The Gold Coast has built its identity around an unusual combination, a dense strip of high-rise apartment towers directly behind some of Australia's best surf beaches, Australia's largest concentration of theme parks, and a lush rainforest hinterland in the Gold Coast hinterland that offers a completely different, cooler experience within an hour's drive.
Beaches and Skyline
Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast's most famous beach and skyline, delivers exactly what its name promises, consistent surf, high-rise towers, and a beachfront strip that's more built-up and nightlife-driven than most Australian beach towns, for better or worse depending on your preference.
Burleigh Heads, a short drive south, offers a quieter, more laid-back alternative with a famous right-hand point break and a national park headland offering coastal walking trails and views back along the coastline.
Theme Parks and the Hinterland
Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, and Sea World cluster along the Gold Coast's northern stretch, making it Australia's undisputed theme park capital, a good option for families or anyone wanting a change of pace from beach and surf activities.
The Gold Coast hinterland, including Lamington National Park's ancient subtropical rainforest and the Springbrook plateau's waterfalls, offers cooler temperatures and genuinely different scenery within about an hour's drive of the coastal strip.
Recommended Stay · Gold Coast · Surfers Paradise
QT Gold Coast
A design-forward beachfront hotel in Surfers Paradise, with a playful aesthetic and direct access to the main beach strip.
