Picture this: the wind in your hair, the sun on your back and a huge smile from ear to ear – all while you’re flying through the air on the back of jet ski.

If that sounds like your idea of a good time, Gold Coast Watersports have you covered.

Jet ski tours are a popular option and involve an instructor leading a group through the Broadwater, past South Stradbroke Island and into the mangroves.

It’s a scenic, speedy and exhilarating adventure tour that sees you weaving around islands and over boat wakes as fast as your little heart desires.

There is certainly some airtime and the occasional spray in the face with a stream of water, if you’re lucky a dolphin or two and plenty of laughs as you get the hang of the beast beneath you.

Gold Coast Watersports offer plenty of other activities too. Parasailing – similar to parachuting but behind a boat – is a favourite as is the reasonably new Fly Boarding which involves water shooting out of a boot-shaped board propelling you out of and through the water.

They say it’s similar to both flying like a bird and swimming like a dolphin.

There’s also jet boating, which as the name suggests, involves driving at high speeds and the equivalent of burnouts in a boat.

Each activity is the perfect way to experience the adventurous nature of the Gold Coast with the added bonus of an adrenaline rush or two.

In case you’re wondering, the instructors have over 20 years of experience with a variety of watersports so you’re in good hands.

Go get wet it’s practically a rite of passage.

HOURS: 8am to 5pm daily.
ADDRESS: Sea World Resort, Sea World Drive, Main Beach (at the back of Seaworld Resort).

Words and photos by Kirra Smith.

It’s that time of year again folks, State of Origin is here! Place your bets and watch the rivalry unfold. If you can’t make it to the stadium, support your team at any of these epic, perfect-for-shouting-at-the-tv Gold Coast venues.

Go Queensland!

Crafty’s Sports Bar
State of Origin, refreshments a-plenty, and darn good footy grub await at Harbour Town’s epic sports bar, Crafty’s. This place has become quite the icon on the northern GC, and is the perfect spot to catch the game. If you happen to have the ankle biters in tow, no worries because kids and cool folk unite at this crowd fave. On Wednesdays pizza and pasta are $15 all day, so that’s an added bonus!
Where: Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

Southport Sharks
Get your mates together and get to Mackenzie’s Bat at Southport Sharks for all of the State of Origin excitement. Enjoy $19 “Pizza of Origin” deals, 50 Cent Wings all night, and drinks specials from kick-off until the first try.
Where: Corner of Musgrave and Olsen Avenue, Southport

Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern
Who’s keen for a State of Origin party overlooking the marina? No problem at Fisho’s located right next to Marina Mirage in Main Beach. Always packed with bods and offering a cranking atmosphere, it’s been a long-standing sport-viewing staple for good reason. 
Where: 60-70 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

The Local Tavern
It’s called The Local and with a cosy, low-lit vibe, giant sport-watching screens and a menu packed with all your favourite pub grub it’s the perfect spot to watch rugby’s biggest rivalry! Catch all the action and grab a burger and a beer for $25!
Where: Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, Surfers Paradise

The Star Gold Coast
Catch all the action at The Star Gold Coast. With two incredible venues to choose from, watch the game under the stars on The Lawn at Garden Kitchen & Bar, or get the stadium experience in Sports Bar live, large & loud. Plus footy feed specials, guest MC’s, prizes and giveaways, entertainment and more.
Where: The Star Gold Coast, Casino Drive, Broadbeach

The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill
Boasting over 50 screens, we challenge you to miss a moment of the action #MissionImpossible. This place is super popular as secure your spot with a booking. Walk-ins welcome on the day, first in best dressed.
Where: The Promenade, Robina Town Centre, Robina

Mermaid Beach Tavern
Head on down to Mermaid Beach Tavern to watch the game on the big screen. Sit back and enjoy great food and drinks all night long while you watch Queensland take on NSW. Qld jersey giveaway for each game. 
Where: 2500 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

The Yard
Catch the State of Origin on the Big Screens at Mermaid’s newest beer garden, with the good times getting underway from 5pm. Try the special State Of Origin menu, or take advantage of a 9 Inch Pizza & ice cold beer for just $20 dollars.
Where: 2389 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Burleigh Town Hotel
The newly renovated Burleigh Town Hotel is the ideal destination to catch all of the action of the Maroons taking on the Blues. Each game will be live and loud across the biggest screens in the southern hemisphere
Where: Tsipura Drive, Burleigh Heads

Currumbin RSL
Southern folk flock to Currumbin RSL in their droves to watch sport and State of Origin is no exception. Grab your mates and catch all the action live and loud on their colossal plasma screens.
Where: 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin

The Coolangatta Hotel
To celebrate this epic battle of the states, make your way over to the Cooly and treat yourself to a Game Day $25 Surf n Turf special. If you’re keen to catch the game, hang around for kick off at 8:05pm and soak in all the live action with a beer or two while you cheer on your state of origin.
Where: The Strand, Marine Parade, Coolangatta

Words by Belinda Symons.

Bleach* Festival recently launched their 2017 program.

We chat with Festival Director Louise Bezzina about what’s new and the Commonwealth Games inspired theme.

What’s unique about the 2017 program?

The Festival explores and interrogates the relationship between sport and art, and the playful moments of collaboration where these experiences collide, merge, interact, conflict and complement.

With much of the Gold Coast’s daily life and identity closely related to the outdoors, active lifestyles, sport and recreation, these expressions already form strong associations for the people of the city.

In 2017, in the lead up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Bleach* Festival and many of our collaborating artists will take inspiration from these concepts, with a highly physical and highly visual program that encourages celebration and expression, as the city comes alive over three weeks.

Any particular show or exhibitions we should look out for?

I’ve been wanting to present Fun Run for a while so I’m thrilled we can present it in 2017 as it works beautifully with this year’s festival theme. Fun Run will see artist Tristan Meecham run a gruelling 42.2 kilometres on a treadmill in the heart of Surfers Paradise in homage to the Greek messenger Pheidippides, supported by hundreds of community performers and athletes.

I’m excited to be working with The Farm and Co3 to present Frank Enstein, a world premiere work commissioned by Bleach* Festival which brings together two of Australia’s boldest contemporary dance companies, Gold Coast/Berlin based The Farm and Perth based Co3 for the retelling of the classic story.

How has the Gold Coast’s cultural scene in general changed since the launch of Bleach* Festival?

There has been a considerable growth in the City’s cultural scene since the festival launched in 2011. There are many professional companies now based here and working from here, some of these include The Farm (the first professional Contemporary Dance Company on the Gold Coast), Everybody Now (Professional Company that specialises in participatory and site specific contemporary performance) and The Walls (Contemporary Gallery Space in Miami) just to name a few.

Why is it such an important thing for the Gold Coast?

The vibrant cultural scene changes perceptions and transforms the city.  There is such an incredible depth to the city that the arts and cultural scene is pivotal in shaping.

Anything else you want Inside Gold Coasters to know? 

Bleach* Festival is truly unique in that it is a festival of place. The Gold Coast’s spectacular physical surroundings provide a distinct backdrop to present a variety of performances ranging from installation arts to music to world premiere theatre works. This year the Festival will visit 23 Gold Coast locations and take over 60kms of the coastline from Coolangatta to Helensvale.

The Gold Coast has a growing, youthful and energetic arts community who aren’t afraid to take risks, so it’s a really exciting time to be part of this developing industry, particularly in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

Check out the full program here.