Season guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: MarketingHOTA, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Warm water, settling weather and fewer crowds after Easter; a strong time for surfing. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 34 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Sea
- 22°C (72°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 27°C (81°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 13 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| April | 26°C (79°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 11 | 11.5 h | 4/5 |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 10 | 10.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 108 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Professional surfing at Snapper Rocks (in years it is on the tour, usually March to May)
- April: ANZAC Day dawn services at surf clubs and parks (25 April)
- May: Blues on Broadbeach music festival (usually May)
Good choices for autumn
Viewpoint · Surfers Paradise
SkyPoint Observation Deck
Visit at sunset to see the coast turn gold, then stay for the city lights.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · Bundall
HOTA, Home of the Arts
The Gold Coast's arts precinct beside the Nerang River has a contemporary gallery building with Australian art and touring exhibitions, theatres, an outdoor stage and parklands.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Free
Day trips in autumn
- Tamborine Mountain (About 45 minutes by car) — A rainforest plateau with short waterfall walks, a treetop skywalk, wineries, a distillery and the craft shops of Gallery Walk.
- Lamington National Park (About 1.5 hours by car) — Ancient rainforest with more than 150 km of walking tracks.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Gold Coast?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Warm water, settling weather and fewer crowds after Easter; a strong time for surfing.
+What is the weather like in Gold Coast in autumn?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.