The 13 Best Things to Do on the Gold Coast, Australia

Once upon a time, eating out on the Gold Coast didn’t get much fancier than a surf ‘n’ turf washed down with a XXXX Bitter. These days, the local food scene is now nipping at the heels of Sydney and Melbourne, with Asian flavours and local seafood dominating many menus, from Burleigh Heads’ casual fine-diner Rick Shores (don’t leave without sampling one of its famous Moreton Bay bug rolls) to Robina’s intimate pan-Asian bar-restaurant Eddy & Wolff.

Get a taste of the city at food markets such as the perennially popular Miami Marketta.

You could be forgiven for thinking the Gold Coast is just one long stretch of dazzling golden sand lapped by water, but while it can sometimes be difficult to tell where one beach ends and another begins, each section of sand has its own unique personality. From Surfers Paradise with its backpacker vibe to Currumbin Creek with its calm lagoon perfect for paddle craft, there is no lack of gorgeous spots to choose from. Take the chance to hop on a board and show GC what you’ve got, with surf lessons at this iconic location.

If surf beaches aren’t your thing, lay down your towel alongside the dazzling turquoise waters of Tallebudgera Creek, which also tends to be more protected on windy days.

In recent years, the Goldie’s cultural scene has exploded with gallery spaces that are worth seeking out, from Home of the Arts (HOTA), the largest pubic regional gallery on the Gold Coast, to the 19 Karen contemporary art space in Mermaid Beach with its six interconnected exhibition spaces showcasing the works of around 80 Aussie and international artists of various styles and genres.

For those interested in the Gold Coast’s Aboriginal history and culture, a Jellurgal Walkabout tour of Burleigh Headland led by a local Aboriginal guide from the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is a must.

The Coast’s epicentre of cool, the southern Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh Heads is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, boutiques and surfing. Start the day with some people-watching at the beach, which also boasts superb views of the Surfers Paradise skyline to the north, before heading into the compact town centre, just a block back from the beach, for coffee or brunch, perhaps with a side of retail therapy.

Beachfront bar Burleigh Pavilion tends to start pumping in the early afternoon, with Burleigh’s late-night bars keeping punters hydrated well into the night.

Following a AU$650m (£360m) facelift in 2016, Broadbeach’s Pacific Fair shopping centre is now one of the country’s top retail spaces, with 400 stores to choose from. Further south, Robina Town Centre is similarly huge, but if you’re keen to pick up some locally designed threads and one-of-a-kind finds, familiarise yourself with the Gold Coast’s market schedule. Held in the grounds of Burleigh Heads State School on the first and third Sunday morning of every month, The Village Markets gets top billing.

Enjoying approximately 300 days of sunshine per year, the Gold Coast is the kind of place that just makes you want to crack a cold beer. Lucky, then, that there are now more than half a dozen craft breweries and brewhouses to choose from along the coast, with top spots including Balter Brewing in Currumbin, home to one of Australia’s most-awarded XPAs, to Black Hops at Burleigh Heads, voted Australia’s Champion Small Brewery in 2018. Cheers!

The Gold Coast is renowned for its theme parks, and Dreamworld is the biggest of the lot, home to 40 attractions – including five massive roller coasters, among the best in Australia – as well as the DreamWorks Experience, Tiger Island, ABC Kids World and Corroboree, which provides an insight into Indigenous Australian culture and native animals. Amusement park aficionados will also love the water-themed Sea World and film-focused Warner Bros Movie World. Recommended by Tom Smith

The Gold Coast’s not all about bling, surf and theme parks – the expansive hinterland provides lush rainforest to go with all that golden sand. And the Unesco World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park is one of its highlights, home to a dense forest and rich diversity of bird life, perched on an ancient volcano. Don’t miss the highly Instagrammable Natural Bridge cave and waterfall. Recommended by Tom Smith

The skyscrapers spanning the Surfers Paradise beach form one of Australia’s most recognisable skylines, and this observation deck offers an unrivalled perspective of it. Located on level 77 of the Q1 Building, SkyPoint contains a bistro and bar for a meal with a seriously good view, as well as the highest external building climb anywhere in the country, ascending to a platform that towers 270m (886ft) above sea level. Recommended by Tom Smith

Australia’s premier water park attracts more than one million visitors a year, making it the biggest in the country and one of the biggest on Earth. The Giant Wave Pool and Calypso Beach are designed for families, and there are even more high-octane rides for older kids – names like Black Hole, Kamikaze, Mach 5 and Tornado hint at just how hair-raising these adrenaline-pumping rides are. Recommended by Tom Smith

The panoramic vistas from the top of this lofty plateau are a good enough reason to visit Tamborine Mountain – and that’s before you’re introduced to all the art galleries, country markets, gourmet restaurants, award-winning wineries, romantic B&Bs, rainforest walking tracks and man-made Glow Worm Caves. Recommended by Tom Smith

The Gold Coast Suns’ AFL outfits aren’t world-beaters on the field, but their boutique stadium is one of the best places to watch footie anywhere in Australia. Away fans have flocked to the Goldie for some winter sunshine and an easy victory on the road since the Suns entered the comp in 2011 – Steven Seagal has come closer to winning an Academy Award than the Suns have ever got to claiming a premiership flag in their seven lowly seasons to date. Recommended by Tom Smith

In the Gold Coast hinterland, this sanctuary is known around the world for its huge numbers of wild rainbow lorikeets that fly in for a feed. But that’s not the only native Aussie animal you can get up close and personal with – kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, dingoes, wombats, echidnas, emus, quokkas and cassowaries are only a handful of the park’s adorable attractions. Recommended by Tom Smith