Looking for casual sex in Gold Coast?
Suns out, buns out! The beachside city isn’t just famous for its surfing and skyline, it’s also a playground for no-strings-attached fun – with several bars and clubs playing host to a crowd that is always ready to mingle.
In this guide, we take a look at how to bag a one night stand in Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise. From the best hookup spots for your day and night game, to some online resources that can massively increase your chances of getting lucky in GC.
Gold Coast Hookups: Where Is The Action At?
When it comes to nightlife and meeting women on the GC, three areas steal the spotlight: Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads.
Each has their own merits and drawbacks.
Surfers Paradise
If we had to choose one destination for trying your luck, it would have to be the legendary Surfers Paradise. And it doesn’t take a genius to work this out. I mean, come on, this is ground zero for partying on the Coast… the Glitter Strip that glitters with neon, beer and pheromones.
Cavill Avenue is the central artery of nightlife here and it’s rammo jammo packed with bars, clubs and tipsy backpackers. Surfers is the Gold Coast’s main entertainment district.
Head here at night and you’ll encounter thumping club music, promo girls handing out free-entry wristbands, and crowds of barely-dressed 18- to 25-year-olds spilling into the street at 3am.
It’s mostly a tourist and backpacker crowd, and locals will tell you the clubs can be a bit “basic”, but if your only objective is to surround yourself with beautiful girls who are up for a good time, Surfers delivers.
Broadbeach
Just a few tram stops south, Broadie swaps sticky nightclub floors for glossier venues and a more balanced crowd.
Yes, you’ll still find plenty of partygoers, but the average age nudges up into the mid-20s and 30s, and the vibe is more cocktails-and-house-DJs than vodka-cruisers-and-sandshoes.
You’ll find plenty of bars and clubs around the Oasis and Oracle boulevard areas. Many Gold Coast residents prefer Broadbeach for a night out, and it’s definitely a less transient crowd.
(If you wanna hook up with a girl that you might actually want to see again, Broadbeach is more likely to tick the box than Surfers!)
The Star Casino complex is a magnet… you can start at the chic Atrium Bar or a rooftop lounge, and end up flirting over late-night blackjack. Broadbeach isn’t sleepy by any means, but it suits a slightly less manic “beer-soaked-floor” night game approach.
Burleigh Heads
Down the highway, Burleigh has long been seen as the trendy local hangout. This hip beach suburb is famed for boutique bars, craft breweries, and a decent if understated weekend scene.
Much less touristy, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the GC locals: from surfies with sun-bleached hair to young professionals enjoying a brew between shifts.
Venues like Burleigh Pavilion (an oceanfront bar buzzing with beautiful people snapping Instagram selfies at sunset) and Nightjar (dive bar with live DJs) are packed on Friday and Saturday nights.
Nearby areas like Nobby’s Beach, Miami, and Palm Beach also have popular small bars where you might have a more… IDK, organic meeting.
Oh, and let’s not forget Coolangatta at the south end… a bit quieter on weeknights, but backpacker pubs like the Cooly Hotel or gigs at the Surf Club can spark a fun random fling if you’re in the area.
What Are The Women Like In Gold Coast?
Gold Coast certainly has a reputation for beautiful women.
And it’s not entirely undeserved.
The place is sun-drenched year-round, gym culture is practically a religion, and the nightlife is engineered around being seen. Which has the knock on effect that women here are often tan, toned, and not shy about showing it off.
Of course, you get plenty of tourists, too, and they can be a mixed bag.
Compared to other Aussies, we’d say the girls in GC are slightly more direct than the Sydney/Melbourne crowd. It’s a beach town so the social rules are slightly looser. A bit less uptight and show-y.
The GC is transient – lots of tourists, students, and hospitality workers – which means people are used to meeting strangers.
Ultimately, the culture here is very hookup-friendly.
The combination of tourists in party mode and locals raised on surf, sun and clubbing means casual sex isn’t stigmatised. Most women you meet on a night out know exactly why people are out on Cavill Ave at 2am. That doesn’t mean every girl is keen – obviously not – but the odds of finding someone up for no-strings fun are higher here than in many Aussie cities.
As with most Aussie girls, humour is a big draw here. They appreciate easy-going and down-to-earth. Bust out some shitty cheeseball pick-up lines and you’re unlikely to make much of a splash – except for the sound of your ego belly-flopping into the sand.
Tips For Tinder
If the bars don’t deliver (or you just can’t be arsed changing out of your boardies), the apps will.
Tinder is buzzing on the GC, all thanks to the constant churn of tourists, backpackers, and locals who live for the “good times, not long times” lifestyle.
You’re probably going to notice profiles with lines like “In town for the week” or “Here for Schoolies”– which is basically code for “yes, casual is fine.”
What’s different here compared to Sydney or Melbourne?
Well, the Gold Coast crowd moves faster.
Matches often turn into “Wanna meet at Cavill?” within hours, not days. Everyone knows the party’s short-lived – so don’t waste it on endless banter.
If you are lucky enough to have impressive beach/gym pics, they will play well here. Just try not to look like you’re auditioning for the next Love Island or MAFS.
Bars & Clubs For No-Strings Mingling in GC
What are the best watering holes to find a willing partner?
It’s not hard to find suitable party-zones if you’re wandering down Surfers Paradise, but here are some suggestions:
- Surfers Paradise Beer Garden – Cnr Cavill &, Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. Recently revamped, the Beer Garden (attached to the iconic Cavill Hotel) is a casual pickup spot with a slew of all-types. It’s half open-air pub, half club, with live bands and DJs.
- Elsewhere Bar – 23 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. Artsy, dimly lit, and feels like a cool underground party. But while the music is really loud, there’s a nice little outdoor balcony area where many late-night chats have progressed into some action on the dance floor (and then afters elsewhere).
- Rattlesnake – 23 McLean St, Coolangatta QLD 4225. “Eat Sleep Rattles Repeat”. It’s been voted the number one nightclub in Gold Coast and – if you can stand the crowds – it’s well worth a visit.
- Stingray Lounge – 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. A more laid-back option oozing sophistication. Stylish cocktail lounge by day and a funky club by night.
- Loose Moose – 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218. Canadian-themed bar with whisky, craft beer, and a constant whirr of chatter. A bit of liquid courage from a maple whisky cocktail and you could be trading cheeky jokes with that cutie by the bar.
- Star Casino – 1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach QLD 4218. A full-on entertainment maze with locals, Weekenders and tourists. Most are dressed to impress.
In the daytime, pretty much any of the surf clubs along the coast are good for a chilled beer and some spontaneous chit-chat. And just about every suburb along the strip has one.
The good thing here is that nobody’s shouting over EDM (good for those of us with shit hearing); you can actually hold a conversation while watching the waves roll in.
Improve Your Chances (Online Hookups)
Not everybody is blessed with the art of conversation, or the ability to strike up random conversation with some beach babes in a bar.
If you’re blessed with some decent profile photos and better-than-average looks, you might find success on one of the Gold Coast’s favoured hookup apps (yes, Tinder on crack):
Adult MatchMaker
https://www.adultmatchmaker.com.au
This is Australia’s number one website for adult dating, Adult MatchMaker has thousands of singles looking to meet up for sex. It’s well known thanks to its many TV ads that run late at night.
As far as casual encounters go, this site is one of the most active in Gold Coast and QLD.
Red Hot Pie
The main rival to AMM.
Red Hot Pie is particularly useful if you’re dipping your toes in to Gold Coast’s alternative lifestyle… and by that we mean, there’s a shit load of local swingers and kinks on here.
You do find plenty of adult dating and NSA hookups, but it’s the swinging scene where RHP really shines. As with AMM, you’ll need to take out a paid subscription to open up full functionality/messaging on the app.
Adult FriendFinder
https://adultfriendfinder.com/
Simply because… it’s the world’s largest selection of horny adults networking in one place. The aim of AFF is simple: get laid, get laid, and get laid again.
While the site has been the subject of much controversy other the years, primarily for breaking up marriages, it’s the most obvious choice for anybody looking to find a casual encounter that doesn’t cost a penny. Well, except for the membership, anyway.
And If All The Free Options Fail?
Well, the question is…
How badly do you want to get laid?
The Gold Coast has an extensive adult industry, and the market for paid sex is always there, always waiting. And it’s fully legal, too.
You can check out our guides to local brothels, erotic massage and escort services in GC.
Obviously, this “root” costs you money. But so does a night in Surfers Paradise!
What are your tips and recommendations for scoring a casual shag in Gold Coast?
Hit us up with your thoughts, experiences and sob stories below!
