A picturesque surf capital in southern Queensland, The Gold Coast offers city glamour and beach paradise wrapped in one. A popular entertainment destination, there are endless activities spread throughout the region. From adrenaline inducing theme parks to pioneering restaurants, animal encounters and of course, gorgeous long, sandy beaches. A great family destination with plenty to do, or a couples adventure, the Gold cost is whatever you want it to be, but certainly never dull!
What to see and do:
Learn to Surf
There’s no better destination to learn to surf, with beginner friendly swell and plenty of surfing lessons available. The sunshine and warm weather will make jumping into the surf all the more appealing, and the beach is most likely just outside your hotel!
Theme Parks
The Gold Coast is Australia’s theme park capital, and you can choose from Dream World, Movie World, Sea World or Wet & Wild, or why not try them all with a package. Dream world is all about the rides, from roller coasters to giant drops, while Movie World offers themed experiences, including rides, shows and characters from all of your favourite Hollywood films. Wet & Wild, as the name suggests is all about the water rides, with and array of slides and wave pools for hours of fun. Sea World is all about the marine life, although it also has a few rides. Here you can see dolphins, fish, polar bears, penguins, and so much more.
Take a Hinterland Adventure
A short drive west of the Gold Coast lies several scenic national parks offering hikes, breweries, swimming and waterfalls. Check out Springbrook National Park or Lamington National Park, or spend the night at a rainforest retreat. You could even venture off on a horseback trail ride, or book in to see the glow worms in their cave.
Explore Coastal Townships and Cities
Venture along the coast to find everything from skyscrapers to sleepy cafes. Stop for a sunset Cocktail overlooking the surf at The Island Rooftop in surfers paradise, or shop up a storm at the coastally chic boutiques of Broadbeach. For some glitz and glam, look no further than the star Casino, where you can view a show, or try to win big! Grab dinner of a coffee at one of the ocean front vendors, and take a stroll along the foreshore to take in that amazing ocean view.
How to get there:
Fly into Gold Coast airport from most major Cities. You can also catch a train from Brisbane. To drive to the Gold Coast from Brisbane takes about 1.5 hrs, or from Sydney, it’s a 10 hr long road trip, although there are plenty of great stops to break up the drive.
Best time to go:
To get the most out of the Surf, you’ll want to go during the warmer months, but luckily the Gold Coast stays warm for a large potion of the year. It is warmest during the summer months from December to February, but the weather is also pleasant during Autumn (March to May) and Spring (September to November). Even in winter there is much to be enjoyed, and temperatures rarely drop lower than 10 degrees Celsius.
Featured Gold Coast Luxury Holidays :
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Sofitel Broadbeach