Visitors Guide to Australian Seafood on a Gold Coast holiday in Queensland
When visiting Australia and the famous holiday destination the Gold Coast, everyday you can enjoy the fresh air, clean sea and amazing beaches that stretches for many kilometres. With a world class environment, it is no surprise that the Gold Coast is also famous for its high quality Australian seafood. Fished mostly from the the alluring blue canvas of the Pacific Ocean as well as local fresh water rivers, these waters not only look impressive to the naked eye, they also provide us with some incredibly fresh seafood to tantalise the taste buds. As there are a huge variety of fish, shellfish and crustaceans to choose from, seafood lovers are really quite spoilt on the Gold Coast.
Here we take a closer look at some of the top places to find the best and freshest seafood in the area. Most Gold Coast locals shop locally each week and know the specialities that some seafood shops offer, and will for example, go to the Reef Seafood at Ferry Rd Markets for oysters, Peter's Fish Market for whole fish (make sure they gut and clean it for you), and the Main Beach trawlers for freshly-caught prawns. If feeding a crowd, then you might want to opt for one of the wholesale seafood markets that sell bulk packages of frozen seafood products. To help you choose the best place to buy your Australian seafood on your Gold Coast holiday, we offer you our top selection of the seafood outlets below.
Gold Coast FISHERMEN'S COOPERATIVE
If freshness is paramount for your sea fare then look no further than the Fisherman's Cooperative at Main Beach. The boats leave every evening, trawl through the night and return in the morning loaded up with the freshest seafood available, selling directly from their boats. You're actually buying from the locals that made the catch only a few hours earlier! The organisation takes prawns, fish and crabs from up to 12 seagoing ships at a time. The ships return often in the early hours of the day, unloading their bounty right there for the customer to buy straight off the boat.
Location: 168 SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach Qld 4217
Open: 7 days a week from 7am until sold out!
Phone: 07 5528 5783
Mobile: 0439 675 926
Now no list of this nature would be quite complete without the inclusion of this establishment. Peter's Fish Market has quite the cult following and reputation. Situated very close to the Fisherman's Cooperative the market, it also prides itself on getting the best and freshest seafood. Also renowned for having some incredible fish and chips, the business prides itself on its ample outside seating, meaning you can enjoy your delicious fried bounty with an incredible view over the Broadwater.
Location: 120 SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach Qld 4217
Open for fresh fish: 7 days, 9am-7.30pm (opens 12 noon on public holidays)
Open for cooked fish-n-chips; 7 days, from 12noon to 7.30pm
Phone: (07) 5591 7747
This gourmet fishery is situated inside what well-heeled locals call the 'Ferry Rd Markets'. They claim to 'provide quality produce and advice, and only stock the finest seafood from the best local, interstate and New Zealand seafood producers'. They offer a few surprises amongst their array of fresh seafood, which compliments their sushi bar. However, what sets them apart is their impressive selection of oysters sourced from around the country, which they shuck right there in front of you. Delicious.
Location: Ferry Rd Markets at The Brickworks, 107 Ferry Rd, Southport Qld 4215
Open: 7 days, 8am-6pm
Phone Gold Coast: 07 5528 4477
Phone Brisbane: 07 3257 7554
In addition to their small retail outlet, Seafood Direct operates a fleet of mobile vans which attend Farmers' Markets in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. Their website is out-of-date, so we suggest you call them to confirm market dates and product pricing.
Location: 14 Ocean St, Runaway Bay Qld 4216
Open: Thurs 8am-5pm; Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 9am-until sold out (usually 5pm)
Phone: (07) 5537 1411
Harbour Seafood Market offers ocean-fresh seafood delivered daily from local fishermen and kept on ice until you take them home. Live oysters are kept in their special tanks and shucked onsite. They also operate a popular fish-n-chip shop on the premises.
Location: 7 Olsen Ave, Labrador Qld 4215
Open: 7 days; Sunday to Thursday: 9:00am - 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday : 9:00 am - to 8:00 pm
Winter open: Sunday to Thursday: 9:00am - 7:00 pm; Friday and Saturday : 9:00 am - to 7:30 pm
Phone: (07) 5529 2500
Sorrento Seafoods have been satisfying locals with their fish and chips for 30 years. They offer fresh local seafood, home-made potato scallops, burgers, and fresh salads. Their crispy thick chips are cooked to golden perfection (with or without salt), and may be the best you will ever taste.
Location: Shop 22 Sorrento Shopping Village, cnr Bundall Road & Allawah St, Bundall Qld 4217
Open: Sunday to Wednesday 8am - 8pm, Monday and Tuesday 8am - 7:30pm
Phone: (07) 5538 0977
Pacifica Trading is an importing, wholesale and retail business specialising in fresh and frozen seafood. The company occupies a modern premises together with seafood processing and packing facilities, chillers, cold storage and wholesale seafood market. They service the wholesale and hospitality trade Australia wide, with the added bonus of a Direct to the Public Seafood Market. For your convenience, they can pack your purchases in a polybin with ice. Checkout their weekly specials online.
Location: 273 Scottsdale Drive, Robina Qld 4226
Open: Monday to Saturday - 8AM TO 6PM
Seafood Market direct number: 61-7-5592 7888
Admin Phone: 61-7-5592 7800
Tasman Star Seafoods is a wholesaler and retailer of fresh Australian and New Zealand fish, bugs, crabs, lobsters, oysters, prawns, live mussels and lots more! Much of their Australian catch is from local fishermen and all their fish is filleted on site daily.
Location: 3/1 Flint Court, Varsity Lakes 4227 (corner of Casura Drive, which is the service road running along the northern edge of the western end of Reedy Creek Rd, just before the M1)
Open: 7 days, 7am-6pm
Phone: 61-7-5522 1221
Scales Seafood is located on the Tweed River, just a few hundred metres from the Tweed Trawler Fleet. The market sells fresh seafood, and their fish-n-chip shop serves up some of the best along the coast. The area is peaceful and picturesque, a perfect spot for a picnic.
Location: 47 Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads NSW 2485
Open (NSW time): 7 days; 9am-7pm (9am-7.30pm during daylight savings time)
Phone: 61-7-5536 6937