Gold Coast Holidays Guide
Queensland, Australia
The Gold Coast, only one hour south of Queensland's capital city Brisbane, is known as 'Australia's Playground'. With its stunning beaches, world-class shopping, dance-till-dawn night-life and adrenaline-pumping theme parks, the Gold Coast is a region of non-stop action that the whole family will love.
Map of Gold Coast Australia
Gold Coast Highlights
Gold Coast Holidays Planner
The Gold Coast is in fact a recognised city although sprawling along the coast from Southport to Tweed Heads, it feels more like a collection of suburbs along a long stretch of beach. The main areas to visit are Surfers Paradise, the hub for nigh-life and Southport with its proximity to the theme parks. The upmarket residential suburb Sanctuary Cove with multi-million dollar homes along the meandering waterfront lies to the north, whilst the quieter, more down-to-earth suburbs heading south of Surfers Paradise towards the New South Wales border include Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta and these make a better spot for a relaxing beach holiday.
Most hotels in the Gold Coast are within a short walk of the sun-kissed golden beaches that line this beautiful region. Main Beach is one of the most popular, with its café-lined boulevards and elegant marina outlook. A short stroll south will find you in Surfers Paradise, the entertainment hub of the region. Here you can eat like a king, shop till you drop, or pamper yourself in a luxury day spa, while at night the area explodes into life with bars, bistros and nightclubs teeming with party-goers enjoying the fantastic vibe on the street.
No visit to the Gold Coast would be complete without a visit to at least one of the mega theme parks in the area. The centrally-located Sea World hosts daily dolphin shows and other marine-themed fun, while Dreamworld to the north has something for everyone – from Wiggles World to death-defying thrill rides. Next door to Dreamworld you'll find White Water World, with water-slides for all ages. The two parks can be combined in a single ticket. To the south you'll find Warner Bros. Movieworld, where the kids can meet their favourite movie characters and learn how movies are made. Wet&Wild, another water park, is located nearby.
For close encounters with Aussie wildlife, Paradise Country and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary are the places to go, while the Australian Outback Experience is an indoor spectacular complete with dashing Aussie horse-riders mustering cattle and reciting bush poetry.
Gold Coast Accommodation Search
For accommodation, the options are endless, from extravagant luxury to cheap and cheerful backpacker hostels. Many self-contained apartments are available, as well as family resorts with kids clubs. Peak season is summer (December to March), however the sub-tropical climate of the region means a visit at any time of the year will be pleasant.
The following Gold Coast hotels provide some of the best deals for a holiday in Queensland – please search below for availability and get the very best room rates sourced from over 100 local and online booking agents: