Once known as the Glitter Strip, the GC still dazzles with entertainment options for the whole family.
There is nowhere in Australia with a higher concentration of theme parks. The main players are Wet ‘n’ Wild water park, Sea World and Warner Brothers Movie World - plus the more recent Paradise Country Aussie Farm Experience. If you want to try a bunch of them, the smart money is on getting a multi-day pass. Dreamworld with its multiple rides and own waterpark called White Water World is also definitely worth checking out.
Views, views and more views from the 77th floor. If you want to pump up the adrenaline though, sign up for The Climb Experience. It’s Australia’s highest external building climb at 270 metres above sea level and will cost just under $100. For something more chill, the Bistro+Bar is the perfect venue from which to watch the sun set (it’s open to 9pm) with a cocktail. May we suggest the Cucumber Breeze with gin, St Germaine Elderflower, sugar syrup, soda, mint, and cucumber. From $36 for entry.
Reach new heights with Go Ballooning, taking in the views of the Gold Coast in this stunning 60-minute sunrise experience. Core memory unlocked. From $349. Picture: Tourism Australia.
Stand up paddleboarding is an activity perfect for exploring the myriad calm waterways that lace the GC. All Coast Paddleboard Hire can sort you out with gear, some basic instruction and then send you off to explore Tallebudgera Creek. You may want to do a bit of shredding beforehand as swimwear will be required.
Burgundy, Napa Valley… the Gold Coast? Those cheeky locals have kept this circuit to themselves for too long, but the GC hinterland is riddled with vintners. Witches Falls Winery in Mount Tamborine is especially romantic in winter; Cedar Creek Estate blends prettiness with a wide variety of drops (even a chocolate port) and its own glow worm cave; O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards has a tasting room in 163-year-old homestead and Sirromet Wines at Mount Cotton (pictured) offers cute tented pavilions if you want to make a night of it.
Taking the decision making - and the transport - out of the equation, Barefoot Luxury offers winery tours of Mount Tamborine where you'll call at a number of family-run wineries as well as a distillery.
One of the must-do’s on a GC family holiday is putt-putt and while the garishness of King Tutt’s is no longer around, Putt Putt Golf Mermaid Beach is still flying the flag with a trio of 18 hole courses. Head over in the evening once the families have departed - it’s open till 10pm every night - and get an insight into what your date is like when it comes to pressure/competitiveness. For something with more of party vibe, Topgolf is a multi-level high tech driving range where the balls are microchipped so you know just how far you smashed it. There’s table service, a bunch of different games to try and the whole shebang lights up at night.
For a low-key date, nothing beats a market and The Village Markets are some of the best in the state. They are held on the first and third Sunday of each month from 830am-1pm. There are food trucks, live music and everything from fashion and homewares to jewellery and plants.
Just as the GC has one of Australia’s best markets in The Village, it has also has one of Australia’s best dive bar in Vinnie’s. It’s dark and dingy, they’ve little time for overly fancy cocktails and there is a roster of kickass rock band from the old school (Cosmic Psychos/Rose Tattoo) to visiting outfits like Drain and Stick To Your Guns.
In the era of streaming, where new release films are just a click away, there’s a lot to be said for the magic of the drive in. Roll on into the Yatala Drive-In and court like your nanna and pop did. Or just expose the kids to a whole new way to take in a film. It alternates between new releases and art house specials and even the burgers are named after movie stars such as Dean, Elvis, Bardot and Monroe.
If you can’t find something of interest at the Home Of The Arts in Bundall, we'd be checking for a pulse. There are art exhibits/installations, comedy shows in the basement, theatrical productions, workshops, a cinema, ballets and fascinating talks.
And when we say your own, we mean you will be driving for 60-90 minutes. They will give you a route map, a safety briefing and then let you loose in one of the Snug Classic vessels. Fun. From $165.
If you and your date or mates are comfy in swimmers around one another, this is a seriously indulgent way to spend a day. So much so that a Sydney version is set to open soon. There are bougie surrounds with a Palm Beach vibe, mineral baths, mineral spas, a cold plunge pool, steam room, a red cedar sauna and plenty of space to chill out. Prices start at $49 for 90 minutes.
This much-loved campground and cabin operator beside the Lamington National Park has attained such status by offering a bunch of free activities in addition to the tariffed ones. Pick of the former is The Tree Top Walk suspended 16 metres above the forest floor - with the must do ladder to Strangler Fig. There are also a selection of short tracks, half day walks and full day walks. We recommend the 4.6 kilometre round trip to Morans Falls.
Look, the GC is now undoubtedly one of Australia’s nascent fine dining destinations but it’s still littered with old-school surf clubs who will gladly sort you out with views, an icy pint and some deliciously affordable grub. The Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club, for example, does $5 schooners and a bargain chicken schnitty on a Thursday night.
Don’t be thinking it’s all skyscrapers that block out the sun from 2pm. The GC’s best beaches are the smaller ones such as Mermaid Beach, Burleigh Heads (pictured) and Currumbin. Way more chill, way less crowded and surf beaks for all ages. Tallebudgera Creek is especially good for families.
If you’re in Currumbin, definitely hit up the boatshed to hire some gear and go exploring the gentle lagoon. Twenty bucks will get you a SUP, single kayak or double kayak for an hour and a half.
In recent years, the GC has sprouted a bunch of bakeries that are the equal (or better) of anything in Sydney or Melbourne. Buy a box of goodies from Custard Canteen (pictured) - the Portuguese tarts are next level - and plonk yourself on Tallebudgera Creek. The Burleigh Baker does a mean apple tart and Tarte Bakery’s red velvet cruller is a masterpiece.
No boat is required but you will need to time it right, have some patience and pack the binoculars. Between May and November the ocean’s buses make their way north and you can see the show from Burleigh Hill (also an excellent free picnic spot), Point Danger, The Spit and Miami Lookout. Of course, though, nothing will get you closer than a whale watching cruise.
Lots of alleys to choose from here. Zone Bowling at Robina and Surfers sit close to Time Zone and for added fun Strike Bowling in Surfers also offers karaoke and escape rooms. Our fave is the slightly more old-school Go Bowling in Ashmore - where $20 will get you two games. If barefoot bowls is more your steam, Burleigh Bowls will welcome you on Tuesdays through to Saturdays from 5pm and on Sundays from midday for just $5 per person.
There are few entertainment venues in Australia more deserving of the word ‘iconic’ than this one. It virtually spearheaded all those cirque shows you see at festivals and the new Menagerie show is a belter. Think burlesque meets illusion served with a knowing wink and a slice of (metaphorical) cheese. Tickets start at $115 but for $30 you’ll get upgraded to the VIP section.
The Glow Worm Caves at Tamborine Mountain are a wonder to behold. This environmental initiative is all about diverting visitors from fragile local glow worm colonies (which are beginning to thrive once more). This is actually a purpose built colony. Which means you can experience it at your convenience during daylight. Adult tickets cost $23 and its $15 for kids.
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