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Gold Coast | The Ultimate Travel Guide
Discover why they call this Australia's adventure playground.
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Queensland’s Gold Coast is Australia’s playground, with sun, surf, adventure and entertainment within a stone’s throw of each other. Its most famous beach, Surfers Paradise, is a destination in its own right and is the kind of attractive vista that beach holiday postcards are made of.Located along the state’s southeast coast, the Gold Coast covers a 57 kilometre strip of over 30 golden beaches and boasts an average of 245 days of sunshine every year. As its name suggests, its enviable waters attract the eye of surfers who travel across the world to ride its waves.
Travel away from the buzz of Surfer's Paradise and its hub of restaurants, bars and entertainment and you’ll soon discover theme parks where families can be entertained day-long and the Gold Coast Hinterland, where you can embark on walks through lush subtropical rainforest and capture views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
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What's there to do on the Gold Coast?
While best known for its beaches and theme parks, there's loads to do on the Gold Coast to suit any taste and traveller.
The area has some of Queensland's most luxurious resorts (hello, Palazzo Versace) to unwind at, snorkelling just offshore at Wave Break Island and plenty of waterways to explore by boat.
Travel inland from the stretches of sand and you'll hit the lush Gold Coast hinterland, where you can tour waterfalls, rainforests and natural rock pools. If you've got plenty of time to spare, consider heading down the coast to laid back Byron Bay or north toward bustling Brisbane.
Getting around the Gold Coast
If you want to see more of the 57-kilometre stretch of the Gold Coast than what's around your hotel, you'll need to hop on public transport, in a ride share or hire a car.
TransLink services the Gold Coast with trains, trams and buses. Areas that are included are Helensvale, Nerang, Robina, Varsity Lakes, Ormeau and Coomera.
Paying for transport. You need to use the electronic go card to travel on TransLink transport. Simply tap on and off and the card will automatically deduct the correct amount. You can purchase go cards at select local retailers, Queensland Rail station ticket offices or fare machines at bus stations. The minimum cost is $10. This price includes $5 for the card, which you get back when you return the card, and $5 of travel credit. You can also pay cash for transport.
Best apps for getting around. MyTransLink app can plan your journey, give you real-time It'sinformation for when transport is departing from your stop, and will find the closest stops to you. The trip announcer feature allows you to follow your journey while on-board with an audio or visual option to alert you when to get off.
Does the Gold Coast have Uber?
Yes! Ride share services Uber and Ola are both available on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast travel deals
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Extra 5% off hotels with code
Available on Express Deals for all travel dates when you use the code. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Gold Coast: Up to 54% off drive-in cinema experience with snacks
Available on Saturdays until 20 January 2022 at Tivoli Drive in Theatre & Cafe.
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Up to 53% off bowling with mini golf experience in Gold Coast
Available until 27 November 2021 at The Park Coomera.
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Flights within Australia from $57 return
Available on flights until February 2022. Sample fare is Melbourne-Sydney. Destinations include Gold Coast, Ballina, Adelaide, Hobart and more.
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Up to 20% off TFE hotels
Available on stays until 19 October 2022. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth, Darwin, Auckland, Wellington and more. T&Cs apply.
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Gold Coast: Up to 9% off Dreamworld entry tickets
Available on 1 and 3-day passes. Vouchers valid for 12 months from date of purchase.
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Up to 46% off Gold Coast high coffee experience
Available on select dates until 19 January 2022 at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Dining.
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Get 10% off Australia activities with code
Available on activities including skydiving, hot air ballooning, quad biking and more. Minimum spend of $350 required. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
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Domestic flights from $31 each way
Available on flights from October 2021 – March 2022. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Get $20 off classes with code
Available until 18 October 2022 on classes including cooking, painting, candle making, pottery and more. Minimum spend of $250 required. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Qantas sale: Flights within Australia from $99 each way
Available for travel from November 2021 – June 2022. Destinations include Gold Coast, Brisbane, Launceston, Cairns, Townsville, Darwin, Broome, Melbourne, Perth, Alice Springs and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina.
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Queensland flights from $75 each way
Available from 17 October – 11 December 2021 on flights to Hamilton, Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Proserpine. T&Cs apply.
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Up to 10% off Gold Coast dinner cruise
Available from Tuesdays to Thursdays until December 2021 for a 2.5-hour experience.
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Up to 52% off Gold Coast getaway with $50 food credits + flights
Available for travel until 30 June 2022. Package includes return airfare, stay at Palazzo Versace, breakfast, lunch with wine and more. Valid for 2 persons.
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Up to 13% off Gold Coast lunch cruise
Available from Mondays to Fridays until March 2022 for a 2-hour experience.
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Up to 48% off Gold Coast hot air balloon flight with photo package
Available on select dates until December 2021 for a 45-minute experience. Includes hotel transfers on select properties.
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Up to 38% off Gold Coast indoor skydiving experience
Available on select dates until December 2021.
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Up to 22% off Whale Watching cruise from Sea World in Gold Coast
Available on select travel dates until November 2021 for a 2.5-hour experience.
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Up to 19% off Gold Coast theme park tickets + ferry pass
Available for a 3-day unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild over 5 consecutive days from first visit.
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Gold Coast: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary tickets from $50
Available on select dates. Plus get 10% off food, beverages and retail purchases in-park.
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Australia-wide flights from $80 each way
Available on flights from November 2021 – February 2022 to Darwin, Hobart, Canberra, Adelaide, Cairns, Perth and more. Sample fare is Brisbane-Sydney with Jetstar.
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Up to 50% off Jucy campervan rentals + no one way fee
Available on rentals until 30 November 2021 when you pick up in Cairns. Drop off locations include Brisbane and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.
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Gold Coast: Up to 11% off Wet 'n' Wild Water World tickets
Available from 9 October 2021 - 31 March 2022.
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Up to 20% off Moreton Island day tour
Available on select travel dates until 28 November 2021. Includes snorkeling gears, lunch, pick up and drop-off from Gold Coast and Brisbane and more.
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Up to 50% off + no one-way fee on rentals
Available on cars and campervan rentals in Cairns until 30 November 2021. Drop off destination includes Brisbane and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.
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Get 1 day free on 5-day rentals
Available on rentals until 31 December 2021 when you book a minimum of 5 consecutive days. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
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Up to 20% off Australia car hires
Available on weekend rentals until 31 December 2021. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
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Up to 20% off Australia car rentals
Available on rentals until 31 December 2021 when you book a minimum of 7 days. Destinations include Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Canberra, Perth, Cairns and more. T&Cs apply.
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Up to USD$60 off holiday packages
Available on booking fees for all travel dates for up to 5 persons. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne and more. T&Cs apply
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Up to 50% off Australia-wide flights
Available on select flights in 2021 to Gold Coast, Launceston, Hobart, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Canberra, Alice Springs and more.
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Gold Coast: Up to 58% off drive-in movie experience with snacks
Available on Saturdays until 5 January 2021 at Tivoli Drive in Theatre & Cafe for 1 or 2 cars.
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Gold Coast escape room experience from $84
Available until 31 March 2023 for a 90-minute session.
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Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary entry in Gold Coast from $50
Available on tickets until March 2023 for a full day pass.
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Up to 20% off + $99 deposits on Australia adventures
Available on trips from 6 November 2021 - 15 April 2022. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Rottnest Island, Cairns, Darwin, Sydney, Byron Bay, Uluru, Canberra, Jindabyne, Great Ocean Road and more.
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Up to $50 off Surfers Paradise tandem skydives
Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 29 October 2021 for a 15,000ft jump. T&Cs apply.
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Up to 30% off Australia and New Zealand getaways
Available on stays until April 2022. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington and more.
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Up to 28% off 30-minute Gold Coast hot air balloon flight
Available on select dates until February 2022. Includes breakfast and free photo.
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Up to 20% off advance bookings
Available on stays booked 60 days advance. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Hobart, Queenstown and more. T&Cs apply.
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Australia-wide flights from $60 return
Available on flights until December 2021 to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Hobart, Adelaide, Launceston and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Up to 15% off Australia stays
Available on stays until 3 January 2022 on select hotels. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns and more.
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Discover hot accommodation picks and deals for those travelling to the Gold Coast.
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Here's what you can do to keep the whole family entertained over the Easter long weekend and the stores that are staying open for essential shopping.
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