Surfers Paradise Commercial Real Estate – Capitalising on Tourism and Redevelopment

An aerial view of Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast – a high-rise hub of tourism and commerce.

Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s iconic heart of tourism and commerce. As a commercial property owner or investor here, you benefit from unparalleled foot traffic, international recognition, and a pipeline of redevelopment opportunities. Selling commercial property in Surfers Paradise means tapping into a vibrant market driven by 12.2 million annual visitors to the Gold Coast (a 31% year-on-year increase as of 2023). With the city investing heavily in revitalisation and infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics demand for well-located retail, hospitality, and mixed-use sites in Surfers Paradise continues to grow. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes Surfers Paradise’s commercial market uniquely attractive – from its tourist-powered economy and upcoming developments to tips on maximising your sale – all in a professional, data-informed manner (no fluff, no case studies, just the facts and opportunities).

Why Surfers Paradise? High Visibility and Year-Round Demand

Surfers Paradise offers a rare combination of global destination appeal and local economic strength. Few places in Australia have the round-the-clock pedestrian activity that Cavill Mall, Orchid Avenue, and The Esplanade enjoy. Tourists and locals alike flock to this precinct for its beaches, nightlife, shopping and dining, guaranteeing any business high exposure. Importantly, Surfers Paradise has a diverse commercial landscape: from street-level retail stores and alfresco restaurants to entire older motels or arcades ripe for redevelopment into high-rises.

Key advantages of Surfers Paradise commercial real estate include:

• Unmatched Foot Traffic: The core entertainment precinct around Cavill Avenue sees tens of thousands of visitors daily. For example, the light rail station near Cavill Avenue serves over 32,000 passengers per day, feeding customers directly to nearby shops and eateries. High footfall translates to strong retail turnover and tenant demand.

• Tourism-Driven Revenue: Tourism is a pillar of the local economy. Even in the post-pandemic era, the Gold Coast recorded over 12 million visitors in 2023, many of whom stay and spend in Surfers Paradise. This underpins robust sales for hospitality and entertainment venues. Investors are often drawn by the area’s solid rental yields, sustained by tourist spending and a constant pool of potential tenants wanting a presence “where the action is.”

• Global Recognition: Owning property in Surfers Paradise confers a certain prestige and broad market appeal. The suburb’s name recognition means marketing a property here – whether a retail shop or a development site – attracts interstate and even international buyer interest. This can create competitive tension when selling, often resulting in premium sale prices for prized assets.

Market Overview: Tight Supply Meets Investor Interest

Like much of the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise’s commercial property market has seen low vacancy and high demand in recent years. A limited pipeline of new commercial space – due in part to construction cost rises and few vacant sites – has kept supply tight. Meanwhile, rapid population growth (over 275 new residents moving to the Gold Coast each week recently) and the post-COVID tourism rebound have boosted demand for space.

What does this mean for sellers? Generally, well-leased assets are achieving strong results. For instance, a two-level retail center “Cavill Lane” with 28 tenancies sold for $31 million, boasting 96% occupancy and a long 5.6-year WALE (weighted average lease expiry). This sale underscored investor appetite for established income-generating properties in prime locations. It also highlighted the rental growth potential – many leases had fixed 3–4% annual increases, appealing in an inflationary environment.

Even if you’re selling land or older buildings, the redevelopment angle is compelling to buyers. Surfers Paradise is undergoing a new wave of development: older hotels, holiday apartments and low-rises are being acquired for high-rise projects. A recent example is the sale of an $87.65 million beachfront site which is slated for twin luxury towers, showing developers are willing to pay top dollar for prime positions (rivaling famous projects like Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands). As the Gold Coast Council’s Surfers Paradise Revitalisation plan moves forward – a $100 million project to transform the main beachfront, Cavill Mall and Esplanade into a more modern pedestrian-friendly destination – the area’s appeal is only increasing for investors and developers.

Tip: If you own an older commercial building or mixed-use site, highlight its redevelopment potential (zoning, allowable heights, etc.) in your marketing. Surfers Paradise has flexible zoning in many parts (Centre Zone in the town plan) that encourages high-density mixed-use projects. A site that might be underutilized (e.g. an older motel on a large lot) could be marketed with concept plans or development approval (DA) prospects, attracting developers looking to create the next marquee project on the skyline.

Redevelopment Blocks: Unlocking Hidden Value

One of the unique opportunities in Surfers Paradise is the presence of “land bank” sites and older structures amid the glittering towers. Savvy sellers are capitalising on this by positioning their property as the next big redevelopment. Key considerations for leveraging redevelopment value include:

• Zoning and Height Limits: Surfers Paradise properties often fall under high-density zoning with generous height limits (some central areas allow unlimited height, subject to design and impacts). If your site can accommodate a 30+ storey development, that significantly boosts its allure to developers. Make sure to obtain a town planning report to confirm what can be built. Highlight any existing approvals – for example, a site on Chevron Island was marketed as “city-changing” with an existing DA for towers. This can command a premium.

• Site Assembly Potential: If your lot is adjacent to others that could be amalgamated, mention that in your sale campaign. Larger land parcels are rare in Surfers, so a buyer might pay more knowing they could combine sites for a bigger project.

• Current Holding Income: Many developers prefer sites that generate rental income while plans are approved. If your commercial property has tenants (even short-term leases or a car park lease), note the holding income; it helps offset carry costs during the redevelopment planning phase.

Surfers Paradise’s ongoing revitalisation also means that older arcades and storefronts are being refreshed. The Council trial to pedestrianise parts of The Esplanade until March 2026 is intended to boost foot traffic and activate the beachfront with events. Public investments in landscaping, lighting, and safety in the precinct make it more inviting, which in turn raises the value of fronting properties. In essence, the rising tide of public improvements can lift all property values – a point you can underscore when pitching your site’s future upside.

Infrastructure and Growth Drivers

Multiple infrastructure projects are supercharging the prospects of Surfers Paradise commercial real estate:

• Transport Upgrades: The Gold Coast Light Rail (G:link) is extending further south (Stage 4 toward Burleigh Heads), improving connectivity. Surfers Paradise already has three light rail stations in or near it, bolstering car-free access. Additionally, the planned Faster Rail project to Brisbane and ongoing M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades will make it easier for residents and tourists to reach Surfers Paradise. Better transport access means more visitors and commuters – great news for retail and office landlords.

• 2032 Olympics Boost: Brisbane’s Olympics are expected to benefit the Gold Coast with ancillary events and tourism spillover. Surfers Paradise, being the region’s entertainment hub, stands to gain significantly. Expect increased government spending on beautification, security, and infrastructure in the lead up to the Games, as was seen during the 2018 Commonwealth Games when Southport and Broadbeach received major upgrades. For commercial property owners, this likely means higher rents and values as the area’s profile reaches new heights globally.

• Population Growth and Migration: Queensland continues to see strong interstate migration, and many newcomers are drawn to the Gold Coast lifestyle. The city’s population growth (over 14,000 net increase in one recent year) directly feeds demand for all types of commercial services – from new cafes and boutiques to professional services. Surfers Paradise, with its high-density living, is welcoming new apartment towers (and residents) every year, translating into built-in customer bases for local businesses. As a seller, you can point to this growth as a reason buyers will have a deepening well of consumers or tenants.

Finally, the Council’s $100M Surfers Paradise Revitalisation Project deserves emphasis. It’s reimagining the precinct as a “major event, dining, entertainment, tourist and urban destination where more people choose to live, work, invest and spend time. This initiative includes creating pedestrian-friendly zones, more green spaces and family-friendly amenities. The fact that city planners have made Surfers Paradise a focus of improvement is a strong vote of confidence in its long-term value. In short, infrastructure and public investment trends are your ally – they indicate that buying in Surfers Paradise now positions an investor to ride a wave of growth and rising property values in coming years.

Maximising Your Sale Price in Surfers Paradise

To achieve top results when selling a commercial asset in Surfers Paradise, consider these professional tips:

• Leverage the Lifestyle in Marketing: Remember, a buyer isn’t just purchasing bricks and mortar in Surfers – they’re buying into an internationally renowned destination. Use that in your campaign narrative. High-quality images or video showcasing the beach, skyline, and bustling streets help convey the unique setting. Mention proximity to famous landmarks (e.g. “steps from Cavill Mall” or “only 200m to the beach”) – these add intangible value.

• Timing and Presentation: If your property is tenanted, ensure the tenants are keeping it presentable, as Surfers Paradise buyers often do drive-by or walk-by inspections. If vacant, consider staging the space (for retail, a pop-up display; for office, a clean fit-out) to show its potential. Also, try to align your sale with peak interest periods – for example, just after Christmas/New Year when the city is buzzing with visitors (some investors might be on holiday and get inspired to buy locally).

• Data and Analytics: Surfers Paradise attracts a range of buyer types – local investors, Brisbane/Sydney investors, owner-occupiers, even international funds for big assets. Providing a buyer with solid data can set your listing apart. Include foot traffic counts (if available), tourism statistics, spending data, and any documents like a building and pest report or development feasibility study. For instance, citing that the Gold Coast welcomes over 12 million visitors annually and that the catchment within 20 minutes’ drive is 330,000 residents gives investors confidence in long-term patronage and labor pool.

• Work With Specialists: Engage a commercial real estate agent who knows the Gold Coast market nuances. An experienced agent can identify if your property is best marketed as a going concern, as a vacant possession opportunity for an owner-operator, or as a development site – and tweak the strategy accordingly. They’ll also have databases of buyers specifically seeking Gold Coast opportunities, including those who missed out on recent sales like Cavill Lane or Paradise Centre.

By understanding the unique selling points of Surfers Paradise and packaging your property’s story around them, you can entice a broad field of buyers. The combination of scarcity (limited land), high income potential (tourism dollars), and future upside (redevelopment and growth) is potent – and it’s the reason Surfers Paradise commercial real estate continues to command attention.

Ready to take the next step? Whether you’re selling a retail shop, an entire building, or a redevelopment block in Surfers Paradise, it pays to have experts on your side. Nortons Real Estate specializes in connecting sellers with the right buyers in this dynamic market.

Contact Nortons Real Estate today to discuss your Surfers Paradise commercial property goals: 📞 Steven, 0488 496 277 | Lawrence, 0415 279 807   |   📧 nortons.re@gmail.com   |   🌐 nortonsrealestate.com

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only. All data is current as of 2025–2026 and may be subject to change. This is not legal, financial, or real estate advice. Sellers should seek independent professional advice before making property decisions. Norton Real Estate and its agents take no responsibility for actions taken based on this content.