When it comes to schoolies on the Gold Coast, kids don’t want their parents or guardians hanging around. It’s tough on us oldies, especially as this could be your child’s first independent time away with friends since supervised school camps. In one last act of parental usefulness, your child might let you book (and pay for!) their accommodation. This article identifies the best schoolies accommodation options on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast schoolies hotels and apartments
The Gold Coast has been hosting schoolies since the late 1970s. The hotels below know what school leavers want and are fully prepared for the excess noise and disruption thousands of celebratory teens bring with them. For safety, many hotels become exclusively “schoolies only” for the duration, too. That said, you can expect to pay a bigger bond and there will be a few more terms and conditions around accidental damage and any extra cleaning requirements. So, which schoolies accommodation to book?
Prices are seasonal, so I’m not going to mislead you with current prices. The hotels listed below are generally under $1000 per person per week (minimum occupancy applies).
The Meriton on Main Beach
Get a two-bedroom apartment, with its own kitchen, sleeping up to four people. The hotel has a pool, separate guest laundry, fitness centre, and free WiFi.
Oracle Resort Broadbeach
Offering self-contained and privately-owned two-bedroom apartments (with or without sea view, depending on your budget), sleeping up to five people. Each apartment has its own kitchen and washing machine. Facilities at the hotel also include a pool, fitness centre and BBQ facilities.
Surfers Beach Holiday Apartments
Get a three-bedroom apartment for up to eight occupants, complete with kitchen, washing machine, and maybe even a coffee machine! Ticks in favour of this resort are that it is budget friendly, has 24-hour security, and soundproofed rooms.
Mantra Circle on Cavill – Surfers Paradise
A three-bedroom apartment can sleep up to seven occupants, all within minutes’ walk of the main party beach. Apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and most are fully wheelchair accessible. The hotel also has a fitness centre, games room, and three swimming pools.
Pacific Plaza Apartments – Surfers Paradise
Close to the beach and with a kitchen and laundry facilities in every apartment, Pacific Plaza Apartments also have a fitness centre and pool for guests to enjoy.
Mantra Legends Hotel – Surfers Paradise
Mantra Legends has a variety of rooms and apartments to choose from. It’s not as cheap as some of the others mentioned here (and doesn’t offer free WiFi), but it is a little more luxurious. Apartments have their own kitchen and laundry facilities, and the hotel has a pool and fitness centre for guests to use.
Mantra Legends also does a great buffet breakfast!
Mantra Sun City – Surfers Paradise
Just one block from the Surfers Paradise beach, Mantra Sun City is close to public transport and just a few meters from Cavill Avenue. Choose ocean or hinterland views and take advantge of the tennis court, fitness centre, and pool.
Mantra Crown Towers – Surfers Paradise
Mantra Crown Towers is just 100m from Surfers Paradise beach. There’s public transport close by, making this Gold Coast schoolies accommodation accessible to all the best things to do on the Gold Coast. This hotel features a games room for when you don’t fancy going out into the crowds.
Mantra on View – Surfers Paradise
Located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, just 500m from the beach, Mantra on View Hotel is a great choice for Surfers Paradise schoolies accommodation. There are tennis courts on site, and even a day spa and hair salon!
Backpackers hostels for schoolies accommodation
The Gold Coast has its fair share of backpacker hostels where accommodation is incredibly cheap. There is little privacy or security as beds are in dormitories, often mixed gender. Accommodation is generally between $40 and $100 per night, so if a backpackers is the best fit for your budget, try:
Surf Inn – Surfers Paradise
Surf Inn has dorms from 4-bed to 10-bed, including a 4-bed dorm with its own ensuite, and a 10-bed female only dorm. If booking with friends, try to get a whole dorm to yourselves. Dorms have lockers and bunk beds, but unless you choose the dorm with the ensuite, you’ll be sharing the communal bathrooms.
Facilities include a swimming pool, vending machines, laundry service, games, and Netflix.
Backpackers in Paradise
Backpackers in Paradise is in the heart of Surfers Paradise. They have 4-, 8-, 10-, 14- and 20-bed multi-share dorms, 4- and 10-bed female only dorms, double and twin private rooms with ensuites, plus a fully furnished apartment. Bookings are only accepted from students aged 18+ who hold an international passport.
Facilities include a cinema, laundry, pool tables, swimming pool, convenience store and cafe, and a communal kitchen.
Budds in Surfers
Budds is just 100m from Budds Beach, and 200m from Surfers Paradise beach. It has a pool, communal kitchen, and bicycles and surfboards for hire. You can get a double room with ensuite, twin room, 4-bed mixed or female only dorm, or an 8-bed mixed dorm.
Schoolies Air BnB accommodation
Most Air BnBs do not accept schoolies accommodation bookings. If you attempt to book an Air BnB, be upfront and tell them that the booking is for schoolies. If you don’t you might find you are turned away on check in.
Camping at schoolies
Schoolies can camp at Main Beach Tourist Park provided they follow the strict rules on noise, alcohol consumption, partying, and mess. If you don’t want to pitch a tent, cabins are available. Facilities include laundry, recreation room, swimming pool, and a kiosk.
It is illegal to camp on Gold Coast beaches, roadsides, and parks.
Be a good guest!
Whichever schoolies accommodation you book, be a good guest. This includes being considerate of your neighbours and hosts, taking care of property, following house rules, and cleaning up after yourselves. After all, you don’t want to be kicked out or lose your bond!
