Month guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in August
What August is really like in Gold Coast: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tristanb ( talk )., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 11.1 hours of daylight. The driest month, with clear skies and peak whale-watching; the sea is at its coolest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in August
August is the 10th-warmest month in Gold Coast: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 25°C (77°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with July (21°C (70°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs stay near 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:18
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 17:25
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Spring (September–November). Warm, mostly dry days, festivals and whales heading south; Schoolies week in late November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in August
August has no major recurring festival in Gold Coast, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Viewpoint · Coolangatta
Snapper Rocks and Point Danger
At the southern end of the coast, Snapper Rocks begins the 'Superbank', a long right-hand sand-bottom point break that has hosted professional surfing competitions.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Main Beach
The Spit and Federation Walk
Walk out to the end of the seaway wall at high tide to watch boats come in through the channel.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Main Beach
Whale-watching cruise
Humpback whales migrate along the coast between about June and November, heading north to calve and then south with their young.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
- Outdoors
Beach · Coolangatta
Kirra Beach
Watch the surfers from the Kirra Hill lookout, which also has wide coastal views.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 11°C and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Gold Coast?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Gold Coast in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Gold Coast?
It is a shoulder-season month. The driest month, with clear skies and peak whale-watching; the sea is at its coolest.
+How warm is Gold Coast in August?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Gold Coast in August?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.