Moving to the Gold Coast

🚗 Changes to Overseas Driver Licence Rules in Australia

A major change is rolling out across Australia for permanent residents driving with overseas licences.

⛔ The Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) program — which allowed many permanent residents to swap their overseas licence for an Aussie one without sitting a test — is being phased out.

🚦If you're from one of the affected countries (listed below), you may now need to re-sit a driving test in order to drive legally in Australia.

⚠️Affected countries include:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong SAR, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, South Korea, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan.

🗓️ When the changes take effect:

Most of Australia: Wednesday, 1 May 2025

Queensland: Mid-2025 (exact date still to be confirmed)

NSW & WA: From 31 October 2025

✅ Temporary residents are not affected — they can continue driving on their overseas licence as long as it’s current and valid.

So if you're a permanent resident living in Queensland and from one of the affected countries, you've got a bit more time — but don’t leave it too late to plan ahead.

🐟 Seafood Lovers, This One’s for You!

Wondering where to get the freshest fish and top-quality seafood on the Gold Coast this Easter?

We’ve rounded up the best spots from North to South 👉
https://www.movingtothegoldcoast.com/where-to-buy-the-best-fresh-fish-seafood-on-the-gold-coast

Where to buy the best fresh fish & seafood on the Gold Coast | Moving to the Gold Coast Whether it's Christmas day lunch, an Easter feast or the regular 'shrimp on the barbie', seafood is a staple on the menu in most Aussie households. For the freshest of fresh, buy straight from the trawler or from the Gold Coast's best fishmongers. We've listed the best places on the Gold Coast to bu...

🌟 Customer Journey Highlight 🌟

Natasha & Scott, along with their adult son, were looking for a fresh start and a change of lifestyle, planning to move from Sydney to the beautiful Gold Coast. They reached out to us at to help find and secure the perfect rental home for their family, which included two dogs and a cat.

The search came with its challenges, but with a strong application and a clear understanding of their needs, we managed to secure the ideal property for them. Their journey shows that moving to a new city can be daunting, but with the right guidance and support, it can also be a smooth and exciting adventure.

Here's what Natasha & Scott had to say about their experience:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Moving from Sydney to the Gold Coast was exciting and scary. I found Janneke online and she made searching for a rental home easy, especially since a week before the move, we were in Bali for 10 days. We gave her our list of requirements and she came through on almost everything we asked. The property she secured for us is us to a T. From the original call, she knew exactly what we were after. I can't recommend her enough if you're planning to move interstate. Huge thank you for her patience and understanding."

Relocating to a new city or country can be overwhelming, but I’m here to support and guide you through every step. I take the time to understand your unique lifestyle preferences, budget, and needs. Whether you're buying or renting, I’ll help you secure the perfect home, making your transition smooth and enjoyable.

Put on your polka-dotted swing dress, grease your engines, and don your dancing shoes because the Cooly Rocks On Festival is back this weekend in Coolangatta! 🎉

From June 5 to 9, 9am-late, celebrate the motors, music, and lifestyle of yesteryear. 🚗🎸🕺

✨ Motors: Over 900 incredible cars, hot rods, and bikes on display.

🎵 Music: Dance to rock ’n’ roll, swing, and rockabilly tunes. Don't miss the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest!

👗 Lifestyle: Enjoy the Pin-up Pageant, Moonlight Swing Dance, and Beachside Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance, plus shop for retro goodies at the beachfront markets.

🌟✨ It's all happening on the GC this Saturday! SeaFire is back! ✨🌟

Get ready for a spectacular night as fireworks 🎇 displays light up the skies of Surfers Paradise once again. The annual FREE event features an International Fireworks competition where Sweden & Germany will vie for the coveted title.

Here are all the details:

✅ IS THE EVENT FREE?
Yes! This is a non-ticketed free event.

🗓 WHEN IS THE EVENT?
This Saturday 3 June from 6pm to 9pm.

🛣 WHERE IS IT?
Surfers Paradise Foreshore.

💥 WHAT TIME ARE THE FIREWORKS ON?
7pm Team Sweden
8pm Team Germany
8.40pm Winner announced 🥇
8.50pm Finale by Australia’s leading pyrotechnics team, Skylighter Fireworks

♿️ IS THE EVENT INCLUSIVE?
There will be a PWD area setup on the Foreshore, north of Tower 34

📣 WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
4pm Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
6pm DJ Pia Pressure

🚀 WHAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT WILL GET ME THERE?
Catch the G:link to Cavill Avenue or make your journey active and walk, ride, scoot or skate to the event. Extra G:link services are running from 5pm to 10pm, every 7.5 minutes 🚊

🚘 WHAT ABOUT PARKING?
If driving your car is a must, be sure to carpool with friends or family. There are many paid car parking options throughout Surfers Paradise, allow extra travel time as heavy traffic is expected.

🍺 CAN I BRING ALCOHOL?
No, this is an alcohol free event.

🐶 CAN I BRING MY PET?
For the wellbeing of all attending the event (and the animal!) we recommend pets are left at home.

🍔 WHAT FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE?
There is a plethora of food and beverage outlets in the Surfers Paradise precinct 👏 book ahead to secure a table 😌

Big day for our son! Today marks the start of his journey at Mastery Schools Australia.

About a year ago, he was diagnosed with Dyslexia, and despite the incredible support from his previous school, he was finding it tough.

As a school with a focus on supporting kids with learning difficulties, at MSA, he's in an environment tailored to his needs.

If you're exploring educational options for your child, check out our guide to special assistance schools on the Gold Coast: www.movingtothegoldcoast.com/comprehensive-guide-to-special-assistance-schools-on-the-gold-coast

Happy Easter from the Gold Coast 🐇

Curious about the top high schools on the Gold Coast?

🌟🏫 We've listed the top performers based on the latest NAPLAN results!

Read it here 👇👇👇
https://www.movingtothegoldcoast.com/best-high-schools-on-the-gold-coast-top-10-rankings

Last night, we experienced a terrifying moment when our beloved dog, Koda, suddenly dropped to the ground and had a seizure—stiff, convulsing, and frothing at the mouth. This occurred around 8pm, and I can't begin to express the panic we felt.

Now, why am I sharing this as a community update? Two reasons:

For pet owners, accidents can happen at any time, just like for us humans. However, unlike humans with access to ambulances and emergency services, there's no such thing for our pets. It's crucial to know where your nearest Emergency Vet is (I've listed the Gold Coast options below—save them in your phone).

The vet suspects that Koda's episode may have been caused by one of two things: contact with a cane toad or underlying neurological issues. Although we don't often see cane toads where we live, it's Queensland, so they're everywhere. We've spotted them in our backyard occasionally, but Koda has never shown interest in them.

As a pet owner, here are steps you can take to prevent your dog or cat from coming into contact with a toad:
• Cane toads are nocturnal. Keep your pets inside at night and take them out for toilet breaks on a lead.
• Turn off outside lights and pool lights as much as possible.
• Remove any fresh standing water. Toads look for water without fish in it to breed.
• Place wire mesh around the outside of your fence, burying it at least 10cm and extending it at least 50cm above the ground.
• If you find any in your backyard, get rid of them! Cane toads are considered a major pest in Australia, and it is encouraged to humanely euthanize them.

What to do if your pet comes in contact with a toad:
• Use a damp cloth to wipe their gums, tongue, and roof of the mouth. Wash the cloth thoroughly between wipes. Continue this process for 10-20 minutes.
• Do not use a hose to rinse out the mouth; the toxin is sticky and requires wiping/rubbing to remove it. There is also a significant risk of them inhaling water, causing aspiration pneumonia or drowning.
• Contact your vet. In mild cases, wiping the mouth may be sufficient; however, it is recommended to take them to the vet immediately.
• Symptoms, including mouth irritation, excessive drooling/frothing, vomiting, panting, wobbliness, shaking/seizures, can worsen rapidly, and early treatment will give your pet the best chance of survival.

Emergency Vet Contacts on the Gold Coast:

• Varsity Lakes: Animal Emergency Centre Gold Coast - 24-hour Emergency Service
4/492 Scottsdale Dr, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227
0755 934 544

• Carrara: Animal Emergency Service - After-hours and weekend service
104 Eastlake St, Carrara QLD 4211
07 5559 1599

Discover the top 20 best-performing primary schools on the Gold Coast based on the 2023 NAPLAN results.

While the private schools once again dominate the top rankings, there are eight Gold Coast state schools that ranked in the top 20. Find out which ones 👇

Top ranking Primary Schools on the Gold Coast 2024 | Moving to the Gold Coast While private primary schools dominate the top rankings, there are several state schools that consistently rank amongst the top schools on the Gold Coast, and a few that have pushed their way into the top this year. The best-performing school on the Gold Coast for the third consecutive year is The S...

Peter's Fish Market at Main Beach is getting a dazzling makeover!

The iconic family-run shop has been a local favourite for nearly three decades and serves up a huge variety of the freshest fish and seafood, and arguably the best takeaway fish & chips on the GC.

The new-look Peters Fish Market Mainbeach will be ready to dazzle by Christmas 2025. But don't worry, they'll keep serving up your favourite fish and seafood throughout the entire makeover.

Discover the winners and losers of the Gold Coast real estate market.

Find out which suburbs are prospering and which are declining.

Read it here 👉 www.movingtothegoldcoast.com/gold-coast-property-market-winning-and-losing-suburbs