Indy is run on the streets of Main
Beach and Surfers Paradise in Australia’s Gold Coast each
year during October.
A 4 day carnival (Thursday to Sunday) of motor racing events
on and off the track. Take part or watch.
The Indy Champ Car race is run at around 1.30pm on the Sunday with the
Australian V8 Super Car Challenge Race is held
afterwards.
The Indy Carnival on the Gold Coast is a huge
excuse to party! Not that the Gold Coast ever needs an excuse
to
party!
Scroll down this page or use the links to jump to what you are
interested in - here is a basic guide to Gold Coast Indy questions I
get asked.
Gold
Coast Indy Accommodation
There are many options for
Gold Coast Indy Accommodation – you can stay on the
trackside, inside
the track, just outside, or away from the track and travel to Indy. To
be in amongst the action try accommodation in
Main
Beach or
Surfers
Paradise.
Gold Coast Indy
Tickets
Tickets for the Gold Coast
Indy can be purchased with accommodation, pre-purchased or General
Admission tickets can be bought at the gates (at a slight premium).
Concessions are available for aged pension, disability pension, full
time students up to 18 years with a valid ID and children 5 –
12 years
old. Children under 5 years are free.
There is access and seating for
patrons with a disability.
General Admission tickets are
available for the day, weekend or the whole 4 days and allow you to
move around the track in all the General Admission areas.
Grandstand tickets are
available for the full four days and allow access to your reserved seat
and all General Admission areas. There are various classes of
Grandstands seating – so check it out and choose carefully.
4 Day, weekend and Friday night tickets allow you access to the Friday
night entertainment.
Getting to
the Gold Coast Indy
Parking
Options
There are some parking
stations to the south of the track in Surfers Paradise, but be aware
parking limits apply to street parking and certain areas have entry
limited to residents and guests only.
Park and Ride is a great option
that avoids the worries of parking tickets or the restricted traffic
conditions. A parking fee is applicable with discount for a 4
day pass.
Shuttle buses are free. The venues for Park and Ride are:
- Parklands
Showgrounds, Smith Street,Southport. Shuttle
buses go to the Main Gate North.
- Carrara
Stadium on
Broadbeach-Nerang Road, Carrara and shuttle buses will take you to Main
Gate South.
Train Options
Shuttle bus from Helensvale
Train Station to Main North Gate – bus meets
trains in morning and
return trips start around 3pm until 7pm.
Boat Options
If you are staying at a
waterfront location, you can use the
official Indy water taxi fleet
that will pick you up and drop you at Macintosh Island inside the
track. You will need to book these in advance.
Helicopter
Options
For a fast transfer consider
a heli-shuttle to drop you right in the heart of the track –
also a
great way to get a rather unique view of the track and venue.
Heli-shuttle
operates between Parklands Showgrounds, Conrad Jupiters, Gold Coast
& Brisbane Airports.
Gold
Coast Indy Survival Checklist
Some ideas for things to bring with you to Indy.
- Tickets
- Cash
for tickets at the gate, food and merchandise! Make sure
you keep your
cash secure though – it is a big event and there are lots of
people.
- Transport
to Indy – either pre-book your heli shuttle or
make sure you have a copy of the TransLink public transport timetable.
- Hat
–
it’ll be hot and the sun is strong – always have a
cap or
you may end up using the services of the First Aid tent.
- Sunscreen
– an absolute must, our sun is strong even when it is cloudy
and you will be out and about in the high UV times.
- Water
– an essential item, carry your own bottle, or buy cold water
during the day – your body will thank you for it!
- Ear
plugs – need I say more! Cheap earplugs are
available at the track, but
if you have any special needs or prefer a higher quality version make
sure you bring them with you.
- Comfortable
Shoes – even if you
have a seat, you are likely to want to walk around, so best to be
comfortable – it is a long four days!
- Personal
Radio so you can tune into the live broadcasts from local
radio stations.
Gold Coast
Indy Off Track Events
The program changes from year to year but this link to
Gold
Coast Indy events will give you an idea of what is on for
FREE and what you need to buy tickets for.
What is October in the Gold Coast like?
Gold
Coast in October gives you the information about weather,
school and public holidays, what's on and other tips for this month.