Top Things to do in Gold Coast
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What to do and see in Gold Coast, Queensland: The Best Free Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Gold Coast, Australia including Burleigh Heads Beach, Tamborine Mountain, Surfers Paradise Beach, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Kurrawa Beach, Kirra Beach, Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Springbrook National Park, Natural Bridge, Snapper Rocks.
Restaurants in Gold Coast
1. Burleigh Heads Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,730 reviews
Reviewed By ozwidephotography - Burleigh Heads, Australia
Popular with the locals it's an iconic place to visit, beautiful beach, surfing, swimming or walk through the National Park at Burleigh Heads hill or go shopping, it's got the lot and a superb relaxed atmosphere.
2. Tamborine Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 487 reviews
Reviewed By TaniaB12345 - Cape Town, South Africa
What a beautiful day trip this is. Beautiful views looking across the gold coast from the top of Tambourine Mountain where hang gliders take off from, plenty of sights for all the family to see as well as wineries and liqueur tastings.
3. Surfers Paradise Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,921 reviews
The iconic skyline and golden beaches of Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s postcard image to Australia and the world. Each year, millions of visitors discover an energetic foreshore precinct boasting an incredible diversity of restaurant, cafe, shopping and fashion and nightlife experiences. Restaurants offering everything from fresh seafood to international cuisine have made Surfers Paradise a serious dining hub, while shopping centres and arcades display top labels and the best in lifestyle and beauty. Surfers Paradise contains 50% of the Gold Coast’s accommodation – everything from five-star beachfront resorts to cheerful backpacker digs – making it the perfect base from which to explore the region. Locals and visitors are kept busy with a year-round calendar of events, highlighted by free family entertainment. And fronting it all – Surfers Paradise Beach, Australia’s iconic beach and a locale that conjures up ‘paradise’ to millions. It's "Always On" in Surfers Paradise!
Reviewed By williamsN3015EP - Surfers Paradise, Australia
I have traveled extensively and this stretch of beach beats plenty others I have seen, including Santa Monica, Hoi An, and others. If you are escaping the colder climates of Australia and beyond, this beach will be all you need to feel fantastic. Beautiful clean sand, gorgeous rolling surf, superb sunrises and moonrises, all patrolled by Australia’s famous surf life savers. Ideal for romantic strolls along the beach. Don’t forget to swim between the red and yellow flags, and bring your sunscreen and hat. Who says there is nothing to do? Just enjoy the world class beach and stunning vistas.
4. Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,166 reviews
Pacific Fair is centrally located in the heart of the Gold Coast adjacent to the Star Gold Coast and the Broadbeach entertainment precinct. Pacific Fair is one of Australia's largest shopping centres and boasts an outstanding collection of luxury, high-street fashion, and dining and bar experiences, plus a world-class indoor/outdoor leisure and entertainment precinct and around 400 specialty stores. The centre also boasts two supermarkets, a fresh food market, Big W, David Jones, Kmart, Target and the Gold Coast’s largest Myer. Pacific Fair has a first-class Visitor Lounge including showers/amenities, luggage storage, coach set-down, free WiFi, stylist service, quiet room and an exclusive Visitor Privileges Pass with over a hundred special offers. There's also a free shopping shuttle that services Sea World (Southport) in the north to Burleigh Heads in the south daily (see website for timetable). A visit to the Gold Coast isn’t complete without a visit to Pacific Fair.
Reviewed By mohomadr2017 - Young, Australia
While holidaying at the Gold Coast we had the opportunity to go shopping at Pacific Fair, it had a range of tremendous and vast range of named stores and my favorite a massive food court to tingle your trate buds. Great place to kill some time and your pocket.
5. Kurrawa Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 816 reviews
Reviewed By ribsy56 - Brisbane, Australia
What a beautiful beach! With the surf club on the doorstep and kids' play area not too far away, a walk on the beach was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Life savers were on duty and the water was a beautiful blue, with gentle waves. Loved it!
6. Kirra Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 667 reviews
Reviewed By Miike2000 - Brisbane, Australia
Plenty of sand, clean, toilets close by, ride your bike in the park, green grass available if you don’t like the sand, bring your dog is ok, plenty of parking and cafes close by.
7. Harbour Town Premium Outlets
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,563 reviews
Looking for big-brand shopping and even bigger savings? Harbour Town on the Gold Coast is Australia's largest outlet shopping centre with over 240 stores comprising brand direct outlet and clearance stores offering a minimum of 30% off the original retail price on outlet stock, as well as specialty retailers, alfresco dining, entertainment and services. With international labels such as Coach, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and Nike as well as iconic Australian brands including Oroton, R.M. Williams and UGG Australia, Harbour Town has something to suit everyone's style. The open-air, palm lined mall is also home to a dedicated Tourism Lounge offering a range of complimentary services and facilities and a FREE Tourist Discount Card for further discounts. Harbour Town is conveniently located between beautiful beaches and popular theme parks, just 20 minutes north of Surfers Paradise. Take the stress out of travelling whilst on holidays and jump on-board our FREE Outlet Shopping Shuttle! Pick up from Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise. So for a fix of retail therapy at a fraction of the price, Harbour Town has got it in the bag!
Reviewed By X9098KTpaulc - Brisbane, Australia
Its great prices, great food, great atmosphere and great shopping ... make a day visit or at least half a day whilst on the Coast ITS FUN
8. Springbrook National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 537 reviews
Reviewed By LeanneP188 - Cardiff, Australia
I spent a single day exploring this park and have set out what I was able to see in a single day and have suggested a timeline for anyone who is planning a similar day trip. The park is approx 1 hour from the Gold Coast. I was visiting at the end of October and set out about 8 am in a southwards direction towards Neranwood. The temperature in the park when I arrived about 9am was between 3 and 5 degrees cooler than the coast, so it was no hotter than 25 even though it was 28 on the coast. My first stop was the 'best of all' look out at the far end of the eastern ‘branch’ of the park. There is a 300m easy walk on a paved surface to the lookout which is spectacular. You can see Byron Bay from here on a clear day. Drive back along Repeater Station Road and turn right onto Springbrook Road and drive to the end which brings you to a picnic area and Goomoolahra falls. There is a 100 m walk to the falls, which are quite small, and the lookout, which gives you a view back towards the coast. From there drive back towards the Tallanbana picnic area. From here you can take the 90 min walk to the base of the twin falls. There is no view of these falls from anywhere except the base. You need to be quite sure footed as the path is largely unsealed and contains a number of sections of uneven steps. At the base of the falls is a pool which is swimmable but the base of the pool is quite rocky and entry and exit are not easy. Small children would need to be assisted in and out of the water. I’m in my 50s and while I walk regularly on level surfaces, the walk back up is challenging and I had to stop 3 or 4 times to have a few minutes rest. Even with the rests, I still made the return trip in the 90 minute time estimated. I then drove back along Springbrook Road and turned right onto Boy Ull Road which takes you directly to the Canyon lookout. From here you can view Purlingbrook falls from the top. You can walk to the base which would be a similar walk to the twin falls. If you are doing one or the other I think the twin falls walk is more worthwhile because you can't see those falls from anywhere but the base, and you can also swim at the base if you like. By this time it was approx 12.30. I had a packed lunch with me but there enough eateries around that you will be able to find something to suit you. I then drove to the Natural Bridge which is on the western arm of the park. This takes you through a steep descent into the Nunimbah valley which is green and lovely with the mountains behind it. There is a very nice park and picnic area running alongside the Nerang River which would be a good place for a late lunch. A little way past the park turn left onto Bakers Road which takes you to the Natural Bridge. I spent about half an hour here walking around the track that takes you to the bridge, which can be viewed from two sides. Note that despite the beautiful pictures of the water here, swimming is prohibited due to effects on the glowworm habitat. I drove back to the coast via the Nerang Murwillambah road which takes you past Advancetown Lake and the Hinze Dam, which is on the northern end of the lake. Turn right onto Advancetown Road to access the dam. This is worth having a look at if only (when the water levels are low) to snap a few photos of the whitened dead trees against the blue of the lake. This route brings you back to the coast from the northern end and I arrived about 4.30 pm.
9. Natural Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 865 reviews
Reviewed By bobjanh - Brisbane, Australia
Natural Bridge is well worth a visit: sealed road access all the way with a well made 2km circuit track from the car park down to the rock formation and back. A bit steep in places but easily doable if slow and steady: I would recommend doing clockwise to get the easier uphill direction on return. Be sure to look for the bat colony when you get to the bottom.
10. Snapper Rocks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 445 reviews
Reviewed By mnicol770
This is a beautiful unspoilt part of the Gold Coast away from the hustle and bustle of Surfers and Broadbeach. Great walks around the headland and secluded swimming spots.
