Visit Gold Coast

From the towers of Surfers Paradise to the waves of Snapper Rocks, the Gold Coast unrolls a string of patrolled beaches along Queensland's shore. Behind them, theme parks keep families busy and the Gondwana rainforests, with their glow worms, lie less than an hour's drive away.

Why choose the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast packs patrolled surf beaches, Australia's main theme parks and, inland, UNESCO World Heritage rainforests into a single coastal strip. It lies about an hour's drive from Brisbane. Humpback whales travel along the coast from June to November.

Top things to do on the Gold Coast

Five places that sum up the Gold Coast, between ocean, wildlife and forest.

SkyPoint Observation Deck

On level 77 of the Q1 tower, the glass-walled deck takes in the whole coast, from the southern beaches to the hinterland, best in late afternoon.

Burleigh Head National Park

A wooded headland between two beaches, circled by a coastal path of about thirty minutes, with views of the surfers and, in winter, passing whales.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Opened in 1947, the sanctuary is known for lorikeet feeding, its koalas and kangaroos, and a wildlife hospital that visitors can watch at work.

Springbrook Natural Bridge

A waterfall plunges through the roof of a basalt cave, and after dark colonies of glow worms light up the rock walls.

Snapper Rocks

A rocky point at Coolangatta where a long right-hand wave begins, regularly chosen as a world surf tour stop, with a great show from the promenade.

Where to go on the Gold Coast, from north to south?

Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach

The tourist core lines residential towers along an unbroken sandy beach, patrolled all year. Surfers Paradise has the bars and nightlife, while calmer Broadbeach has restaurants and the convention centre. The G:link light rail connects these areas to Southport and Helensvale, where trains reach Brisbane in about an hour. Avoid late November if you want peace: school-leaver celebrations, known as Schoolies, take over Surfers. Direct flights link Coolangatta airport to Melbourne in just over two hours.

The southern coast, from surf beaches to the border

South of Broadbeach the mood shifts: Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach and Currumbin offer beach cafes and lower buildings. At Coolangatta, about 25 km from Surfers, the point at Snapper Rocks marks the start of the Superbank, one of the country's most famous waves. The town merges into Tweed Heads in New South Wales: from October to April, daylight saving time only applies on one side of the street. This is the area to choose for a three or four day surf stay.

The northern theme parks

Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild are spread between Coomera, Oxenford and the Spit, 20 to 30 minutes north of Surfers. Allow a full day per park and arrive at opening time to cut queues. Multi-park passes start to pay off from three visits. Avoid Queensland school holidays, especially late June to early July and December to January, when queues grow much longer and car parks fill up by late morning.

The hinterland and the Gondwana rainforests

Some 45 minutes to an hour from the coast, Springbrook and Lamington national parks belong to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trails of one to six hours lead past waterfalls, Antarctic beech trees and lookouts over the coast. The Tamborine Mountain plateau adds galleries and wineries. A car is essential, since no public transport climbs to the parks. This is the day trip that makes a stay in this part of Australia truly stand out.

Frequently asked questions about the Gold Coast

Should you stay in Surfers Paradise or Burleigh Heads?
Surfers Paradise suits nightlife, the light rail and quick access to the theme parks. Laid-back Burleigh Heads draws people for its cafes, national park and waves. For a first family stay, Broadbeach is a good compromise between the two.
How many Gold Coast theme parks can you do in a week?
Two or three parks are enough to leave time for the beaches and the hinterland. With children, alternate a park day with a beach rest day, as the heat and queues make for long days.
Can you get from Brisbane to the Gold Coast without a car?
Yes: the Gold Coast line runs to Helensvale, Nerang or Robina, then the G:link light rail or buses continue to the beaches. The full trip to Surfers takes around an hour and a half.
Why does the time change between Coolangatta and Tweed Heads?
Coolangatta is in Queensland, which has no daylight saving, while Tweed Heads is in New South Wales, which does. From October to April, crossing the border street moves the clock forward one hour, worth checking for your bookings.
Can you see whales from the beach on the Gold Coast?
Yes, from June to November humpback whales pass close to shore. The headlands at Burleigh Head, Currumbin and Point Danger in Coolangatta are good lookouts. Boat trips from the Spit get you closer.
Can you see the Springbrook glow worms without a guide?
Yes, the Natural Bridge track, a loop of about one kilometre, is open to all. Arrive after dark, switch off your torch near the cave and do not touch the water. Guided tours mainly spare you the mountain road at night.

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