Our most recommended things to do in Gold Coast

Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

1. Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Come join this family-owned and operated business with over 20 years whale watching experience, committed to offering you the best customer service and memories to last a lifetime. With caring and knowledgeable crew who are focused on your comfort and safety as well as guaranteed whale sightings, you can travel with peace of mind. Within minutes of departure, Spirit of Gold Coast will have you up close and personal with these majestic creatures as they embark on their annual migration along the east coast of Australia. This amazing journey is a truly captivating experience, as right before your very eyes these 40-ton Humpback Whales breach, wave their pectoral fins and slap their tails. Join us for the journey of a lifetime - a memorable adventure to be shared with friends and family.

From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

2. From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

Enjoy a day on Moreton Island on this full-day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Relax on the cruise on the way, enjoy a delicious lunch, then take part in fun outdoor activities like kayaking and sand tobogganing. Be picked up from a centrally-located meeting point in Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Sit back and relax on the air-conditioned drive to the boat's departure point. Board a spacious boat with an outdoor area and a covered seating area. Enjoy ocean views as you cruise across Moreton Bay. Discover a vibrant underwater world as you follow your guide on a snorkeling tour around shipwrecks. Have the chance to spot turtles, fish, and rays. Stop to savor a sandwich lunch on the beach before taking a guided tour in a glass-bottom kayak. View the underwater wonders of the Tangalooma Wrecks as you paddle over crystal-clear water. Explore the area on the island that is known as "The Desert." Ride in a rugged 4X4, and experience the exhilaration of sand tobogganing at speeds of over 40 miles per hour. Admire the Gheebulum Coonungai National Park that covers most of Moreton Island.

Gold Coast: Movie World, Sea World, & Wet’n’Wild 3-Day Pass

3. Gold Coast: Movie World, Sea World, & Wet’n’Wild 3-Day Pass

Save time and money with this convenient 3-day admission pass to 3 of the Gold Coast's most popular theme parks. Zoom around on roller coasters at Movie World, admire marine life at Sea World, and prepare to be thrilled on a variety of extreme rides at Wet'n'Wild.  Located only a few minutes from central Surfers Paradise, Sea World features amazing aquatic animals, fun rides, and family-friendly shows. Enter the frozen tundra of the Penguin Encounter, see predators up close in Shark Bay, and meet tranquil critters in the dolphin nursery. At Movie World, experience the glamour of Hollywood as you hang out with your favorite superheroes and stars. Enjoy the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, Harry Potter-themed sets, a Lethal Weapon ride, the Batwing Spaceshot, and the steepest inverted drop in the Southern Hemisphere on the Green Lantern Coaster. For families, enjoy music from the Looney Tunes crew among other entertainment. Wet'n'Wild hosts some of the most extreme and fun-packed rides on the continent. You may even recognize some of them from scenes filmed in The Inbetweeners 2 movie.   

Gold Coast: Evening Rainforest and Glow Worm Experience

4. Gold Coast: Evening Rainforest and Glow Worm Experience

Head out to the rainforest at night with a local guide to see nocturnal flora and fauna in the Tamborine National Park. Travel from the Gold Coast in a comfortable bus. Admire glow worms in their natural environment. Enjoy a warm drink and cake during your tour.  Get picked up from selected locations and travel to the top of the famous Tamborine Mountain. Gaze up at the starry sky and out over at the sparkling cities of the Gold Coast as you warm up with cake and a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Set out on your rainforest walk and see how this area wakes up at night. Gain insight into the unique plants and animals that call this ancient ecosystem home as you make your way through Tamborine National Park. Arrive at the waterfall where a colony of glowworms puts on a nightly display. 

Gold Coast: Natural Bridge & Springbrook Waterfalls Tour

5. Gold Coast: Natural Bridge & Springbrook Waterfalls Tour

The Goondawanna Rainforests have so much to offer and are only a short drive from the Gold Coast beaches. This small group tour offers a truly personalized experience and door- to-door service from selected central Gold Coast locations.  Visit the stunning Natural Arch waterfall with a fully-guided walk from an expert local guide.  Learn about the unique flora and fauna of the rainforest as you make your way.  From inside the cave see the water cascading through the roof of the basalt cave formed over millions of years.  Continuing the tour, "Best of All Lookout" offers a view of northern New South Wales and Mount Warning.  The walk to this magnificent lookout takes you through one of the few remaining pockets of the ancient Antarctic Beech forest. Then head off to the nearby viewing platform to see the enchanting Purling Brook Falls.  During the journey, tour commentary on the area and wildlife is provided along with the great scenery of the Numinbah Valley. Take in the views of Twin Falls and Rainbow Falls from Canyon Lookout on the way home.  On the return journey to the Gold Coast, sightings of kangaroos and pretty-faced wallabies are common, as they emerge from their bush retreats to feed on the lush grass in the cooler part of the day.

Surfers Paradise: Surf Lesson on the Gold Coast

6. Surfers Paradise: Surf Lesson on the Gold Coast

Meet your instructor and get set up with the proper rash shirt or wetsuit and board and head to the beach. Begin your 2-hour lesson with a safety briefing and basic instruction. Once everyone has caught their first few waves in waist-deep water, you’ll return to the sand for more detailed instruction on stand-up procedures. The remainder of the lesson will be spent in the water with instructors helping everyone stand up. Most participants have low expectations and don’t think they’ll be able to stand up during their first lesson. When you and the rest of the group are successful, there’s excitement all around!

Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise

7. Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise

Board The Spirit of Elston and become immersed in this unique and delectable dining experience. Departing from Sea World Cruises Terminal, enjoy an evening of sightseeing and dining on the sparkling Gold Coast waterways. Enjoy live entertainment as you indulge in a chef-prepared menu, made from the best local seasonal produce, perfectly paired with local craft beer, wine and tasty cocktails. Wander upstairs to our 360-degree view open-air deck and marvel at the stunning city skyline. This cruise is ideal for celebrating that special occasion or simply experiencing an unforgettable night out.

Gold Coast: Wave Break Island Kayaking & Snorkeling tour

8. Gold Coast: Wave Break Island Kayaking & Snorkeling tour

Depart from Gold Coast on a fun-filled guided kayaking tour to Wave Break Island where you can snorkel, enjoy a snack, and relax while admiring amazing city views away from the crowds. After passing the iconic Broadwater, your friendly tour guides will brief you on kayaking techniques. Cruise through spectacular waters, where you might have the chance to spot dolphins and stingrays. Paddle through beautiful sandbanks, offering a unique Gold Coast City view in the background, and arrive at the Northern side of Wave Break Island, where you will park your kayaks next to a scenic spot. Take a short bushwalk to Wave Break Island’s Eastern side to snorkel and explore the underwater beauty of this fantastic island.  Swim amongst the friendly rocky reef locals, diamond fish, and black bream, and discover many other species, from sea cucumbers, trumpet fish, and sergeant fish. You can even find Dory if you are lucky. Here, natural and man-made beauty are combined to create a picture-perfect background; the beautiful Gold Coast waterways with the city’s collection of skyscrapers on the horizon. As you get out of the water, a snack will be waiting for you. Savor it whilst admiring the amazing views, and get ready to return to the starting point.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Ticket

9. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Ticket

Delight in a close encounter with Australia’s unique native wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, centrally located on the Gold Coast and just a 30-minute drive from Surfers Paradise. Explore the 27-hectare sanctuary, home to over 1,400 Australian native wildlife. Meet koalas, echidnas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, emus, and dingoes. Hand-feed kangaroos, come face-to-face with Australia’s largest saltwater crocodile and see the free-flight bird show and Aboriginal performances. Learn about the sanctuary and its animals at any of the 13 interactive keeper shows daily or ask one of the helpful volunteers positioned around the park. Discover the outdoor playground, ride on the sanctuary’s miniature train, or enjoy a picnic. Visit the onsite Wildlife Hospital and see the vets in action. Join in the feeding of the colorful wild lorikeets at 8.00 am or 4.00 pm for a gold coin donation. Enjoy the spectacle of dozens of rainbow-colored birds landing on your head and arms!  Lost Valley Take in the beauty of this 5-hectare rainforest as you wind your way along elevated boardwalks, whilst discovering exotic wildlife. Uncover the secrets of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana and explore a forgotten world.

Gold Coast: Coastal City Scenic Helicopter Flight

10. Gold Coast: Coastal City Scenic Helicopter Flight

Join a luxury helicopter experience in the city of Gold Coast with live commentary from your pilot. Start from a state-of-the-art terminal and get onboard an air-conditioned helicopter to enjoy aerial views of the city, Broadwater, Main Beach, and Gold Coast Hinterland. Fly over the Broadwater before crossing the golden sand beaches of Main Beach. Head south along the coastline passing Surfers Paradise, home to the cities towering high-rises, including the iconic Q1 Building which stands at 1056 feet tall. As your helicopter soars towards Broadbeach, see distant stunning views of Point Danger and Burleigh Heads. Over Broadbeach, buckle up as your pilot helicopter makes a descending turn. On the journey north, enjoy views of Surfers Paradise and Porpoise Point. Then, make a turn over South Stradbroke Island. As you head back to the terminal, experience spectacular views of the city, the Broadwater, and the Sea World Theme Park from above.

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Gold Coast
Spectacularly long beaches, hot surfing spots, big theme parks — the perfect recipe for a fun trip in the sun.

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What are the best day trips and excursions from Gold Coast?

The best day trips and excursions from Gold Coast are:

Tamborine Mountain

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What people are saying about Gold Coast

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 3,092 reviews

The whole exp was great !! We were picked from Gold Coast on tym & the operator was so nice to talk . She was very polite & made our journey comfortable till we reached the cruise. The staff & captain were really nice & and understanding. The food was amazing& place was really clean . The snorkelling exp was great as we never did in deep water with tide. We were to spot dolphins to our way back.We really had a fun tym!!

We were picked up on time, and the guide, Jamie, was very friendly. On the tour, we were given information on Gold Coast, and the national park. Jamie is clearly knowledgeable and cares about nature. We had various animals pointed out, as well as all sorts of plants. Great way to experience nature, and see the national park.

The lady's that went on the ride had a fantastic time. Both were deaf and Anzy I think his name is really looked after them. He made sure for instructions he faced them so they could lip read. Amazing service

An absolutely perfect day. The events were wonderful, food delicious and staff incredible. One of my top highlights of my Australia trip.

It worked nicely. Only thing we need to set the APN settings and activate Data Roaming