Season guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DiverDave, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hot, humid and stormy with the warmest sea; peak school holidays mean crowds and high prices. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 32 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 | 13.7 h | 5/5 |
| February | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 12 | 13.1 h | 3/5 |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 | 13.9 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 32 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 summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Summer school holidays (most of January)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks at Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach (31 December)
Good choices for summer
Viewpoint · Surfers Paradise
SkyPoint Observation Deck
Near the top of the Q1 tower, one of Australia's tallest buildings, SkyPoint's level-77 deck has 360-degree views over the coastline, the hinterland and the Broadwater.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Kids
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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
Day trips in summer
- Springbrook National Park (About 1 hour by car) — Part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, Springbrook has the Natural Bridge rock arch where glow-worms light the cave at night, Purling Brook Falls and the Best of All Lookout over the coast.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Gold Coast?
It is a trade-off: Hot, humid and stormy with the warmest sea; peak school holidays mean crowds and high prices. The best months overall are April–May and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Gold Coast in summer?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.