Gold Coast, Australia — What to See, Where to Stay, and the Best Beaches
- Mar 13
- 6 min read
The complete guide to exploring the Gold Coast: where to stay, how to get around, and the best things to do.
The Gold Coast is one of the most famous regions in Australia for its golden sandy beaches, perfect surfing waves, and relaxed coastal lifestyle.
Located just south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast, the Gold Coast combines city life, nature, and entertainment, with areas like Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, and Broadbeach.
In this guide, we’ll share where to stay, how to get around, and what to do in the Gold Coast so you can make the most of your visit.
What You’ll Find in This Gold Coast Guide
📍 Where the Gold Coast is and how to get around – transport, airport and tips
🏠 Where to stay – hostels, Airbnb and hotels by area
🏄♂️ Things to do – viewpoints, wildlife and local spots
🌊 Must-see beaches – Surfers Paradise, Burleigh and Coolangatta
🎢 Theme parks – water parks and attractions
🍔 Where to eat and go out – markets, street food and nightlife
💡 Travel tips & practical info – how many days, transport and budget
✨ Our experience – honest thoughts
Where the Gold Coast Is and How to Get Around
The Gold Coast is located just one hour south of Brisbane by car. While the city has its own airport, it’s often cheaper to fly into Brisbane and travel from there.
If you arrive in Brisbane, these are the best ways to reach the Gold Coast.:
🚗 Rent a Car (Recommended)
This is the option we recommend the most because it makes it easy to move between beaches, neighborhoods, and attractions.
Car rentals are usually affordable, especially if you’re traveling with a group.
That said, parking in central areas like Surfers Paradise can be difficult, so it’s sometimes better to use public transport or park a bit farther away.
After 6 PM, street parking is usually free.
🚆 Train or Bus
You can also travel by train or bus from Brisbane Airport. Public transportation in Queensland is reliable and inexpensive, and you can pay with a debit card.
❗ Important: you need to tap your card when boarding and when getting off, otherwise you’ll be charged the maximum fare (around 5 AUD).
👉 You can check updated schedules and prices on TransLink Queensland
👉 You can also compare buses on Busbud
Where to Stay in the Gold Coast
Accommodation prices in this part of Australia can vary a lot, but there are options for every budget. The best area depends on whether you’re looking for nightlife or a quieter beach atmosphere.
Budget Options: Hostels and Airbnb
These are the best alternatives if you want to save money without sacrificing location.
We stayed at BUNK Surfers Paradise, a very modern and comfortable hostel.
Prices:
Bed in a 6-person dorm: 57 AUD
Bed in a 4-person dorm: 61 AUD
💡 Tip: they also have female-only dorms.
Other recommended hostels:
Tequila Sunrise: from 63 AUD with breakfast and dinner included (great for saving money).
Surf Inn Boutique: from 55 AUD with breakfast included.
🏠 Airbnb: Ideal for Groups
If you’re traveling with friends or want more space and a kitchen, Airbnb is usually the best option.
We recommend searching in areas like Broadbeach, Southport, or Burleigh Heads, which are often cheaper than Surfers Paradise.
A well-located apartment usually costs around 180 AUD per night.
Hotels
If you're looking for ocean views and maximum comfort, these are some great options:
The Star Residences (Broadbeach): Luxury accommodation near the casino.
Hilton Surfers Paradise: Right in the heart of Surfers Paradise.
RACV Royal Pines Resort (Benowa): Perfect if you're looking for a relaxing stay surrounded by greenery.
💡 Note: a double room in these hotels usually starts around 280 AUD per night.
Things to Do in the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast isn’t just about beaches. It’s an incredible mix of vibrant neighborhoods, world-class surfing, theme parks, and scenic viewpoints.
There are plans for every travel style and budget.
Must-See Spots Along the Coast
Surfers Paradise: This is the heart of the city. You’ll find skyscrapers right next to the beach, shops, beachfront markets, and plenty of cafés and restaurants.
Burleigh Beach: Our favorite beach if you’re looking for something more relaxed than the city center.
It’s the perfect place to spend the day, have a picnic, and watch surfers.
Coolangatta: A beautiful beach with golden sand and turquoise water. It has a more natural and relaxed atmosphere, with incredible coastal views.
Broadbeach: A modern and lively area that’s perfect for going out to dinner or having drinks at night.
Views and Nature
While the beaches are the main attraction, the Gold Coast also surprises visitors with amazing natural landscapes and opportunities to see Australian wildlife up close.
It’s the perfect plan when you want to switch from the beach to panoramic views and nature.
SkyPoint Observation Deck: If you want a 360° view of the city, beaches, and surrounding rainforest, you have to visit this observation deck.
Entrance costs around 30 AUD.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: A great place to see koalas, kangaroos, and native Australian birds.
It’s a respected wildlife sanctuary, and we recommend booking your ticket in advance.
Entrance costs around 65 AUD.
🎢 Surf and Adrenaline
Surf Lessons
The Gold Coast is a world-famous surf destination.
Surfers Paradise is ideal for beginners, while Burleigh Beach is better if you already have some experience.
Recommended surf schools:
Surf In Paradise
Go Ride A Wave
Australian Surfing Adventures
A 2-hour group lesson usually costs around 75 AUD.
Theme Parks: There are several theme parks in the region.
The most popular are:
Movie World
Sea World
Dreamworld
We visited Wet’n’Wild, an incredible water park that we really enjoyed.
Entrance costs around 109 AUD, and the park is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
It’s a perfect plan for very hot days.
Where to Eat in the Gold Coast 🍽
If you’re looking for something different in the evening, you shouldn’t miss Miami Marketta.
It’s a night market with a great atmosphere that opens Wednesday to Saturday and becomes a meeting point for locals and travelers.
At the market you’ll find:
International street food: Food stalls from all over the world. A typical meal costs around 18–25 AUD.
Live music: Bands playing throughout the night while you eat.
Vintage clothing and design stalls: Small stands with unique items and souvenirs.
Craft beer and cocktails: A local craft beer usually costs around 12 AUD.
Travel tips & practical info – how many days, transport and budget
If you’re planning your trip to the Gold Coast, here are a few things we think are worth knowing before you go.
✔️ How many days do you need?
The Gold Coast has quite a lot to offer, so it depends on your plan:
2–3 days → enough to see the main beaches and walk around Surfers Paradise
4–5 days → ideal to add theme parks, viewpoints and explore different areas
More days → perfect if you want to mix beach time with a slower pace
It’s a destination where you can stay longer without getting bored.
✔️ Do you need a car?
Highly recommended! Even though there is public transport, having a car makes a big difference cause you can easily move between beaches, reach places like Burleigh or Coolangatta faster, have more flexibility with your schedule
That said without a car, you can still visit the main areas but you’ll depend more on buses/trams and it takes longer.
✔️ Public transport (how it works)
Public transport is actually pretty good:
Trams connect Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport
Buses cover longer distances
Important:
You need to tap on and off with your card, otherwise you’ll be charged the maximum fare
✔️ Is the Gold Coast expensive?
Mid-range (for Australia)
Accommodation can get expensive in central areas
Food and activities are not cheap
Our tip is to stay a bit outside Surfers Paradise
✔️ Where to base yourself
This changes your whole experience:
Surfers Paradise → more nightlife and movement
Burleigh Heads → more relaxed, local vibe
Broadbeach → balance between both
Our Experience in the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of our favorite cities in Australia.
It has the perfect balance between city and beach lifestyle: nightlife and energy, but also tranquility and nature.
It’s one of the most complete destinations in the country, and we would definitely return.
🇦🇺 Keep Exploring Australia
Gold Coast is part of our trip around Australia.If you're planning your route, you can explore all our guides here:
If you're traveling along Australia’s east coast, these destinations pair perfectly:
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