Visiting the Gold Coast? A Local's Guide to a Taste of the Southern End

The southern end of the Gold Coast moves at its own pace. Down past the high-rises, Tugun, Currumbin and Coolangatta are all quiet beaches, headland walks and good coffee, the kind of pocket where a holiday actually feels like one. If you're staying down this way, or you've just landed at Gold Coast Airport with an afternoon to fill, we're a handy stop for the edible side of the trip. Here's how visitors tend to use us.

Five minutes from the airport, in the middle of everything

You'll find us at Shop 5, 570 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, tucked inside Cornerstone Stores. That puts us about five minutes from the airport (OOL) and within easy reach of the beaches at Tugun, Bilinga, Currumbin and Coolangatta. So whether you're arriving, settling into an apartment for the week, or filling the last hour before a flight home, swinging by is no detour.

We're open Sunday to Thursday 9 to 4, and Friday to Saturday 9 to 6. If something's unclear or you want to call ahead, the number's 0406 802 323.

Grab a picnic for the beach

Some of the best meals down here happen on a rug with sand between your toes. We make our cheese platters and grazing boards fresh in store (they're not something we ship), so the easiest plan is to wander in, tell us where you're heading and roughly how many you're feeding, and we'll build something to match.

If you'd rather assemble it yourself, the formula is simple: a soft cheese, a hard one and something with a bit of character, plus some charcuterie, olives and a few crackers from the deli. Add a chilled white or rosé and you're set.

• Browse the cellar for an easy-drinking white, rosé or chilled natural
• Pick up crackers and biscuits and a few pantry provisions
• Roll up a picnic rug so you're off the damp grass

Not sure where to spread it? Our guide to the best picnic spots around Tugun and the southern Gold Coast runs through our favourites, from the Tugun foreshore to Currumbin's Elephant Rock and the rock pools further inland.

A cheese and wine night back at your stay

Holiday apartments are made for a slow evening in. Pick up a couple of cheeses, something to drink and a few accompaniments, and you've got a far nicer night than a takeaway and the telly. If you're between drinking a white and a red, or curious about natural wine, just ask. Raf, who runs the shop, will talk you through what's tasting good without any pressure or jargon.

Have a look at the natural wines, the whites and reds, or the full range. We also stock spirits if you're mixing something for the balcony.

Ask Raf for genuinely local producers

One of the nicest things about travelling is drinking and eating where you are. We carry a tightly chosen range, and a good slice of it comes from Australian makers, including small producers from this corner of the country. Tell Raf you'd like to try something properly local and he'll point you to a wine, a cheese or a pantry treat you won't find at the bottle shop back home. It's the quickest way to make a holiday graze feel like a holiday.

Edible souvenirs and gifts to take home

Better than a fridge magnet: a jar of something good, a regional wine, or a small hamper that travels well in a suitcase. Our pantry shelf is full of takeable treats, and a ready-made hamper makes an easy gift for whoever's been minding the dog or watering the plants.

Want it just so? You can build your own hamper with the wine, cheese and provisions you choose, and we'll pack it beautifully. Online orders ship Australia-wide (flat $15 standard, free over $200, and 18+ for anything with alcohol), so you can also send something home before you've even left.

One stop on the way through

You don't need a plan to drop in. Plenty of visitors find us by accident, browsing the shelves while their coffee cools, and leave with a board for the beach and a bottle for later. If you'd like the backstory before you visit, here's a quick introduction to Quince. Otherwise, come and say hello. We'll happily point you to the prettiest beach for your picnic and put the right things in your basket. Enjoy the southern end while you're here.