7 things to do in Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is a fascinating place!
The Gold Coast, the iconic coastal city in the Australian state of Queensland, is the ultimate entertainment destination, with beautiful beaches, exciting theme parks, delicious restaurants, and a thriving arts and culture scene.
Sea World Whale Watch
Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast
It’s hard to describe the sheer scale of the Gold Coast’s natural beauty.
The best way to experience the Gold Coast’s natural beauty is to head out to sea.
Whale watching is one of the highlights of the Gold Coast’s waters.
There are many whale watching programs available, but we recommend Sea World because it’s a theme park with plenty to do after the whale watching.
Whale watching involves taking a private boat out to sea and stopping to watch the whales as they pass by.
The cool breeze of the ocean is inviting and the scenery is stunning.
Sea World Marine Park
This theme park is unique in that it’s also a sustainability-minded organization that rescues, treats, and releases marine life back into the ocean.
With rides like roller coasters, an aquarium to observe marine life, dolphin and seal presentations, and a cafeteria to grab a bite to eat, it’s a great place to spend the day.
There are also plenty of activities for kids, including diving into the water to get up close and personal with dolphins and seals, entering the shark tank in an acrylic cage, and snorkeling the tropical reef, all of which are unforgettable experiences that we highly recommend if you’re traveling with kids.
HOTA, Home of the Arts
Home of the Arts, or HOTA for short, is a comprehensive arts center.
As the name suggests, it has everything you need to enjoy cultural life, including galleries, performance venues, theaters, art shops, restaurants, and more.
Every Sunday, there’s a farmer’s market with local specialties, food, and musicians, so mark your calendars.
The colorful exterior of the gallery represents Australia’s nature, with orange and yellow representing the sun and blue and green representing the forest.
Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of works by creative local Australian artists.
From works that fully honor Aboriginal people, to large-scale works that capture the natural wonders of Australia, to a separate section dedicated to supporting emerging artists and a digital art section, time flies by.
There are also places to eat and drink within HOTA, including Palette Restaurant and HOTA Cafe.
Sky Point Observation Deck
At 230 meters high, the observation deck offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. A high-speed elevator takes you up to the 77th floor in just 10 seconds, where you’ll be greeted with a view of the coastline and the heart of the Gold Coast’s ‘Surfer’s Paradise’, a mix of ocean and buildings. If you look closely, you can see Tamborine Mountain in the distance and even the neighboring state of New South Wales. The lookout also has a restaurant, which, depending on the time of day, can be a bistro, buffet, or bar, making it a great place to grab a bite to eat or a drink.
If you’re looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush, you can try the Sky Point Climb, a harnessed walk along the outer wall of the building, which lasts about 90 minutes and is an exhilarating and exhilarating way to soak up the views and breeze at 270 meters above sea level. There are a variety of courses available, including the Day Climb, which can be done in the morning or afternoon, the Twilight Climb for a sunset view, and the Night Climb for the romance of the night.
Walk at Surfers Paradise Beach
Private Surf Lesson Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, Gold Coast
The Gold Coast’s most iconic neighborhood and a base camp for many tourists is the Gold Coast Surfers Paradise area. There are a variety of hotels and resorts along the five-kilometer stretch of beach.
The beautiful shores of Surfers Paradise are not just for admiring, but also for soaking up the sun and strolling along the beach.
The sand is very grainy and can be uncomfortable to walk on, so make sure to take advantage of the boardwalk alongside the ocean!
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary General Entry Ticket
Another place you can’t miss on the Gold Coast is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a park dedicated to protecting wildlife. It’s a place where you can see some of Australia’s colorful animals, and it’s also a place where animals are protected and treated. It covers a whopping 270,000 square meters and is home to over a thousand species of animals. To get around efficiently, we recommend consulting the map and timetable at the entrance.
The most popular animals are the koalas and kangaroos. From the entrance to the park, you’ll see koalas hanging from trees all over the place. The park guides explain that koalas sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day and spend the rest of the time eating eucalyptus leaves to get water, fiber, and sugar. The kangaroo habitat is the last place we’ll see, where you’ll find them running around freely in the grass. They’re not afraid of people, approaching them first, and they’re very laid-back, even taking a nap next to people sitting on the grass.
Tamborine Mountain
The Best of Tamborine Mountain from the Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain is a small mountain with an area of 28 square kilometers and an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, but it’s a popular attraction because it offers a variety of trails that take you through the trees to see waterfalls and tree species. One of the most popular is the Sky walk, which is a guided walk along the foot of the mountain. Walking through the lush forest while breathing in the fresh air is an attraction in itself, and it’s also interesting to see unfamiliar plants and chew on berries. Crossing the swaying wooden bridges is a thrilling experience. When you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic viewing platform. Standing on the railing, you can feel the fresh breeze rushing through your body, washing away your fatigue.
