No trip to Australia is complete without visiting the incredible Gold Coast! From the thrills and spills of the famous theme parks, to the 57 kilometers of pristine beaches and the amazing wildlife encounters available, the Gold Coast has it all!
Image thanks to Npire
It may come as a surprise that deep in the Gold Coast Hinterland is a quaint village lined with wineries, a mini golf course, glow worm caves and 11 ziplines. Mt Tamborine is home to 12 different walking tracks. And because we know you all love a good hike, we’ll have you know that most of them lead to cascading waterfalls and swimming holes. You’ll be even happier to know a day spent exploring Mt Tamborine usually leads to an afternoon at Fortitude Brewing Co.
How can I get there?
Mt Tamborine can be accessed by day tour or hop on hop off bus departing Surfers Paradise, by private charter or by car. An hour’s drive from Surfers Paradise will land you right in the quirky main street.
A little closer to the hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast is Springbrook National Park, a world heritage area particularly famous for “Natural Bridge”, a picturesque rock formation arching over the Nerang River. Glow worms can be spotted from below and in the surrounding hectares there are waterfalls, tumbling creeks and clearings revealing views of the skyline and mountain ranges.
How can I get there?
A day tour departing Surfers Paradise will travel through Numinbah to the National Park or a 40 minute drive from the Gold Coast.
Image thanks to Queensland Blog
It’s certainly no secret that year round, travellers flock to the Gold Coast to discover that some of Australia’s best beaches are just a few minute’s walk from their Surfers Paradise hostel. But Gold Coast beaches are so much more than just a place for working up a tan and collecting instagram shots to make people jealous, and all of our favourites are those tucked away in corners sheltered from the wind and crowds.
For the adventurous, Burleigh Beach is an iconic surfing favourite where a rocky shorefront meets a rainforest. For those chasing a calmer atmosphere, Currumbin Creek is a glistening waterway perfect for stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or simply drifting off happily on a floating device.
How can I get there?
Burleigh’s best bits are easily accessed via graded walking track but the beach is accessible by car. Currumbin Creek is 10 minutes walk from the town central or a 5 minute drive from the highway.
The Gold Coast manages smooth waves in all swell and a lot less crowds than surrounding beaches, making it the ideal place to learn to surf. Our mates at Get Wet surf school have a talent for creating future professionals and will guarantee you stand up or your money back!
Image thanks to the ABC
If cuddling a koala is enough for you to pull yourself away from the salt water and sand, the Gold Coast is home to some of the most incredible Wildlife in the country. Queensland is one of the last places in the world you can still cuddle a koala and our fury mates at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary are known to lap up the affection.
For an experience a little more off shore, May to November welcomes the whale watching season and a cruise departing Surfers Paradise will have you awestruck as you watch whales frolic gracefully in the water just metres in front of you.
How can I get there?
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is located just 2 minutes off the Gold Coast Highway but can be accessed via shuttle bus departing Surfers Paradise or public transport. If you're staying in Surfers Paradise, a short stroll from your hostel and you'll be standing in the sightseeing terminal ready to spot some whales at sea.
Image thanks to Gold Coast Skydive
If all the relaxing by the beach, wildlife encounters and tranquil rainforests leave you thirsty for some adrenaline pumping action, we’re sure you’ve heard that the Gold Coast really is “famous for fun”, Dreamworld and the Warner Village Theme Parks sure serve to prove this. Conquer Dreamworlds infamous Giant Drop or visit your childhood icons at Movie World.
If you're still craving some hype, board a plane in Coolangatta and skydive out of it from 14,000ft all to land on stunning Kirra Beach. The East Coast have some world class skydiving locations, but do the views really top towering skylines and endless beach stretches? You decide.
If you're happy to sacrifice the view for a little more air time and skill mastering, drop into iFly, step into a glass flight chamber and practice your spins, tucks and flips on a cushion of air.
Perhaps you don’t mind a side of splash with your adventure? Climb into one of the world’s most powerful turbo charged Jet Boats for 55 minutes of skims, 360 degree spins and shallow water skimming.
How do I get there?
The theme parks are scattered at various locations off the Pacific Motorway and can be accessed by car or shuttle bus departing town. For skydiving, our mates at Gold Coast Skydive are with you right from the door step of your central hostel until you dive from the plane, they will even drive you home because they're cool like that. You can indoor skydive right on the Surfers Paradise Boulevard and head straight to the water from there where you can board your Jet Boat, easy!
So there you have it. Think it might be time to cuddle a koala, dive from a plane, learn to surf and play mini golf in a rainforest? We think so, and we have all the best deals for making this happen! Ask us how you can get that Gold Coast visit on your East Coast itinerary today.
By Bradie Walsh
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