Discover why they call this Australia's adventure playground.
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.
Ready to play?
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.
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.
Yes! Ride share services Uber and Ola are both available on the Gold Coast.
I Want That Flight
Gold Coast flights from $156 return
Available on flights from April - October 2020. Sample fare Sydney-Gold Coast with Jetstar.
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Wotif
Gold Coast flights from $238 return
Available on select dates in April and July 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast with Virgin Australia.
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Virgin Australia
Australia-wide flights from $89 each way
Available on select dates until December 2020 to Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more. Sample fare is Ballina-Sydney. T&Cs apply.
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Trip.com
Gold Coast stays from $23/night
Available on select stay dates until December 2020. Sample rate is for a stay at Down under Hostels. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Gold Coast flights from $56 each way
Available on flights until December 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast with Jetstar.
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Skyscanner
Gold Coast flights from $56 each way
Available on flights until December 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast with Jetstar.
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TourRadar
Up to 30% off Australia and New Zealand tours
Available on select dates until December 2022. Destinations include Adelaide, Darwin, Byron Bay, Fiji, Auckland and more.
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Kayak
Australia-wide flights from $87 return
Available on select dates from March - July 2020 to Hobart, Melbourne, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Adelaide with Jetstar.
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Hertz
Up to 15% off prestige vehicles in Australia
Available on rentals from 1 March - 31 October 2020. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Gold Coast: Up to 10% off Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant
Available on select dates from 14 July - 13 August 2020. T&Cs apply.
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Virgin Australia
Gold Coast flights from $99 each way
Available on select dates from May - October 2020. Sample fare departs from Sydney. T&Cs apply.
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Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 15% off stays + extra 5% off with code
Available on stays from 2 March - 31 August 2020 on a one-bedroom. Destinations include Brisbane, Queenstown, Mackay, Sydney, Gold Coast and more. Minimum of 2 nights stay required. T&Cs apply.
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Expedia.com.au
Gold Coast stays from $45/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020. Sample rate is for a stay at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 20% off last minute Australia stays
Available on stays until 31 March 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 22% off scuba diving
Available on select 2020 dates in Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney, Byron Bay, Perth and more.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 48% off Australia hotels
Available from March - May 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 50% off rally driving
Available on select 2020 dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and more.
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Trip.com
Gold Coast: Wet'n'Wild Water World from $48.46
Available until 31 March 2020. T&Cs apply.
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Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 25% off stays + extra 5% off with code
Available on stays from 2 March - 31 August 2020 on a two-bedroom. Destinations include Brisbane, Queenstown, Mackay, Sydney, Gold Coast and more. Minimum of 2 nights stay required. T&Cs apply.
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Trip.com
Gold Coast: Up to 5% off iFLY indoor skydiving
Available on select dates from March - September 2020. T&Cs apply.
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STA Travel
Gold Coast flights from $99 each way
Available from 21 April - 23 September 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast with Virgin Australia.
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Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $40 each way
Available on flights until December 2020 to Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 30% off romantic getaways
Available on select stay dates from April - June 2020. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns and Whitsundays.
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Wotif
Up to 50% off Easter getaways
Available on select dates from March - May 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 28% off hot air balloon experiences
Available on select dates until December 2020. Fly over Gold Coast, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Adelaide and more.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 50% off Australia hotels
Available on select stay dates until April 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Viator
Full-day Mount Tamborine winery tour from Gold Coast from $150
Available for tours until 28 February 2021. Package includes transport, lunch, cheese tasting and more.
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Accor Hotels
Up to 25% off Australia stays
Available for travel until 31 December 2020 when you 2 nights or more. Prepayment required. Destinations include Sydney, Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
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Agoda
Up to 81% off Gold Coast hotels
Available on select dates until December 2020. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Gold Coast stays from $87/night
Available on select stay dates until December 2020. Sample rate is for Meriton Suites Broadbeach, Gold Coast.
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Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 20% off stays
Available on stays from 1 March - 30 April 2020. Destinations include Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide and more. A minimum stay of 2 nights required. T&Cs apply.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 25% off Gold Coast hotels
Save at hotels in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach and more.
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Virgin Australia
No change fees and flexible cancellations
All bookings made until 30 June 2020 are flexible and incur no change fees with Virgin Australia. Includes both domestic fares and international flights to Bali, Fiji, New Zealand and USA.
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RedBalloon
Dolphin aqua adventure at Sea World from $159
Available on select dates. Experience is for 45 minutes duration. Offer is for children only. T&Cs apply.
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Experience Oz
Up to $39 off Gold Coast theme park passes
Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Movie World, Sea World, Paradise Country and Wet'n'Wild Water World. T&Cs apply.
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RedBalloon
Tropical reef snorkel at Sea World from $69
Available on select dates. Package includes entry to Tropical Reef pool and use of snorkel equipment and wet suit. T&Cs apply.
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RedBalloon
Sea World Gold Coast family getaway for 4 from $499/night
Available on select stay dates. Package includes accommodation and Unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild and Paradise Country during stay. T&Cs apply.
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RedBalloon
Dolphin deep water adventure at Sea World from $249
Available on select dates. Experience is for 20 minutes duration. T&Cs apply.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 45% off Gold Coast hotels
Valid for stays on select dates. T&Cs apply.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 35% off worldwide stays
Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA, Dubai and more.
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| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 2020 | Up to 15% off stays + extra 5% off with code | MYO**** |
| 25 Mar 2020 | Up to 25% off stays + extra 5% off with code | MYO**** |
| 24 Mar 2020 | Up to 75% off Australia-wide stays + Extra 8% with code | BOO**** |
| 19 Mar 2020 | Extra 11% off hotels | WES**** |
| 10 Mar 2020 | Earn double Qantas Points | MPP**** |
