About the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's leading holiday and honeymoon playgrounds – a stunning 42km-long strip of sun-drenched, squeaky clean, white-sand beach that stretches almost uninterrupted from the Spit, north of Surfers Paradise, to Rainbow Bay, south of Coolangatta.

Things to do and see

Blessed with a year-round sunny climate (averaging 24˚C to a high of 30˚C), the Gold Coast offers a vast expanse of pristine beach boasting serious surf action, al fresco dining, outdoor adventure activities and a range of festivals and events.

Head to the theme parks for some thrills, watch a cavalcade of horseback action at the Australian Outback Spectacular, explore the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or climb Mount Warning before sunrise to get a sensational view of the coastal beaches that extend from Surfers Paradise to Byron Bay.

Wannabe surfers can attend a surf clinic and learn the basics of form and technique. Hike through rugged mountain scenery past tumbling waterfalls, subtropical rainforest and rare flora and fauna in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed reserves of the Gold Coast hinterland.

Between June and November, experience the thrill of seeing majestic humpback whales on their annual migration. Several whale watching cruises depart from Main Beach. In March, watch athletes compete in the Quicksilver Pro-Surfing Competition and the Surf Life Saving Championships.

Thrill to the Gold Coast Indy car race in October, but steer away from Surfers Paradise in Mid-November if you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of the end-of-school-year celebrations known as Schoolies Week; thousands of high school graduates from across the country converge on Surfers for a week of hard partying.