Maddison Kyriacou

Queensland Lifestyle & Entertainment Writer

Gold Coast, Queensland
Member since 2026

About Maddison

I’m Gold Coast born and raised — grew up in Burleigh Heads, did comms at Griffith, and spent three years at Urban List Brisbane writing about every new restaurant, bar, and weekend market between the border and the Sunshine Coast. I surf at Burleigh or Currumbin before work most mornings, and I know every good breakfast spot from Coolangatta to Noosa. That’s not a boast — it’s an occupational hazard.

I write about the Gold Coast beyond the tourist strip. There’s a version of this place that people think they know — Surfers Paradise, theme parks, schoolies. And then there’s the actual Gold Coast, which has one of the best food scenes in the country, a hinterland that rivals anything in the Blue Mountains, and a local culture that’s nothing like the stereotypes. That’s what I cover. I also write about the entertainment economy, including The Star precinct — not as a gambling platform, but as a dining and events destination.

I’m not a gambler and I’m not going to pretend to be one. But I understand the entertainment side of the industry, and I can tell you which restaurants at The Star are actually worth your time and which ones are coasting on captive audiences. If it involves food, travel, or going out on the Gold Coast, I’ve probably already written about it or I’m about to.

Areas of Expertise

Gold Coast Lifestyle
SEQ Food & Drink
Queensland Travel
Entertainment Venues
Coastal Culture
Hinterland
Events
Restaurant Reviews

What I Don’t Cover

Casino strategy, betting odds, or anything involving maths. I’m not interested in pokies. I don’t review casinos as gambling platforms — I cover them as entertainment venues and dining destinations. I also won’t write about Sydney. Nothing against it, but I know the Gold Coast and Southeast Queensland — that’s my patch.

The Personal Stuff

When I’m Not Writing

Dawn surfs at Burleigh or Currumbin
Hinterland drives on weekends (Tamborine, Springbrook)
Trying every new restaurant opening in SEQ
Beach walks with friends and too much coffee

Industry Pet Peeves

People calling the Gold Coast “tacky” when they’ve only seen Surfers Paradise
Restaurants that charge Sydney prices for average food
The assumption that lifestyle writing isn’t real journalism
“Best of” lists written by people who visited once

“There’s a version of the Gold Coast that tourists see — Surfers Paradise, meter maids, all of it. And then there’s the actual Gold Coast, which is one of the best places to eat, surf, and live in the country. I write about the second one.”