26 Gold Coast markets to visit (nearly) every day of the week

We went, we shopped, we conquered — presenting your go-to guide to the best Gold Coast markets.

Reflecting the eclectic spirit of the region, there’s a Gold Coast market to suit every taste, budget and whim. Treasure troves of seasonally rich produce, trend-driven and vintage fashion, coastal-inspired homewares and so much more, the best Gold Coast markets are filled with enthralling sights and are among the best things to do in the city. From street food strongholds to beachfront meccas, here are our most recommended picks.

Farmers’ markets on the Gold Coast

1. ORGANIC GOLD COAST FARMERS MARKET

fresh vegetables displayed at Organic Gold Coast Farmers Market — Stock up on fresh fruit and veggies every Sunday. (Image: Getty/Beton studio)

Open: Every Sunday from 6am to 11.30am

Said to be the only true all-organic (and certified organic) farmers market in the region, the weekly Organic Gold Coast Farmers Market puts on a seasonal, locally grown and sourced extravaganza every Sunday. Those looking for self-catering during their holiday can pick up fresh-baked sourdough, fresh herbs, fruits and veggies, fresh tofu, micro-greens, nut butter, grain milk, oils, honey and herbal teas. As for those in town for a good time, not a long time, you can devour all the breakfast goods alongside freshly made juices, coffee or chai, before picking up organic skincare products on the way out.

Address: Merrimac State High School, Dunlop Ct, Mermaid Waters

2. BURLEIGH MARKET

fresh oranges and lettuce on display at Burleigh Market — Expect local produce fresh from the farm at Burleigh Market. (Image: Getty/Ayla Harbich)

Open: Every Saturday from 6:30am to 12pm

The Burleigh Markets are your go-to community spot for all things fresh, farm-produced, organic, gourmet and global — think fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, and deli products. Of course, there’s plenty of hot coffee and bakery treats too, along with fresh flowers, arts and crafts, antiques, collectables and a great selection of local live music.

Address: Burleigh Heads State School, Cnr West Burleigh Rd & Lower Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

3. THE HELENSVALE FARMERS MARKET

people strolling around the stalls at Helensvale Farmers Market, Gold Coast — Shop your way around the Helensvale Farmers Market.

Open: Every Saturday from 6am to 11am

Focusing on local creations and true sustainability, The Helensvale Farmers Market offers quality farm-fresh produce from local growers, as well as a huge range of global foods, artisanal wares, and beautiful products. It’s a great weekend drop-in before hitting the Gold Coast’s famed theme parks, including Wet’n’Wild and Warner Bros. Movie World, plus Topgolf Gold Coast, where you drive and dine, simultaneously — everything’s within a short drive of one another.

Address: Helensvale State High School, 243 Discovery Dr, Helensvale

4. MARINA MIRAGE FARMERS MARKETS

bread on display at Marina Mirage Farmers Markets, Gold Coast — Find artisan continental bread and pastries at Marina Mirage Farmers Markets.

Open: Every Saturday from 6.30am to 12pm

A foodie haven, the undercover Marina Mirage Farmers Markets is home to freshly picked farm delights, sans nasty pesticides, so you know everything is as healthy as can be.

You’ll also find artisanal bread and pastries, Chinese greens, specialty jams, gluten-free cakes and terrines, organic juices, free-range eggs, Manuka honey, and delicious cupcakes. Take the opportunity to chat to farmers themselves who are always willing to share insight into their beautiful bounties.

Address: 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach

5. PALM BEACH FARMERS’ MARKET

a couple browsing through a handicraft stall at Palm Beach Farmers Market — Peruse local artisan shops at Palm Beach Farmers Market. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Open: Every Saturday from 6am to 11.30am

Firmly focused on dishing out fresh local produce, high-quality food, and sustainable products, the Palm Beach Farmers’ Market supports the slow food movement and is run by a passionate bunch of farmers, producers and artisans.

So much more than a standard shopping experience, this is a place for the Gold Coast community to gather with friends and family while enjoying amazing food (you won’t miss the MiO crispy buckwheat wraps filled with Japanese-inspired ingredients — the line is always the longest), live local music and a great community atmosphere.

Address: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Thrower Dr, Palm Beach

6. HOTA FARMERS & ARTISAN MARKETS

a woman browsing through the fresh produce stalls at HOTA — Browse through the pop-up stalls after a day of creative exploration at HOTA.

Open: Every Sunday from 6am to 11.30am

Nestled against the backdrop of Evendale Lake and the stunning HOTA (Home of the Arts), the HOTA Farmers & Artisan Markets comes alive every Sunday with seasonal, farm-fresh produce, delicious artisan foods, boutique fashion, and handcrafted treats. Visitors tend to make a day of their visit, dropping into HOTA, one of the best things to experience on the Gold Coast, once bellies are sufficiently filled and reusable shopping bags are stored safely in the car.

Address: 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

7. EVERGREEN MARKETS

fresh bananas at Evergreen Markets, Gold Coast — Fill your basket with fresh bananas at Evergreen Markets. (Image: Getty/Kiara Bloom)

Open: Every Wednesday from 6.30am to 11am

This buzzy midweek market is a lovely way to break up the daily grind, embraced by picnic rug-carrying locals. Head along to Robina, about a 20-minute drive from Surfers Paradise, to gather your holiday supplies, spanning fresh produce and herbs, plus artisan products and flowers. Park your clan by the lake on a rug of your own to live life like a local and bask in the excellent coffee that’s available.

Address: 4 Greenwich Ct, Robina

8. COOLY COMMUNITY MARKETS

a bunch of sunflowers in a paper bag at Cooly Community Markets — Shop beautiful blooms at Cooly Community Markets. (Image: Getty/lynnebeclu)

Open: Every Thursday from 7am to 11am

Grab vibrant blooms and locally sourced deliciousness at the midweek Cooly Community Markets located on the southern beaches of the Gold Coast. The vibe is chilled, and stalls are strung up at length along a footpath so stickybeaking at your own pace (even in the rain) is a cinch. From homemade chia puddings to the locally adored range of sauces from Burleigh Heads’ Medicinal Chef, there’s non-stop goodness at this beloved Gold Coast market.

Address: Goodwin Park, Coolangatta

Gold Coast night markets

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9. HOTA HAWKER NIGHT MARKETS

Open: Random dates — the next is July 12, 2025, 4pm to 9pm

They pop up at random throughout the year so rest assured that once a HOTA Hawker Night Market date is slated, crowds will flock. The Gold Coast market’s June staging even attracted Marco Pierre White so you know it’s top-notch grub — think dumplings, Bahn mi, noodles, bao buns and more. More than 150 authentic South East Asian street food stalls (hence the Hawker title nod) fuel famished visitors as the sun sets over HOTA’s spacious lawn. Grab your favourite feed and get cosy as roaming performances play out and fire twirlers undeniably captivate.

Address: 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

10. MIAMI MARKETTA

a family entering Miami Marketta — Find your favourite indulgences in one bustling laneway. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Open: Every Wednesday to Saturday, from 5pm

Three times a week, Miami Marketta breathes after-dark life into the other side of Miami (across the Gold Coast Highway, away from the beach), delivering a buzzing collective of street food from around the world. The undercover space hosts up to 20 international street food stalls on any given night, all jostling for your attention in one bustling laneway. The mix of vendors changes nightly but expect a generous smattering of all your favourite indulgences, like wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta, fried chicken, gyros, tacos, cakes and slices, and more.

There’s also live music every night, plus onsite bars to choose from where boutique wine, locally brewed beer, and specialty cocktails keep crowds merry. In March 2025, Mona Lisa’s Lair, a champagne bar at the rear of the building behind the food vendors, opened its doors, expanding Marketta’s repertoire to pure fancy. If you’re in a group of eight or more, you can book a table, otherwise, it’s walk-in territory.

Address: 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami

11. MARKETTA ARTS CREATIVE

Open: Every Thursday from 5pm

Running alongside Miami Marketta’s culinary offerings on Thursday nights is the Marketta Arts Creative, a weekly gathering of crafty locals keen to showcase their genius. It’s the spot to go for one-of-a-kind fashion and accessories, plus unique artistic creations and vintage gems.

Address: 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami

12. SURFERS PARADISE BEACHFRONT MARKETS

people buying seashell crafts at a beachside stall, Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets — Pop by the seaside market for all sorts of crafts. (Image: Supplied)

Open: Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 9pm

Set alongside the famous Surfers Paradise esplanade, the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets are historically popular with the international tourist crowd and are perhaps most well-known for peddling slightly kitsch souvenirs and quirky arts and crafts. But its offerings have expanded in recent years, bringing essential oils, candles, hand-blown glass, hot doughnuts and local products such as macadamias and honey into the mix.

The esplanade itself is a lovely spot for a pre- or post-dinner stroll as the sun sinks and salt-laced air drifts about, while live music creates a reliably lively scene.

Address: The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise

13. SANCTUARY MARKETS

a family entering Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary — Go on a shopping escapade and wildlife immersion with the family at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Open: Every Friday from 4pm to 9pm

Crammed within the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Village Green, with tables dotted about its street-fronting deck, the Sanctuary Markets is a family-friendly vibe where locals love unwinding into the weekend. Home to a wide variety of international foods with mainstays including Thai, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Mexican, Italian and good old-fashioned Aussie fish and chips (look for the adorable mini caravan luring famished kids), the market cooks up something for everyone. Don’t miss Jackie’s Cakes, set up right at the entrance of the markets, an iconic Gold Coast baker crafting delicious fondant cookies based on what everyone’s talking about (Taylor Swift, Mother’s Day, you name it, Jackie’s all over it). The Fire ‘n’ Dough mobile pizza vendor is another popular pit-stop but expect to wait for about 20 minutes if it’s crowded because their pudgy pizza bases are wildly popular.

Address: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Village Green, cnr Tomewin and Teemangum Streets

14. EMERALD LAKES TWILIGHT MARKET

Open: Every Thursday from 3pm to 7pm

Renowned for its quality international bites, the Emerald Lakes Twilight Market offers an al fresco shopping experience with dialled up ambience. It’s a popular spot for friends to meet and soak up great live entertainment, arts and crafts, and exotic cuisines, while fresh produce is also too good to ignore.

Address: The Boulevard, Emerald Lakes, Carrara

15. DREAMWORLD NIGHT MARKET

a woman getting her waffle order from one of the food stalls at Dreamworld Night Market — Make sure to leave room for dessert.

Open: Every Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 9pm

There’s something extra special about roaming a theme park at night and the Dreamworld Night Market delivers the goods extensively. Attracting an ever-changing food truck line-up within its young kids’ zone, the Gold Coast market is also beloved for opening up its Deep Sea Dodgem cars, Dreamworld Flyer (those swings that fly through the air way too fast), Belinda’s Tree House (watch out for shooting foam balls), Fun Maze and Gamesite (just like Timezone with added showbag sales) to lovestruck kidlets. Entry is $2 for adults and free for kids under 13, but you’ll need to pay for the dodgems, Flyer and dinner, which typically entails Japanese rice bowls, dumplings, German bratwurst, chargrill meats, loaded waffles and an obligatory stop at the Ice Cream Parlour.

Address: Dreamworld, Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera

Monthly markets on the Gold Coast

16. DUSTY RUMMAGE

art on display inside Dust Temple cafe, Gold Coast — Score a bargain inside this warehouse-gallery cafe. (Image: Dusty Rummage)

Open: Last Sunday of the month and timings vary

Find your pre-loved threads fix at Dusty Rummage, a second-hand Gold Coast clothes market staged inside Dust Temple, a huge warehouse-gallery cafe on the southern beaches. You’ll comb the racks with sartorially sound shoppers as drinks are served at the bar and the kitchen cranks out a light meal menu.

Address: 54 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin

17. GOLD COAST ART & CRAFT SUNDAY MARKETS

Open: First and third Sunday in Broadbeach, and the second and fourth Sunday in Coolangatta

Shopping for gifts, souvenirs, art, craft, the ingenious, the weird, and the wonderful has never been easier. The Gold Coast Art & Craft Sunday Markets run across two locations, one in the south and one in Central Gold Coast, delivering a colourful mix of more than 150 stalls. While homemade jewellery, art, homewares and other treasures are worthy of your browsing, there’s also fresh produce, delicious food, and live entertainment to enjoy. The Gold Coast market also operates in Burleigh Heads however its outpost was suspended in June 2025 due to ongoing road works. Fingers crossed it’s back up and running before long.

Address: Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach, and Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta.

18. DESERT DIGS

pre-loved fashion items at Desert Digs Vintage Market, Gold Coast — Check out pre-loved fashion items at Desert Digs Vintage Market.

Open: First Saturday of the month from 12pm to 4pm

How does achingly cool vintage fashion, cocktails, food trucks, and live tunes sound? Get on down to the Desert Digs Gold Coast market at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse in Burleigh Heads, where you can swap vinyl and pick up pre-loved fashion items to instantly jazz up your look.

Address: 6/36 Central Dr, Burleigh Heads

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19. BOOT BARGAINS AT YATALA DRIVE-IN

Open: Third Sunday of the month from 6am to 11am

For a good old-fashioned car boot sale, make tracks to Yatala Drive-In theatre’s Boot Bargains market. On hand to make somebody else trash your treasure, the monthly event is open to everyone who registers beforehand while pure bargain hunters will need to pay $2 at the gate. Tasty food and beverages are also available from the venue’s retro 1950s diner all morning.

Address: 100 Jacobs Well Road, Stapylton

20. BEECHMONT MARKETS

an aerial view of Beechmont Markets with a foggy mountain in the background — The Beechmont Markets in the Gold Coast Hinterland boasts breathtaking views.

Open: Third Sunday of the month from 8am to 1pm

Offering a taste of the gorgeous Gold Coast Hinterland, the Beechmont Markets is a community event beloved by locals. Immersed in breathtaking bushland, the Gold Coast market rounds up peak local produce, homemade goods, plants, live music, arts and crafts and more.

Address: 1835 Beechmont Rd, Beechmont

21. HOPE ISLAND MARINA MARKETS

Open: Third Sunday of the month from 9am to 1pm

Featuring a selective group of Gold Coast artisans, the Hope Island Marina Markets stretch along the waterfront at Hope Island Shopping Centre and feature homewares and handmade crafts, jewellery, live music, children’s clothing, and more. Browse the stalls and grab breakfast or lunch at one of the on-site cafes.

Address: 10 Santa Barbara Rd, Hope Island

Family-friendly markets on the Gold Coast

22. CARRARA MARKETS

clothes for sale at Carrara Markets, Gold Coast — Find more than 300 stalls selling clothes, homewares and more. (Image: Carrara Markets)

Open: Every Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 3pm

Touted as the biggest permanent weekend marketplace in Australia, Carrara Markets plays host to more than 300 stalls and attractions on a 24-acre site. Trawl eclectic stalls for fresh produce, clothing, jewellery, homewares, plants, second-hand bric-a-brac, souvenirs, arts and crafts, a handful of cafes, and more.

It’s a particularly great spot for those travelling with kids as you’ll find a mini-golf course, butterfly house, buskers, pony rides, a baby animal farm, trampolines, and face painters in the ‘Family Lane’ section.

Address: Cnr Gooding Dr & Manchester Rd, Carrara

23. TWEED HARBOURSIDE MARKET

a crowd of people strolling along the stalls at Tweed Harbourside Market — The Tweed Harbourside Market boasts waterside stalls featuring handmade goods and artisan produce. (Image: Duke M and F Evans)

Open: First Saturday of every month, 9am to 2pm

Although not strictly on the Gold Coast, we’re including this one given the Tweed is a few steps from Coolangatta. Set at the Jack Evans Boat Harbour, the Tweed Harbourside Market sits against the turquoise hues of the Tweed.

There’s everything to fill your basket and your stomach, from artisan produce to delicious street food and handmade goods. You’ll also find a playground, live music and barbecue areas within the waterside grounds.

Address: Wharf St, Tweed Heads

Mt Tamborine markets

24. TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN STATE SCHOOL MARKETS

a product display at Tamborine Mountain State School Markets — Browse through an array of interesting items at Tamborine Mountain State School Markets.

Open: Last Sunday of the month from 7am to 1pm

Situated on the beautiful Tamborine Mountain, the Tamborine Mountain State School Markets are a wonderfully diverse, character-filled, monthly market overflowing with things to explore. Here you’ll find up to 130 stalls from local artists, crafts, fresh produce, plants, books, clothing, vintage items, collectables, jewellery, bric-a-brac, candles, and plenty more.

Whether you’re browsing or buying, head along and treat yourself to delicious food while enjoying the live music and friendly mountain atmosphere

Address: Corner of Long Rd and Curtis Rd, Tamborine Mountain

Occasional markets on the Gold Coast

25. QUEENSLAND VEGAN MARKETS

the Queensland Vegan Markets at sunset — Learn more about veganism at Queensland Vegan Markets.

Open: Various dates, so check the website

Dedicated to bringing you a great range of vegan food and cruelty-free shopping, the Queensland Vegan Markets are open to everyone – whether you want to reduce your consumption of animals, learn more about veganism or enjoy a place where you are spoilt for vegan food options. Enjoy a day out with your favourite vegan eats, drinks, shopping, and charities.

Address: Across Broadwater Parklands, Mudgeeraba Showground and Southport locations

26. CHRISTMAS MARKETS GC

Open: Various dates in December

The annual Christmas Markets GC is one of the most festive events on the Gold Coast, inviting guests to fill their swag with gifts from more than 100 stalls selling all manner of goodies. Check the website for dates closer to silly season but expect live music, kids’ rides, delicious treats and all the twinkling lights.

Address: Broadwater Parklands, Marine Pde, Southport

Originally written by Jemma Fletcher with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best hotels on the Gold Coast for your getawway

From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

Catseye Pool Club

Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

Sails Restaurant

A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

Bommie

Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

Pebble Beach

Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

Beach Club Restaurant

A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

coca chu

Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

Marina Cafe

Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.