One day 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

      Swim between the red-and-yellow flags; rips are common, and the flags move with conditions each day. Allow Half a day.

   2. Late morning

      SkyPoint Observation Deck

      Visit at sunset to see the coast turn gold, then stay for the city lights. Allow 1 hour.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moreton Bay bugs

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

   4. Afternoon

      Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

      Join the lorikeet feeding session; flocks of rainbow lorikeets land on your arms and plates. Allow Half a day.

   5. Late afternoon

      Sea World

      Check the presentation times on arrival and plan rides around them to avoid the queues that follow each show. Allow Full day.

   6. Evening

      Surfers Paradise

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

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 13–17 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Gold Coast
• 3 days in Gold Coast
• 5 days in Gold Coast

Questions travellers ask