Solo travel · Gold Coast · Australia
Solo travel in Gold Coast
How to enjoy Gold Coast at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The Gold Coast works well for solo travellers with hostels in Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta, surf schools and group tours to the hinterland and theme parks. Many solo travellers base themselves in Surfers Paradise.
Key facts
- Base
- Surfers Paradise
- Getting around
- Tram
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire and ambulance); 112 from mobiles
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Take a group surf lesson at Surfers Paradise or Currumbin Alley to meet people and learn safely.
- Stay in Surfers Paradise for nightlife or Burleigh Heads for a calmer café scene.
- Join hinterland day tours rather than hiring a car alone.
- Never swim alone at unpatrolled beaches.
- Keep valuables out of sight in parked cars and on the beach.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, budget and beach
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast's busiest centre, with apartment towers right behind the beach, the Q1 tower's SkyPoint deck, Cavill Avenue's bars and clubs and the G:link light rail running through it. It has the widest range of accommodation, and the beach is patrolled year-round. It can be loud and crowded, especially during school holidays and Schoolies week.
- Good
- Beach, restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep; Light rail to Broadbeach and Southport; Huge choice of apartments
- Watch out
- Noisy and crowded at weekends; Tower shadows over the beach in the afternoon; Rowdy during Schoolies in late November
- Nearby
- SkyPoint Observation Deck, Cavill Avenue, Main Beach, Broadbeach
Great on your own
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
Nature · Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Head National Park
Walk the coastal track in the early morning, then grab breakfast on James Street.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Viewpoint · Coolangatta
Snapper Rocks and Point Danger
Bring binoculars between June and November; Point Danger is one of the best spots to watch whales from land.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
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Gallery · Bundall
HOTA, Home of the Arts
Come on Sunday morning for the farmers' market in the grounds, then visit the gallery.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Free
Meeting people
- Miami Marketta — A street-food night market in Miami with food stalls, bars and live music, held on several evenings a week.
- Sunday at HOTA — The farmers' market at Home of the Arts in Bundall sells local produce, coffee and breakfast, followed by a gallery visit.
- Surfers Paradise — Clubs, backpacker bars and late-night venues around Cavill Avenue and Orchid Avenue.
- Broadbeach — Cocktail bars, restaurants and the casino, with a more grown-up crowd.
Sensible precautions
The Gold Coast is generally safe for visitors. The main hazards are rip currents, strong sun and summer storms; swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. Surfers Paradise can get rowdy late at night, especially during Schoolies.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire and ambulance); 112 from mobiles
- Staying connected
- Mobile coverage is good along the coast but patchy in parts of the hinterland national parks.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Gold Coast good for solo travellers?
The Gold Coast works well for solo travellers with hostels in Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta, surf schools and group tours to the hinterland and theme parks.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Gold Coast?
Surfers Paradise: High-rise beachfront, Cavill Avenue bars and the evening beachfront markets.