This has now finished. The details below applied up to Tuesday 27 October 2026 and are kept as a record. For current information, see our Gold Coast parking guide.
At a glance
- When
- From about 5am Monday 19 October to 5am Tuesday 27 October 2026; track closed Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October
- Where
- Main Beach and Surfers Paradise: Gold Coast Highway, Main Beach Parade, The Esplanade, Ferny Avenue, Tedder Avenue, Budds Beach
- What’s affected
- Circuit roads one-way (anti-clockwise); Gold Coast Highway reduced lanes; no parking on public roads in the event precinct
- Track closed
- Friday 6am to 6pm; Saturday and Sunday 7am to 7pm
- Sea World and The Spit
- Waterways Drive stays open
- Official notice
- Supercars traffic and transport FAQ and streets-affected listing
From about 5am on Monday 19 October, the streets of the Gold Coast 500 circuit in Main Beach and Surfers Paradise turn one-way, anti-clockwise, and the Gold Coast Highway runs with reduced lanes until 5am on Tuesday 27 October. The track itself is shut to all vehicles from 6am to 6pm on Friday 23 October and from 7am to 7pm on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
The organisers have now published their road closure map, a streets-affected listing, a race-week build notice and a traffic and transport FAQ. This article pulls out what changes for drivers. For trams, buses and tickets, see our Gold Coast 500 parking and public transport guide.
What changes on Monday 19 October?
Roads inside the circuit become one-way, with traffic controllers directing vehicles around it. The organisers say there are no exceptions. Changes run until 5:00am Tuesday 27 October, when roads return to normal.
| Road | Change from Monday 19 October |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast Highway | Stays open. The FAQ and build notice say one lane northbound, one southbound and an emergency lane. The streets listing and map describe southbound lanes closed from Tedder Avenue to Ferny Avenue, with two-way traffic on the northbound side. The sources differ, so follow the signs. Speed limit 50 km/h |
| The Esplanade, north of Staghorn Avenue | One-way northbound |
| Ferny Avenue | One-way westbound, local traffic only, entry via Main Beach Parade |
| Cronin Avenue and Aloha Lane | One-way westbound |
| Rankin Parade | One-way northbound at Breaker Street |
| Ocean Avenue | Two-way between the highway and Surfers Paradise Boulevard until Thursday 22 October. From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October there is no through access to Surfers Paradise Boulevard, with westbound local access only from 7am to 7pm |
| Tedder Avenue, Cronin Avenue to the highway | Local access only for Tedder Avenue and Breaker Street residents from Thursday 22 October. Tedder Avenue between Main Beach Parade and Cronin Avenue stays open for business |
Speed limits drop to 40 km/h in places for pedestrian safety. Allow extra time on the highway.
When is the track closed?
| Day | Track closed to all vehicles |
|---|---|
| Friday 23 October | 6:00am – 6:00pm |
| Saturday 24 October | 7:00am – 7:00pm |
| Sunday 25 October | 7:00am – 7:00pm |
Outside those hours, the track is open only to local traffic with the correct passes. Pass holders enter at The Esplanade and Staghorn Avenue or at Pacific Street, and leave via Surfers Paradise Boulevard or Tedder Avenue. Serisier Avenue is closed for the same hours because it becomes part of the track.
Where can’t I leave my car?
Vehicles must be off public roads in the event precinct before 6:00am on Friday 23 October and before 7:00am on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. Cars left behind may be towed at the owner’s expense. The streets listing tells residents to be out 15 minutes before the closure, while the FAQ says to move at least 30 minutes early, so aim for 30. A car parked entirely inside a private garage or driveway can stay, but it cannot be driven in or out while the roads are closed.
Special event clearways, which are strict no-parking zones for residents and visitors alike, apply from Monday 19 to Thursday 22 October and on Monday 26 October. Signs go up the day before. Vehicles left in a clearway will be towed and a fee applies.
From Friday to Sunday, the map shows 2-hour public parking between 9am and 5pm in the Main Beach event traffic area, with resident parking by pass. Cable Street has no street parking from Pacific Avenue to Main Beach Parade from 6:00am Friday to 7:00pm Sunday, and Ferny Avenue has none from Main Beach Parade to Surfers Paradise Boulevard.
Can I still get to Sea World, The Spit and Main Beach?
Yes. Waterways Drive is open and is not part of the circuit, and the organisers call it the key route to Main Beach, The Spit and Sea World. Northbound traffic on the highway reaches Main Beach and The Spit via Waterways Drive. Southbound drivers must be in the left-hand lane before the Southport Sundale Bridge. The organisers warn of delays on the highway, Waterways Drive and Southport Bridge. Tedder Avenue stays open for business between Main Beach Parade and Cronin Avenue.
What about Budds Beach and Paradise Waters?
From 8:00pm Wednesday 21 October (the FAQ and build notice; the streets listing says 7pm), Birt, Norfolk, Pine and Palm avenues have no entry or exit onto Ferny Avenue or the Gold Coast Highway, and all traffic leaves Budds Beach via Cypress Avenue. The end time is 5:00am Tuesday 27 October in the FAQ and build notice. The streets listing writes “Tuesday 26 October”, but 26 October is a Monday. The map legend adds a note about no right turn southbound into Cypress Avenue for 22 to 26 October only, which does not match either start date, so check the signs.
Paradise Waters is limited to local traffic from Friday to Sunday, and residents get parking passes. Police manage the Admiralty Drive and Gold Coast Highway intersection from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm on Monday 19 to Thursday 22 October, then from 7am to 7pm on Friday to Sunday.
Which parks and paths are closed?
Macintosh Island Park and its car park, Helen Park, Commodore Park and the affected Oceanway Footpath sections are closed from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October. Entry to the precinct on those days needs a ticket or a Resident Access Pass. Beach access stays open, although pedestrians may need to use temporary routes.
What happens after the race?
The organisers’ community brochure says night works will continue on the Gold Coast Highway after the event, with most event infrastructure removed by 7 November. The brochure writes “Friday Nov 7”, but 7 November 2026 is a Saturday, so check the signs. It also says the G:link will run at full capacity.
For access questions, the organisers list gc@supercars.com and a 24-hour community hotline, whose number is on the official pages below.
More guides: Gold Coast parking guide · Gold Coast 500 2026 guide
Sources
- Supercars — Gold Coast 500 transport and traffic (community map, streets listing, FAQ and build notices; checked 15 October 2026)
- Supercars — Streets affected listing (PDF)
- Supercars — Build notice 05, week beginning 19 October (PDF)
- Supercars — Traffic and transport FAQs (PDF)
Featured image: the Gold Coast Highway and Sundale Bridge towards Main Beach and Surfers Paradise (photo: Chris Olszewski / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Supercars or the City of Gold Coast. The organisers say these arrangements are subject to change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.