5 Splendid Things To Do In Gold Coast

Gold Coast is the land of sunshine and sand and lots of happiness. Here are our recommendations of 5 worthwhile things to do in Gold Coast when you are visiting!

Located on the east coast of Australia and south of Brisbane is Gold Coast. It is well known for its sunny subtropical climate, umpteen beaches, hinterland rainforest, and vibrant nightlife. Surfers Paradise is the tourist hub of the region where lots of travellers and locals go to get some sun, surf, and let their hair down.

🚀 How to get in and around?

To get to Gold Coast, either drive a car or opt to hop on the public train. You can catch the train in Brisbane city at either Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Central, Roma Street, Cultural Centre/South Bank or Park Road stations. The Brisbane Airport Airtrain also connects visitors from the airport directly to the Gold Coast. A lot of avid travellers also drive up from Sydney since the coastal route is absolutely mesmerizing!

Once in the Gold Coast, the Translink transport system is available and includes services such as buses, trains, and trams. You can use the go card or the goSeeQ card (special for tourists) to travel on all bus, train, tram and ferry services in South East Queensland, which also entitles you to avail discounted travel rates.

🚀 Go Beach Hopping

A trip to the Gold Coast will be incomplete without exploring the region’s 70km stretch of beaches!  From top to toe we recommend Main Beach, Surfers Paradise Beach, Kurrawa Beach, Mermaid Beach, Miami Beach, Nobby Beach, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Currumbin Creek, Kirra Beach, Coolangatta Beach, and Rainbow Bay.

While beach hopping, you can bust-a-move and get your groove on at Lights Out And Dance in Burleigh Heads (Mondays only) or play mini golf at King Tutts Putt Putt or Putt Putt courses at Mermaid Beach.

Pro tip: There are plenty of accommodation options in Gold Coast having access to the beach. We chose to stay in an Airbnb right in front of Mermaid Beach, and the experience was something we’ll never forget! The owner of the property was a local, and it was heaps of fun getting to explore Gold Coast with insights from a localite!

🚀 Go Theme Park Hopping

Looking for thrill and a whole lot of fun? Gold Coast is home to some of the best theme parks you’ll find in the country.

Warner Bros. Movie World is great for lovers of Warner Bros., and besides the exciting rides such as the Green Lantern Coaster, Superman Escape or Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, the impressive character mascots that walk around make for great photoshoot opportunities to cherish for a lifetime.

Dream World is home to over 40 rides that will enchant you like no other theme park. It has the heart-stopping Big 9 Thrill Rides, Tiger Island that features 11 big cats where you can get up close and see them swim underwater, the Dreamworld Corroboree, kids-friendly Wiggles World, and also heaps of DreamWorks™ movie characters you can say hello and snap photos with.

If you’re passionate about marine animals, Sea World is worth a visit. You can encounter polar bears, dolphins, cuddly little penguins, and Nickelodeon characters here! Not to mention, check out the Sea Jellies Illuminated that is the latest impressive addition to the park.

For when it’s a hot summer day, Wet’n’Wild Water World is a great place to visit to cool down and have fun splish-splashing with your friends and family. The Giant Wave Pool and the Whirlpool Springs were our favourites!

The Madame Tussauds wax museum and the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium are also unique attractions to visit in the Gold Coast.

Pro tip: Get combo passes and save a great deal of money!

🚀 Get Into Nature

The green “hinterland” of Gold Coast is just as enchanting as the golden beaches where you will find the unspoilt UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, charming mountain villages, rivers, swimming holes, waterfalls, and hiking opportunities at various national parks.

Lamington National Park boasts acclaimed restaurants and wineries, rainforest walking tracks, and antique vintage shops. Dorrigo National Park is another perfect place to explore through rainforest walks and it treats visitors with incredible panoramic vistas on the Skywalk Lookout.

Springbrook National Park also has the wonderful forest wilderness formed by the eruption of a volcano 23 million years ago. There’s some particularly breathtaking sites here; the gorgeous Natural Bridge which is the jewel in the Gold Coast hinterland crown, a cave like rock formation that is home to a waterfall, glow worms and bent-wing bats. The Purling Brook Falls, Twin Falls, and Bilbrough Falls (also known as the Goomoolahra Falls) are accessible and rewards with lush forest, rock pools, huge rock clefts, and amazing views. They make for a perfect swim on a hot day and you could spend hours relaxing in these little patches of rainforests. The Wunburra Lookout and Canyon Lookout are also great to check out some stunning views of the surrounding area!

The Heart Shaped pool of Killarney Glen is also a unique place to have a dip in the jade coloured swimming hole.

🚀 Don’t Shy Away From Adventure

Gold Coast SkyPoint Observation Deck at Q1 Tower are for those who love views, views, and views! View the Pacific Ocean on one side and towering Skyscrapers on the other and be marvelled by the beauty of the city. Also opt to do the SkyPoint Climb at the tower if you’re feeling valiant!

At Surfers Paradise, indulge in some water sports by going scuba diving, snorkelling, or surfing. You can even step it up and enjoy a jet-ski or jet-boat adventure and even parasailing.

The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk at Mount Tamborine nestled deep within Lamington National Park is a fantastic unique experience to undertake. You can walk above the lush forest on the 300 meters bridge through the rainforest canopy and witness a magical sight full of lush flora and abundant fauna.

🚀 Splurge

Indulge in some retail therapy by going shopping at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Market held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings. You’ll find about 120 market stalls selling artwork, homewares and fashion. There’s also the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and The Oasis Shopping Centre that will delight you. Surfers Paradise also boasts world-class cuisine, a well-kept casino, the gorgeous Cascades Gardens, and a gorgeous boulevard lined with gourmet restaurants that’s perfect for an after-dinner relaxing stroll.

We hope we’ve sent you tripping over your feet with excitement for Gold Coast is a charming place to visit. The sun and sand, fun and hinterland, all call your name! If you’d like to discover what Brisbane has to offer, read our Guide to explore Australia’s river city.