On the way to Byron?
Stop here first.
Six minutes off the runway at Gold Coast Airport. Forty minutes shy of Byron Bay. Coffee from 6am, retail from 9, free parking, and a courtyard you’re welcome to settle into — dog, kids and all.
A natural stop on the way south.
Cornerstone Stores sits on the Gold Coast Highway in Tugun, on the strip between Gold Coast Airport and the New South Wales border. If you’ve just landed at Gold Coast Airport (OOL) and you’re heading to Byron Bay — or driving north out of Byron toward your flight home — you’ll pass directly past us. Most travellers don’t realise it’s here. It’s not a chain shopping centre. It’s nine independent stores around an inward-facing courtyard, designed by Brisbane architects Richards & Spence.
What that means for you: a proper sit-down breakfast (or lunch), specialty coffee, fresh produce and a butcher if you’re self-catering, a barber if you need a tidy-up before a wedding, a yoga class to shake out the flight, and a few small retail boutiques worth a browse. All in one quiet, low-key block opposite Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary — with free parking and a dog you can bring along.
From here to anywhere on the coast.
6 minutes
4.5 km north on the Gold Coast Hwy
8 minutes
Snapper Rocks, the Quikky, Greenmount
3 minutes
Or 12 minutes on foot via the bike path
12 minutes
North on the Gold Coast Hwy
40 minutes
South via the Pacific Motorway
25 minutes
North via the Gold Coast Hwy
1 hr 15 min
North via the M1
10 minutes
Just over the QLD/NSW border
Got an hour? Got a day? Either works.
Coffee & courtyard.
Park up, grab a flat white from Stable, find a courtyard table under the Pandanus. Stretch the legs, walk the dog, browse Kind Curations next door. Back on the road before traffic builds. Brunch and coffee in Tugun →
Eat, browse, walk.
Sit-down breakfast at Stable. Wander Quince Cellar for cheese and small-producer wine to take with you. Cross the road for a quick lap of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, or walk five minutes east to Currumbin Beach. Local cheese, wine and produce →
A morning, well spent.
Yoga or Pilates at The Body Method. A cut at Lost Boys. Pick up regenerative meat from Locavore Byron and a bottle from Quince. Lunch at Stable. Walk the coastal path to Currumbin Rock Pools. Then on to Byron, refreshed.
What’s on your doorstep.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Directly opposite. Lorikeets, koalas, kangaroos — one of the Gold Coast’s oldest and best-loved attractions. A great stop with kids. Plan a day around the Sanctuary →
Currumbin Beach & the Alley
Three minutes by car, twelve on foot. Patrolled in season, gentle for swimming, and home to The Alley — one of the GC’s most loved breaks.
Tugun Beach
Quieter than its neighbours. Walk down Tugun St and you’re on the sand. Good for a sunset stroll after a long day.
Currumbin Rock Pools
Freshwater rock pools fifteen minutes inland. A refreshing detour on a hot day.
Snapper Rocks & Coolangatta
Eight minutes south. Surf, sand, the Quiksilver Pro break, the Coolangatta strip and the QLD/NSW border at Point Danger.
Coastal bike path
The path runs past the precinct. Rent a bike at the Sanctuary or walk north to Palm Beach, south to Coolangatta.
Common questions.
How far is Cornerstone Stores from Gold Coast Airport?
Approximately 6 minutes by car — 4.5km north up the Gold Coast Highway. Free on-site parking, no time limits.
Is Cornerstone Stores a good stopover on the way to Byron Bay?
Yes — we sit directly on the Gold Coast Highway route south, 40 minutes from Byron. Breakfast from 6am, free parking, and a dog-friendly courtyard. A natural place to break up the drive.
Where can I get breakfast near Gold Coast Airport?
Stable, the licensed café at Cornerstone, opens at 6am daily. Seasonal breakfast and lunch, specialty coffee, plant-based options, and courtyard seating. Six minutes from Gold Coast Airport (OOL).
Is parking free?
Yes — free on-site parking with no meters and no time limits. Main entrance is on Farrell Drive. Additional free street parking on Farrell Drive.
Is Cornerstone dog-friendly?
Yes. The courtyard and outdoor café seating welcome dogs. We ask that dogs are kept on a lead inside the courtyard out of respect for other guests — especially families with small children. Inside the café there are dog-free seating areas. A dog-friendly day out around Tugun and Currumbin →
What’s near Cornerstone?
We’re directly opposite Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, three minutes from Currumbin Beach, and ten minutes from Snapper Rocks, Kirra and Coolangatta. The coastal bike path runs past the precinct.
What time does Cornerstone open?
Stable café 6am — 2:30pm daily. Retail tenants generally 9am — 4pm daily. Lost Boys, Quince Cellar, and The Body Method have their own extended hours — see each store page.
Can I leave luggage at Cornerstone while I visit?
No formal luggage service, but most travellers leave bags in their car — parking is free, secure and on-site. Please don’t leave valuables visible.
570 Gold Coast Hwy,
Tugun.
Open 7 days. Free parking. Dog friendly. Pull off the highway, turn into Farrell Drive, and we’ll see you in the courtyard.