Extending from South Stradbroke Island to Coolangatta, the Gold Coast, known as the Theme Park capital of Australia, has some thing for everyone. Experience the food and wine trails, markets and spa retreats, swim with dolphins, fish for marlin and walk with tigers, watch car races, surf the superb beaches and hike World Heritage listed parks, enjoy the nightclubs, casino and stage shows.
Towns in this region include: Biggera Waters, Bilinga Beach, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta, Currumbin, Kirra, Labrador, Main Beach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Palm Beach, Runaway Bay, Sanctuary Cove, South Stradbroke Island, Southport, Surfers Paradise and Tugun.
Stay in hotels, apartments and resorts, holiday units, tourist parks and motels.

More Information

SURFERS PARADISE

South Stradbroke Island information

Located 71km south east of Brisbane, South Stradbroke Island is a small sand island, which is mostly undeveloped. Access is by ferry from Runaway Bay Marina. The western side is protected from the ocean currents and suited to many water sports, and the eastern side is suited to surfing and sand tobogganing on the sand dunes. Previously established for sand mining and tree felling, South Stradbroke Island is now a peaceful and natural holiday area suited to families and couples.

Attractions and activities include forests, secluded beaches and wallaby feeding, bush walking, bush golf and sand tobogganing, sailing, kayaking and jet-skiing, parasailing, water skiing and tube rides, bike riding, canoeing and massages.

Accommodation options for visitors include resorts and camping.

Biggera Waters information

Located 73km south of Brisbane on the beautiful Gold Coast Broadwater, Biggera Waters is close to a number of theme parks. Previously established by farming and fishing families, Biggera Waters is now a popular area for holiday accommodation.

Attractions and activities include Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and Warner Bros Movie World, windsurfing, jet-skiing and swimming, walking along the waterfront esplanade or exploring the hinterland.

Accommodation options for visitors include apartments, motor inns and resorts, holiday parks, cabins and holiday units.

Southport information

Located 75km south of Brisbane on the mouth of the Nerang River, Southport is behind the Broadwater sheltered from the ocean by The Spit. Previously established by timber, sugar cane and cotton growers, Southport is a residential area and an increasingly popular holiday resort.

Attractions and activities include knee-boarding, bungy jumping and jet-skiing, wakeboarding, fish-feeding and go-karts, mini speed boats, aqua bikes and paddle boats, Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame, golf and foreshore walking tracks.

Accommodation options for visitors include motor inns, apartments and holiday units, tourist parks, resorts and backpackers.

Surfers Paradise information

Located 78km south of Brisbane, on either side of the Nerang River, Surfers Paradise is a fun party town for young people. Previously established as a sugar cane area, but by the late 1800s Surfers Paradise was offering accommodation to travellers.

Attractions and activities include Dream World, Sea World and Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Indy Car Races and Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, tandem skydiving, parasailing and bungee jumping, surfing, kayaking and rainforest horse riding, bungee jumping, cable skiing and the Wax Museum.

Accommodation options for visitors include resorts, hotels and motels, apartments, holiday units and lodges.

Broadbeach information

Located 81km south of Brisbane, Broadbeach Previously established.

Attractions and activities include Conrad Jupiters Casino, Jupiters Theatre and monorail, Cascade Gardens, craft markets, beautiful beach and trendy cafes along the foreshore.

Accommodation options for visitors include penthouses, hotels and apartments, motels, holiday units and B&Bs.

Burleigh Heads information

Located 89km south of Brisbane on the Tallebudgera Creek estuary, Burleigh Heads nestles beneath the headland and has mainly low-rise development. Previously established as a timber area, Burleigh Heads is a tranquil surfing town, which hosts international surfing tournaments.

Attractions and activities include Burleigh Heads National Park with walking tracks through rainforest, heath lands and mangroves, nine golf courses, beachfront markets and fishing, Robina Balloon Walk, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and Faerie Park at Merrimac.

Accommodation options for visitors include tourist parks, motels and holiday units, apartments, resorts and B&Bs.

Coolangatta information

Located 102km south of Brisbane, Coolangatta is the southern most holiday destination and gateway to the Gold Coast. Currumbin has gentle surf, rock-pools and a breakwater, which is popular for fishing. Point Danger has a lighthouse and Kirra Beach experiences good surf.Previously established by newly freed settlers from the Brisbane Penal Colony, Coolangatta quickly became a favourite holiday area especially for families.

Attractions and activities include Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, glow-worm cave tour and Natural Arch tour in Springbrook National Park, extreme jet-boating, tandem skydiving and regional markets, crab catching, pelican feeding and surfing.

Accommodation options for visitors include backpackers, tourist parks and villas, holiday units, resorts and motels, apartments, hotels and guesthouses.

Contact the Visitor Information Centre at Surfers Paradise (1300 309 440) for more information on the Gold Coast, Queensland.