Gold Coast and the parks, Australia: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Gold Coast is a stretch of about 50 km of beaches in southern Queensland, between Brisbane and the border with New South Wales. Surfers Paradise, with its high-rise buildings facing the sea, is the center of the action; to the south, Burleigh Heads, Currumbin and Coolangatta have a more relaxed pace and some of the country's best-known waves.

It is also Australia’s parks capital. Between Oxenford and Coomera, half an hour from Surfers Paradise, are Dreamworld, the largest theme park in Australia; the adjacent water park WhiteWater World; Warner Bros. Movie World; and Wet'n'Wild. Sea World sits on the northern end of the beach at Main Beach, and the dinner-show Australian Outback Spectacular, in Oxenford, showcases life of the inland stockmen.

Just behind the coast the inland mountains (hinterland) rise up. Lamington and Springbrook National Parks are part of the Gondwana Rainforests, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with waterfalls, lookouts and rainforest trails. Tamborine Mountain, a plateau with villages, wineries and treetop walkways, is the closest mountain outing.

The climate is subtropical, with sunshine most of the year.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Gold Coast and the parks is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Gold Coast and the parks

✈ Gold Coast Airport (OOL), in Bilinga · 22 km to Gold Coast

✈ Brisbane Airport (BNE), in Brisbane · 90 km to Gold Coast

Confirm before you buy. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) in Coolangatta is about 22 km from Surfers Paradise; Brisbane Airport (BNE), with more international flights, is about 90 km away and is connected by train and bus.

Suggested arrival point: Gold Coast

Queensland · Gold Coast and the parks Suggested arrival point

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is Queensland's second city, a stretch of surf beaches from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta, about 78 km from Brisbane. It hosts Australia’s largest theme and water parks: Dreamworld, WhiteWater World, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild. It also features the SkyPoint lookout, the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary, the Burleigh Head walking trail and, in the mountains, the Springbrook forest.

Queensland · Gold Coast and the parks

Tamborine Mountain

A plateau about 500 metres above sea level, one hour from the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain includes villages such as North Tamborine and Eagle Heights, the Gallery Walk street of galleries, wineries and breweries. Around it lie areas of the Tamborine National Park, Queensland’s first national park, with waterfalls and palms, and the treetop walkway of the Rainforest Skywalk. It’s also on the route to Lamington.

The local experience

Things to do in Gold Coast and the parks

Gold Coast · Queensland · Beach

Surfers Paradise Beach

The busiest beach on the Gold Coast, with wide sand, waves, lifeguards and high‑rise buildings facing the sea.

Tamborine Mountain · Queensland · National park

Tamborine National Park

Queensland’s first national park, divided into forest areas scattered across the plateau, with waterfalls such as Curtis Falls and Witches Falls and stands of palms.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Viewpoint

SkyPoint

Lookout on the 77th floor of the Q1 building, about 230 metres up, with views of the coast, the mountains and, on clear days, even Brisbane and Byron Bay.

Tamborine Mountain · Queensland · Nature

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

A 1.5 km walk through rainforest, with steel treetop walkways and a suspension bridge 30 metres above the creek.

See 10 more places in Gold Coast and the parks

Gold Coast · Queensland · National park

Burleigh Head National Park

A headland of forest and basalt rock between Burleigh Beach and the Tallebudgera creek, with coastal trails and lookouts for surf and whale watching.

Tamborine Mountain · Queensland · National park

Lamington National Park

Large rainforest park on the plateau at the border with New South Wales, part of the UNESCO Gondwana Rainforests, with over 160 km of trails, waterfalls and Antarctic beeches.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Zoo

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Sanctuary of Australian animals opened in 1947, with rainbow lorikeet feedings, koalas, kangaroos, shows and a wildlife hospital.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Theme park

Dreamworld

Australia’s largest theme park, in Coomera, with more than 40 rides, roller coasters like the Steel Taipan, kids’ areas and animals such as tigers and koalas.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Water park

WhiteWater World

Water park next to Dreamworld, with slides, a wave pool and kids’ areas, operating in the warm season from September to April.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Theme park

Warner Bros. Movie World

Movie-themed theme park in Oxenford, with superhero roller coasters, a Looney Tunes kids’ area, parades and a stunt car show.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Theme park

Sea World

Marine park in Main Beach with dolphins, seals, polar bears, penguins and sharks, plus roller coasters and family rides.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Water park

Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast

Water park in Oxenford, next to Movie World, with thrill slides, a wave pool, lazy river and children’s areas, open year-round.

Gold Coast · Queensland · Show

Australian Outback Spectacular

Dinner-show in Oxenford about life on Australia’s inland stations, with horses, stockmen, projection effects and a three-course dinner served during the performance.

Gold Coast · Queensland · National park

Springbrook National Park

Park in the mountains behind the Gold Coast, part of the UNESCO Gondwana Rainforests, with a natural bridge over a waterfall and glow-worms in the cave.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to October the days are usually dry, sunny and pleasantly warm—good for parks and hikes. Summer, from December to February, is hot and humid with rain showers and crowded parks during school holidays. The sea is generally good for swimming from October to May.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

4 to 6 days: one day per chosen theme park, one or two days at the beach, and one day in the mountains at Tamborine or Lamington. If you want to visit every park, you need about a week.

Which city to stay in

Surfers Paradise concentrates hotels and apartments close to the beach and the G:link light rail, which links the coast to the Helensvale train and the buses to the parks. Broadbeach is quieter and also on the tram line. Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta, to the south, have a beach-town vibe and are closer to the airport. If you plan to visit several parks, consider staying north near Oxenford and Coomera.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Gold Coast and the parks

How many days should you book for the Gold Coast?

4 to 6 days for two or three parks, the beach and a day in the mountains. To see all the theme and water parks, allow a week.

Do you need a car on the Gold Coast?

Not for the coast and the parks: the G:link light rail and buses connect Surfers Paradise to the parks. For the mountains, such as Tamborine and Lamington, a car or an organized tour is helpful. In Australia you drive on the left.

Which theme parks are on the Gold Coast?

Dreamworld, WhiteWater World (water park next to Dreamworld), Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild (water park), plus the Australian Outback Spectacular dinner show. There are combination passes that cover multiple parks.

Gold Coast and the parks

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip