Holidays to the Gold Coast

You’ll find lots of things to do along Queensland’s Gold Coast. You can spend your days strolling along the beaches, sipping coffee in the sunshine, and enjoying a delicious dinner by the water. But you can look forward to plenty of adventures, too.

Take the family to some of the impressive theme and water parks, which range from Wet’n’Wild to Warner Bros Movie World. Spot whales and dolphins from the clifftop lookout at Point Danger. And, once you’ve had your fill of Surfers’ Paradise’s bustling beaches, you can swap them for the calm waters and seaside cafés of Coolangatta.

Climb into the trees for a high ropes course or rainforest canopy tour. Meet rainbow lorikeets and cotton-top tamarin, or share breakfast with koalas at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Wander among native wildlife and birds in the lush nature of Federation Walk Coastal Reserve and South Stradbroke Island. Journey inland to the national parks of Tamborine Mountain, Lamington, and Springbrook. Or enjoy a pampering rainforest spa and lunch at O'Reilly's Retreat.

In the heart of the Gold Coast, you can discover the vibrant seaside town of Surfers Paradise. Bask on the soft sands of the two-mile beach, while the kids splash in the shallows. You can grab a plate at the beachside cafés and restaurants or take a moment to search for souvenirs in promenade shops.

In the afternoon, you can browse for art, crafts and clothes at the beachfront markets, or shop ‘til you drop at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

After sunset, you can watch the world go by from the pavement eateries and bars of Cavill Avenue, or take a night-time stroll along the illuminated esplanade. Or, why not go to Skypoint and take the lift to the 77th-floor Observation Deck? You’ll have amazing 360-degree views – or you could even sign up for the heart-pounding SkyPoint Climb experience.

On the Gold Coast, you can discover Australia’s answer to Orlando. This place has a wide range of family-friendly theme parks, with rides and attractions for all ages.

Ride the hair-raising rollercoasters at Dreamworld, or let the little ones burn off some energy in the fun maze. If waterpark’s are your thing, spend a day splashing around on the slides and rides at Wet’n’Wild. Thrill seekers must try out the Kamikaze slide, whilst others may choose take it easy on the lazy river. 

Elsewhere, at Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, you can entertain the whole family with rollercoasters, live shows, big cat night safaris, and splash rides. Meet your cartoon heroes at Warner Bros Movie World, and be amazed by stunt shows, 3D interactive rides, and a Looney Tunes Kids’ Fun Zone. 

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Australia’s Gold Coast is a great place to visit at any time. Temperatures reach 30°C in the summer months between December and February, and drop to around 15°C in July and August.

Summer and the festive period combine to make December the busiest time to visit the Gold Coast. So you might prefer to travel during the quieter, and slightly cooler, months from April to June, and October to November. You can enjoy the top attractions anytime, as the waterparks are heated during the colder months. January and February are prone to afternoon showers and occasional storms – but any rain quickly dries up in the sunshine, so you can soon carry on enjoying your beach day.