Located on Australia’s sunny east coast, the Gold Coast is a renowned destination that offers a perfect blend of breathtaking natural beauty, thrilling adventures, and vibrant entertainment. We spent one month living in the Gold Coast, staying in an Airbnb between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. We absolutely loved our time here and highly recommend a visit. There’s so much to keep you entertained, whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an adrenaline junkie, a beach lover, or a family seeking fun-filled experiences. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of our favourite things to do in the Gold Coast.
1. Hit the beaches
The Gold Coast is famous for its pristine, sun-drenched beaches, with Surfers’ Paradise being the most iconic. Spend your days basking in the golden sand, catching the perfect wave, or taking a leisurely stroll along the coastline. Did you know the Gold Coast has over 50km of fantastic beaches to explore! Kaylee enjoyed lots of morning runs along the beach during our stay. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to witness a stunning sunrise over the ocean.
2. Explore the Hinterland
Escape the buzz of the coast and venture into the Gold Coast hinterland, a picturesque region of lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery. Public transport in the city is great, but there aren’t a lot of options for when you want to explore further afield. We got around this by hiring a car from Bargain Car Rentals to explore the nearby National Parks.
Lamington National Park
This park is home to the famous Tree Top Walk and numerous waterfalls such as Moral Falls, Elabana Falls and Box Log Falls. The hikes do involve crossing over streams, so be alert for leeches! This was our first encounter with the creepy little blood suckers and it was interesting to say the least!
Springbrook National Park
Here you’ll find more stunning falls, including Purling Brook Falls, Twin Falls, and the Springbrook Natural Bridge. If you’re up for catching an early morning sunrise, the ‘Best of All Lookout’ will give you a fantastic view over the surrounding rainforest. Just be sure to check the weather forecast to avoid those foggy mornings.
Mt Tamborine
We loved our day out here visiting Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek Falls. We also stopped by the TreeTop Challenge Adventure Park, which is home to 100 adrenalin-pumping tree top challenges, including 10 huge flying foxes and Tarzan Swings. This is an affordable adventure through the heights of the rainforest which will get your heart racing while you take in the beautiful scenery.
3. Wildlife Encounters
Immerse yourself in Australia’s unique wildlife by visiting Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Get up close and personal with koalas, kangaroos, and a myriad of other native animals. Our highlights here were feeding all the kangaroos as well the colourful lorikeets. In order to interact with the lorikeets we recommend you arrive at the sanctuary early for the 8am session. There is another session at 5pm when the park closes but this is much busier!
If you’d prefer to see the kangaroos and koalas in the wild, then make sure you head to Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area. A short 20minute drive north of Surfers Paradise, this area is ideal for short and long walks, bike riding, trail running or birdwatching, and is the perfect spot to get up close with the native wildlife. We saw so many kangaroos feeding and lazing around, and a couple of Koalas too, though these are much harder to spot! We loved it so much we came back for a second visit.
4. Play at the arcades
We are definitely big kids at heart and loved visiting Timezone, which is located in the heart of Surfers Paradise. This large indoor attraction provides hours of fun for the whole family. Inside you’ll find your standard arcade games, as well as bowling, laser tag, mini golf and bumper cars. There’s even a cheeky cafe if you work yourself up an appetite! We spent most of our time here on the basketball game, racking up several high scores and plenty of tickets, which we cashed in for our Charmander and Squirtle travel pillows.
We also recommend Archie Brothers, a slightly cheaper alternative. For this, you can buy a fun pass providing $900 of fun for only $39. Although it won’t be worth the cost if you are just passing through, the pass is great value for those staying longer. With this pass we were able to enjoy Strike Bowling and Laser Tag, Holey Moley Mini Golf, Archie Brothers and B.Lucky & Sons Arcade Games. Karaoke was also included but we skipped this for each other’s sake!
5. Chill at Burleigh Heads
Situated between glistening Surfers Paradise and laid back Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads is a must-visit destination on the Gold Coast. Known for its stunning beach, trendy atmosphere and beautiful national park, it’s a perfect blend of nature and culture! We enjoyed a nice walk around the national park before heading to Red Hot Cod for a little taste of home. This is the closest you’ll find in the area to a proper British fish and chips.
6. Spend the evening at Draculas
Fancy an evening out? Draculas Cabaret is a unique and thrilling experience. It’s a vampire-themed cabaret show combining humour, music and acrobatics. Entry to the show includes a nice 3 course meal to enjoy while watching the performances. You’ll find a wide selection of drinks available to order, including the unique ‘Blood Bag’ and Zombie Cocktails, both of which tasted fantastic.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, embrace the Gold Coast’s endless opportunities, and embark on an adventure that will leave you wanting more…
Check out the following activities on GetYourGuide: