Commonwealth Games 2018 Visitors Guide: Top 10 Places, Eats and Drinks….Let the Games Begin!

Here’s my 10 Top suggestions not to miss trying during your visit to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 and surrounding regions.

I hope my suggestions enhance your stay and help to create happy memories of Australia.

Safe travels and if I can be of any assistance please feel free to contact me.

1. INK GIN

Ink Gin is a premium dry gin made with 13 organic botanicals, including a mix of traditional and Australian natives.  The butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) extract is pH-sensitive, so when something acidic like tonic water, lime or lemon is added, the colour changes dramatically from blue to blush pink.

Husk Distillery also specialise in boutique botanical Agricole rums. Spiced Bam Bam is a beautiful soft spiced rum that is good enough to sip on the rocks, or mix with ginger beer and a squeeze of lime for a classic Dark & Stormy.

In mid-2018, Husk Distillery opens their cellar door, bar & tasting room to the public. The plantation distillery located on their cattle & cane farm is nestled in the green caldera surrounding Mt Warning in Northern NSW.

North Tumbulgum NSW – Husk Distilleries

2. THE FARM

‘The Farm’ is set of an 80-acre farm in Ewingsdale, 10k from the heart of Byron Bay NSW. The restaurant ‘Three Blue Ducks’ work closely with The Farm community and ethical local growers and producers to deliver tasty, interesting dishes that reflect the goodness of the produce they source.

Picnic hampers are house-made goods of locally sourced cheeses, charcuterie, parfait, dips, fruit, sweets, dried fruits, nuts, berries, and bread from onsite bakery, ‘The Bread Social’.

The Farm caters for kids with a childrens’ playground, animal farm and farm trial. Bring your own picnic blanket and wander along the farm trail past the pigs in their mud bath, the large brood of happy chickens that lay the hundreds of eggs used each day, past the macadamia orchard and the fields planted with produce that is served in the restaurant.

‘Flowers at the Farm’ is also located within the grounds of The Farm in a rustic flower shed full of blooms, greens and gift ideas.

11 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale, NSW Australia – The Farm

3. MIAMI MARKETTA

Miami Marketta comes alive every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night from 5pm with all the cuisines of the world. Miami Marketta is the creative hub for art, music, design and culture. Marketta Street Food is a family friendly outdoor undercover ‘communal table’ dining experience that can seat 600+ people within a safe enclosed precinct. Marketta Street Food is the open air laneway of food trucks – some of these merchants are here every week, while others drop in from time to time.

The Cargo Bar and Marketta Café offers an excellent selection of boutique wines, locally brewed beers and beverages and their own specialty cocktails.  Be entertained on the main stage by live, local blues, jazz, roots and touring artists. Open and free to the public from 5pm, Marketta Street food is the original and first street food market on the Gold Coast.

​23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami, QLD Australia – Miami Marketta 

Justin’s Rooftop has room to seat 70+ people and cool misting systems installed for lunch time sessions during hot summer day and heaters for cool winter nights. The bar has 6 popular beers on tap and a good selection of ciders, spirits, cocktails and wines.

Takeaway and delivery options (Download the delivery map here) are available from Justin’s takeaway and delivery shop. Takeaway customers can have a drink while they watch their pizza being cooked.

1708-1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads, QLD Australia – Justin Lane

5. GROUND COFFEE

Ground Control is a boutique coffee roaster based in the industrial precinct in Tweed Heads South. This quirky coffee bar sells coffee direct to the public as well wholesales to cafes and restaurants.

The coffee roastery offers customers the opportunity to try one of their signature blends or a single-origin coffee within the roastery premises. The baristas are highly skilled in all facets of coffee and serve coffee the way it should be – rich, smooth and not bitter.

Coffee Beans from around the World
– Major Tom – Medium Roast – Colombia/Costa Rica/Sumatra/Peru (My Favourite)
– Love Bites – Dark Roast – Colombia/Costa Rica/Sumatra/Peru/India
– OG – Medium Roast – Peru/Nicaragua/Papua New Guinea (Fair Trade and Organic)

Unit 5/29 Industry Drive, Tweed Heads South NSW Australia – Ground Control Coffee

6. BREAD SOCIAL

The Bread Social is a small trendy café located in the heart of the rejuvenated retail strip in Tweed Heads.

Lovers of organic sourdough breads, hearty pies, French buttery pastries and delicious artisan desserts travel kilometres for these scrumptious goodies. The ingredients are Australian, bio-dynamic and as local as possible.

Get in early for your daily bread as the shelves are quick to empty. The Single O coffee compliments the food and pastry offerings.

12 Bay Street, Tweed Heads, NSW, AUSTRALIA – The Bread Social

7. DBAR CAFE’

DBar Café is situated opposite ‘Point Danger’, the New South Wales and Queensland border monument and world-famous Duranbah surf beach. This scenic café offers a relaxed and casual dining experience of gourmet breakfasts and lunches using quality locally sourced fresh produce. The Burleigh Heads coffee is a real hit for both locals and visitors.

Adjoining the café is DBar House, a seaside art and home space canvassed in a classic 1925 Queenslander. DBar House hosts continuous art exhibitions and product launches from distinguished local artists. This space is filled with unique coastal gifts in fitting with living by the sea. Showcasing high quality resort wear and accessories.

275 Boundary Street, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia – DBar Cafe 

8. THE PADDOCK

Australian coffee is renowned as the best coffee in the world, ask any traveller. But, there is much more to Australian coffee than the ultimate caffeine fix. Australia’s coffee market is dominated by independent coffee shops which offer sophisticated blends in stylish, ‘trendy’ surrounds.

Paddock Bakery on the Gold Coast is one such place. A relocated Queenslander home sits tastefully under large shade trees with rustic tables and chairs scattered throughout the garden. Adjacent high amongst the tall trees, sits ‘The Loft’, a 1950 cottage which serves as indoor space in wet weather. The red brick wood-fired oven located behind huge glass doors is the ‘engine’ behind the great menu, delicious sourdough breads and naughty doughnuts.

20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami, QLD, Australia – The Paddock Bakery

Check out these associated venues:

Bam Bam Bakehouse – 2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, QLD, Australia

Opening mid 2018 – Cubby Bakehouse – 68 Chinderah Bay Drive, Chinderah, 2487 NSW

9. QUINCE FROMAGERIE

Cornerstone Stores located on the Gold Coast Highway Currumbin is a newly designed boutique retail and office space precinct. On the ground floor is a café, flower shop, hairdresser, boutique retail stores and wine + cheese shop.

Quince Fromagerie features French, Spanish, Italian and European cheeses in a temperature controlled walk-in cheese room, a selection of charcuterie meats and antipasto goods.

The small shop is packed with exquisite European wines and locally made spirits including small-batches of premium Australian wines plus biodynamic and organic wines.

570 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun / Currumbin, QLD, Australia – Cornerstone Stores

10. STONE & WOOD

Stone & Wood Brewery Byron Bay is the birthplace and the heartbeat of Stone & Wood. The Brewing Company was established in 2008. After continuing success, a second and larger brewery was built in 2014 at Murwillumbah to meet the growing demand for the popular beer.

The Byron brewery offers limited releases and a tasting room, where visitors can drop in for a carton, a tour and a cold beer. The multi award winning brew is available on tap in pubs, restaurants and bars or in glass stubbies.

Beers – Pacific Ale (my favourite), Garden Ale, Green Coast, Big Scrub, The Gatherer, Jasper Ale, The Stone Beer plus pilot ranges throughout the year.

4 Boronia Place, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia – Stone & Wood