About Gold Coast Accommodation

A combination of beaches, theme parks and rainforest hinterland, the Gold Coast is a year-round holiday destination. Known as “the Goldie” to locals, it’s a popular coastal holiday hotspot and attracts travellers from around the world seeking a subtropical climate that yields around 300 sunny days each year. The Gold Coast complements this with its 50,000 kilometres of sandy beaches, numerous seafood restaurants, exhilarating water sports and adrenalin-pumping experiences.

Things to do

The Gold Coast is comprised of various beachside suburbs with their own unique personalities. However, Surfers Paradise is easily the Gold Coast’s best-known region, boasting white-sand beaches, a lively party scene and an abundance of restaurants and bars. It’s also the perfect place to learn the classic Aussie pastime of surfing, with many surf schools located along the shoreline.

Looking to entertain the kids? Put smiles on all their faces while riding thrilling roller coasters and waterslides at Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World or Wet’n’Wild. Animal lovers will also enjoy the interactive animal experiences at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Relax with fresh fish and chips on Surfers Paradise Esplanade, recharge with a cappuccino at the boutique coffee roaster Blackboard Coffee or kick off your evening with craft beers at Burleigh Brewing Company in Burleigh Heads.

For a unique beachside dining experience, enjoy a feast for the senses at SkyPoint Observation Deck’s Seventy7 Cafe & Bar, where your breakfast is paired with 360-degree views of the canals, the ocean and bright sand unfurling below.

Natural landscapes abound around the Gold Coast, particularly on South Stradbroke Island, a 40-minute ferry ride from Hope Island, where you can see wild wallabies. If you’re up for a road trip, take a scenic 60-minute drive to walk to the lush, subtropical rainforest in Lamington National Park, home to intimate walking trails past ancient trees and local wildlife.

Getting Around

Flying into the Gold Coast Airport, located in Coolangatta, places you about 25 kilometres from Surfers Paradise. This airport services domestic travellers and visitors from certain destinations in New Zealand and Asia. Other international travellers can catch a train or shuttle bus from Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast, which takes between 90 minutes and two hours depending on your final destination. Travelling between the Gold Coast’s suburbs is best done via the local train service or tram line called the 
Gold Coast travel FAQs

Where is the best place to stay in Gold Coast?

Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Coolangatta are the most popular places on HotelsCombined for stays in Gold Coast.

What are the best hotels in Gold Coast?

Jw Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is a very popular hotel in Gold Coast, with a score of 8.9 from 892 reviews. Mantra on View Hotel (7.7 from 5,393 reviews) and Novotel Surfers Paradise (7.8 from 5,478 reviews) are also highly rated Gold Coast hotels based on recent feedback from HotelsCombined users.

What is the best place in Gold Coast for bars and restaurants?

Gold Coast has an extremely diverse food culture with many top restaurants serving a variety of world cuisines. Visitors to Gold Coast can enjoy delicious steaks and barbequed meats at the Brazilian Flame Bar and Grill, located close to the Broadbeach waterfront. The Flame is also close to other nearby restaurants, like the Haveli Authentic Indian Cuisine and bars like the Kurrawa Beach Club. The waterfront area is also a key location for Gold Coast hotels and has a wide choice of resorts. These choices include the Q1 Resort and Spa, the Meriton Suites Broadbeach, and the Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast. Staying at any of these hotels on the Gold Coast will put you within easy walking distance of tons of great places to eat.

What is the best place for a family vacation on the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is home to some fantastic famous attractions that kids will love. Sea World in Main Beach houses a huge variety of marine life and is a great spot for a family day out. Visitors can even check in to the Sea World Resort to stay nearby and make the most of what the aquarium has to offer. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers and families with older kids will love a day out at Warner Bros. Movie World theme park, a convenient short drive from the city. The park features exciting rides and movie-themed activities and has plenty of Gold Coast hotels nearby. For instance, the Ashmore Palms Holiday Village is just a short drive from the park. Warner Bros. Movie World is also just a 5min drive from the Wet ‘n’ Wild Gold Coast water park, making for an incredible summer day out.

What are the best things to do and see in the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is known for its beautiful beaches, native wildlife, and scenic hikes. Visitors can enjoy the bustling urban atmosphere in the city and the stunning natural areas just a short drive from the town centre. One of the best things to do on the Gold Coast is to hike the trails around Tamborine Mountain. The mountain trails feature beautiful waterfalls, amazing views, and the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, which runs through the forest canopy. Visitors can also book a night at the Eagle Heights Mountain Resort, located on the trails. Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy a trip to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, just off Tugun Beach. Here, you can see native species in their natural habitat, like koalas and crocodiles. For hotels near the park, try the Rocks Resort or the Royal Palm Resort.

Where are the best places to stay on the Gold Coast for surfing?

Like many Australian holiday destinations, the Gold Coast is famous for its excellent surf spots. If you choose Gold Coast hotels on the seafront, you will find plenty of great areas for surfing located nearby. For instance, the Surfer’s Horizons hotel overlooks Pacific Beach beside the Palm Beach Reef Diving Centre, where visitors can try scuba diving and other water sports. Keen surfers will also find plenty of opportunities to hop on their boards at other nearby spots, like Broadbeach and Burleigh Beach. Hotels like the Indigo Blue and the Aussie Resort are ideal for surfers in this area.

Gold Coast Hotels & Accommodation

For millions of visitors each year, the Gold Coast is synonymous with the ultimate holiday experience. Classic Australia beaches, a vibrant night-life, superb Gold Coast hotels, beautiful forest hinterland and the finest theme-parks in the world add up to an unforgettable destination for young and old.

Gold Coast accommodation is plentiful, providing places to stay and relax to suit many different budgets. Cheap Gold Coast hotels are available along with more glamorous resorts for those with a taste for decadence. But for an alternative, why not consider a secluded mountain villa or rent out an ocean-side apartment for you and your friends?

At its heart, this is a modern, thriving city that marries the sundrenched appeal of the beach to a bold, glittery urban hub. Possibilities for swimming and surfing are in abundance along the approximately 70 kilometres of coastline in the area, with the Main Beach, Broadbeach and the very aptly-named Surfers Paradise are just a few of the amazing stretches of sand on offer. For something different, choose Burleigh Heads for its delightful seaside village-atmosphere.

Beyond the glitz of the main strip, there’s also surprisingly diverse and abundant ways to get in touch with nature, from attractions such as the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Seaworld to the lush Gold Coast hinterland. A visit to the latter uncovers an abundance of boutique wineries, artisan shops and beautiful forests, including the beautiful Tamborine Rainforest with its spectacular elevated walkway.

But if you’re after adventure, the Gold Coast’s famous theme-parks, of course, offer a plethora of adrenaline pumping thrills. Whether you’re looking to live the adventure of your celluloid heroes at Movie World or have some splashtacular fun at Wet n’ Wild, there’s something to delight everyone.

And if your appetite for fun isn’t quite satiated, there’s a thriving night-life to keep the good-times rolling well into the night. With a stellar line-up of upmarket bars, clubs and restaurants on offer, you’d have to work hard not to have a great night out on the Gold Coast.

One of the best ways to see the spectacular coast is by creating your own self-drive itinerary with Gold Coast car hire. Drive along the diverse natural landscape and experience rolling mountains, waterfalls, creeks, rocky formations and everything in between.

With everything from exhilarating thrills to tranquil natural encounters, the Gold Coast offers the full spectrum of holiday fun.

The lowdown on Gold Coast accommodation

Should I stay in Brisbane or the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is linked to Brisbane by a highway, and it takes about 60 minutes to an hour 30mins to drive from one to the other (depending on traffic).

If you’re craving a city holiday with fine dining, and museum visits, then Brissie is for you. If you prefer gorgeous beaches with prime surf spots, outdoor adventures, and theme parks, then head for the Gold Coast.

Where’s the best Gold Coast apartment accommodation?

If you’re coming to surf… Stay in a Surfers Paradise apartment at Rhapsody Resort—you’ll love its convenient boardwalk location. Make a snack between sets in your in-room kitchen, and take it up to the rooftop terrace.

If you’re after city life… Meriton Suites Broadbeach is walkable to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and SkyPoint Observation Deck. It’s also an excellent space for an extended stay, as the rooms have kitchens, laundry, and free internet.

What are the top 5-star hotels in the Gold Coast?

Looking for luxury on your holiday? Check out QT Gold Coast. After enjoying the hotel’s poolside bar, full-service spa, and outdoor tennis courts, order from 24-hour room service and chill out in your undies while eating on your private balcony.

If you like to stay busy, book a room at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast and play at the golf course, swim at the free water park, and take a tennis lesson or yoga class. After all that activity, take advantage of the full-service spa for a relaxing treatment.