Nerang Street in Southport is fully closed between Scarborough Street and the Gold Coast Highway from 11am to 11pm on Friday 30 October, for the free CBD Twilight Markets, which run from 5pm to 8pm. The easiest way in is the G:link tram, and the council car parks nearby stop charging at 5pm, which is when the markets open.
Parking at HOTA, Home of the Arts, is free for the first 4 hours between 9am and 7pm, as long as you enter your vehicle registration at a parking meter when you arrive. If you stay longer than 4 hours, the City of Gold Coast, which runs the HOTA Precinct Carpark, lists a flat rate of $8.40. Parking is free and unrestricted before 9am and after 7pm. Prices are as of October 2026.
There is no public parking at the 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, so the practical way in is the G:link tram: Main Beach station is about 200m from the gates if you come from the north, and the new Cypress Avenue station is about 600m from Gate 6 if you come from the south. Your race ticket also covers free travel on Queensland Rail City network trains, the G:link and Kinetic buses.
Parking at Australia Fair in Southport is free for the first 3 hours each day. After that the charge starts at $8.00 for 3 to 3.5 hours and rises to $40.00 for 8 hours or more. The car park is ticketless, cashless and open from 4.30am to 12.30am, seven days a week. All prices on this page are as of October 2026, taken from the centre’s parking page.
Surf Parade in Broadbeach closes to traffic from 6:30am Thursday 15 October until 1pm Monday 19 October for the free Groundwater Country Music Festival, which runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. The easiest way in is the G:link tram to Broadbeach North, but if you come by train from Brisbane that weekend, note that Gold Coast line trains are replaced by buses.