A rainy day at Palm Beach does not mean a lost day. From Princess Palm, five indoor and undercover options sit within about a 25 minute drive: The Pines Elanora, Pacific Fair, Timezone Coolangatta, HOTA Gallery and Miami Marketta. Here is how we line them up for guests when the forecast turns and you still want a good day out.
Where can you go five minutes away? The Pines Elanora
The closest dry option is The Pines Elanora, about a five minute drive inland. From our front door, head a short way along the Gold Coast Highway and turn up KP McGrath Drive toward Elanora. Kmart, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi trade 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sunday, with more than 80 specialty stores open 9am to 5:30pm. The whole centre is undercover with free parking, so you stay dry from the car to the shops. Give it an hour or two for a relaxed browse, a coffee and a top-up of holiday supplies. The supermarkets make it easy to restock the apartment kitchen for a cosy night in, and there is a good run of cafes inside to wait out the heaviest of the rain. Costs are up to you, and it suits every age, from a pram walk to a quiet solo wander.
What about a full day undercover? Pacific Fair
For a wet day that needs filling, Pacific Fair at Broadbeach is the answer, roughly 18 to 20 minutes drive north along the Gold Coast Highway to Hooker Boulevard. It is the largest shopping centre in Queensland, with covered laneways, David Jones, an Event Cinemas complex and a dining precinct once you need a break. Trading runs 9am to 5:30pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9am to 9pm Thursday, 9am to 5:30pm Friday, and 9am to 6pm on the weekend. There are more than 5,000 free undercover car parks, so the rain stays outside. Guests keep mentioning that a movie session in the middle of a wet afternoon resets the whole day, especially with children in tow. Set aside half a day. Budgets stretch from window shopping to a splurge, and it works for all ages.
Somewhere to burn off energy? Timezone Coolangatta
When the children need to move, Timezone Coolangatta is about a 10 minute drive south, through Currumbin and Tugun to The Strand on Marine Parade. It sits fully indoors with more than 200 arcade games, laser tag, dodgems and ten-pin bowling, and the undercover car park at The Strand keeps arrivals dry. Guests keep mentioning how easily an hour here turns into three once the bowling starts. You pay per game or buy a time package, so you can keep it cheap or go all in. It is at its best for kids, teenagers and families, and there is enough for older ones to enjoy the bowling lanes too. The Strand itself has casual eateries on the same level, so you can refuel without stepping back out into the weather.
Prefer something quieter? HOTA Gallery
For a calmer indoor morning, the HOTA Gallery at Bundall is about 22 minutes drive north. Follow the Gold Coast Highway toward Surfers Paradise and turn onto Bundall Road. It opens seven days, 10am to 4pm, and general admission is free. Inside you will find the City Collection of more than 4,400 works across four levels, one of the largest collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in regional Australia, plus a children’s activity zone and a cafe. A 1,000 square metre special exhibition space on level one hosts the big touring shows, so there is often something new even for return visitors. Allow an hour or two. Only some touring exhibitions are ticketed, so the core visit costs nothing. It suits adults and curious older children who like a bit of space to roam.
What if the rain holds off until evening? Miami Marketta
If the wet clears by late afternoon, Miami Marketta is a covered evening out, about 15 minutes drive north to Hillcrest Parade, Miami. This warehouse street-food market runs Wednesday and Friday from 5pm to 10pm and Saturday from 4pm to 11pm, all under one roof with live music and a bar. Food stalls span the globe, from dumplings to wood-fired pizza, and you order stall by stall so a family can graze cheaply. Come early with kids for the food and music, or later for the grown-up crowd. Give it a couple of hours and let a grey day finish on a high.
FAQs
What is there to do in Palm Beach when it rains?
Plenty. Within about 25 minutes of Princess Palm you have The Pines Elanora for undercover shops and coffee, Pacific Fair for a full day inside, Timezone Coolangatta for the kids, HOTA Gallery for something quieter, and Miami Marketta for an undercover evening of street food.
Are there undercover activities for kids near Palm Beach?
Yes. Timezone Coolangatta at The Strand is fully indoor with arcade games, laser tag, dodgems and ten-pin bowling, about a 10 minute drive south. Pacific Fair also has Event Cinemas and covered laneways, so a wet afternoon with children stays easy.
How far is Pacific Fair from Princess Palm?
About 18 to 20 minutes drive north up the Gold Coast Highway to Broadbeach. It is Queensland’s largest shopping centre, fully covered, with more than 5,000 free undercover car parks, so you stay dry from the car to the shops.
Is HOTA Gallery free to visit?
Yes. General admission to the HOTA Gallery is free and open seven days, 10am to 4pm. The City Collection holds more than 4,400 works across four levels. Only some touring special exhibitions are ticketed, so a rainy morning of art costs nothing to start.
Do you need to book ahead for any of these rainy day options?
No. Pacific Fair, The Pines Elanora, Timezone and the HOTA Gallery are all walk-in, seven days a week. Cinema sessions on wet school-holiday afternoons are the one thing worth pre-booking, and it pays to arrive early at Miami Marketta on a Saturday night, as covered tables fill quickly once the music starts.
A wet spell is one of the easiest days to enjoy from an absolute beachfront base, because everything on this list is a short, dry drive away and your apartment is waiting with the kettle on when you get back. When you are ready to plan your stay, book your Palm Beach apartment with us, then browse more local things to do so the rain never catches you without a plan.
Image credit: Pacific Fair
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