Things to do · Gold Coast · Australia
15 best things to do in Gold Coast
15 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jordan Gellie jordan_gellie, CC0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Gold Coast are Surfers Paradise Beach, SkyPoint Observation Deck and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Of the 15 picks below, 7 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 11 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Surfers Paradise Beach
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- SkyPoint Observation Deck
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise Beach | Surfers Paradise | Half a day | Free |
| SkyPoint Observation Deck | Surfers Paradise | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary | Currumbin | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Sea World | Main Beach | Full day | Expensive |
| Warner Bros. Movie World | Oxenford | Full day | Expensive |
| Burleigh Head National Park | Burleigh Heads | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Dreamworld | Coomera | Full day | Expensive |
| Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast | Oxenford | Full day | Expensive |
| Snapper Rocks and Point Danger | Coolangatta | 1–2 hours | Free |
| David Fleay Wildlife Park | Burleigh Heads | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| HOTA, Home of the Arts | Bundall | 2 hours | Free |
| The Spit and Federation Walk | Main Beach | 2 hours | Free |
| Whale-watching cruise | Main Beach | 2.5–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Kirra Beach | Coolangatta | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Tallebudgera Creek | Burleigh Heads | 2–3 hours | Free |
The 15 best things to do
Beach · Surfers Paradise
1.Surfers Paradise Beach
The Gold Coast's most famous beach is a wide stretch of sand backed by high-rises, with lifeguards on duty year-round and the 'Surfers Paradise' sign at the end of Cavill Avenue. The esplanade has paths for walking and cycling, and beachfront markets run on several evenings a week.
Swim between the red-and-yellow flags; rips are common, and the flags move with conditions each day.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Surfers Paradise
2.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. The outdoor SkyPoint Climb leads further up the spire for those with a head for heights.
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
Zoo · Currumbin
3.Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Operating since 1947, the sanctuary started with lorikeet feeding and now has koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, crocodiles and a wildlife hospital that treats thousands of injured native animals each year. Free-flight bird shows and a treetop ropes course add variety.
Join the lorikeet feeding session; flocks of rainbow lorikeets land on your arms and plates.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Theme park · Main Beach
4.Sea World
A marine-themed park on The Spit with dolphin and seal presentations, polar bears, penguins, an aquarium and a mix of family and thrill rides. It is the closest theme park to Surfers Paradise.
Check the presentation times on arrival and plan rides around them to avoid the queues that follow each show.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Buy tickets online in advance; multi-park passes can be good value if you plan more than one park.
- Kids
- Iconic
Theme park · Oxenford
5.Warner Bros. Movie World
A film-themed park with DC superhero and Looney Tunes zones, stunt shows, parades and some of the coast's biggest roller coasters. It sits next to Wet'n'Wild on the Pacific Motorway, about 25 minutes north of Surfers.
Head to the biggest coasters first at opening, then catch the parade and stunt show later in the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- Active
Nature · Burleigh Heads
6.Burleigh Head National Park
A small national park covers the Burleigh headland with rainforest, basalt columns and the Oceanview Walk around the point, which looks north along the beach to Surfers Paradise. Whales, dolphins and surfers can all be seen from the track, and the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre explains the headland's significance to the Yugambeh people.
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
Theme park · Coomera
7.Dreamworld
One of Australia's largest theme parks, with thrill rides, a children's area and native wildlife including koalas and kangaroos inside the park. The neighbouring WhiteWater World water park can be combined on some tickets.
Use a train or bus to Coomera station if you are staying in Brisbane; the park is a short connection away.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
Theme park · Oxenford
8.Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
A large water park with high-speed slides, a wave pool, lazy river and splash areas for younger children. Some pools are heated in the cooler months.
Visit on a hot weekday outside school holidays and bring water shoes for the hot pathways.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Coolangatta
1.Snapper Rocks and Point Danger
At the southern end of the coast, Snapper Rocks begins the 'Superbank', a long right-hand sand-bottom point break that has hosted professional surfing competitions. Above it, Point Danger's lookout and Captain Cook Memorial straddle the Queensland–New South Wales border.
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
Zoo · Burleigh Heads
2.David Fleay Wildlife Park
Run by the Queensland Government, this park in mangroves and eucalypt forest at West Burleigh shows native animals such as platypus, cassowaries, koalas and nocturnal species in a quiet bush setting. It was founded by naturalist David Fleay, the first person to breed platypus in captivity.
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
.jpg){kind=link}
Gallery · Bundall
3.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.
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
Nature · Main Beach
4.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. The calm water on the Broadwater side is good for paddleboarding.
Walk out to the end of the seaway wall at high tide to watch boats come in through the channel.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Main Beach
5.Whale-watching cruise
Humpback whales migrate along the coast between about June and November, heading north to calve and then south with their young. Cruises leave from Mariners Cove and The Spit, and sightings are frequent at the peak of the season.
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
6.Kirra Beach
A long, curving beach between Coolangatta and Bilinga, famous among surfers for its barrelling point break. The southern end near Kirra Point is often calmer for swimming, and the beachfront has a café-lined promenade.
Watch the surfers from the Kirra Hill lookout, which also has wide coastal views.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Burleigh Heads
7.Tallebudgera Creek
The tidal creek mouth south of Burleigh's headland has clear, calm, shallow water over sand, ideal for small children, paddleboarding and snorkelling at high tide. Grassy banks and picnic areas line the water.
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
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | HOTA, Home of the Arts |
| Views | SkyPoint Observation Deck, Burleigh Head National Park and Snapper Rocks and Point Danger |
| Outdoors and nature | Surfers Paradise Beach, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Burleigh Head National Park and Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast |
| After dark | SkyPoint Observation Deck |
| With children | Surfers Paradise Beach, SkyPoint Observation Deck, Burleigh Head National Park and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| On a rainy day | SkyPoint Observation Deck and HOTA, Home of the Arts |
What to book ahead
- Sea World: Buy tickets online in advance; multi-park passes can be good value if you plan more than one park.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Gold Coast?
Surfers Paradise Beach. The Gold Coast's most famous beach is a wide stretch of sand backed by high-rises, with lifeguards on duty year-round and the 'Surfers Paradise' sign at the end of Cavill Avenue.
+What can you do for free in Gold Coast?
Surfers Paradise Beach, Burleigh Head National Park, Snapper Rocks and Point Danger, HOTA, Home of the Arts and The Spit and Federation Walk. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Gold Coast when it rains?
Head indoors to SkyPoint Observation Deck and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
+What is there to do in Gold Coast at night?
SkyPoint Observation Deck are best after dark.