South East Queensland · Australia

Gold Coast

Surf city, theme parks and a glittering coast.

Seventy kilometres of beaches, the country's biggest theme parks, and a chic southern end where the locals actually eat.

The Gold Coast does two holidays at once. Up north it's all bright lights, big rides and Surfers Paradise energy that kids adore. South of the Spit it slows into Burleigh's headland walks and laid-back café culture. Pick your end, or do both.

Theme parksSurfFamilyBuzzy

Best for

Theme parks + surf

Coastline

70 km of beach

Major parks

5 theme parks

Local end

Burleigh Heads

Best time to visit

April–May & September–October (warm, dry, between school holidays)

Getting there

Fly direct to Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta), 20 min from Burleigh.

A local secret

“The locals skip Surfers for Burleigh Heads, do the national-park headland walk at dawn, then breakfast at the village end. Same coast, completely different holiday.”

Eat. Do.
Stay. Know.

Everything in Gold Coast, indexed to the bone. Hover a row.

01
AsianBurleigh$$$
Rick Shores
Feet-almost-in-the-sand modern Asian under Burleigh headland, order the Moreton Bay bug roll.
UnmissableCouples
02
Food hallPalm Beach$$
The Collective
Five kitchens under one roof on the Palm Beach esplanade, everyone gets what they want.
FamilyKids
03
CaféMermaid Beach$$
BSKT Café
Mermaid Beach's all-day wholefoods hero, a local breakfast institution.
Family
04
GreekNobby Beach$$$
Hellenika
Sun-drenched Greek at Nobby Beach, long, loud, joyous lunches.
Couples
05
Beach clubBurleigh$$$
Burleigh Pavilion
Beach club on the sand, chase a sunset drink with the headland behind you.
CouplesUnmissable
06
CoffeeSurfers Paradise$
Paradox Coffee Roasters
Where the coffee snobs go, a tiny laneway roaster doing serious brews.
Local secret