10 Best Things to Do in Gold Coast

Looking for what to do in Gold Coast? Australia’s famous coastal playground stretches along kilometres of golden sand, rolling surf breaks and high-rise skylines that meet lush hinterland hills. Known for its beaches and theme parks, the Gold Coast is just as much about laid-back neighbourhoods, waterfront dining, wildlife encounters and rainforest escapes as it is about adrenaline rides and nightlife.

From early-morning surfs at Burleigh and café hopping in Broadbeach to sunset drinks overlooking the canals and day trips to waterfalls in the hinterland, the region offers something for every kind of traveller. Here are the 10 best things to do in Gold Coast, crafted to help you experience both its iconic highlights and more relaxed local corners.

1. Stroll the Esplanade at Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s most recognisable neighbourhood — a stretch of beach framed by a skyline of towers and a lively strip of shops, restaurants and entertainment. The wide, patrolled beach is ideal for swimming, bodyboarding and soaking up the sun, with lifeguard towers and flagged areas providing safe zones for a dip.

Along the beachfront, the Surfers Paradise Esplanade offers walking and cycling paths lined with Norfolk pines, fitness stations and lookout points. In the evenings, markets often pop up on the foreshore with stalls selling local crafts, snacks and souvenirs. Whether you’re people-watching, jumping in the waves or enjoying the city-meets-beach vibe, Surfers Paradise is an essential starting point.

2. Relax and Surf at Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads offers a more laid-back, locals’ version of Gold Coast life. Its crescent-shaped beach is famous for consistent surf breaks that attract board riders from dawn, while the grassy park above the sand fills with families, barbecues, yoga sessions and sunset picnics.

Burleigh Head National Park, at the southern end of the beach, has coastal and rainforest walking tracks that curve around the headland with views over Tallebudgera Creek, Surfers Paradise skyline and the open ocean. The village streets behind the beach are packed with cafés, burger joints, smoothie bars, small restaurants and boutiques — perfect for brunch or an evening out after a day in the water.

3. Explore Broadbeach and the Modern Coastal Lifestyle

Broadbeach, a little south of Surfers Paradise, blends high-rise accommodation with a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. The beach is wide and patrolled, with a foreshore park that hosts festivals, live music and open-air events throughout the year.

Oasis Shopping Centre, Pacific Fair and the nearby dining precincts offer everything from quick bites to refined restaurants, while The Star Gold Coast adds casino entertainment, theatre shows and late-night bars to the mix. Broadbeach is a great base if you want easy access to beach, shopping and dining without the full-on buzz of Surfers Paradise.

4. Visit the Gold Coast Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is home to Australia’s best-known theme parks, making it a major drawcard for families and thrill-seekers. Dreamworld offers big roller coasters, wildlife exhibits and family rides; Movie World brings Hollywood-style sets, stunt shows and superhero attractions; Wet’n’Wild provides water slides, wave pools and lazy rivers perfect for hot days.

Sea World combines marine life exhibits with rides and live shows featuring dolphins, seals and penguins. Choosing one or two parks — depending on your interests and time — can easily fill multiple days, and multi-park passes often offer better value. Arrive early to beat the queues and plan your route through the park so you can hit major rides and shows efficiently.

5. Meet Wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers a more natural, conservation-focused way to meet Australian animals. Set among eucalypt and rainforest areas, the sanctuary is home to koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, crocodiles, birds and more. You can walk through open enclosures where kangaroos and wallabies hop around you, watch free-flight bird shows and learn about rehabilitation efforts for injured wildlife.

The sanctuary’s history dates back to when local residents were first invited to feed wild lorikeets — a tradition that continues in daily feeding sessions, where flocks of colourful birds swoop in to perch on bowls and shoulders. It’s an engaging, family-friendly way to connect with Australian fauna while supporting conservation work.

6. Take a Day Trip to Tamborine Mountain

Less than an hour’s drive inland, Tamborine Mountain is the Gold Coast’s easiest hinterland escape — a cooler, greener world of rainforest walks, lookouts, artisan shops and wineries. The mountain’s walking tracks lead to waterfalls, rock pools and viewpoints such as Curtis Falls, Witches Falls and the lookout over the valley and distant ocean.

Gallery Walk, the main tourist strip, is lined with cafés, fudge shops, art galleries, distilleries and boutiques selling everything from local produce to handmade crafts. Wine and beer tasting, tree-top walks and glow-worm caves add to the variety of experiences. Tamborine makes a great contrast to the beaches, especially on warm days when the hills feel noticeably cooler.

7. Cruise the Canals or Try Water Activities

The Gold Coast’s waterways extend far beyond the beaches. A network of canals, rivers and inlets winds through suburbs and wetlands, creating perfect conditions for cruising, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and jet boating.

Join a canal cruise to see waterfront homes, marinas and skyline views from the water, or rent a kayak or SUP board to explore quieter inlets at your own pace. Jet boat rides add a high-speed thrill with spins and sprays, while calm-water tours at dawn or dusk offer a more peaceful side of the waterways, sometimes with chances to spot birdlife and the occasional dolphin.

8. Walk the Oceanfront Paths and Headlands

One of the simplest but most rewarding things to do on the Gold Coast is to follow its oceanfront paths. From Main Beach to Coolangatta, a series of promenades and footpaths connect beaches, parks and headlands, making it easy to walk or cycle long stretches with almost constant sea views.

Highlights include the route from Burleigh to Miami and Nobby Beach, with viewpoints on the headlands and fitness stations along the way, and the coastal strip down to Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay. Sunrise walks catch the first light over the Pacific, while late-afternoon strolls turn into sunset sessions on the grass as the sky glows behind the skyline.

9. Discover Coolangatta, Kirra and the Southern Beaches

At the southern end of the Gold Coast, the beaches around Coolangatta and Kirra offer a slightly quieter, more local feel with some of the region’s best surf breaks. Snapper Rocks, Greenmount and Kirra Point are legendary among surfers for their long right-hand point breaks, especially during big swells.

The esplanades in this area are lined with parks, playgrounds, cafés and viewpoints where you can watch waves rolling in and, on clear days, see all the way back up the coast to Surfers Paradise. Streets just off the beach hold a mix of casual eateries, ice-cream shops and small bars, making the southern end perfect for relaxed days and evenings by the sea.

10. Use Gold Coast as a Springboard for Wider Southeast Queensland Adventures

Gold Coast is well placed for exploring the broader region of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. To the north, Brisbane’s cultural precincts and riverside parks make an easy day or overnight trip. Inland, the Scenic Rim and Lamington National Park offer rainforests, ridgelines, waterfalls and walking tracks through World Heritage–listed landscapes.

Across the border, towns like Byron Bay and Kingscliff offer additional beaches, cafés and hinterland drives. Using the Gold Coast as a base lets you combine classic surf-and-sand days with excursions into mountains, small towns and other coastal stretches — giving your trip a balance of energy, relaxation and exploration.