Good morning, Robina.
Good week in Robina. Free outdoor cinema is coming to Greenheart Parklands on October 17, with a screening of The Wild Robot under the stars, food on site and no entry fee.
Bond University is opening Research Week to the public from October 19 to 23, with free lectures on AI, tech ethics and what's actually being researched down the road. The Gold Coast train line shuts between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes on October 17 and 18, so if you're catching the train that weekend, sort out your plan now. And MR Bake just won first place at the Queensland Baking Show, which is worth celebrating.
A solid week. Let's get into it.
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THIS WEEK IN ROBINA
Robina's Bakery Just Won Five National Pie Medals
IMAGE: oceanroadmagazine.com.au
Mitch and Sarah Rough opened MR Bake in Robina in 2023, and the suburb has been eating well ever since. This week, Ocean Road Magazine put the spotlight on what locals already knew - this is not your average strip-mall bakery.
Mitch has 20 years in the trade. Everything is made from scratch. The sourdough runs on its own mother dough. The Vanilla Slice just took first place at the 2026 Queensland Baking Show, and the pies collected five medals at Australia's Best Pie and Pastie Competition - silvers for the Lamb Coconut Curry and Chunky Beef and Mushroom, among others.
Ten local staff, an apprentice, and sponsorship of the Robina Roos AFL Club. It is a proper local business doing things properly.
If you have not been in yet, now seems like a reasonable time.
MR Bake is in Robina. You will find it.
Two weeknights. Two very good reasons to book dinner.?
At Fornello Pizza & Bar, Tuesdays mean 15% off all pasta, plus $8 glasses of wine. Wednesdays mean 15% off all pizzas, again with $8 glasses of wine.
With hand-stretched pizzas, Italian-inspired dishes and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s an easy excuse to turn a regular weeknight into dinner you’ll actually look forward to.
Don’t wait for the weekend. Pick your night, book your table and make the most of 15% off before the week gets away from you.
Tuesday = pasta. Wednesday = pizza. Which one are you booking?
Fornello Pizza & Bar
Shop A1/201 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes
Book your table and check the menu at fornellopizza.com.au
Free outdoor cinema lands at Greenheart Parklands
Pack the picnic blanket and the low chairs. Division 11's Movies Under the Stars is bringing a free screening of The Wild Robot to Greenheart Parklands on October 17, and it's exactly the kind of low effort, high value family night out this neighbourhood's been missing.
Food options will be on site, so no need to pack dinner along with everything else, and there's a weather contingency plan in place if the sky doesn't cooperate.
It's a genuinely nice use of the new green space out there, the kind of thing that turns a Saturday night into something the kids actually remember. Free, local, and an easy win for anyone who doesn't fancy the drive to a proper cinema. Worth locking in the date.
Cutest Pooch Competition at LillyPad Cottage: Win Coffee for Two!
Think you’ve got the cutest pooch in town?
Walk them over to LillyPad Cottage this week, where they’ll snap a photo of your pup and post it to their socials.
Then it’s over to the locals. The pooch that gets the most love in the comments wins coffee for two at LillyPad Cottage.
The competition kicks off this Friday, with the winner announced on Friday, 16 October.
LillyPad Cottage is already a favourite coffee stop for Robina locals and an easy stop along the morning walk. Now there’s another reason to pop in.
So grab the lead, wander over and get your pooch in the running. Then keep an eye on LillyPad Cottage’s socials to see who wins.
LillyPad Cottage
34–36 Glenferrie Drive, Robina
Instagram: lillypadcottage
Facebook: LillyPad Cottage
Robina High tackles "The AI Shift" in its final Alliance forum
IMAGE: whatsongoldcoast.au
If you've been wondering how AI is actually going to reshape jobs around here, Robina State High has a forum for that. Registrations are open for "The AI Shift", the final Robina Alliance panel of the year, bringing together voices from education, tech and local business.
It's a genuinely practical topic for parents and business owners alike, not abstract hand-wringing about robots, but real conversation about what skills and curriculum shifts actually matter as AI tools filter into local workplaces.
The forum runs October 23 at the school on Investigator Drive. Worth an early start and if you've got a kid heading into senior years, or you're running a local business trying to figure out what's coming next.
Could you protect yourself if the situation ever called for it?
For teens and adults around the Gold Coast, Goshukan Karate Academy offers training that goes beyond traditional martial arts.
Alongside traditional Goju-Ryu Karate, students can develop practical self-defence and safety awareness, with training that includes throwing, restraints, joint-locking techniques and controlled grappling.
The academy encourages men and women to learn skills that can help build confidence, awareness and a greater understanding of how to protect themselves and others.
With classes for teens and adults at Clear Island Waters and Pimpama, it's a local option worth knowing about.
We all want to feel a little more confident and prepared when it matters. If practical self-defence is something you’ve been thinking about, take a look at Goshukan and see if it could be right for you.
Goshukan Karate Academy QLD
Clear Island Waters & Pimpama
Starter Pack: $40 | 4 Classes + FREE Karate Uniform | $120 Value
Bond University's Research Week opens its doors to the public
Five days, free lectures, and a genuine look inside what's actually being researched down the road at Bond. Research Week runs October 19 to 23, covering everything from tech ethics to artificial intelligence, with public talks and exhibitions open to anyone keen enough to wander in.
It's not often locals get unhindered access to the kind of academic work usually locked behind enrolment, so this is a decent chance to hear directly from the people shaping where AI and workforce ethics are heading next.
Held right on campus at 14 University Drive, it's an easy one to pop into even for just an hour between errands. Worth checking the program for a session that actually interests you rather than trying to do all five days.
What if your child’s first learning experiences could help them feel proud of who they are?
For some families, early learning is about more than routines and activities. It’s also about keeping culture, language and a sense of belonging close to home.
That was the purpose behind Kia Ora Kids, founded by siblings Deborah Paewai and Shaun Komene to support Māori whānau raising children in Australia and bring Te Ao Māori values into everyday learning.
Located on Short Street, Nerang, the family-owned centre welcomes children aged 15 months to 5 years, offering play-based learning, long day care and a government-approved kindergarten program.
Meals, nappies and wipes are included, while the OWNA app helps families stay connected throughout the day.
Kia Ora Kids is currently advertising a first week free, subject to availability and enrolment conditions.
Learn more or arrange a visit at www.kiaorakidschildcare.com.au
Robina's Trains Are About to Disappear for a Weekend
Planning to catch the train later this month? You'll want to know about this one.
The Gold Coast line will close between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes from first service on Saturday, October 17 until last service on Sunday, October 18. Robina is included in the shutdown. Railbuses will replace trains while European Train Control System works are carried out.
There is one important catch for cyclists and e-scooter riders: they won't be allowed on the replacement buses. Normal fares will apply, with trains expected to return from the first service on Monday, October 19.
It's not happening this weekend, but it is close enough that regular commuters should start planning now. What locals should know: Robina station is included in the October 17-18 closure. Railbuses will replace trains between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes.
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2 Lancewood Circuit 4 bed, 2 bath, 914 m² corner block with pool - Sold 17 Sept, Harcourts Property Hub |
$1,647,500 |
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27 Hillsborough Close 3 bed, 2 bath, 402 m² allotment - Sold 22 Sept |
$1,400,000 |
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20 Solitaire Place 4 bed, 2 bath, 524 m² lot - Sold 18 Sept |
$1,340,000 |
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1 Dandenong Terrace 3 bed, 2 bath corner lot, approx. 531 m² - Sold 26 Sept |
$1,255,000 |
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17 Springvale Street 3 bed, 2 bath freestanding entry house, 828 m² - Sold 22 Sept |
$1,165,000 |
|
924 Medinah Avenue 3 bed, 2 bath premium attached/townhome, golf course corridor - Sold 23 Sept |
$1,100,000 |
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25 Brooklyn Crescent 3 bed, 2 bath standard freestanding house, compact parcel - Sold 30 Sept |
$1,055,000 |
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Event Calendar
From a library sing-a-long to a Rugby League World Cup triple-header, here's what's locked in for Robina this October.
Unlike the Social Games Morning, you must register online ahead of time. The interactive session features classic 60s and 70s songs led by local guitarist John Summers.
An open community drop-in session for puzzles, chess, and Scrabble.
The event runs for 1 hour, concluding at 7:30pm. While free, official Gold Coast Libraries records indicate initial allocations are completely full; you will need to register for the digital waitlist.
The upcoming retro-singalong tracking for October is this 70s & 80s themed evening.
This milestone 20th-anniversary celebration is exclusively a one-night-only event on October 29. There is no performance scheduled for October 20.
Match timings are officially locked in: 12:20pm Fiji vs France (Women's), 2:30pm New Zealand vs Fiji (Men's), 4:45pm New Zealand vs PNG (Women's).
Where to play something social within 20 minutes of Robina Town Centre.
Real deals at Robina venues right now.
$25 Steak and Ribs Night
Club Robina
263 Ron Penhaligon Way
Wednesday 2-for-1 Parmigiana night, Thursday Steak & Rib night with a 200g rump steak and juicy ribs topper for $25, Friday from 7:30 PM the $20,000 Blooming Bucks cash draw where lucky members can find the hidden flower and share $2,500 cash weekly.
Court, Cafe and Bar Packages
Racquet Club
Robina Town Centre
The Gold Coast's newest home of padel and pickleball is officially open, boasting 13 high-performance courts, a fully equipped pro-shop, a licensed bar, and an outdoor terrace. Court allocations fill up quickly, so download the Playtomic App to book your match.
Quiz Night
Robina Pavilion
229 Ron Penhaligon Way
Tuesday night Quiz Meisters trivia kicks off at 6:30 PM. Enjoy a rotating selection of local pub classics, dining specials, and craft beer deals while competing for prizes.
Services Robina Locals Recommend:
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DEBATE OF THE WEEK
With 2,500 new homes coming to Robina, what should come first: more parking or better buses?
The Lakesview Robina development has been approved, putting even more pressure on local roads and public transport.
A: Build more parking at Robina Station.
B: Improve bus routes and frequency.
Hit reply and tell us where you stand.
LEGEND OF THE WEEK:
Dylan Chambers - Canteen Coordinator, Robina Raptors Junior Rugby League Club
A professional chef who has been running the canteen at Bayberry Lane all season as a volunteer - keeping players and families fed through what turned out to be a premiership year. The kind of contribution that does not make the headline but absolutely makes the club. If you know Dylan, he deserves more than a thank you.
Grow your business with Robina Locals
To keep this newsletter going and the coverage improving, we are opening a small number of paid features to local businesses. If you offer something genuinely useful to Robina residents, we would like to hear from you.
Reply to this email to find out more.
That is a wrap for this week, Robina. Get amongst the debate, have your say in the community corner, and we will catch you next Thursday with more of what is happening around the traps.
Thanks for reading. See you next week.
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