Agreeing to go away together is often easier than agreeing on every artist. At a free festival spread across Broadbeach, that does not have to be a problem. Follow the performances you each want, choose somewhere to meet for a meal and compare discoveries afterwards.
Groundwater suits that sort of trip. Its 2026 festival is finished, having run on 16–18 October. Country music gave friends a cheerful reason to gather on the Coast. For the return in October 2027, the organiser says dates will be released early in the new year. The lineup is still in development.
Meet for breakfast, then see where the music takes you
A group does not need to move as one all day. Some people may want an early start, others a long lunch, and someone may hear an act they would like to stay for. Free admission takes away the need to justify a particular length of visit.
At Marriner Views, a dining table and a full kitchen give the group an easy starting point. You can eat together, put a few plans in place and head out with a meeting time that leaves everyone some room. The apartments are 180 m², with only two residences on a level, so there is space for a group to settle in over several nights.
A private balcony and laundry are useful for the ordinary parts of the holiday too. Fans and the cross-breeze layout provide the cooling here; Marriner does not have air-conditioning. Choose the accommodation with that in mind, especially if people in the party have different preferences.
The first-floor three-bedroom faces the pool, while the ocean-view three-bedroom is on the nineteenth floor. Other positions have differing outlooks. Look at the apartment choices together and discuss guest numbers and preferences before you book.
One detail to get right is the distance to the music. Broadbeach begins about 450 metres south of Marriner, but the suburb boundary is not the festival’s front door. Kurrawa Beach is 1.9 km away. Use the new stage locations to judge the full journey from Fern Street, including where you want to finish the day.
Florida Gardens station, 750 metres from the building, is another starting point. Check its services and the walk at the other end if the tram suits some of the group better. A shared return plan helps when people have spent the afternoon at different venues.
Keep a few days around the festival
A longer booking lets the trip hold more than the music. Northcliffe Beach is fifty metres across the road, the outdoor saltwater pool is heated to 26°C, and the covered BBQ area gives everyone another place to eat together. There is a large spa, sauna and steam room for a day with less walking.
Give those hours a place in the conversation before the itinerary fills up. You might want a beach morning with no departure time, or an afternoon when people can stay near the apartment. The space pays off when everyone has brought a slightly different idea of a holiday.
Groundwater’s next programme will provide the artists, maps and practical visitor details needed to turn the idea into a trip. Until then, settle the people and the sort of stay you want. The individual set lists can wait. If the group returns late, remember that Marriner’s quiet hours begin at 9 pm; the stories about the music can continue over breakfast.
