Surfers ParadiseHoliday Destination

With the warm Pacific Ocean on one side, the deep blue Nerang River on the other, and more shops, restaurants, high-rise resorts and attractions than probably any other peninsula on earth - Surfers Paradise is the undisputed tourist capital of Australia, and some would even argue the world.

Holidaymakers are attracted to the neon lights, endless high-rise buildings, beautiful beaches, sunny atmosphere and laid-back lifestyle. In family-friendly Surfers Paradise, you can be comfortable in a tuxedo eating at a five-star restaurant or walking down Cavill Avenue in your swimmers and thongs!

Things to do in Surfers Paradise

Natural Attractions

They don't call it a "surfer's paradise" for nothing! It is no surprise the main drawcard is the 150m wide stretch of sand that extends for almost 10km in each direction. The Surfers Paradise beach is patrolled year-round and it's safe to swim - so jump in, but make sure you swim between the flags!

Surfers is also an excellent beach to learn how to surf, with a few local surf companies established right along The Esplanade opposite the beach, offering board hire and lessons. You can also find surf lessons for singles and families just a stone's throw away in Main Beach.

Become a surfing pro in record time! Learn the art of paddling, mastering the stance, and achieving balance to ride the waves back to shore effortlessly. With a comprehensive land lesson, you'll swiftly transition to the water, applying your newfound skills, aiming to conquer and ride those waves like a seasoned surfer.

You can book surfing lessons online here

Tourist Attractions

Being one of the most popular tourist destinations for family holidays in Australia, Surfers Paradise has one of the largest collections of tourist attractions and fun activities on the Gold Coast!

• There's Ripley's Believe it or Not, a unique museum housing the odd and amazing.
• The ultimate experience for any adrenalin junky is the Jet Boat adventure ride departing from Surfers Paradise.
• Ever wanted to fly? Visit indoor skydiving centre iFLY and free fall without the fear.
• Climb to the top of the Q1 tower with one of the Gold Coast's most popular attractions, the SkyPoint Climb.
• Take a mind-blowing journey through Infinity, a maze of futuristic worlds and 20 multi-sensory environments.
• Take game lovers to Timezone, the largest indoor gaming centre in Australia!
• Visit the Wax Museum to see which celebs you can pick.
• Swap your bathers for a jumper and take to the Gold Coast Ice Skating rink. 
• Strike Bowling offers a fun night out with both bowling and Karaoke!
• Sound the siren and journey through Surfers Paradise on an authentic Fire Truck.

Stick to the water and journey through Surfers Paradise's canals and waterways on board the sightseeing river cruise, sunset kayak or stand-up paddle boarding tours, or go for something more extreme such as an exhilarating jet boat ride.

Scenic Hot Air Balloon Flight

Upon a gentle landing, anticipate indulging in a delightful champagne breakfast. Skilled pilots guide the descent to the landing point, followed by a short drive to an exclusive vineyard. There, enjoy a delicious breakfast featuring fresh pastries, fruits, sizzling bacon and eggs, cereals, refreshing juice, and, of course, a glass of bubbly to celebrate the incredible morning.

This Gold Coast hot air balloon escapade includes return bus transfers and a complimentary digital photo pack, ensuring you can cherish and revisit the enchantment of your ballooning adventure.

Buy Hot Air Balloon Tickets

There are also plenty of combo passes available to help you get the most out of your holiday within a short period.

SkyPoint Observation Deck & Climb

SkyPoint Observation Deck is a celebration of the Gold Coast’s history, culture and tourism treasures. The attraction promotes the lifestyle and the entire spectrum of experiences available on the Gold Coast.

Buy Skypoint Observation Deck Tickets

Located 230 metres above the ground, SkyPoint boasts:

• One of the fastest elevators in the world taking you from ground to Level 77 in just 42.7 seconds
• A mini museum in the sky providing guests with a wealth of facts and information to plan the ultimate Gold Coast adventure
• SkyPoint Weather Station presented by the Bureau of Meteorology including a live feed of the local weather radar and interactive weather information
• Surf Lifesaving Queensland display, educating guests on official surf and sun safety, reading the flags and providing vital patrol information to guests
• SkyPoint theatrette presenting “The Birth of Paradise” - a fifteen-minute rollercoaster ride on our flamboyant and colourful history

SkyPoint Observation Deck is open from 9 am to 9 pm Sunday to Thursday and 9 am to midnight every Friday and Saturday night.

If looking through glass isn't exciting enough for you, the SkyPoint climb should satisfy your adrenaline cravings, being Australia's highest external building walk (at 270m above sea level). Ascend to a breathtaking height of 270 meters above sea level with the Skypoint Climb, offering unparalleled views of the mesmerising Gold Coast region. Guided by skilled guides and safely connected to an internal handrail, climbers reach the tower's pinnacle via stairs. At the summit there's the opportunity to walk along the building's edge, offering an adrenaline-inducing experience of peering down into the thrilling 270-meter drop below. This is not for the faint-hearted!

Buy Skypoint Climb Tickets

Accommodation In Surfers Paradise

Choose to stay in a beachfront high-rise apartment like The Hilton, Q1, Meriton Suites or Peppers Soul and enjoy sweeping ocean views and luxury amenities. There are holiday accommodation options to suit all budgets, and the majority are just a stone's throw from cafes, restaurants, shopping and attractions. 

Bringing the kids along? Choose one of these award-winning family-friendly accommodation options to keep them entertained.  

Book Accommodation In Surfers Paradise

Shopping

Shops of all sorts line the streets of Surfers Paradise selling souvenirs, bikinis, sunhats and supplies. You'll find all the typical souvenir shops and discount stores for the real touristy stuff like stuffed koalas, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and authentic Ugg boats. Interspersed amongst the souvenirs are shops selling bikinis, boardshorts and thongs designed by surfwear favourites.

There are several small shopping centres in Surfers Paradise where you can pick up supplies for your holiday including Chevron Renaissance, Paradise Centre, Circle on Cavill and the Cavill Mall. The centres will service all your needs with supermarkets, bottle shops, banks, chemists and specialty stores selling everything from clothes to boogie boards.

Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night (weather permitting) stallholders set up their homemade wares on The Esplanade overlooking Surfers Paradise beach. With over 100 stalls at the Beachfront Markets, you'll be able to find yourself some unique treasure or gift. There's a wide range of quality, one-off pieces including fashion, jewellery, accessories, artworks, beauty products and homewares. 

Dining

There's nothing like a good coffee before you hit the beach or the theme parks (or after a big night in a Surfers nightclub) and Surfers has plenty of good cafes. Head into Paradox Coffee Roasters where coffee is at the heart of everything they do and the food is sourced locally and seasonally.

Stairwell Coffee located beneath the stairs in The Centre Arcade also gets a favourable mention for their cold-brew and nitro coffee. Our favourite place to enjoy breakfast is Bumbles overlooking Budds Beach. This refurbed house-come cafe, located a 5-minute walk outside of Surfers is simply adorable and with their evolving menu and river-view dining we think you should check it out at least once.

There are several arcades (like laneways) dissecting the area between Surfers Paradise Blvd and Orchid Avenue. Here you can be transported to Asia, with many holes in the wall restaurants offering authentic fare from Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. We recommend you head to Amimoto for the best sushi and sashimi in South East Queensland.

Many of the quality hotels in Surfers Paradise have fantastic restaurants inside their towers with Bazaar at QT, Citrique at the Marriott and Seaduction Restaurant & Bar at Peppers Soul.

Events

Surfers Paradise is never sleepy or boring but when an event comes to town the place really comes alive. The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 (what was the Indy 300 back in the day) is a motorsport extravaganza. National and international revheads converge in Surfers Paradise for 3 days of street racing, big music acts and plenty of parties. The race winds through the streets of Surfers and Main Beach so the best vantage point is from the accommodation trackside. 

Another huge event for Surfers is the annual Schoolies festival which attracts school leavers from all over Australia. It marks the end of exams, assignments and school and the start of freedom - it's become a rite of passage for most Year 12 students. There are lots of official events with concerts on the sand, dance parties and celebrity meet and greets. Schoolies got a bad wrap for a while but as the event has matured the police and volunteer presence has grown to help keep all the kids safe. 

In the second week of January every year, the glitterati head trackside for the racing carnival Magic Millions. While not strictly in Surfers, the event brings lots of punters to stay for the week long event. It's not all about hats and ties as the event is also home to the Southern Hemisphere's leading thoroughbred sales company. In 2017, the yearling sales grossed over $196 million so you bet things get pretty serious in the stands. 

Surfers Paradise has plenty of free events held throughout the year adding to the party vibe of this beachside town. Surfers Paradise Live teams up with the Gold Coast Music Awards to create an amazing live music experience. There are multiple stages and all kinds of music genres playing over 3 days.

The Sand Safari Arts Festival features sand and sea-inspired art with the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships drawing in thousands of visitors. You can vote for your favourite masterpiece or follow the Sand Trail of art throughout Surfers, the best part is it is free!

The world's leading Pyrotechnic designers and producers light up the Surfers Paradise sky with SeaFire. It's a hypnotic firework display held on Surfers Paradise beach. Also on the beach (and free) is the Bush Meets Beach festival which sees the famous beach become a stockyard with mobs of sheep, horses and a one-tonne bull take to the sandy shores. Spectators can watch breakers and stockmen show off their skills as they put the animals through their paces. 

Nightlife

The scene can be a bit less glamorous late on a Saturday night (well... Sunday morning) but if you're looking for a place to wet your whistle then this is the place to go - and because there are so many holiday accommodations options in Surfers, you'll typically be able to walk back to your hotel rather than wait in a taxi line.

There are lounge bars, hip-hop venues, dance clubs, Irish pubs and live music venues - there are plenty of choices to keep you busy at night. One of the most iconic bars to park yourself at is the Surfers Paradise Tavern and the famous Beer Garden. Opening in 1925, the venue has evolved with the times and is now the leading rock venue in Surfers Paradise. Another place to rock out to is the House of Brews, which has 32 beers on tap, BBQ and live music aplenty.

The Island Rooftop has become a favourite hangout for people with the rooftop bar setting the scene for a fantastic night out. Dine, dance, drink cocktails and enjoy the glittering lights of Surfers Paradise while you do it. Don't want to leave the party? Downstairs is a fully refurbed boutique hotel. The QT hotel also has a stylish Lounge Bar with over 50 tequilas to choose from, a fresh food menu and weekend DJs, it's the perfect place to let your hair down after a day at the beach.

Images courtesy Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast & Getty Images