The Weekend Edition - Sleep In. Slow Down. Enjoy.

Flying solo – top things to eat, see and do for those wanting to nail the single life this summer Flying solo – top things to eat, see and do for those wanting to nail the single life this summer Flying solo – top things to eat, see and do for those wanting to nail the single life this summer

Flying solo – top things to eat, see and do for those wanting to nail the single life this summer

Living the solo life ain't that bad. Think about it – no kids, no significant other, no worries. Look, instead of focusing on what you don't have, let's shine the light on what you do have – time. Being time rich is truly the pinnacle, but there's an art to nailing the hours you've got spare. That's where we come in. In the spirit of maximising your independence, we've teamed up with the fun folk at Smith Collective, the coast's innovative new rental community and retail hub, to give you some ideas on how to really nail the single life on the Gold Coast this summer.


What to eat (and drink)
Just so you know – dining alone is one of the most liberating things you can do. Take your favourite paperback, find a cosy corner (quiet spots like The North Room, Tasca and Bistro Lamp Deux are great for lone diners) and savour every uninterrupted mouthful. Prefer to have the crew in tow? Gather them all and explore a new cuisine – the coast is dotted with delicious international gems that serve up share-style feasts like Lebanese, Cambodian, VietnameseIndonesian and more, so you can really give tastebuds some pleasure. Keen to put yourself out there and meet some peeps while you eat? Jump in with Gold Coast Food & Wine Tours and explore some hidden gems. Every now and then (just because you can) it’s nice to take your foodie experiences up a notch – a Japanese degustation with your pals at Kiyomi, a sky-high caviar-infused lunch at Nineteen at The Star with the girls, or a treat-yo-self feast (complete with gold-lined cutlery) at Vanitas are those must-do local experiences that will give you all of the I-don’t-need-to-explain-my-bank-statement-to-anyone feels. Wine not?

Events to hit
The great thing about the single life is being able to do things spur of the moment – you just do you. If you’re a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-stretchy-pants type of person that embraces last-minute plans, here are some free local events that don’t require commitment (it’s such a strong word) weeks in advance. Cocktail lovers (that’s us) can get sipping at the Sugar and Spice Cocktail Festival on November 17, while the food-truck groupies can fill their bellies at the Nerang Picnic in the Park on November 18, before loosening off the belt buckles for the Hinterland Country Feast on Friday December 21. Beat feelers can get down and dirty to the finest scores of yesteryear (aka Whitney, MJ and Prince) at the Never Ending 80s party on Saturday November 24, while dog lovers cannot miss the Pooch Party at NightQuarter on December 1. Feeling spontaneous? Yeah you are. Well, you can still nab tickets to Falls Festival and the Woodford Folk Festival at the end of the year – clearly not free, but huge amounts of fun is guaranteed. Just saying.

Places to explore
Tired of that same old weekend routine? Jump in the car, put the windows down, feel the breeze in your locks and go and explore this fine city. The coast is so unique in that you can drive 20 minutes and pretty much feel like you’ve skipped town completely. Go green and head for a day up Mount Tamborine sipping wine and sampling all of the cheese with the crew, or venture south and explore the depths of Currumbin Valley. Grab your other time-rich pals and fill up an Esky with delicious snacks (you know, just some smoked olives, mortadella, gorgonzola, quince paste, prosciutto, pate, some baguettes … nothing excessive) and head to one of these local picnic spots – we’ve even armed you with some key tips on how to pimp your picnic. Oh, and while you’re in exploration mode, go and chase some waterfalls like the true free-spirited maverick you are.

To find out more about what’s on in the Gold Coast, head to our Event Guide.



Suggested Event News Reads

What’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend

What’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend

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Revel in the flavours of the Rainbow Region at Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

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Noosa Eat & Drink returns for another delicious long weekend – here’s what’s on

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Enjoy all-you-can-eat buffets and bunny-themed cocktails at Southport Sharks this Easter

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