GET LIT 72 HOURS STRAIGHT
THREE-DAY PARTY ON LAND AND SEA
A EUROPEAN dance party organiser is bringing a threeday festival to the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise two weeks before Schoolies.
The Hard Island and Hi Life Australia bender is booked in on land, a boat and in Surfers nightclubs, expected to attract 3000 revellers.
The 72-hour event this Friday, Saturday and Sunday covers nine separate parties and 50 DJs including Darude. The schedule is:
Starting in Surfers Paradise nightclubs Melbas and Havana on Friday, both from 9pm to 3am.
An all-day beach stage party at McLarens Landing, South Stradbroke Island, on Saturday from 11am to 10pm.
Two Saturday after-parties at Havana (10pm to 4am) and Melbas (10pm to 4am).
Another all-day beach party at McLarens Landing on Sunday from 1pm to 9pm.
A Sunday boat cruise party from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
Closing parties on Sunday night at Shooters in two different areas of the club from 10pm to 4am.
Organiser Josko Perkovic, who has developed a similar concept called Hard Island Croatia where it is a weeklong festival, said Australia’s tourism party capital was the perfect spot for his concept.
“It’s a weekend getaway, a three-day, non-stop party – club parties, island beach parties, boat parties, after parties, side parties, it’s full on.”
The festival comes a fortnight after GC600 and a fortnight before Schoolies hits Surfers Paradise when thousands of school leavers descend on the visitor hub.
Mr Perkovic said he made the mistake of trying a McLarens Landing party last year the same weekend as GC600.
The dance festival veteran of 15 years said his Croatian event, also on an island, attracted a lot of Australians so it prompted him to visit.
“I thought ‘Let’s check, see how people are and check the Gold Coast’. It’s the big tourism party capital of Australia and maybe we get lucky with a place to do an event,” he said, adding a back-up boat would also be on standby.
“The weather will be awesome, our brand is a summer brand. We’ll have a police, medical presence.
“Our main preoccupation is for our patrons to be safe.”
Hard Island Australia also offers accommodation packages, partnering with Mantra properties Legends, Towers of Chevron and Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise.
Melbas marketing boss Joey Lamattina who started in the role recently said it was already a done deal prior to his arrival to the nightclub.
But Mr Lamattina said: “I’m looking forward to having these guys and being associated with this great event.
“I’ve done some research and they have done some really good stuff and they have a half-decent line up too.
“I can’t remember the Gold Coast hosting anything like this over three days.”
Tickets start from $39 for after parties to multi-event tickets for $169 or $199.