Seventy kilometres of coastline, and plenty of reasons to leave the apartment
The Gold Coast packs a lot into a short stretch of coast: world-class surf, a rainforest hinterland forty minutes inland, theme parks, and a dining scene that has quietly become one of the best in the country. Most of it is within a short drive of your stay, and a fair bit of it is within walking distance.
The beaches
Surfers Paradise for the classic Gold Coast experience and patrolled swimming. Broadbeach for a calmer stretch with parkland and dining behind it. Mermaid Beach for a quieter local feel. Burleigh Heads for the famous point break, the headland walk and the grassy hill to watch the sunset. All patrolled in season.
Note: Always swim between the flags.
Surf and the water
Burleigh Heads and Snapper Rocks are among the best right-hand point breaks in the world. For everyone else, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach have consistent, patrolled beach breaks that suit beginners and improvers alike, with surf schools, lessons and board hire a short walk from the sand. Currumbin Alley is the gentlest option on the coast and a good first lesson. On flat days, the Broadwater and Tallebudgera Creek are calm water for paddleboarding and swimming with kids.
Eating and drinking
Surfers Paradise covers the full range, from beachfront breakfast to late dinner, with the Esplanade and the Cavill Avenue precinct busiest after dark. Nobby Beach and Mermaid Beach have become the coast’s best casual dining strips, with small bars, good coffee and long breakfasts. Broadbeach delivers the bigger restaurant precinct around Oracle Boulevard, and Burleigh’s James Street has the busiest brunch scene on the coast. Book ahead on weekends and through school holidays.
The hinterland and the walks
Forty minutes inland the coast gives way to rainforest: Springbrook National Park for waterfalls and the Natural Bridge glow-worm cave, Lamington for longer walks, Tamborine Mountain for wineries and galleries. Closer in, the Burleigh Head National Park circuit is a short, beautiful headland walk, and the Oceanway path runs for kilometres along the beachfront.
Families and theme parks
Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild and Paradise Country all sit within a half-hour drive, and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is the pick for younger kids. Closer to home, the parklands behind Broadbeach and the creek at Tallebudgera are free, shaded and easy.
Shopping and markets
Pacific Fair at Broadbeach is the coast’s major shopping centre, with Robina Town Centre a short drive inland. For something more local, the Burleigh Heads and Miami markets run on weekends with produce, food stalls and makers.
Getting around
The G:link tram connects the main beachside suburbs from Broadbeach South to Helensvale and links to the Brisbane train line. Rideshare is plentiful. If you are staying in Broadbeach, Mermaid or Burleigh, you can manage most of a holiday on foot.