Book Accommodation

Gold Coast Tourist InformationWhat you need to know if you're holidaying...

The Gold Coast is recognised as the undisputed tourist capital of Australia. While over 500,000 locals enjoy the lifestyle the area offers (making it Australia's sixth largest city), 4.2 million visitors a year also arrive to find a remarkable place for a holiday.

Surfers Paradise Coastline
If you're in search of an ideal holiday destination, the lively Gold Coast is your ultimate choice. Whether you crave excitement, adore the beach, or revel in discovering new places, this coastal paradise caters to every preference. For adrenaline junkies, make sure to visit the many water and adventure parks, where you can indulge in thrilling activities for the whole family. And of course, no visit to the Gold Coast is complete without a blissful to any of the many beaches

To make your holiday planning and experience even better, it's always helpful to have some insider knowledge and useful resources at your disposal. Here's the tourist and tourism information you'll want to know if you're coming to the Gold Coast on holiday (if you're looking for things to do while you're on holiday, there's a whole things to do section with info on all the theme parks, tourist attractions, and even free stuff!).

Destination Guides

Read our guides to the Gold Coast's favourite holiday destinations - find out what the most popular things to do are, shopping, dining and interactive maps.

With the Pacific Ocean on one side, the deep blue Nerang River on the other, and more shops, restaurants, high rise resorts and attractions squeezed in between than probably any other peninsula on earth - Surfers Paradise is the undisputed tourist capital of Australia. Surfers is known amongst locals to be THE place to go for a night out, with the majority of the Gold Coast's nightclubs, bars and pubs located in and around Orchid and Cavill Avenues.

Learn More

This unique village is only minutes north of Surfers and is widely regarded as the most sought-after location in Queensland. Main Beach allows you to simultaneously bask in a lifestyle of relaxed beachside living whilst being in the hub of high-end shopping and dining. Visit Mariners Cove for a myriad of different tours and cruises, head south to Tedder Ave for one of the Coast's best restaurant strips or simply laze about on the wide stretch of beaches.

Learn More

Broadbeach is home to many accommodation providers, entertainment venues, attractions and shopping making it one of the Gold Coast's top spots for family fun in the sun. With its wide, white sand, lifeguard patrolled beach, fronted by kid-friendly parks, Broadbeach provides safe, family fun. Broadbeach is also home to a thriving nightlife, with major venues like The Star Gold Coast, the GCCEC and one of the Coast's premier dining strips.

Learn More

South East QLD's best-kept secret is this picturesque mountain rainforest region. The Gold Coast Hinterland and Scenic Rim, the region around Tamborine Mountain and the beautiful Lamington National Park, all part of the Border Ranges. We've included a comprehensive guide with our top picks for rainforest accommodation, National Parks, Mount Tamborine, the best scenic drives, bushwalking trails, natural attractions, wineries, hinterland tours & more!

Learn More

The Spit is a 5km long, relatively undeveloped, sandy isthmus starting at Main Beach and finishing at the seaway, where the Broadwater meets the Pacific Ocean. The Spit is home to some popular destinations including Fisherman's Wharf, Marina Mirage, Peter's Fish Market (for the freshest fish, and best fish and chips on the Coast), Palazzo Versace and Sea World, as well as a large 3-4km open area with several dog exercise, picnic spots and places to anchor.

Learn More

One of the largest sand islands in the world, Straddie is one of Australia’s national treasures and the perfect place for an island getaway. The island is popular among locals who know of the kilometres of white, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters while only a one hour drive and a ferry away. It’s a subtropical area with sunshine almost all year round and temperatures ranging from 20C in winter and 28C in summer and is split into North and South Stradbroke.

Learn More

Currumbin, with its steep hillsides and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, stands out for its natural vegetation, a rarity on the Gold Coast. Despite its proximity to the CBD, Currumbin maintains a secluded charm. The popular surfing site 'Currumbin Alley' attracts longboarders, while the nearby Currumbin Rock Pools are a local favourite for swimming. Fishing is a common pastime on Currumbin Creek, complemented by picnic areas and barbecue facilities for enjoyable weekends.

Learn More

Renowned for its surf break, Burleigh Heads is a beachfront alternative to the more touristy suburbs of the Gold Coast. Burleigh’s headland, known to locals as ‘The Point’ is a favourite spot for weekend barbecues with great surfing, room for cricket, and plenty of barbecue facilities to enjoy. Tallebudgera is home to many water-based activities. Pack your gear for swimming, fishing, boating, water skiing, windsurfing or canoeing.

Learn More

Robina, the second-to-last stop on the Gold Coast train line, is a new and peaceful residential community surrounded by greenery and parks. With easy access to transportation, including the train station and bus network, visitors and residents can explore the Gold Coast's attractions. Robina Town Shopping Centre offers extensive shopping and entertainment options. The suburb features various parks with picnic facilities, playgrounds, and sports amenities for families to enjoy. 

Learn More

Accommodation

Discover diverse accommodation options in Gold Coast catering to all budgets. Choose from luxurious resorts, cosy apartments, and budget-friendly hostels. Popular spots like Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and Broadbeach offer proximity to beaches, shopping, and nightlife. 

Peppers Broadbeach combines luxury and superior facilities right in Broadbeach. As one of the tallest buildings in the area you are granted with views out over the Pacific Ocean and back to the hinterland. You can choose from 1, 2 & 3 bedroom suites or truly live it up in the high-end 3 bedroom Sky Home or Sub Penthouse. Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen with European appliances and very generous living spaces. They throw in a pillow menu to keep you extra happy as you enjoy a great night’s sleep.

Learn More

Q1 Resort & Spa is Australia’s tallest residential tower and many people consider it one of the best places to stay in Surfers Paradise. It enjoys the best views with uninterrupted panoramas of both the Gold Coast coastline and Hinterland. Each luxury apartment is self-contained with options to suit most family sizes – from 1 to 4-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Q1 prides itself on being a home away from home so you will find the kitchen and laundry well equipped with sizeable lounge and dining areas.

Learn More

Rising above Surfers Paradise, the sculptured towers of the Hilton Hotel are undoubtedly a brilliant addition to the Surfers Paradise cityscape. The towers are home to an unparalleled number of guest rooms, suites and 250 self-contained holiday apartments. The range of accommodation options makes the Hilton Hotel an attractive choice for business travellers, holidaymakers, and families alike. The wide range of hotel amenities also compliments the luxurious building.

Learn More

The former Jupiters Casino has received more than a lick of paint with the $345 million renovations the hotel grounds and 596 rooms have undergone. Each room has been luxuriously reappointed with room sizes varying from 32 square metres up to a huge 113 square metres in the Ocean Terrace Suite. If you ever want to leave your bed – covered in The Star’s signature range of bedding and pillows - you’ve got one of the best pools on the Gold Coast downstairs.Private Cabanas are available to rent by the day or half day .

Learn More

Positioned between the yacht-rich Gold Coast Broadwater and the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean, lies Imperial Hotel Gold Coast. Indulge and unwind in Imperial style right in the heart of Main Beach at the former Palazzo Versace. Imperial Hotel Gold Coast offers the ultimate luxury hotel experience you would expect anywhere in the world. The hotel boasts a stunning waterfront location, breathtaking architecture, lavish accommodations, and Italian craftsmanship, paired with exceptional service and an ambience of pure sophistication.

Learn More

Sheraton Grand Mirage is the Gold Coast’s only absolute beachfront resort. Located over 6 hectares, the 295 rooms and sites are dotted throughout lush gardens and lagoon pools. There are so many room types so no doubt you’ll find what you are looking for, you just how to work out how much room you need. If you want even more room, choose the newly-renovated Sheraton Grand Mirage Villas which offers 2 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a lounge, dining and a fully equipped kitchen.

Learn More

Virtual Tours & Online Guides

Embark on a virtual journey through the Gold Coast with our immersive online guides. Explore the history. stunning attractions, beaches, and hidden gems from the comfort of your device. 

Our Gold Coast maps provide an indepth look into the major tourist hotspots of the Gold Coast including Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Main Beach which have their very own interactive Google maps showing stacks of detail, where you can zoom in and out to get a better view. 

Learn More

Take a photo tour and acquaint yourself with the real Gold Coast, from the beauty of the hinterland mountains to the towering skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise, there's more to the Gold Coast than you probably realise. Check these images before you jet off on your very own Gold Coast holiday. 

Learn More

This overview of Gold Coast history has been compiled from interviews with local history librarians, long-term residents and assistance from the Gold Coast City Council. Information about the Gold Coast's early settlers, the beginnings of the tourism industry and beyond.

Learn More

Theme Parks & Attractions

Explore the Gold Coast's top theme park for an action-packed day of rides, shows, and family fun. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure filled with excitement and entertainment for everyone. Get your tickets online and save.

For a wildlife adventure, visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Currumbin Valley, where you can cuddle koalas, feed kangaroos, and witness crocodile feeding. Secure your family's tickets online for a hassle-free experience.

Experience a fun-filled day with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood at Warner Bros. Movie World. Meet your favourite stars, superheroes and Looney Tunes, see action-packed stunt shows or experience one of the tallest, longest and fastest HyperCoasters in the Southern Hemisphere plus awesome movie-themed rides (think DC Comics, Superman, Batman and more). Get a discount combo pass for unlimited entry to 3 theme parks!

Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford QLD 4210

Buy Tickets

Sea World has a fantastic range of animal exhibits featuring sharks, penguins, polar bears and other marine life in realistic, natural environments. Be entertained with spectacular stunt/water shows; giggle at the seals and marvel at the playful dolphins. Throw in some roller coasters, get wet at Castaway Bay and see the Ninja Turtles in 3D. You'll see that Sea World is perhaps the best all-round theme park. Grab a combo pass and save.

Address: Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD 4217

Buy Tickets

Wet'n'Wild is a fantastic day out, summer or winter, rain or shine. Have fun in the sun and cool off in the water. With nothing but amazing water slides, kids' pools, a whirlpool and a giant wave pool, Wet 'n' Wild is one of the greatest water parks in Australia. In winter everything is heated so you won't get cold and on a hot summer day, you'll have a hard time finding a better place to be. Wanna relax instead? Book your own Chill Cabana.

Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford QLD 4210

Buy Tickets

As the biggest theme park in Australia, Dreamworld has it all. With their exciting thrill rides, plenty of family rides and kid's precincts like the ABC Kids World, animal shows and attractions, Dreamworld is really your one-stop-shop for all things FUN! Don't miss the daily Tiger Presentation or Koala talk. Get the 1, 3 or 7 day pass for unlimited entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and Skypoint and save stacks off admission prices!

Address: Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera QLD 4209

Buy Tickets

Take a walk on the wild side and get close to some native Australian and exotic wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. View stacks of interactive displays, and wide-open enclosures while walking through the lush rainforest and see all of your favourite animals - cuddle cute koalas, get up close to crocodiles, hand feed the kangaroos or exotic birds like the Rainbow Lorikeets. Or, for the adrenaline junkies, go through the Adventure Park High Ropes Course and experience breathtaking views from the tree tops. 

Location: 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin

Buy Tickets

Paradise Country is one of Gold Coast's most popular attractions for kids and is an authentic Aussie homestead where visitors can experience true blue farm life. Enjoy a meal at the Farm House or roll out the picnic rug on the hill. You can wake up to the call of the kookaburra and the bleating of sheep when you choose to stay on the farm in one of the onsite offerings. This experience is perfect for young and old as you immerse yourself in the Aussie farm lifestyle. Although pony rides cost extra on top of the entry fee, it's totally worth it

Location: Production Drive, Oxenford

Buy Tickets

Wildlife & National Parks 

Discover the Gold Coast's diverse national parks and hiking trails, including Mount Tamborine, Springbrook, and Lamington. Choose from bushwalking trails suitable for all ages and abilities. 

This Hinterland is a beautiful green backdrop to the golden sands of the coastal strip and offers visitors a myriad of activities to enjoy. Stay in quaint B&B's, join a winery tour, explore the many natural wonders and bunker down for a good cup of tea (or pint) at one of the many scenic restaurants, cafes and pubs. The Hinterland truley is a change of pace with tranquil mountain views and a calmer atmosphere.

Learn More

Mount Tamborine or Tamborine Mountain is under 30 minutes from the Gold Coast beaches yet it looks and feels just like a quaint, mountain-top village. Enjoy the tea shops, cake stalls, brewery and specialist cheese shop and wander through the scenic township. Take in the clean mountain air while you visit the many unique attractions the area has to offer like the Glow Worm Caves, Treetop Challenge and Canyon Flyer. 

Learn More

Adventure joins nature at Cedar Creek Lodges at Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain. Thunderbird Park is perfect for a family day out or school holiday experience. This 112-hectares rainforest property is ideal for day trips and longer holidays. There's so much to do here with mini golf, laser shooting games, fossicking for ancient Thundereggs, horse riding and so much more. You won't want to come for just one day.

Learn More

Sitting pretty on the Lamington Plateau of the McPherson Range is 20,600 hectares of subtropical rainforest. The area was saved from logging and farming back in 1915. The area is known the whole state over for its waterfalls, rock formations, walking tracks, ancient flora and elusive fauna. The park was declared 4 years after the O'Reilly family settled in the area and since then the family has welcomed visitors to their isolated mountain home.

Learn More

Enjoy this beautiful region on foot and trek through the rainforest, under waterfalls and the ancient rock formations which wildlife, such as the mysterious glow worm, call home. With hundreds of square kilometres of bushland, stretching from Mt Tamborine in the north, down south to the NSW border, the number of treks you can do is really only limited to the amount of time you have and the thickness of the tread on your boots.

Learn More

Gold Coast Transport Options

Explore the Gold Coast with ease using the City's efficient transportation options. Hop on trams and trains for a stress-free way to discover the beauty of the city and its attractions. Enjoy the journey!

Information on the Gold Coast Airport located in Coolangatta, including airlines that service the airport, flight routes, parking, facilities, car hire and contact information. This is both an international and domestic airport. 

Learn More

Getting around the Gold Coast is relatively easy as long as you have a general understanding of what options are available to you, and plan a little in advance. Find out about the various options of trains, trams and buses to get around the Gold Coast. 

Learn More

Airport transfers are an easy, cost effective way to travel to and from the Gold Coast airport. You can book one way or return tickets which will take you from the airport direct to your hotel and vice versa.

Learn More

The Gold Coast's public transport system is adequate for getting between your apartment and the nearest giant shopping centre, but if you really want to get out and enjoy the Gold Coast like a local, you're going to have to hire a car at some stage. 

Learn More

If your flight is taking you through or out of Brisbane Airport (rather than the Gold Coast) there are a range of options to get you to and from your Gold Coast accommodation in comfort and without stress. 

Learn More

More Gold Coast Tourist information

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

Things to do and seeOn the Gold Coast in Queensland

Theme Parks

Combo passes & packages

Free things to do

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cruises

Go to top