The Gold Coast is a coastal city in the southeast corner of the state of Queensland in Australia. The year-round warm weather and positioning as a large coastal city just south of Brisbane has made it a popular destination with travellers. Surfers Paradise forms the glitzy hub of tourist activity. Each year thousands of Australian students complete their secondary education by indulging in Schoolies Week by travelling to the Gold Coast for a week of partying. The XXI Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold Coast between 4 and 15 April 2018.
Other districts include:
- Paradise Point, Hollywell, Runaway Bay and Labrador - northern suburbs, largely residential.
- Southport - The commercial centre with shops, hospitals, business, industry and government offices.
- Main Beach - An upmarket suburb with high-rises and resorts.
- Mermaid Beach and Miami - Largely low-rise residential suburbs with motels and restaurants along the highway.
- Burleigh Heads - Numerous highrise apartment buildings and a small commercial area. The beaches are popular with surfers and families.
- Palm Beach - Largely residential area.
The climate of the Gold Coast ensures that travellers are able to enjoy the area year round. It has a mild, sub-tropical climate, with an average high of 29°C in January and 21°C in July. The winter months tend to have little rainfall, while the summer has frequent storms originating from the west.
Predictions of rain often equate to brief and intense afternoon storms, rather than extended periods of gentle rain.
The Gold Coast is a large urban area with a population of 550,000. The Gold Coast shares its infrastructure, facilities, services and labour market with Brisbane to the north. Workers commonly commute between the two by rail and road.
Many tourists believe the highrise buildings and crowds of Surfers Paradise make it an overdeveloped 'tourist trap'. However, most of these buildings are residential ones populated by locals. The city also has many services and industries not directly related to tourism.
The Gold Coast, that visitors are more familiar with, stretches along the coastal suburbs from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads (about 35 km). Surfers Paradise, towards the northern end, is the hub of the leisure activity.
Lieutenant James Cook became the first European to chart the region when he sailed along the coast on 16 May 1770. Captain Matthew Flinders, an explorer charting continent north of the colony of New South Wales sailed past in 1802. Escaped convicts from Moreton Boy penal settlement hid in the region. The region remained uninhabited when John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was named after a cutter named Mermaid.
The XXI Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold Coast between 4 to 15 April 2018. The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event with competitors from around 70 countries.
There are over 52 km of ocean beaches maintained by the local council. In addition to this there are (largely un-patrolled) ocean beaches in the Tweed Shire of Northern NSW and numerous waterway beaches.
List of beaches (north to south):
| Beach Name | Length (km) | Description |
| South Stradbroke Island | 22 | The longest and least crowded but also the most remote and inaccessible beach. Accessible by private boat, cruises from the Broadwater or Surfers Paradise, the ferry to Couran Cove, or by surfers paddling across the Gold Coast Seaway (which is dangerous especially without local knowledge). |
| The Spit | 3.5 | Another long and uncrowded beach, easily accessible from Seaworld or by driving up to the Seaway. |
| Main Beach | 1.5 | One of the first beaches to be used on the coast due to its proximity to Southport. The cosmopolitan Tedder Ave is nearby. |
| Narrow Neck | 1 | This is very popular for those who would like to observe the beach without getting out of their car or tour bus, and also for taking photos. Not surprisingly almost every tour will stop there, but the beach is fairly uncrowded. |
| Surfers Paradise | 1.5 | Flags and patrols every few hundred metres along the beach. You can be sure to find a place to swim, but the beach right opposite Cavill Ave is generally very busy and packed with tourists. Just walk north or south along the beach to find a (slightly) less crowded alternative. |
| Northcliffe | 1.5 | Almost indistinguishable from Surfers for most visitors, but a little quieter and popular with families due to its proximity to apartments and other accommodation. |
| Broadbeach (Kurrawa Beach) | 2 | Often the same surf conditions as Surfers Paradise. The upside, however, is that it's not that far away and nowhere near as busy as Surfers. Just in from the beach is Kurrawa Park, a shopping centre full of cafes, restaurants, and Jupiters Casino. |
| Mermaid Beach | 2 | Along what is locally known as 'millionaires row'. |
| Nobby Beach and Miami | 2 | A quiet beach very popular with locals due to its ample parking and barbeque facilities. Its at the southern end of a continuous stretch of sand from the Gold Coast Seaway. |
| North Burleigh | 1 | Separated from Miami by a small headland known as South Nobby. The headland provides outstanding views of the beaches to the north and south. North Burleigh is a good place to go if there are winds blowing from the north, as the headland also provides a bit of protection. |
| Burleigh | 1.5 | A nice beach with a large park and a hill that is good for picnics. There are cafes surrounding the beach and the hill cover means that this beach is usually pretty nice when the winds are blowing from the south (when Surfers and other beaches will be exposed and horrible). |
| Palm Beach | 3.3 | Includes Tallebudgera Surf Beach and Pacific Beach. |
| Currumbin | 1.4 | A fantastic lagoon-cross-beach, if you can get there it's well worth a trip. Mostly inhabited by locals learning to surf, easiest waves on the coast. |
| Tugun | 2 | A pleasant local beach. |
| Bilinga | 2.5 | One of the few beaches in the world within 5 minutes walk of an international airport (OOL). Perfect as a short walk for those who check in early. |
| Kirra | 2 | Famous surfing spot, the beach has become very wide due to the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project |
| Coolangatta and Greenmount | 0.8 | Offers the most spectacular scenery and views up the coast, and is also a fantastic place for a picnic. |
| Rainbow bay | 0.4 | The world renown Snapper Rocks is right next to Rainbow Bay and is the home of the Quiksilver Pro . |
| Duranbah | 0.4 | Right on the New South Wales border, it is very popular for surfing. |
The Gold Coast also has numerous beaches in calmer, more protected water away from the surf, ideal for families with small children.
| Beach Name | Length (km) | Description |
| Paradise Point | 1.2 | A quiet beach on the Broadwater popular with locals. Its a very family-friendly beach due to its swimming enclosure and surrounds featuring food, parklands, barbeque areas and playgrounds. |
| Southport (Broadwater) Beach | 2 | A beach along the Broadwater shore at Southport with a swimming enclosure. The adjacent Broadwater Parklands features a swimming pool, boat ramps, public jetty, playgrounds and picnic areas. Part of the area is closed due to the construction as part of the Commonwealth Games. |
| Marine Stadium | 1 | A casuarina-fringed beach used by the many anchored boats and weekend fishing enthusiasts. The eastern side is also an off-leash dog exercise area. |
| Budds Beach | 0.1 | A hidden beach on the Nerang River near the heart of Surfers Paradise |
| Tallebudgera Creek | 0.5 | A popular swimming lagoon with families, fantastic for people who don't feel comfortable in the surf but still want to take a dip. It is one of the few patrolled beaches in water protected from the surf. |
| Currumbin Creek | 0.8 | Popular with longboarders and families due to its shelter from the sea. The beach runs around lagoons on both sides of the creek |
Promoted as "the green behind the gold", the Gold Coast Hinterland refers to the mountainous area between the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim region. It is home to national parks, mountain resorts, waterfalls, reservoirs, scenic drives and lookouts, wineries, and rock formations. The area is mostly covered in subtropical rainforest, but sections have been cleared for dairy farmland and wineries. The Hinterland is best seen by car or on a bus tour as the roads wind through the mountains with various lookout points along the way and towering trees lining the roads. It is truly a beautiful drive.
- Tamborine Mountain featuring:
- Numerous lookouts offering panoramic views in all directions
- A great cottage industry with fantastic restaurants, fudge shops, and wineries - many of which offer free samples!
- Springbrook Mountain
- Hinze Dam and Advancetown Lake
- Lamington National Park
- Numinbah Valley featuring the Natural Bridge rockpool and waterfall (see glow worms at night).
- Tallebudgera Valley
- Currumbin Valley
Many tours operate in the hinterland area. Some are more of a bus tour as opposed to an all inclusive day. Watch the small print and enjoy. 4WD tour companies generally offer all inclusive tours to the hinterland area.
The Gold Coast region is big on theme parks. During peak season expect them all to be quite busy. Before you go, investigate ticket discounts for combined travel and entry, multi-park and multi-day passes. Members of Australian motoring associations can purchase discounted tickets from them before you travel.
A short list of attractions and admission prices:
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: koalas, kangaroos, birds, snakes, crocodiles. Admission $40-50.
- Sea World: Marine park with rides, sharks, dolphins, penguins, polar bears. Admission $50-80.
- Warner Bros Movie World: Movie-themed rides and photo opportunities with famous characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Admission $50-80.
- Dreamworld: Amusement park, rides, themed lands and animals. Admission $50-80.
- WhiteWater World: Water park with pools, slides. Admission $30-50.
- Australian Outback Spectacular: horses and unique Australian lifestyle (dinner provided). Admission $55-110. Next to Movie World.
- Wet 'n' Wild: Water park with pools, slides, rides. Admission $35-60.
- Tropical Fruit World: Fruit plantation orchard, with tour, shows, tasting. Admission Adults $44, Children $25 (ages 4-16), Concession $35, Family Pass $110 (2A+2C) or $120 (2A+3C).
Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild are owned by the same company, so check out one of their combo tickets if you're planning on hitting two or more of them.
Dreamworld and WhiteWater World offer the same kind of deal.
Be wary of street vendors promising free tickets to theme parks. Generally found along Cavill Mall in Surfers Paradise, they promise free theme park tickets in return for 3-4 hours of your time watching a timeshare presentation followed by high pressure salesmanship to sign up.
Many legitimate vendors sell discounted theme park tickets. Check out the tourist information booths run by Gold Coast Tourism Corporation.
Cavill Mall and surrounds have some cheap souvenir and t-shirt shops. There are dozens of stores around Surfers Paradise catering exclusively for the tourist market and Australian opals, sheepskins, wool products, and aboriginal "artifacts". Watch out for overpriced goods. Local newspapers regularly run stories about "discount warehouses" being taken to court for selling souvenirs at exorbitant prices to Asian tourists on organized tours.
Surfers Paradise has several shopping centres including the Centro Shopping Plaza (with Woolworths supermarket and numerous souvenir shops) and the Chevron Renaissance (with Coles Supermarkets and fashion shops). Although these cater for most tourist needs, better value for everyday items can generally be found outside Surfers Paradise.
The back arcades of Surfers Paradise have dozens of cheap Japanese and Korean "lunchbox" style restaurants and the quality is usually excellent, not to mention the price (less than $15 for a large main meal).
A variety of quick eats is available in the mall off Cavill Avenue. A highlight for vegetarians is Govinda's Veg-O-Rama in the mall. There is a very well priced sushi train one street north of Cavill Ave called Sushi in Paradise (2 Elkhorn Ave.)
Tedder Avenue in Main Beach and the Broadbeach area have the largest concentration of restaurants and cafés with food ranging from gourmet seafood to pub fare. Expect to pay $20–50 for a main meal. At most of the restaurants, you can bring your own alcohol.
There is an all you can eat Buffet in Jupiters Casino that offers lunch for $29.90, dinner for $40 (seafood on F Sa for $50). The food there is delicious and there are plenty of entrees, mains, roasts and desserts.
Heading north to the Marina's around the Broadwater will put you right amongst the Gold Coast's freshest fish markets. Peter's Fish Market is just north of Marina Mirage and will happily cook fish and chips if you have nowhere to do it yourself.
If there is a local speciality it has to be Mud Crabs, known as muddies, which are great when in season.
If you are in Broadbeach, the Kurrawa Surf Club has heaps of options, plus for the vegetarians there is a falafel burger. It is right in front of the beach and the view is sublime.
Good Food Gold Coast is an independent food and restaurant review website which will help you choose a place to eat.
Try a local surf club for a cheap beer with a great view, you'll find one or two in every beachside suburb of the Gold Coast. They're generally right in front of the beach their members patrol and serve deliciously affordable food and drinks. The fish doesn't actually get much fresher. Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise offer the biggest choice of bars, clubs, and cafes, and you can order almost anything you can dream up.
Further south, Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club, Coolangatta Surf Lifesaving Club, Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Surf Lifesaving Club and Rainbow Bay Surf Lifesaving Club have spectacular decks, good food and entertainment and friendly welcomes. Just sign in as a guest.
Twin Towns RSL is the largest RSL in NSW. On the border of Queensland and NSW it offers a variety of dining options, frequent entertainment acts, and a friendly environment all at club prices. It has the sterile renovated feel of many of the newer clubs, but it is possible to get a seat with nice view.
Many accommodation operators offer free Wi-Fi access to their guests. Other Wi-Fi hotspots include McDonalds and Hungry Jacks restaurants and coffee shops such as Starbucks and Gloria Jeans. Free Wi-Fi is also available in all Gold Coast City Branch libraries, except Mudgeeraba and the mobile library.
Almost all beaches between the Gold Coast Seaway and Coolangatta are patrolled by volunteer and professional lifesavers. The patrolled areas are marked by red and yellow flags. Signs on the beaches will show you the closest patrolled beaches at any particular time of year.
Always swim between the flags. The flags have been lined up with the safest parts of the beach and are patrolled by lifesavers. If you do get into trouble or feel yourself being pulled out of your depth by a "rip", don't try to swim against the water. Swim parallel to the beach and raise your hand to attract the attention of a lifesaver. Always check the lifeguard chalk board near the (usually) yellow flag for up to date swimming conditions, water temperature, tide times and other information.
Swimming is also not recommended:
- After heavy rain when water quality and clarity become poor. Debris and other aquatic organisms are in the water and sometimes an algae or seaweed bloom occurs for a few days afterwards.
- When jellyfish (or stingers) are present. They usually appear in the summer months brought in by northerly winds in the afternoon.
- If schools of small fish are present, as these may attract sharks. If a shark has been spotted, lifeguards will direct people to get out of the water quickly.
- During choppy or unstable surf conditions, check the lifeguard chalk board.
- In canals, due to bull sharks and jet skis.
Dogs are permitted on beaches provided except within 200 m of flagged areas, part of Gold Coast City Dog Exercise Areas.
Surfers must not surf in the zone between the flags.
The Gold Coast Oceanway, which is a 36-km network of pathways along beaches from the Gold Coast Seaway (The Spit) to the Point Danger Lighthouse (Coolangatta), is a great way to walk or cycle between the beaches.
105.7 Radio Metro has detailed surf reports at 07:00, 12:00 and 15:00 daily.
Violence can erupt late at night and in the early hours of the morning, particularly from Thursday to Saturday. Areas to be careful to avoid include Cavill Ave and Orchid Ave in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach Mall in Broadbeach and Griffith St in Coolangatta.
- Northern Rivers region of NSW which includes:
- Tweed Shire which starts at the NSW border at Tweed Heads and includes the Mount Warning National Park
- Australia's most easterly point at Cape Byron and Byron Bay (75 km south)
- Regional city of Lismore
- Coolangatta airport has inexpensive flights on budget carriers to New Zealand, only about 2 to 3 hours away.
- Gold Coast Hinterland
- Scenic Rim area (60 to 120 km west), a farming area overlooked by Mt Barney, and the quiet town of Boonah.
- Granite Belt (120 to 200 km west) with the towns of Stanthorpe and Warwick