Gold Coast

Built for pleasure and remaining a place dedicated to sun, surf and the body beautiful, this strip of coast is possibly Australia’s most iconic holiday destination. Its shimmering high-rises can, when glimpsed from afar, resemble a make-believe city, and its reputation for tackiness is occasionally deserved. But this is far outstripped by the area's youthful spirit and startling physical beauty: some 52km of pristine sand with countless epic surf breaks, stunning sunsets, blissful water temperatures and 300 sunny days a year.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

    Gold Coast

    This nicely restrained, old-style operation includes Australia’s biggest rainforest aviary, where you can hand-feed a technicolour blur of rainbow…

  • Point Danger Light on border.

    Captain Cook Memorial

    Gold Coast

    The headland of Point Danger marks the border between Queensland and New South Wales. There are amazing views from here both ways along the coast, and you…

  • Purling Brook Falls

    Purling Brook Falls

    Gold Coast

    Just off Springbrook Rd, the feathery Purling Brook Falls drops a rather astonishing 106m into the rainforest: worth braving the vertigo-inducing lookout.

  • Tamborine National Park

    Tamborine National Park

    Gold Coast

    Queensland’s oldest national park comprises 13 sections stretching across an 8km plateau. Pick up a map at the information centre in North Tamborine for…

  • Burleigh Head National Park

    Burleigh Head National Park

    Gold Coast

    Burleigh Head is known to the local Kombumerri clan of the Yugambeh people as Jellurgal, who trace its formation to a creation spirit called Jabreen. As…

  • Dreamworld

    Dreamworld

    Gold Coast

    Australia's biggest theme park has stomach-churning thrill rides (with names like The Giant Drop and The Claw), whiz-bang multi-sensory rides (such as the…

  • Broadwater Parklands

    Broadwater Parklands

    Gold Coast

    Hugging the water's edge on the Southport side of the Broadwater estuary, this large park features free barbecues, beach volleyball, a swimming pontoon,…

  • Jellurgal

    Jellurgal

    Gold Coast

    This Aboriginal cultural centre at the base of Burleigh Head (Jellurgal) showcases a collection of artefacts and artwork, and offers a variety of cultural…

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Articles

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Architecture

Retro-cool: how Australia’s Gold Coast is embracing a Palm Springs vibe

Jul 17, 2023 • 4 min read

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