Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Jordan Gellie jordan_gellie, CC0
Destinations / Australia

Gold Coast

Surf beaches, theme parks and hinterland rainforest

beachesfamiliesnightlifenatureadventure
Plan your trip to Gold CoastSee the top 10
640,000Population
640,000Metro area
EnglishLanguage
AUDCurrency
5 daysIdeal stay
$200-300Typical day

The Gold Coast is a long strip of surf beaches and high rises in southeast Queensland. Theme parks, nightlife in Surfers Paradise and rainforest hinterland make it a family favorite. Burleigh Heads is the relaxed side. It is warm most of the year.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. The famous golden beach in front of the high rise towers, patrolled by lifeguards. It is busy all year.

    Half dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    The beach is free.

    Tip. Swim in the patrolled area only and arrive early in summer.
    See on the map

  2. An observation deck near the top of the Q1 tower, about 230 meters up. Views stretch along the whole coast.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Go at sunset for the best light.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. A movie themed amusement park with rides and shows. It is in Oxenford, north of the center.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Arrive at opening and use a multi park pass if you plan several parks.
    See on the map

  4. A headland with a national park walk and a top surf break. Its beach town has good cafes.

    Half dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Park and walking track are free.

    Tip. Walk the track at sunrise or sunset.
    See on the map

  5. A marine themed park with animal shows and rides. It is on the Spit near Main Beach.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Check show times before you plan your day.
    See on the map

  6. One of Australia's biggest theme parks, with thrill rides and a wildlife area. It is about 30 minutes north.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Combine with a nearby water park if you have a pass.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. A wildlife park with koalas, kangaroos and a famous lorikeet feeding. It is near the southern end of the coast.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Aim for morning feeding times.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. A water park next to Movie World with slides and wave pools. Opening is seasonal.

    Full dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    See on the map

  9. A beach suburb with dining, the casino and a convention center. It is calmer than Surfers.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  10. A hinterland park of rainforest and waterfalls, including the Natural Bridge. It is about an hour inland.

    Full dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Car about 1 hour.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Gold Coast into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Gold Coast in three days

Day one beaches, day two theme park, day three hinterland.

  1. Surfers Paradise BeachHalf day · Free
  2. SkyPoint Observation Deck1 hour
  3. Warner Bros. Movie WorldFull day
  4. Burleigh HeadsHalf day · Free
  5. Sea WorldFull day
  6. DreamworldFull day
  7. Currumbin Wildlife SanctuaryHalf day
  8. Wet'n'WildFull day
  9. Broadbeach2 hours · Free
  10. Springbrook National ParkFull day · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Byron Bay

Hippie beach town.

59 mi · Car, about 1h15

Tamborine Mountain

Rainforest.

25 mi · Car, about 45 minutes

Lamington National Park

Rainforest and bird life.

37 mi · Drive, about 1.5 hours each way

Brisbane

City galleries and river life.

50 mi · Train or drive, about 1.5 hours each way

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to May and September to November. Warm, drier, fewer school holiday crowds.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

85°F
Typical daily high
Average77°F
Rain6.0 in
About19 rainy days
Sun strength6.5 kWh/m²

Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jul

Gold Coast Marathon

Early July (5 July in 2026)

Big road running festival.

Apr

Gold Coast Film Festival

Usually April

Screenings and events across the city.

Year

Spooky Nights at the theme parks

Autumn

Halloween events run at the parks, per local tourism listings.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

Australia is at US State Department Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); crime is low; swim between flags due to rips.

3/5
Walkability

Beachfront areas are walkable.

3/5
Public transport

G:link tram and buses.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Surfers Paradise

$$$

Best for: nightlife

Center.

2. Broadbeach

$$$

Best for: families

Dining.

3. Burleigh Heads

$$$

Best for: couples

Relaxed.

4. Coolangatta

$$

Best for: families, budget

Close to the airport and the border with New South Wales.

Getting there and around

Main airportGold Coast Airport (OOL), 16 mi from the center
To the centerBus or taxi, about 30 to 40 minutes to Surfers Paradise.
Around townTram along the coast; car for hinterland.
Ride appsUber, DiDi
Taste it

What to eat

Meat pie

Aussie classic.

Barramundi

Fish.

Pavlova

Meringue dessert.

Fresh prawns

A local seafood staple.

Beach cafe brunch

Avocado toast and good coffee along Burleigh.

Craft beer

Many small breweries in the central area.

Good to know

PlugsType I, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTipping is optional.
PaymentsCards everywhere.
EtiquetteDress modestly in religious sites and greet people with a simple hello.
  • Swim between red and yellow flags.
  • Always swim between the red and yellow flags.
  • Buy theme park tickets ahead online for the best price.
  • Queensland has no daylight saving, so check the time gap with New South Wales border towns.
  • Hinterland roads can be steep and wet in summer storms.

A short history

The Yugambeh speaking peoples lived along this coast for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Timber cutters came in the 1840s, and Southport became a seaside resort for Brisbane families by the late 1800s. A hotel named Surfers Paradise opened in 1925 and later gave its name to the town. High rise building took off from the 1950s, and the area became the City of Gold Coast in 1959. It hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Gold Coast