Tracking 36km of coastline, the Gold Coast Oceanway is made up of several pathways that take pedestrians and cyclists from Southport Spit right down to Point Danger at Coolangatta. It has a number of viewing platforms, public barbecue areas, parks, playgrounds and cafes along the way. We recommend choosing a smaller section of the Oceanway to tackle for the day if the whole 36km sounds a bit daunting, and treating yourself to an ice-cold smoothie or revitalising coffee once you’ve finished it.
The Gold Coast is famous for its theme parks. Dreamworld and WhiteWater World provide an awesome day out for families and thrill-seekers alike – where else can you come face-to-face with tigers, plunge to the earth from 119m up or relax in a giant wave pool? Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild are a great place to meet your favourite characters or ride extreme coasters and water slides. But we couldn’t talk about Gold Coast theme parks without mentioning one of the originals: Sea World. Hitch a ride on one of the awesome rollercoasters or say hello to the dolphins and penguins.
As far as your Gold Coast bucket list goes there’s no way you can miss a photo under the iconic Surfers Paradise sign. At the top end of Cavill Ave, it’s a sign that's seen more social media than any Kardashian, but you’ve got to snap a selfie under it while you’re here!
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk takes you high above the canopies on cantilevered steel bridges. But if it’s adrenalin, not amazement, that you’re chasing, the Treetop Challenge will be right up your alley. Soar through the mountains at amazing heights and speeds at Australia’s largest zipline attraction. Still not enough? Thunderbird Park offers tonnes of kid-friendly activities like thunder-egg fossicking, hinterland horse riding, laser skirmish, mini golf and so much more.
Cuddly koalas, ginormous crocodiles and even a capybara (the world’s largest rodent!) are just some of the animals that can be found at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
The Gold Coast just wouldn’t be the Gold Coast without Cavill Avenue. Named after Jim Cavill – who Surfers Paradise has to thank for much of its tourism – Cavill Ave is just a 10-minute walk from The Ruby Collection. The Cavill Ave Mall is home to plenty of drinking and dining destinations, shopping and icons like the Hard Rock Café.
A short drive inland can provide the ultimate tree-change. Springbrook National Park boasts everything from waterfalls to glow worm caves. For the hikers, Warringa Pool on the Purling Brook Falls circuit makes a fantastic target for your hike – the 4km round-trip takes you past a cascading waterfall and, at one point, looks out over a valley that would put Jurassic Park to shame, before finishing up at a lush rockpool deep enough to jump into. Alternatively, at just 1km, Natural Bridge Circuit is a shorter yet equally spectacular walk.
The Gold Coast's world class Broadwater Parklands were designed for everything from large scale events to small family gatherings. There are plenty of shady spots for a picnic and you can also make use of the free barbecue facilities. Family fun at its finest.
The city also has a quirky side which truly makes it one of a kind. Try drinking and dining with the vampires at Dracula’s Cabaret, lose yourself in the lasers and lights of the Infinity Attraction, come faceto- face with celebrities in wax-form and a bunch of other displays at the Wax Museum in Surfers Paradise or explore Mr Ripley’s weird and wacky personal collection at Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
You’ll need a pretty good vantage point if you want to see everything we’ve got to offer here on the Gold Coast, which is why the SkyPoint Observation Deck at Q1 is a must-do. One of the world’s tallest residential buildings, Q1 soars 78 storeys (322.5m) above Surfers Paradise – and SkyPoint sits right at the top. You can even strap on a harness and scale the side of the building as part of the SkyPoint Climb.
Local Area
19/09/2023
