It's "Schoolies Week" up here on the Gold Coast, my own weekend getaway perhaps unwisely clashing with the partying teenagers of Australia accumulating in one location. However in the midst of a hectic time, in a town of grandeur and aesthetic pleasures, there is one place that seemed to do just the simple things right. The Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club, where one can enjoy a drink with friends, order a cheap but quality meal, play some pool, or try their hand on the slots in the Pokies Area.
At first sight it seems a basic, unspectacular organisation. A bar section with an assortment of televised sport, pool table and gaming machines. This flows into restaurant seating, both indoor and outdoor, accommodative for families and groups of friends alike. Yet you are steadily drawn by the atmosphere that is offered. The background music, an assortment of acoustic based groups from Jack Johnson to John Butler, contributes to the relaxed, beachside feeling. Speaking of beach, the view is unparalleled. Grand open windows grant you all the sights and sounds of the sands and sea of Surfers Paradise.
The food is yet another attraction of the club. Value for money is exceptional, particularly with the lunch menu where no meal is over $10. The range is impressive, with over 40 items including chicken, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. Similarly the dinner and breakfast menus cater for all tastes at a reasonable price, more so on the "weekly night time specials" (a parmagiana, chips and salad for $10; not bad!) While the price is low the quality of food is high; you can bank on feeling satisfied without the pain in your hip pocket.
Behind the bar there are a number of beers and ciders available on tap, as well as many other beers, spirits and mixers in the fridge. The barmen are infectiously friendly, always hospitable and open for a chat, evident by the number of locals who can't help but roll in for happy hour between 5-6 pm, when they can get a schooner of Carlton Draught for $4.90.
Whether you're a holidaying tourist or a local, I implore you to bypass the grand flashing lights of Surfers Paradise, if only for an afternoon, to venture to the Surf Lifesaving Club. I hope, yet feel confident, you will experience the relaxation, enjoyment and value that kept me coming back.
