Home Of The Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast

HOTA Home Of The Arts HOTA Gallery feature.

Just a short one-hour drive down the coast from Brisbane, Home Of The Arts (HOTA) in Surfers Paradise presents a full day of cultural exploration and fun for families. From gallery spaces and touring exhibitions to the swimming lake and beautifully landscaped grounds, there is so much to do here. Best of all – much of it is free to explore!

Table of Contents

What is HOTA?

Home Of The Arts (aka HOTA) is a cultural precinct located in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, close to Chevron Island. It’s slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of Surfers, making it a lot more accessible for families, whilst also being close enough to visit some of the other tourist attractions, cafes and restaurants, and beaches of the Gold Coast easily in the one day.

HOTA includes several precincts that appeal to visitors of all ages, with the main aim being to bring arts, entertainment, culture and lifestyle together in one massive venue:

HOTA Central

The first building you will come to from the carpark on the HOTA grounds, HOTA Central contains the HOTA Café and a cinema.

Open daily for breakfast and lunch (dinner too on Fridays and Saturdays), at the HOTA Café you can pause for a coffee, slice of café, or a more substantial snack and prepare your action plan for the day, or refuel before moving on to the next precinct on the HOTA grounds.

The HOTA cinema screens a variety of current films, as well as a selection of special screenings of art films. The cinema also hosts regular film festivals and even the Gold Coast Music Awards annually.

HOTA Gallery

The HOTA Gallery building is a stunning piece of art in itself. The iconic colours and design of the exterior of this building have led it to become a well-known Gold Coast landmark. On the inside, the building is just as awe-inspiring, housing 6 floors of gallery and studio spaces, the HOTA Shop, Palette Restaurant and even the roof-top Exhibitionist Bar. With its winding staircases offering breathtaking views of the HOTA grounds and beyond from the many angular windows, the HOTA Gallery building is a place where you could while away several hours.

The short- and long-term art exhibitions at HOTA Gallery are always exciting, with everything from world-famous pop art and photography being big drawcards.

HOTA Children’s Gallery

Found within the HOTA Gallery building, the HOTA Children’s Gallery is a bright and colourful space for the youngest of gallery visitors to explore their own artistic abilities and to get active. Free to access, and with tables set up for little artists to get creative, benches to climb over and plenty of engaging murals to ponder and learn from, the HOTA Children’s Gallery changes regularly and is a wonderful place for families to take some time out from the ‘serious’ art and relax in a space designed especially for kids.

TIP: Take a walk a little further down the vibrant hallway from the HOTA Children’s Gallery (past Gallery 1) and you’ll find a huge window overlooking the gallery storage space—jam-packed with more awe-inspiring artworks not currently on display in the gallery, and a great talking point.

HOTA Shop

Also located in the HOTA Gallery building, the HOTA Shop is open daily as a great accompaniment to the exhibitions in the gallery spaces. Here, you will find prints of original artworks from current and past exhibitions, as well as all manner of goodies to inspire creativity and jog memories from your visit.

HOTA Outdoor Stage

Set amongst the lush green landscape of the HOTA grounds, the HOTA Outdoor Stage is a grassy amphitheatre that plays host to dozens of events each year. From family-friendly evening music events and performances to stand-up comedy and festivals that are more for grown-ups, the HOTA Outdoor Stage event calendar is absolutely bursting with popular acts all year ‘round.

HOTA Sculpture Walk

Dotted around the grounds of HOTA, you will find numerous sculptures and art pieces to marvel at. A map for the HOTA Sculpture Walk can be downloaded from the HOTA website, giving insight into the works on display and where to find them.

Evandale Lake

With an unbeatable view of the Surfers Paradise skyline and a great place for the kids to burn off some steam, Evandale Lake on the grounds of HOTA is not to be missed. Take a dip in the lake, enjoy the fully fenced kids’ playground, or stroll the 677m walking path that circles the lake and soak up this nature-filled space. Adjacent to the lake, you will also find state of the art change and showering facilities and toilets.

The Adventure Trail

The public HOTA Adventure Trail is a themed landscape that takes adventurers up and across the ‘living roof’ of the Outdoor Stage. This peaceful space offers spectacular views in every direction across the HOTA grounds and out to Surfers Paradise beyond.

Other things to do at HOTA

HOTA Markets

Held every Sunday from 6am to 11:30am, the HOTA Farmers & Artisan Markets offers farm-fresh produce and artisan foods, as well as boutique fashion and handcrafted wears. A Sunday morning stroll around the HOTA Markets in the sunshine is the perfect way to start your day.

School Holidays at HOTA

With circus and dance classes, hands-on creative workshops and more, you can extend your HOTA visit in the school holidays by adding on an organised activity for the kids to get involved in. Be sure to check out the line-up of kid’s workshops and events throughout each school holidays period – bookings are required.

High Tea at HOTA

For a truly special experience, book in for high tea at Palette restaurant at HOTA. Available every Sunday from 11am to 4pm, the HOTA high tea features a variety of freshly-made sweet and savoury treats, as well as high quality Tavalon tea or a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

How to get to Home Of The Arts, Gold Coast

HOTA is located at 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217. Heading south, the entrance to HOTA is located on your left, just after the bridge to Chevron Island.

Parking is ample in the HOTA carpark within the grounds, but there are several other ways you can reach HOTA that add to your adventure:

Via the HOTA Bridge

Linking Chevron Island’s retail and foodie precincts with the HOTA grounds, the HOTA Bridge provides easy access to pedestrians. Park your car on Chevron Island, then walk across the 130m bridge that spans the Nerang River, passing by Evandale Lake and the HOTA Outdoor Stage to approach the Home Of The Arts from a different angle.

Hop on Hop off Sightseeing Ferry (HOPO)

Catch the HOPO Ferry to HOTA from any one of the other four destinations on the route and see some sights along the way! This is perfect if you are staying on the Gold Coast or if you are wanting to visit some other places on your day trip to HOTA. The 5 stops on the HOPO Ferry include: