A wet day in Broadbeach is no drama at all. Five indoor and undercover plans sit within a short drive of Boulevard Towers on Broadbeach Boulevard, from Pacific Fair and The Star to the movies, an indoor light maze, and our own heated indoor pool. Here is exactly how to spend a rainy day in Broadbeach and stay completely dry, with parking and timings sorted.
Pacific Fair: where do we start on a wet day?
Distance: about a 5-minute drive, or a stop on the G:link tram at Broadbeach South.
Directions: south along the Gold Coast Highway to Hooker Boulevard, or take the tram from Broadbeach North.
Pacific Fair is the natural rainy-day headquarters. It is fully undercover, and the first five hours of parking are free across thousands of spaces, so you can drive out and back without a drop landing on you. Beyond the shops, the open-but-covered Patio dining precinct is a lovely spot to linger over lunch. Standard trading is 9am to 5:30pm, with late-night shopping to 9pm on Thursdays. Budget nothing to walk in and browse, with spending entirely up to you. It easily fills half a day and suits every age, from a pram to grandparents.
Event Cinemas: is a movie the easy answer?
Distance: inside Pacific Fair, about a 5-minute drive.
Directions: head to the cinema level within the Pacific Fair centre.
When the rain settles in, a film is the low-effort win. Event Cinemas at Pacific Fair runs standard sessions plus premium Gold Class, VMAX and 4DX and IMAX screens, so you can pick anything from a quick kids matinee to a big-screen event. Because it sits inside the centre, you park undercover once and make a half-day of it with lunch and a browse either side. Sessions run through the day and into the evening, and a standard ticket is a mid-range spend, with the premium screens costing more. It suits all ages, with the film choice doing the sorting.
The Star Gold Coast: what about a longer, all-weather afternoon?
Distance: about a 6-minute drive, or the tram to Broadbeach North.
Directions: toward the Convention Centre on Broadbeach Island, at 1 Casino Drive.
The Star is the other all-weather anchor, and it is built for exactly this. The complex has undercover parking and a run of restaurants under one roof, from Italian at Cucina Vivo to regional Chinese at Imperial, so a wet afternoon can easily become a long, unhurried lunch. Entry is free, dining runs mid to higher-end, and the gaming floor is over-18s only, so families stick to the restaurants and public spaces. Plan on a few hours. It suits couples and adults after a polished afternoon, and families who are there for the dining rather than the gaming.
Infinity Attraction: the fun one for the kids?
Distance: about a 12-minute drive north, or the tram to Surfers Paradise.
Directions: to Chevron Renaissance on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue.
Infinity Attraction is the rainy-day secret weapon with kids. It is a fully indoor, climate-controlled walkthrough of 20 themed environments packed with light, sound and mirror-maze illusions, done at your own pace over about 30 minutes. It sits inside the Chevron Renaissance centre, so parking is undercover and you can pair it with a bite nearby. It opens from 10am on weekdays, with entry ticketed and family and student rates available. It suits ages eight and up, and it is genuinely good fun for the adults too. A short, sharp burst of wonder when the weather closes in.
Boulevard Towers: what if we just want to stay in?
Distance: 0 minutes, downstairs.
Directions: take the lift to the pool level.
Sometimes the best rainy-day plan is not leaving at all. Boulevard Towers has a heated indoor pool alongside a spa and sauna, so a grey day is still a swim day, entirely under cover. The kids can splash in the wading area while you warm up in the spa or the sauna, then it is a short, dry walk back to your apartment. With a full kitchen and Foxtel upstairs and free onsite parking below, you can happily settle in for the day at no extra cost. It suits every age, and it is the cosiest option of the lot.
FAQs
What is there to do in Broadbeach when it rains?
Plenty stays dry. Pacific Fair and The Star are both a five-minute drive with undercover parking, Event Cinemas runs sessions all day, and Infinity Attraction in Surfers is fully indoor. Back at Boulevard Towers, the indoor pool, spa and sauna mean you never have to go out at all.
Is there undercover parking near Boulevard Towers for a wet day?
Yes. Pacific Fair has thousands of undercover spaces with the first five hours free, and The Star has undercover parking on site. Boulevard Towers has free onsite parking too, so you can drive out and back without getting wet.
Can you still swim on a rainy day in Broadbeach?
Yes. Boulevard Towers has a heated indoor pool, plus a spa and sauna, so a wet day is still a swim day. The kids can splash in the wading area while you warm up in the spa, all under cover and included in your stay.
Is Pacific Fair a good rainy-day option for families?
Very. It is fully undercover, the first five hours of parking are free, and it pairs easy shopping with The Patio dining precinct and Event Cinemas under one roof. You can happily spend half a day there and stay dry the whole time.
A rainy day is really just a change of plan, and from a beachfront base with an indoor pool downstairs, it is an easy one. Shops, cinemas and dining are minutes away undercover, and home is always warm and dry. When you are ready, book direct with us for our best rate, and see more ways to fill a Broadbeach stay on our experiences guide.
Image credit: Pacific Fair
