Accessibility Guide

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is committed to providing access that is open, safe and inclusive for all our visitors. Designed with accessibility in mind, our venue offers entry to and movement throughout the Centre via wheelchair and mobility equipment.

This guide aims to accurately describe and provide an overview of our facility and services in house and the surrounding areas. Floor plans for the venue are available on the GCCEC website here.

Welcome story

GCCEC has also developed a Welcome Story offering visitors an overview of their entire journey within the venue, from arrival to departure. It provides detailed information about transportation options, the appearance of the venue and its spaces, the friendly faces visitors will encounter, quieter areas, bathroom facilities, and much more. GCCEC Visual Welcome Story

Pre-Arrival

Tram/G:Link

The Gold Coast’s G:Link is a light rail system connecting Broadbeach with Helensvale via the entertainment and activity precincts of Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and Southport.

The G:Link is located directly in front of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (less than 150 metres away).
Services operate seven days a week approximately every 7-15 minutes and includes 19 stops between Broadbeach and Helensvale.
The stop closest to the Centre is Broadbeach North station.
The light rail platforms have wheelchair accessible entry and exits and have signalised pedestrian crossings.
Note: wheelchair and mobility aid user: the pedestrian crossing, is intersected by tram lines that provide a slightly uneven surface.
A ramp connects the Gold Coast Highway to GCCEC’s pedestrian path. The ramp surface is concrete and in good condition with handrails, wheel guards and ground surface indicators.

Further information about the G:Link can be found at: www.translink.com.au or ridetheg.com.au.

Bus

Buses frequently stop directly in front of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The northbound bus stop is located 40m from the Centre’s accessibility ramp.
The southbound bus stop is located 90m from the Centre’s accessibility ramp and requires visitors to cross at signalled lights.
Both bus stops have ground surface indicators but no seating or shelter.

To plan your bus journey, telephone: 13 12 30 or www.translink.com.au.

Wheelchair Accessible Taxi

Main Driveway

Taxis that can carry one (1) or two (2) wheelchairs are available on the Gold Coast.
Taxis can pick up guests from the main entrance which has a covered Porte Cochere and no guttering or steps.
The GCCEC reception desk can organise a taxi service or a courtesy phone is available in the foyer.

Parking

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre carpark entrance is at the northern end of the building.
Entry from the Gold Coast highway is via a set of traffic lights.
Entry from TE Peters Drive is via the ramp onto the main driveway.
Overhead clearance is 2100mm.
There are 32 designated disability parking bays located in the carpark. Basement Level 1 has 22 disability bays and Basement Level 2 has 10 disability bays positioned close to the main elevators. These are marked with the wheelchair symbol.
The farthest parking bay is 15m from the lift.
Parking is a daily flat rate of $15 (incl GST).
There is clear access from the carparks to the double automatic doors and lifts, which are situated next to the carparking payment machines. Ground surface indicators are in this area.
Guests can also be dropped off at the main entrance via the driveway off TE Peters Drive on the south side of the building.

Entrance

The main building has multiple wheelchair access ramps located on the eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway and the southern side from TE Peters Drive.
Visitors can access the main entrance via the driveway and pedestrian access ramp off TE Peters Drive on the south side of the building or the pedestrian access ramp from the Gold Coast Highway on the eastern side.
Both the ramp and porte cochere area contain ground surface indicators.
There are no gradients or steps to navigate at the main entrance which is accessed via double automatic doors that measure 1500mm when fully open.
There are visual indicators on the glass entrance doors at a height of 1050mm to aid those with low vision.
The foyer spaces offer non-slip carpet and allows ease of manoeuvrability for wheelchairs, prams and those needing extra room.

Reception

Opening hours are 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Reception is located on the ground floor of the building and is accessed via the automatic main entrance doors or via lifts from the carpark. There are no stairs to navigate.
Reception faces out to a slip-resistant, carpeted area that measures approx. 9m wide, allowing access by multiple wheelchairs, mobility scooters or prams at the one time.
The Reception desk has multiple heights with the lowest being 760mm.

Lifts, Escalators, Stairs

Lifts

The Centre has four lifts and two stage lifts. The lifts located in Foyer B and Foyer C both give access to the basement carparks and the ground and first floors. The lift outside Hall 2 only allows access to the basement carparks and ground floor.

Each lift offers:

Braille buttons inside and out that illuminate when pressed.
Visual aids that advise which floor the lift is on.
An audio voice that also announces the floor you have arrived on.
Emergency text to mobile number for those with hearing difficulty.

The doors for all lifts measure 1180mm when fully open. The lift floor is covered with non-slip carpet and equipped with handrails at a height of 900mm.

Escalators

Two directional escalators are located in the centre of the ground floor level outside Foyer C. They service the ground floor and first floor. Ground surface indicators are located at the top and bottom of the escalators.

Stairs

The Centre is serviced by nine (9) sets of stairs that variously connect the basement carparking with the ground floor and the ground floor with the first floor. All have handrails and ground surface indicators at the top and bottom of each set. Each set of stairs is covered in carpet and has an aluminium stair tread to stop slipping.

Each set of outdoor stairs contains signage with directional arrows pointing towards the nearest accessible path.

Common Areas

There are clear and accessible paths of travel from the main entrance to all areas and facilities used by guests on both the ground and first floor. These areas measure 12m wide in some places and comfortably allow ease of manoeuvrability for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams. The floor surface is even with a slip-resistant carpet.

Cafe Facility

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre features a Café with a Kombi van as its centrepiece on the ground floor.

Conference Facilities

Hearing

Auslan interpreters can be sourced for guests attending conferences.

Sensory

Dedicated sensory rooms can be made available for guests with sensory processing difficulties attending conferences. The rooms are located on either the ground or first floor (event dependent).

Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs

GCCEC welcomes guide, hearing and assistance animals, as defined in the Guide, Hearing and Assistant Animals Act 2009 and Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the Centre. Special arrangements can be made for guide, hearing and assistance dog needs during a conference.

Access

Access to meeting rooms and conference areas is through double doors that measure 1980mm in width when fully open.

Bathroom Facilities

Accessible bathroom facilities are available on both the ground and first floor of the Centre. The doors measure 820mm when open.

All accessible bathroom facilities include a baby change table and room to fit a pram comfortably. A dedicated parents’ room with bottle warming facilities and lounges is available between Foyer A and B.

Adult change facilities, including showers, may be available on the ground floor near Foyer A (event dependent).

Vision

There is visual directional signage around the building pointing out bathroom facilities, Foyer locations and various other facilities and services.

Colour LED information screens are installed at ceiling height and on walls scattered around both floors.

Visual indicators feature on the main entrance doors at a height of 1050mm to aid those with low vision. All automatic doors leading to external areas, also contain visual indicators.

All lifts have braille buttons for those with low vision.

Hearing

A mobile hearing augmentation system is installed at the Centre. Hearing loop belt packs are available for visitors with hearing aids. A limited number are available onsite however, additional units can be made available with notice.

Maps and Floorplans

Accessible routes around the venue can be found here along with floorplans here.

Additional Info

Nearby dog park
Broadbeach – Pratten Park, Old Burleigh Road (southern end of Pratten Park)

Nearby vet
GOLD COAST VET SURGERY – accredited vet hospital
In case of EMERGENCY Ph: 5538 5909 Business Hours
Ph: 5559 1599 After Hours
OPEN Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm Sat 8.30am-11am Sun & Pub Hols Closed

Hospitals
GOLD COAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
ROBINA HOSPITAL
PINDARA PRIVATE HOSPITAL

Local Carers
CARERS AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND
Address: 10-12, 207 Currumbura Rd, Ashmore, QLD 4214
Telephone: +61 (0)7 5671 7600
Email: goldcoast@carersqld.com.au

Gold Coast Commonwealth Respite And Carelink Centre
Address: 1 Pines Lane, Elanora, QLD 4221
Telephone: 1800 052 222 (bus hours) or 1800 059 059 (after hours)
Email: sc.carers@bluecare.org.au

Contact Info

Local Equipment Hire
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS MOBILITY EQUIPMENT HIRE
Address: 10 Lawson St, Southport QLD 4215
Telephone: +61 (0) 7 5571 0966

Local Public Transport
BUS
Telephone: +61 (0) 7 5552 2700
www.surfside.com.au

Tram/G:Link
www.translink.com.au or ridetheg.com.au
Broadbeach North station is on our doorstep

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2684-2690 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach, QLD 4218 Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)7 5504 4000
Website: www.gccec.com.au
Reception hours: 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Quality Tourism Accredited Business: Accessible Tourism

Wheelchairs and Scooters
Low Vision
Limited Mobility
Low Hearing
Cognitive/Autism