Top things to do in Gold Coast
Attractions, tours and activities in Gold Coast
Recommended museums in Gold Coast
Where to discover culture and the arts in Gold Coast
Gold Coast: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Gold Coast
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Surfers Paradise
In the city centre
Looking for surfer chic? Head inland to Cavill Avenue to find all the surfing paraphernalia that you could ever need! Once you’ve stocked up on board wax and ankle ropes, boomerang back to the beach to put your new gear to the test. When your body can’t take any more waves, join Gold Coast’s fun-seekers in nightclubs like Vanity or SinCity.
Places to stay from £9 per night
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Broadbeach
2.1 miles from city centre
Broadbeach is a beach ‘n café-lovers haven. Rise with the sun, then fuel your morning with coffee from the chilled-out “No Name Lane Café”. Afterwards, stroll for hours along Broadbeach’s picture-perfect shores, and go for a dip in its sparkling waters. Later, retreat to “Grocer & Grind” Café for a leisurely lunch of locally sourced delights.
Places to stay from £62 per night
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Main Beach
3.1 miles from city centre
Apart from its namesake, this old-school ‘hood has a heap of hot restaurants. “Pavilion 34” is a renovated bathing tower that serves fish-and-chips with a ‘60’s twist. Around Teddy Avenue, a vibrant café culture has sprung up and attracts everyone from surfers to socialites. The Marina Yacht Club is where big spenders come out to play.
Places to stay from £104 per night
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Coolangatta
13.4 miles from city centre
Surf’s up in Coolangatta. Kirra Beach is famous for having some of the best breaks in the world, and you’ll see everyone from amateurs to pros practicing here. Just after sundown, swarms of locals flock to the Secret Deck Café. This slightly off-the-grid café is where you’ll hear surfers regale a captive audience with stories about their latest wave-riding exploits.
Places to stay from £19 per night
About Gold Coast
Including tips for the best time to visit Gold Coast
Located just an hour’s drive from Brisbane – the capital of Queensland – the Gold Coast is a city which definitely lives up to its name. The glinting high rises of the city centre divide some 31 kilometres of golden coastline and many acres of lush green forest.
Main Beach and Surfers Paradise, the most central seaside resorts, offer not only world-class surf breaks but also some of Australia’s best shopping malls, nightclubs and tourist attractions. The SkyPoint Observation Deck, for instance, guarantees fantastic 360-degree views, stretching from Byron Bay to Brisbane by day, and across the shimmering Gold Coast skyline at night. On a clear day, you might even spot whales migrating along the eastern coast. This area is also popular for water sports like jet-skiing, parasailing and flyboarding.
The Gold Coast is also home to theme parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld and Wet‘n’Wild, making it the theme park capital of Australia.
Things start to quieten down as you move further down the coast. Broadbeach is a laid-back alternative for sunbathers, while surfer spots like Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta are less crowded out on the waves.
Further inland are vast areas of natural beauty waiting to be explored. Whether it’s crabbing in the mangroves of the Tweed region, hiking along Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges, or discovering secluded waterfalls in Tamborine National Park, there are plenty of things to do in these scenic surroundings.
Tonight
From £92 per night
This weekend
From £212 per night
Next weekend
From £212 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | AUD 10 = £5.24 |
| Language | English |
| Average weekend price | £132 per night |
| Average weekday price | £133 per night |
| Typical stay | 3 nights |
Points of interest in Gold Coast
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Gold Coast
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Robina Town Centre
4.3 miles from city centre
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Metricon Stadium
2.2 miles from city centre
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Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
2.2 miles from city centre
Gold Coast reviews
What other travellers say about Gold Coast
Very good place for family visit and entertainment.
28 April 2024
Very good place for family visit and entertainment. Our favorite places are sea world resort to stay and and theam parks to visit. Food from local Cafe and sea world resort dining was excellent. It us easy to get around.
excellent location, tram service is great and always on time...
27 April 2024
excellent location, tram service is great and always on time, staff are friendly and helpful, price was reasonable for 7 nights. Lots of cafe options along the beach front serving excellent meals with awesome staff and service.' The Lazy Lobster in Main Beach is a must if you like Seafood Chowder-the best ever my number 1 pick on the menu, however the rest of the menu is just as perfect as well. The Birdcage in Main Beach is another restaurant, a little bit pricy but it was all worth it.
Great beaches and coastal walkways and some super restauants...
25 April 2024
Great beaches and coastal walkways and some super restauants and cafes. Its a busy location, fairly intense in comparison to say the Med, which might be an unfair comparison, or even Noosa on the sunshine coast which is quieter. For me its too traffic oriented and spread out, the amount of traffic is heavy and for me spoiled the relaxation experience. There are some great places to eat along the coast but a lot are spoiled, in my opinion, by the 4 lane very busy Gold Coast Highway being in close proximity. The tram, once completed could make a big difference. In my opinion the whole thing is too linear and stretched out, so for many locations, necessitating having a car, which for me isn't a holiday.
Didn’t stay in Surfers this time as it is tired looking and...
22 April 2024
Didn’t stay in Surfers this time as it is tired looking and the hotels are expensive for what you get Southport has a lot of potential but there is an undesirable element there that make you feel unsafe Good Asian cafes in Southport & access to the tram is convenient and enjoyable
Very busy even in the off-season, so pick your time there...
19 April 2024
Very busy even in the off-season, so pick your time there carefully and also choose your accommodation in relation to what you want to visit. Getting around the G/Coast, even by car, can be slow.
I loved the Gold Coast!
12 April 2024
I loved the Gold Coast! We were in Broadbeach, which had a relaxed vibe, great restaurants, each to access grocery, and great beaches! It was beautiful with a lot of options: hang out on the beach, check out a wildlife sanctuary, or schedule an excursion like snorkeling or surfing. So much fun.
Popular places to stay in Gold Coast
Stay in some of the best accommodation Gold Coast has to offer
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Crystal Pacific Palm Beach Palm Beach, Gold Coast
From £183 per night
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Encore Broadbeach Broadbeach, Gold Coast
From £157 per night
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Stunning view close to everything Southport, Gold Coast
From £146 per night
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Surfers Chalet Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
From £143 per night
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Other accommodation in Gold Coast
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Gold Coast
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Apartments
From £39 per night
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Resorts
From £50 per night
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Villas
From £78 per night
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Cabins
From £59 per night
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Cottages
From £68 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £47 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £68 per night
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Guest Houses
From £52 per night
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Hostels
From £9 per night
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Motels
From £47 per night
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B&Bs
From £65 per night
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Holiday Parks
From £28 per night
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Homestays
From per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £28 per night
