Best beach on the Gold Coast for surfing: Currumbin Beach
The home break of Aussie surfing legend Joel Parkinson, Currumbin Beach feels more like Byron Bay. If you're still finding your feet, check out Currumbin Alley and families will adore Currumbin Creek.
Stay at The Rocks Resort
Where is the Gold Coast?
The Gold Coast is just north of the NSW–Queensland border and 65 kilometres south of Brisbane (about an hour and a quarter drive).
Is the Gold Coast a city?
Yes, the Gold Coast is a city, with larger than life suburbs (like Surfers Paradise).
Where is Surfers Paradise?
“Surfers” is a beach suburb of the Gold Coast, just south of Main Beach and an hour south of Brisbane. Famous for its high rise meets the beach look, nightlife and entertainment; for many this strip of land is the Gold Coast.
Can you catch a train from Brisbane to the Gold Coast?
You can catch an AirTrain from both the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane Domestic and International Airport to the Gold Coast.
Brisbane Domestic Airport to Surfers Paradise takes about one hour and 50 minutes and costs around $38.
Brisbane city to Surfers Paradise takes about one hour and 50 minutes and costs around $15.
If you are planning on using the Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast public transport systems during your visit to Queensland, a go card or go seeQ card will save you money. The go seeQ card is especially for visitors and includes travel for three or five consecutive calendar days and two Airtrain journeys.
What is the best time to visit the Gold Coast?
One of the sunniest spots in Australia (it averages over 300 days of sunshine a year), it’s hard to find a bad time of the year to go to the Gold Coast. There are some solid rules you should follow for optimum holiday times:
Avoid Schoolies week like the plague (around mid-November to December). If you want to take the risk, tipsy school leavers sinking Smirnoff Double Blacks like there’s no tomorrow, await.
If you can, avoid the school holidays. An array of theme parks and family-friendly activities make this a great spot to take the kids, so there’s a spike of activity when school is out.
Instead, the April-May shoulder period is an ideal time to capitalise on those relatively high temperatures (around a maximum of 25 degrees) and lack of summer crowds.
See also:
Best resorts on the Gold Coast
5 best hiking trails near the Gold Coast