Wintersun Rooftop Bar at Cali Beach

Overview

When word first arrived in 2020 that Cali Beach was turning a Gold Coast rooftop into a beach club with pools and bars, everyone's thoughts immediately went to splashes and sips while the summer sun is shining. Just like most of southeast Queensland, Surfers Paradise doesn't get a three-month super-frosty stretch, so taking a dip in winter didn't seem out of the question, either. But this venue has had broader plans for its sky-high perch when the middle of the year has hit since 2022.

For the past two years, The Rooftop Lodge has taken over the 5000-square-metre venue on a fourth-floor rooftop on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue, featuring snow-topped trees, an ice-skating rink and cosy lodges. That isn't the 2024 experience, however. Until spring hits, running from Friday–Sunday weekly, Cali Beach is now an inflatable nightclub.

An alpine angle remains in the temporary makeover, taking cues from the Swiss Alps — albeit with poolside daybeds, which you won't find come winter at the real thing. By day on Saturdays and Sundays, you can still bask in the sun, knock back cocktails, play party games and listen to DJ-spun beats. By night, the festivities blow up, with the inflatable fun dubbed Wintersun.

Inflatable igloos? Check. Fire pits? Check again. Fire performers and fireworks? That's two more checks. Lighting displays add to the mood, as do more games, giant hanging inflatables above the pool, and a wintry food and drink menu.

Entry is free, but you'll obviously need your wallet for whatever tempts your tastebuds.