In this edition, all the latest from the Gold Coast including: Australia's largest guided Zipline Tour set to launch, iFLY Indoor Skydiving lands on the Gold Coast, energise body and soul with a Sunset Kayak and Pilates Tour, Jupiters Gold Coast opens the doors to new restaurant Garden Kitchen and Bar, Hong Kong Airlines touches down on the Gold Coast, and many more story ideas...

WHAT'S ON

Bring It On The Musical – 8-17 Jan

Bring It On The Musical comes to the Gold Coast direct from its Australian Premiere in Sydney in July 2015 playing for a strictly limited two week season from 8 to 17 January 2016at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. Bitingly relevant, sprinkled with sass, and inspired by the hit film, Bring It On The Musical takes audiences on a high-flying journey filled with the complexities of friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness. This high energy stage musicalis brought to life by a talented cast of 27 who perform explosive dance and aerial stunts, elaborate tumbling and flipping routines that all culminate in heart-stopping towering formations of human pyramids. 

BeatBox Laser Spectacular – Nightly until 17 Jan

Summer nights at Dreamworld are exploding with  lasers, lights and music nightly until 17 January as the park's all new BeatBox is unleashed for late night trading festivities. Designed by international event director Ignatious Jones and Mega-DJ Peewee Ferris, BeatBox is electrifying Dreamworld twice nightly, featuring an amazing music mash-up with mind blowing lasers, projections, pyrotechnics and special effects. Exclusive to Dreamworld, BeatBox is the first of its kind on the Gold Coast headlining the park's late night trading with the Big 9 thrill rides and other attractions open until 9pm every day until 17 January 2016. BeatBox and late night trading is included in Dreamworld entry tickets (no additional charge).

Summer at the Cultural Precinct – 8-30 Jan

Summer at the Cultural Precinct has officially begun, drawing large numbers of people to the City's Cultural Precinct. Live music, salsa under the stars and the free Saturday family programs all proved popular with Gold Coast residents and visitors alike. From musicals, concerts and performances to workshops and mid-week creative school holiday activities for kids – there's plenty happening at The Cultural Precinct, Lakeside at Evandale Parklands this summer. Highlights include Live Music Lakeside on Friday nights, Summer of Salsa on 22 and 29 January, free creative fun for children from Monday – Saturday and Pop Up Pictures every Saturday evening from 7pm. Click here for more details.

Gold Coast Food & Wine Expo – 22-24 Jan

Tantalise your tastebuds and discover all the latest recipes and learn the art of fine food and wine at the annual 3-day Food & Wine Expo held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre from 22-24 January. Enjoy free tastings and samples from over 150 gourmet exhibitors as businesses from all areas of gourmet food, exquisite wines, homewares and kitchenware come together to show you the latest products and ideas for you to try at home. Grab a front row seat at The Celebrity Cooking Stage which will host free cooking demonstrations from Masterchef and My Kitchen Rules Celebrities, as well as local talent. The Food & Wine Expo is back on the Gold Coast for the eighth year running.

2016 Burleigh Pro – 29-31 Jan

Some of the world's best surfers will battle it out against the local talent at the 2016 Burleigh Pro. Staged at the iconic Burleigh Headland on the Gold Coast, the three-day event will provide some serious action on the water as surfers try to snap up valuable Qualifying Series points. The event is a World Surf League sanctioned men's and women's event and will provide a great warm-up for some of the best surfers in the world who will later return to the Gold Coast to compete at the Quicksilver and Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.

The Arts Centre Gold Coast presents the 2016 Season at the Cultural Precinct

Be uplifted, awakened, challenged and inspired. The Arts Centre Gold Coast is proud to announce its 2016 Season, featuring a mix of Australia's finest musicians, dancers, actors, singers and acrobats set to grace the stage in 2016.  The works promise to take audiences on journeys across new worlds and emerge from the theatre with new views and new perspectives. Highlights include Il Ritorno by Circa, Othello, Viral, CounterMove, Mary Poppins, Motherland and many more performances.

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

iFLY Indoor Skydiving lands on the Gold Coast

A thrilling new attraction is coming to the Gold Coast with the opening of iFLY Indoor Skydiving in Surfers Paradise in February. iFLY Indoor Skydiving is not just a thrill ride, but the latest thing in action sports. Step into the massive glass tunnel, lean forward into a column of air and master the art of flying like an expert skydiver. Feel the adrenaline rush through your veins as you fly effortlessly through the wind tunnel, with friends and family cheering you on from the all-round viewing platforms. Indoor Skydiving has soared in popularity around the world and has become the latest adventure sport for thrill-seekers. The team at iFLY Indoor Skydiving Gold Coast are now taking bookings for 8 February 2016 onwards.

Australia's Largest Zipline Tour launches on the Gold Coast

Australia's largest guided Zipline Canopy Tour, The Canyon Flyer, is set to launch at the TreeTop Challenge inside Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland this month. The Canyon Flyer is an extreme adventure attraction, allowing thrill-seekers to soar through the canopy of the rainforest up to 60m above the ground, reaching speeds of up to 70km/h. The tour consists of 7 huge zip lines that cross Cedar Creek Canyon multiple times. The tour takes about 2.5 – 3 hrs and includes a 4WD experience as guests are taken to the start of their adventure. The Canyon Flyer is located at the TreeTop Challenge inside Thunderbird Park at Mount Tamborine.

Mini Retreat: Sunset Kayak and Pilates Tour

Kayaking the Gold Coast has kicked of 2016 by launching a new Sunset Kayak and Pilates Tour, promising guest a 2-hour mini retreat. Kayak through the Broadbeach canals and paddle past some of the prestigious real estate and lush parklands that can only be seen from the water. Roll out your mat in a hidden park and energise your body and mind with a 30min professional Pilates class. Afterwards, enjoy a healthy drink and snack while you watch the sun set behind the green hills of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Dreamworld's six week old tiger cubs met big brother Kai as they ventured onto Tiger Island

Sporting new names, Dreamworld's six week old tiger cubs - Akasha and Adira - met their big brother Kai and honorary grandmother Sita as they ventured onto Tiger Island for the first time on 11 January 2016. Fully immunised and weighing 5.5kilograms, the doubly-cute pair will now transition from their nursery to their cub display and start walking through the park in the coming weeks. With less than 3,000 left in the wild, tigers are critically endangered. Dreamworld through the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation is the largest zoological contributor to tiger conservation in the world. The sisters' names - Akasha and Adira - were bestowed on them today, handpicked by Tiger Island staff from more than 9,000 suggestions in a nation-wide competition with Channel Seven's Sunrise program.

DINING

Jupiters launches fresh new restaurant: Garden Kitchen & Bar

Last week, Jupiters Gold Coast has opened the doors to its freshest new restaurant Garden Kitchen & Bar, the third venue to open as part of the property's landmark $345 million transformation. Embracing the Gold Coast's enviable climate and luxurious laidback lifestyle, Garden Kitchen & Bar showcases some of the best the region has to offer, inviting guests to experience the freshest, seasonal produce and world-class design. The impressive modern fit-out features a generous dining and lavish bar area bathed in natural light, an open kitchen equipped with Chef's Rotisserie, an abundance of cascading greenery and a spacious outdoor deck overlooking the property's lush tropical gardens. With a seating capacity of more than 350 the venue is the largest of the new restaurants. Click here to read the latest Transformation Update from Jupiters.

Artisanal Bakery opens at The 4217, Surfers Paradise

You can't beat a piping hot pie or bread fresh from the oven, which is why Surfers Paradise locals are flocking to BKRY, the newest independent artisanal bakery for the evolving suburb. BKRY is located in The 4217 precinct on Beach Road and promises to be a lunchtime hot spot for corporates, locals and travellers alike. The BKRY's team includes pastry chefs and highly skilled bakers who say whilst their artisanal breads are delicious and baked in house daily, it's the signature gourmet pies and rolls that will have Gold Coast locals raving. BKRY will not only service tourists and locals they are also donating any left-over product to Oz HARVEST, a non-profit charity serving food to disadvantaged members of the community. BKRY is open Tuesday to Sunday from 7am at The 4217, 10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise.

AVIATION

Gold Coast welcomes Hong Kong flights

The first Hong Kong Airlines charter service touched down at Gold Coast Airport on 9 January 2016, further increasing air access between the Gold Coast and Mainland China via Hong Kong. Hong Kong Airlines will operate this seasonal service with three flights a week between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast, servicing Cairns on route back to Hong Kong. Over a twelve week period, the new services will deliver over 10,000 inbound seats into the Gold Coast, injecting more than $10 million into the local economy.

OTHER NEWS

Official Gold Coast Visitor Guides now available online

The Gold Coast 2015/16 Official Visitor Guide and Gold Coast Adventure Guide are now available online via the VisitGoldCoast.com website. Click here to browse through the guides.