2 days in Gold Coast

Day by day

1. Day 1: Surfers Paradise Beach and SkyPoint Observation Deck

   Surfers Paradise Beach, SkyPoint Observation Deck, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Sea World, then Surfers Paradise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Surfers Paradise Beach

      The esplanade has paths for walking and cycling, and beachfront markets run on several evenings a week.

   2. Late morning

      SkyPoint Observation Deck

      The outdoor SkyPoint Climb leads further up the spire for those with a head for heights.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moreton Bay bugs

      Seafood restaurants at Main Beach marinas, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

   4. Afternoon

      Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

      Free-flight bird shows and a treetop ropes course add variety.

   5. Late afternoon

      Sea World

      It is the closest theme park to Surfers Paradise.

   6. Evening

      Surfers Paradise

      Clubs, backpacker bars and late-night venues around Cavill Avenue and Orchid Avenue.

2. Day 2: Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast

   Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast, Burleigh Head National Park and Dreamworld, then Broadbeach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Warner Bros. Movie World

      It sits next to Wet'n'Wild on the Pacific Motorway, about 25 minutes north of Surfers.

   2. Late morning

      Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast

      Some pools are heated in the cooler months.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: King prawns

      Seafood shops and co-ops around the Broadwater and Southport, and restaurant menus coast-wide.

   4. Afternoon

      Burleigh Head National Park

      Whales, dolphins and surfers can all be seen from the track, and the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre explains the headland's significance to the Yugambeh people.

   5. Late afternoon

      Dreamworld

      The neighbouring WhiteWater World water park can be combined on some tickets.

   6. Evening

      Broadbeach

      Cocktail bars, restaurants and the casino, with a more grown-up crowd.

Before you go

• Sea World: Buy tickets online in advance; multi-park passes can be good value if you plan more than one park.

If it rains

• Swap in HOTA, Home of the Arts (Bundall): Come on Sunday morning for the farmers' market in the grounds, then visit the gallery.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 32–43 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in June to 13.9 hours in December.

Getting between stops: Tram. The G:link light rail runs from Helensvale through Southport, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach, connecting with the Brisbane train line at Helensvale.

More or fewer days

• One day in Gold Coast
• 3 days in Gold Coast
• 5 days in Gold Coast

Questions travellers ask