Movers and groovers hit the Gold Coast

Cooly Rocks On gets Gold Coast toes tapping in June with a riot of nostalgia, cool cars, hot tunes and epic fashion.

Cooly Rocks on Street Parade at Coolangatta on Saturday. Tina-Louise King and Chris Knight. Picture: Jerad Williams### contact 000 874 668 ###

Cooly Rocks On gets Gold Coast toes tapping in June with a riot of nostalgia, cool cars, hot tunes and epic fashion.

TEQ IT’S LIVE! | NATIVE CONTENT | JUNE | SOUTH

Movers and groovers hit the Gold Coast

Cooly Rocks On gets Gold Coast toes tapping in June with a riot of nostalgia, cool cars, hot tunes and epic fashion.

We partnered with IT’S LIVE! in Queensland to discover the state’s best events.

Pop on your rose-coloured glasses and prepare to revel in nostalgia at Cooly Rocks On (June 5-9), the Gold Coast’s fabulously fun celebration of the 1950s, ‘60s and early ‘70s by the beach at Coolangatta.

Whether it’s the music, the cars or the epic fashions you love, you’ll find much to enjoy at this festival which makes the most of the Gold Coast’s warm winter sunshine.

American singer and guitarist Marcel Riesco will headline this year’s event with his Roy Orbison-inspired music and rock ’n’ roll classics. Other performers include popular ‘60s group Tony Worsley & The Fabulous Blue Jays, A Tribute to the Delltones, American garage rock band The Sonics, Aussie rock legend Dennis Knight and cabaret star Issi Dye.

And you don’t have to be a petrol head to appreciate the cars –  there will be more than 500 vintage vehicles on display, with retired racing car driver and V8 Supercar Hall of Fame inductee Jim Richards – a seven-times Bathurst 1000 winner – acting as grand marshal of the Cooly Rocks On street parade.

Cooly Rocks On is famous for its friendly, cheerful vibe and other highlights include the Miss Cooly Rocks On and Miss Rockabilly contests, dance performances, sky diving displays and a poodles and pugs parade. There will also be buskers, market stalls, a baking competition and food vendors spread throughout Coolangatta’s streets and parks, as well as a vintage picnic where a section of the foreshore is lined with bales of hay and festivalgoers can bring their own vinyl to play on an antique record player.

The event’s project manager, Amanda Spooner, says Coolangatta is the perfect place for the retro celebration.

“Back in the 1950s and ‘60s, all the Brisbanites used to load up their cars with their surfboards and come to Coolangatta,” she says. “The teenagers would go to club houses and big beach houses that were dotted all around Coolangatta and have dance offs on the beach and do the hokey pokey, and that’s what the festival was built on.”

 Ms Spooner says walking into the festival zone is like walking into a time warp.

“People who follow this sub-culture love to dress up,” she says. “They love to wear the full skirts with tight waists and big bandanas. The Miss Cooly Rocks On contest is more Stepford Wives –  the women are immaculately dressed. It’s absolutely amazing to watch.”

If you’re visiting for Cooly Rocks On, take some time to explore some of the Gold Coast’s other attractions, starting with a cold one at one of the city’s popular rooftop terraces.

The Collective at Palm Beach has five kitchens serving up American, Italian, Mexican, Asian and contemporary Australian fare, while Hellenika at Nobby Beach serves modern Greek cuisine. Or share a platter or a pizza at The Island Rooftop, overlooking Main Beach at Surfers Paradise.

The Gold Coast’s culinary star is now on the rise with Aussie foodies. Rick Shores, overlooking the beach at Burleigh Heads, draws the crowds with a clever Asian take on fresh local produce, while upstairs is the spectacular Burleigh Pavilion, where Michelin-starred chef Guillaume Zika gives local produce the star treatment. Nearby, The Fish House in Burleigh sets the bar for excellent seafood, or for Japanese cuisine, check out Yamagen in the QT Hotel or Kiyomi at The Star.

For a change of pace, explore the hinterland, around 45 minutes’ drive from Surfers Paradise. Hike to see waterfalls in Tamborine National Park and explore the 1.5km Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk. O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk in Lamington National Park, less than two hours’ drive through spectacular rainforest from Surfers, is another great option, with nine suspension bridges and two observation decks high in the forest.

Are you more of a shopper than a walker? The Gold Coast offers world-class shopping experiences, including Pacific Fair Shopping Centre at Broadbeach, with its high-end designer precinct, or the bargain hunters’ haven of Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre at Biggera Waters.

For a more intimate experience, seek out one of the Coast’s thriving local precincts, including Burleigh’s James Street, Cornerstone Stores at Currumbin and the Village Markets at Burleigh Heads on the first and third Sunday of each month.

The city’s famous theme parks are always a favourite with visitors. At Australia’s largest theme park, Dreamworld, you can come face-to-face with the jungle’s most fearsome predator on Tiger Island, ride the Dreamworld Express steam train and make a splash on the Rocky Hollow Log Ride.

As well as thrilling rides, you can watch Hollywood stunt shows, see the Aquaman exhibition and meet your favourite movie heroes at Warner Bros. Movie World, and see dolphins, seals, penguins and polar bear cub Mishka at Sea World. Animal lovers will also love the chance to feed kangaroos and lorikeets and cuddle koalas at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

MORE EVENTS IN 2019

Planning ahead? Make one of these events the focus of a holiday on the Gold Coast this year:

Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast, July 26-28Making the most of the city’s stunning winter sunshine, Groundwater showcases premier country music acts from Australia and overseas. This year’s event will feature more than 40 artists, including

Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole and The Wolfe Brothers, all free to see at outdoor stages and venues throughout beachside Broadbeach.

Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast, September 13-22A day at the beach becomes a cultural experience with this festival, Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition. Local, national and international artists are creating works for this, the 17th Swell Sculpture Festival, held on Currumbin Beach and at Helensvale Library. Wander among the awe-inspiring art works and take the opportunity to attend guided twilight walks, artist talks and artist-led workshops.

Learn more about Queensland's best events here.

Originally published as Movers and groovers hit the Gold Coast