis court too, for a still day (racquets and balls available for a charge). ![Outdoor pool and gardens at Contessa with surrounding lawn and palms](/assets/photos/facilities/outdoor-pool-and-grounds.jpg) ## What winter feels like here The coast in winter is dry, still and mostly clear. Days sit warm enough for shirtsleeves and evenings turn cool enough for a soft jumper indoors. The sea loses its heat, so swimming moves inside to the heated pool, while the garden keeps the afternoon sun and the light runs long and gold by four o'clock. As for the apartments: the open-plan living, dining and kitchen is air-conditioned and the bedrooms have ceiling fans, so on the coldest July nights an extra layer on the bed is about all winter asks of you. ## The garden, the river and the marina The two acres of garden are the quiet heart of the place – lawn, palms and planting that stay green through the dry winter, with paths to walk off a long lunch without leaving the grounds. On the river side there is a private marina, a facility most Main Beach addresses can't claim, the water calm and glassy on a still winter morning. Beach mornings on one side, river-and-marina afternoons on the other: winter is when the river side comes into its own, sheltered and slow while the surf stays cold. ## Events and a quieter Tedder Avenue The Gold Coast saves its biggest events for the cool months. The calendar carries the [**ASICS Gold Coast Marathon**](/experience/blog/gold-coast-marathon/) (**3 – 4 July 2027**), and, closer in from July to October, the [**Pacific Airshow Gold Coast**](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) (**14 – 16 August 2026**) flying over the water at Surfers Paradise and the [**Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500**](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) (**23 – 25 October 2026**) closing the season. The [**humpback migration**](/experience/blog/whale-season-main-beach/) passes offshore from late May to early November, with beach and balcony viewing, or a morning cruise from Main Beach for a closer look. Tedder Avenue is at its best in the off-season: the footpath tables warm in the sun, the dinner rooms quiet enough for a walk-in most nights, a five-minute walk from the back gate. The [Tedder Avenue eating guide](/experience/blog/tedder-avenue-dining/) has the specifics. The G:link tram keeps its timetable year-round if you want the rest of the coast without the car. ## Choosing your winter week Each winter week has its own character. June eases in quiet and mild, the first whales appearing off the coast. The first weekend of July is given over to the marathon. Mid-August is the airshow, under the clearest skies of the year and the busiest stretch of the whale season. September settles into the stillest weeks, the pods turning for home and the beach left largely to itself. October closes the season with the Gold Coast 500, before the water warms again and the summer tariff returns in November. For stillness, choose June or September. For an event in the diary, July or August. For race weekend, October. [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/), or read more about the [gardens, pools and marina](/stay/facilities/) and the two-acre riverside setting. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Whale season at Main Beach, from ocean to river > From late May to early November, humpbacks move up and down the Gold Coast. Ocean on one side for the whales, river and marina on the other for the afternoon, watched from a wraparound balcony a block from the sand. --- Contessa is a block back from the Pacific, with the river and marina behind it. Whale season makes a good case for using both sides of that address: an ocean-facing balcony or the beach in the morning, then the garden, indoor pool and river side when the wind comes up. Whales are most likely to shape a Main Beach stay between late May and early November. July and August are the clearest choice if seeing them matters most. June and September work well when the whale watch sits beside a slower few days at the beach, in the garden and on Tedder. ## Start on the ocean side Some Contessa apartments have an ocean outlook, and some pair it with a wraparound balcony. Otherwise, the beach is across the road. A blow is often easier to spot than the body of a whale, especially when the sea is calm and the light is still low. For a higher land-based view, Burleigh Head National Park and Point Danger are both worth the drive south. The Spit is closer, and suits a quieter walk at first light. ## A morning beyond the Seaway For a closer view, commercial whale-watching cruises leave from several Gold Coast waterfront locations, including Main Beach and Southport. Both are north of Contessa, and free undercover parking keeps the drive uncomplicated. Morning departures are common; allow a half-day, then confirm the current meeting point, duration, accessibility and cancellation terms before you book. The boat leaves calm Broadwater water behind once it passes the Seaway. Bring a light windproof layer, sunscreen and sunglasses, and be prepared to change plans if the swell builds. The most respectful way to watch is also the simplest: follow the crew's instructions, keep noise down and leave the animals to choose the encounter. ![Private marina on the river at the back of Contessa](/assets/photos/facilities/marina.jpg) ## Come back to the quieter water Contessa's own marina is a private river berth at the back gate, not the starting point for a whale trip. It changes the feel of the afternoon nonetheless. The gardens sit beside the river, and the beach feels a long way off once you are back through the gate. The **indoor heated pool**, indoor spa and sauna are especially welcome after a cool morning at sea. There is also the outdoor pool in the gardens, a full kitchen for an easy lunch, and Tedder Avenue five minutes away when you would rather eat out. For families, a three-bedroom gives everyone room after an early start. A two-bedroom keeps the same generous apartment living for a couple, with the outlook depending on the individual residence. ![Open Pacific water under winter light, Gold Coast](/assets/photos/location/pexels-ben-mack-6775356.jpg) ## Plan a stay around the migration July and August are the months to choose if seeing whales matters most. June and September are a better fit for travellers who want the same winter light and Main Beach calm with a less fixed agenda. Check-in is from 2 to 5 pm; check-out is from 8 to 10 am. [**Check availability and reserve your apartment**](/accommodation/) – each is presented individually, by number, with its own photo set, so the residence you book for whale season is the exact one you come back to. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Six beaches within an hour of Main Beach > Two waters at the front door – the Pacific across the road, the river at the back. The rest of the coast sits inside an hour. Here's where locals actually go. --- The thing most first-time visitors miss about Main Beach is the doubling. There's the ocean across the road, and there's the river at the back gate, with two acres of garden and a private marina between them. Everything below assumes you've already used both, because that's the rare part. The rest of the Gold Coast sits inside an hour by car, and the individual beaches along that strip are quietly different from each other in ways the postcards never quite catch. Six beaches, in order of distance from the door. The right one for a given day depends on who's with you, what you feel like, and whether the swell is up. For most guests on most days, the answer is still number one. ## 1. Main Beach – the one across the road **One minute on foot.** A single block and you're on patrolled sand. Main Beach is wide enough that even at the tail of the school holidays it rarely feels crowded, and far enough north of the Surfers towers that the morning sun lands without a wall of shadow behind you. The surf is honest beach break with a sandy bottom; not Burleigh, but a clean swim most mornings before the sea breeze comes up. Two further notes worth saying out loud. The grassed foreshore parklands run the full length of the beach, with shade trees and benches and a couple of outdoor showers at the access points. And the marina at the back of the building is a separate calm-water option for paddleboards, kayaks and the small kids who aren't ready for surf yet. Two waters, one address; use both. ![Wide stretch of Gold Coast sand with morning surfers in the water](/assets/photos/location/pexels-mastercowley-2440856.jpg) ## 2. The Spit – the wild one to the north **Ten minutes north by car, longer and better on foot.** The Spit is the long finger of sand that separates the Broadwater from the Pacific, running from the top of the Main Beach precinct up to the Gold Coast Seaway. Most cars head straight up Seaworld Drive toward something else; the trick is to stop along the way. Every beach access down the length is uncrowded, and the further north you go the wilder it gets. By Philip Park near the seaway, you're on a low-dune coastline that looks essentially the way it did a century ago. Bring shoes – it's pandanus and dune grass, not a groomed esplanade. There's a surf break on the ocean side that works on a northerly swell, a patrolled off-leash dog beach near the seaway, and on winter and spring mornings the seaway rock wall is one of the best free whale-watching spots on the coast. Doug Jennings Park on the Broadwater side is calm, flat water for kids when the surf is up. If you don't want to leave the postcode, this is the morning walk. ## 3. Burleigh Heads – the classic **Twenty-five minutes south by car.** Burleigh is the day out. A broad, north-facing crescent with one of the most celebrated point breaks in the country wrapping around the headland at its southern end. The right-hand point is for experienced surfers; the beach itself is for everyone else, and the rest of it is very good sand. Walk the **Oceanview Track** through Burleigh Head National Park: 1.2 kilometres, about thirty minutes one-way, mostly flat, hugging the rocks just above sea level. It threads past hexagonal basalt columns and the occasional bush turkey before opening onto a final view back north toward the Surfers skyline. The path emerges at Tallebudgera Creek on the south side – two beaches for one drive. The cluster of cafes behind the beach (James Street and Goodwin Terrace) is the right place to make a meal of it. ![Aerial coastline of Gold Coast headland with rolling waves and pandanus](/assets/photos/location/daniel-j-schwarz-agOpc4Qtl0c-unsplash.jpg) ## 4. Tallebudgera Creek – the one for kids **Thirty minutes south. The pick if anyone in the group is under six.** Tallebudgera Creek mouth is a genuine anomaly on this coast: a wide, shallow, glass-flat estuary with a sandy bottom, lifeguards on the south side, and a gentle enough current that toddlers can paddle in it without a second thought. The water is cleaner than almost anywhere else on the Gold Coast; on a still morning it runs close to turquoise. The south bank has grass, shade trees, picnic tables and the Tallebudgera Creek Caravan Park. The north bank connects directly to Burleigh Head National Park – arrive via the Oceanview walk and you come out at **Echo Beach**, a small sheltered crescent that is usually half-empty on a weekday morning. Pack lunch. Bring a second towel. Plan to stay longer than you think. ## 5. Currumbin Alley – the surf-and-rockpools one **Thirty-five minutes south.** Currumbin has the best combination of features on the southern end of the coast: a long patrolled swimming beach, a sheltered tidal pool at the northern end called **the Alley**, and a reliable point break along the rocks. The water inside the Alley stays calm even when the open beach is working, which makes it the obvious next step for kids who've graduated from Tallebudgera but aren't ready for proper open surf. Small fish in the rocks; snorkels are worth bringing. At the southern end, **Elephant Rock** is a short walk up a low headland with a wide view back up the coast. Worth it at dawn or in the hour before sunset. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a few minutes down the road if a plan B is needed. ## 6. Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay – the world-class one **Forty-five minutes south, right at the NSW border.** This is the stretch that put the Gold Coast on the global surfing map. The **Superbank**, a two-kilometre sandbar running from Snapper Rocks through Rainbow Bay and Greenmount and into Coolangatta, produces one of the longest right-handers anywhere on Earth. On a good swell there are five hundred surfers in the line-up and a professional contest underway. On an ordinary day it's still worth twenty minutes on the headland before deciding whether to paddle. For everyone else, **Rainbow Bay** itself is a sheltered, north-facing cove with easy swimming, a surf lifesaving club with a decent bistro, and one of the best sunset views on the coast looking back toward the Surfers skyline. The **Snapper Rocks sea pools**, chiselled out of the headland by locals in 1956, are a quiet tidal soak at the point itself. ## And the river, while you're here The fact most guides skip: Main Beach is the one stretch of the Gold Coast where the river is genuinely useful. The river side gives the building its private marina, which means a kayak in calm water at first light, a paddleboard at sunset, or the option of meeting friends arriving by boat from Sanctuary Cove. Most beach addresses don't have that. We do. ![Private marina on the river at the back of the building, with moored vessels](/assets/photos/facilities/marina.jpg) ## Getting there without a car For Main Beach, the marina, and the southern end of the Spit, you don't need wheels. For Burleigh, Tallebudgera, Currumbin and Coolangatta, the car is usually easiest; the Gold Coast Highway runs roughly parallel to the coast and parking is manageable if you arrive before nine. Each of the southern beaches is also reachable by Translink bus connecting from a G:link light rail interchange; Burleigh in particular is a clean tram-then-bus from Broadbeach South. Plan the return via the Translink journey planner before you set off. Pack a towel, leave early, and remember the indoor heated pool is waiting at the back of the gardens if the ocean has turned cool. Two waters, every day of the year. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips --- [Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # Five places to eat on Tedder Avenue, a five-minute walk away > From the back gate it's a five-minute walk to the heart of Tedder. Here are the five spots we send guests to, in the order of the day you'd actually work through them. --- Main Beach's food scene fits onto one short, walkable block. Tedder Avenue runs for the length of a tight strip of cafe tables, shop awnings and the kind of unhurried lunch crowd that makes it easy to forget you're on the Gold Coast. From the back gate of the building, on Serisier Avenue, it's a five-minute walk through the leafier residential end of the suburb to the heart of the strip. You do not need a car, you do not need a plan, and most nights you don't need a booking. There are more than five places on Tedder, and a dozen more within half a kilometre. What follows are five worth pointing guests to, ordered by the time of day you'd most likely find yourself at each one rather than by preference. ## Coffee and pastry first thing – Dipcro Pastry **27 Tedder Avenue · 7 am – 3 pm, seven days** Dipcro is the newest addition to the street. The original patisserie has been quietly famous in Chevron Island for a couple of years; the Main Beach shop opened in early 2025, three times the size, with a sunny alfresco terrace out front and enough seats inside that you have a fair shot at a table before nine. The coffee is good. The pastries are the reason to come. The house signature is the Dipcro itself: a round, glossy tart made from laminated croissant dough, with a rotating cast of fillings – Biscoff, coconut pandan, vanilla custard, a dark chocolate when they feel like it. The standard croissants hold their shape and their shatter. The savoury rotation – spinach-and-cheese pain suisse, truffle mushroom, sausage crescent – is worth the walk on its own. A practical note: weekend mornings get busy. Turn up early or come back mid-morning. Take the box back to the wraparound balcony. ![Tree-lined street near Tedder Avenue with awnings and morning light](/assets/photos/location/city-of-gold-coast-Ck9jnqcobeM-unsplash.jpg) ## The proper plate – Hot Shott **Shop 3, 17 Tedder Avenue · 6:30 am – 4 pm, seven days** If Dipcro is for the pastry, Hot Shott is for the proper plate. It's the breakfast-and-lunch cafe locals quietly agree is the best one on the strip. The **Olla Caliente**, Spanish-style baked eggs in a hot clay pot, is the dish returnees order first. The eggs benedict is consistently good. The sweetcorn-and-chive fritters are the right lunch order; the Cob Salad is the right one on a hot day. Seating is split between a festoon-lit courtyard along the timber fence out the back and a timber-and-industrial interior. The drinks list is the longest in Main Beach: house-made iced tea, kombucha on tap, cold-pressed juices, a short morning cocktail menu for the days you've already decided how they're going to go. Nobody nudges you to move on. It's the kind of cafe you start the day at and don't entirely leave until noon. ## A long table for a group – The Winey Cow **9 Tedder Avenue · 7 am – 3 pm daily, plus evenings Wed – Sat** The Winey Cow is the big room. It opened in Main Beach in 2023 as the second outpost of a well-regarded Mornington Peninsula cafe, and the operation shows: over a hundred seats, floor-to-ceiling glass, an easy flood of natural light. The menu is all-day brunch with genuine ambition: stuffed mushrooms with salted ricotta and walnut crumble, limoncello and coconut waffles with passionfruit jelly, pork belly bao buns with crisp crackling, a weekend bottomless option for people committed to the cause. This is where you go with a group, a birthday, or anyone who needs a full sit-down. The kitchen caters confidently for gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian, which matters with mixed dietary needs in the party. Book ahead for weekends. ## A slow afternoon – Le Jardin **13 Tedder Avenue · 6 am – 5 pm, seven days** Le Jardin is the sit-down French cafe sitting next door to Uncle, and in spirit a continent away from it. It's the long-running passion project of a Parisian owner, and the aesthetic tells you so before the coffee arrives: red, white and blue bistro umbrellas, bistro chairs amongst grape vines, French music under the conversation. It has been on the street long enough to predate almost everything around it, and it has aged into itself rather than against itself. The food is handmade and it takes its time; this is the part to know before you sit down. Order the **Parisienne omelette** or the French toast at breakfast, a **savoury crepe** or the Camembert salad for lunch, and if the afternoon has slipped into wine-list territory, the short French list is pitched right for it. The sweet crepes – Nutella-banana as the template – are a justifiable excuse to come back later in the day with a coffee and a book. Macarons and crème brûlée cover dessert. Sit in the courtyard if the weather's on. Expect a relaxed pace. That's the point. ![Storefront awnings on a Main Beach street with afternoon light](/assets/photos/location/city-of-gold-coast-HoB3IMAZN30-unsplash.jpg) ## Dinner that ends on the sand – Uncle Pizza e Panini **15 Tedder Avenue · panini 8 am – 3 pm · pizza 4:30 – 8:30 pm (closed Mondays in the evening)** Uncle is the one to know. Small premises, a handful of tables out front, takeaway all day. What makes it quietly essential is that the panini bread is baked in-house every morning, and the kitchen doesn't hide behind the fit-out: everything runs out fast and hot from a very small room. The house motto, _"real Italian, real fast,"_ is honest about what it's doing and what it isn't. The trick is to treat it as two different places. Until three, it's a panini counter: pick from a board of Italian-style rolls, order at the window, eat at a pavement table or take it to go. From half past four the oven comes on and they run the pizza menu until half past eight. Pizza is the headline; don't overlook the **arancini** – the deep-fried risotto balls are a local favourite and a good thing to park a beer next to while you wait. There's pasta on the evening menu, and the **tiramisu** is worth saving room for. > The move from Contessa is this. Order the pizza at eight, walk the box back through the gardens to the beach side, and eat it on a parklands bench with the sound of the surf and the last of the light. Five minutes there, five minutes back. The pizza is still crisp when you arrive. Closed Mondays in the evening; panini only that day. ## A two-minute footnote on the marina When the kitchen at the apartment is doing the cooking instead, the back of the building turns into the right setting. The wraparound balcony catches the river side as well as the front, and the late sun moves across the marina water through dinner. Tedder is the public face of Main Beach. The river side of the building is the private one. Use both. ## More from the journal. ### [Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 from a boutique Main Beach address](/experience/blog/pacific-airshow-2026/) Travel tips ### [The Gold Coast Show 2026: a day out, an evening on the river](/experience/blog/gold-coast-show/) Travel tips ### [Ten years of Crafted Festival, and a quiet address to come back to](/experience/blog/ten-years-of-crafted-festival/) Travel tips ### [BLEACH Festival, reconsidered: a choir to open it, a quiet close eleven days later](/experience/blog/bleach-festival-opening-night-main-beach/) Travel tips ### [Groundwater 2026: a free Broadbeach festival, a quiet Main Beach base](/experience/blog/groundwater-2026/) Travel tips ### [Gold Coast 500 2026: a balcony that looks down on the track](/experience/blog/gold-coast-500/) Travel tips