Wendy’s opens first Australian restaurant in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast

Customers have lined up since 5am for the opening of Australia’s first Wendy’s since the 1980s on the Gold Coast.

Customers lined up from 5am on Wednesday for the opening of an American fast food favourite on the Gold Coast.

Wendy’s, which is known for burgers, thickshakes and fries, opened at 9am in the Paradise Centre on Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise.

The opening marked the fast food heavyweight’s first store Down Under since the 1980s and Gold Coasters were loving it.

Diners were spotted ordering some of their most popular menu items including the classic double, baconmator, spicy chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, and chocolate of vanilla thickshakes.

Some diehard customers had lined up for four hours and said they had been waiting to try their fries and burgers “forever”.

Hundreds of people lining up outside Wendy's in Surfers Paradise.

Malka Lawrence said Wendy's had “the best burger” she had ever tasted.

One customer, Malka Lawrence said it was “the best burger” she had ever tasted.

A family from Sydney said they spent their last day of their holidays lining up for Wendy’s.

“We have been wanting to try Wendy’s for a long time,” Elijah Goldbery said.

“We were shocked they were coming to Australia.”

Other visitors commenting on social media said Wendy’s had lived up to the hype.

“Can confirm, the burgers are amazing,” Courtney Brook said.

Flynn Group chief operating officer Ron Bellamy said the opening was a success, with customers spending more than $3000 in the first hour.

“Any time you can open and it goes off without a hitch and the team is well prepared, that is a success,” he said.

Mr Bellamy said it was a “no-brainer” kickstarting the Australian expansion in Surfers Paradise.

Wendy’s opens first Australian restaurant in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast

Wendy’s opens first Australian restaurant in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast

“Aussies have been asking for Wendy’s for a long time,” he said.

“We really wanted to get in front of as many Australians as possible and whenever you think of Surfers Paradise, you think of Cavill Ave.

“So many people from around the country come here and when they go home they say ‘I can’t wait to have Wendy’s again’.”

Mr Bellamy said while the group had planned to open more stores across the country, they wanted to make sure they had the Surfers Paradise location perfected.

Flynn Group chief transformation officer Lauren Leahy said the were “proud” to shake up the Surfers Paradise hospitality scene.

“The Wendy’s brand was built on doing things differently, from square hamburgers to being one of the most talked about brands on social media,” she said.

“Wendy’s embraces a challenger mindset, and we think Australians do too.”

Follow @CrysalFoxJour1