Season guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in spring
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Warm, mostly dry days, festivals and whales heading south; Schoolies week in late November. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 23 rainy days across September–November. September–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 23
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23°C (73°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 6 | 12 h | 4/5 |
| October | 25°C (77°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 8 | 12.8 h | 3/5 |
| November | 26°C (79°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 9 | 13.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 23 of the year's roughly 108 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Swell Sculpture Festival on Currumbin Beach (usually September)
- October: Gold Coast 500 Supercars street race in Surfers Paradise (usually October)
- November: Schoolies — school-leaver celebrations in Surfers Paradise (usually late November)
Make the most of the weather
Zoo · Burleigh Heads
David Fleay Wildlife Park
Time your visit for the keeper talks and the nocturnal house, where you can see gliders and other night animals.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Main Beach
The Spit and Federation Walk
The narrow sand peninsula north of Main Beach has a coastal walking track through dune bush, the Gold Coast Seaway's rock walls, where dolphins are often seen, and a dog-friendly beach.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Main Beach
Whale-watching cruise
Choose a morning trip in calm seas, and take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
- Outdoors
Beach · Coolangatta
Kirra Beach
A long, curving beach between Coolangatta and Bilinga, famous among surfers for its barrelling point break.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Burleigh Heads
Tallebudgera Creek
Go at high tide on the incoming flow, when the water is clearest; avoid swimming on a fast outgoing tide.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Day trips in spring
- Byron Bay (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Across the New South Wales border, Byron Bay has the Cape Byron lighthouse walk to mainland Australia's most easterly point, surf beaches and a relaxed café and boutique town centre.
- Brisbane (About 1–1.5 hours by train) — Queensland's capital has free art galleries and the Queensland Museum at South Bank, CityCat river ferries and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Gold Coast?
Yes: September–November are among the best months. Warm, mostly dry days, festivals and whales heading south; Schoolies week in late November.
+What is the weather like in Gold Coast in spring?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 23 rainy days over the season.