Beaches
It ain’t called the Gold Coast for nothing! The city is stretched along the coast to the New South Wales border, offering 42km of virtually uninterrupted golden beaches and crystal clear water that is perfect for bathing almost year round.
Surf
All that coastline means the Gold Coast is an absolute paradise for surfers. As well as fun beachbreaks, the region boasts some of the most perfect waves in the world at point breaks like Snapper Rocks, Burleigh Heads and Currumbin.
Nightlife
The tourist and nightlife centre of the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise and after dark it becomes a hedonistic neon world packed with bars, nightclubs and the odd strip club. Some of the most popular include Melba’s, Shooter’s and Sugar Shack. Further south, nightlife hotspots include Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta as well.
Hinterland
A short drive inland from the world-famous beaches, the Gold Coast Hinterland is a mountainous area packed with pristine stretches of forest. It contains many great hiking tracks, historic logging towns like Mount Tamborine, and cosy cafes perfect for a Devonshire tea or a cold schooner.
Rivers
The Gold Coast is home to Currumbin Creek and Tallebudgera Creek, two rivers that are perfect for swimming or snorkelling if conditions are too rough on the beaches or if stingers are present. Jet skiing and skiing are popular pastimes on the rivers as well as on the Broadwater, a large expanse of protected water between Labrador and South Stradbroke Island that is popular with boating enthusiasts.
Theme parks
If you’ve got a family or you’re a big kid at heart the Gold Coast is a fun paradise of roller coaster-packed theme parks, including Sea World, Movie World and Dreamworld.
