15+ top attractions & best places to visit in Gold Coast, Australia

Gold Coast city is known as the “bright pearl” of Queensland state and is also one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the land of kangaroos. Coming here, you will have the opportunity to explore unique architectural works, lush tropical forests and picturesque beaches. Not stopping there, this city also scores with tourists thanks to its excellent resort quality and reasonable travel costs. So, where to visit in Gold Coast? Let’s check out our suggested 15+ top tourist attractions in Gold Coast, must visit places in Gold Coast and best places to visit in Gold Coast in this article!

In this article, let’s join us to check out the hottest Gold Coast tourist destinations!

Sea World Park (#best places to visit in Gold Coast)

• Location: Seaworld Dr, Main Beach, QLD 4217, Australia

Established in 1971, Sea World Park is one of the leading entertainment and recreation destinations in Gold Coast city. This is the home of many marine species, including rare species such as sharks, sea lions, polar bears, New Zealand fur seals, etc.

Coming to Sea World, visitors can experience unique biological exhibitions and performances, thereby having a more realistic and closer look at the ocean world.

Not only that, Sea World is also a paradise for those who are passionate about thrilling games. The games at SeaWorld are designed to be extremely diverse, and there is even a separate theme park for children.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, QLD 4223, Australia

Included in the list of Gold Coast tourist destinations worth experiencing, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a suggestion worth considering for your upcoming trip. As the name suggests, Currumbin Sanctuary is where you can meet typical native wildlife such as: kangaroo, capybara, koala or tasmanian devil… Especially, with gentle animals, you can freely interact, pet and take check-in photos with them.

On fixed days of the week, the sanctuary will organize unique shows about animals and the environment, helping children learn and play in a space close to nature.

Surfers Paradise Beach

• Location: Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast, QLD 4217, Australia

When it comes to Gold Coast check-in locations, Surfers Paradise cannot be missed – one of the most beautiful beaches in the city. Surfers Paradise captivates visitors with its stunning natural scenery, long stretches of white sand embracing the emerald green water, making you feel like you are lost in a true paradise.

In addition to the usual beach activities, you and your family can experience exciting games such as surfing, rowing, diving… At night, when the bars and restaurants light up, Surfers Paradise beach becomes more bustling than ever.

Tamborine National Park

• Location: Tamborine Mountain Road, Tamborine Mountain, QLD 4271, Australia

Located on the Tamborine Plateau, southeast Queensland, Tamborine National Park is one of the Gold Coast tourist destinations worth experiencing. Coming here, you will have the opportunity to admire the lush tropical forests, majestic mountains and waterfalls.

In particular, Tamborine National Park also offers visitors a memorable adventure through the Glowworm Caves tour. The tour will take you through mysterious forest paths, visiting underground artificial caves – which are lit up by the magical light of thousands of glowworms.

Lamington National Park

• Location: Lamington Plateau, Queensland, Australia

Lamington National Park was established in 1915, an ideal destination for those who want to explore the amazing natural world. The park is located on the majestic Lamington Plateau, known for its beautiful scenery and diverse ecosystems.

Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the living space of native Australian flora and fauna such as: kangaroos, platypuses and more than 190 species of birds. In particular, along the 160km long forest trail are countless unique sightseeing coordinates, allowing you to freely admire the scenery and take “virtual life” photos.

SkyPoint Observation Deck

• Location: Q1 Building, Level 77/9 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia

SkyPoint Observation Deck is an observation deck located on the 77th and 78th floors of the Q1 skyscraper – one of the tallest apartment buildings in the world. From here, you can look far away to admire the perfect beauty of the Gold Coast, the Gold Coast hinterland, Byron Bay and the capital Brisbane.

If you want to challenge yourself with thrilling games, visitors can try SkyPoint Climb. In 90 minutes of the game, you have to conquer more than 300 open-air steps at a height of 270m. With this super high height, SkyPoint Climb is really a game not for the faint-hearted.

Warner Bros. Movie World

• Location: Pacific Mwy, Oxenford QLD 4210, Australia

One of the most worth-experienced Gold Coast tourist destinations, Warner Bros. Movie World amusement park is a fun destination for the whole family. Warner Bros. Movie World Gold Coast officially opened in 1991, is the oldest amusement park in the world system of Warner Bros.

Coming to Warner Bros. Movie World, visitors will have the opportunity to explore attractive theme zones. There, famous cartoon characters from Warner Bros. and DC Comics are recreated extremely vividly, making you feel like you are lost in the world of legendary superheroes.

Dreamworld Australia

• Location: Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera QLD 4290, Australia

Dreamworld Australia is one of the leading amusement parks in Australia, operating since the 80s of the last century. Coming to the park, visitors will have the opportunity to experience more than 40 attractive attractions and games, including strong games that have set world records.

In addition, when visiting Dreamworld Australia, you also have the opportunity to meet majestic Bengal tigers, Sumatran tigers and more than 500 other native animals.

Paradise Country Gold Coast Farm

• Location: Production Dr, Oxenford QLD 4210, Australia

On the list of Gold Coast check-in locations worth visiting, Paradise Country Gold Coast Farm is an attractive destination for the whole family. Paradise Country Gold Coast has the typical appearance of a peaceful countryside, where you can freely play, run around on large grasslands and meet lovely animals such as sheep, horses, kangaroos…

White Water World

• Location: 1 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera QLD 4209, Australia

If you visit Gold Coast city on hot summer days, you can choose White Water World water park as a stop. White Water World is a seasonal water park operated by Ardent Leisure, located very close to Dream World Australia, so visitors can combine visiting both locations.

White Water World offers visitors 15 unique games and attractions, the highlight of which is the high-speed water slide system that challenges adventure enthusiasts to conquer.

iFLY Gold Coast

• Location: 3084 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia

iFLY Gold Coast is a rare coordinate in the city of Gold Coast that offers an indoor skydiving experience using modern vertical wind technology. The game is fully equipped with safety equipment with the support of professional coaches, giving players the feeling of floating weightlessly in the air.

Byron Bay

• Location: East Coast of New South Wales, Australia

Known as the symbol of Australian tourism, Byron Bay is one of the must-see attractions in Gold Coast. Byron Bay is famous for its beautiful beaches and lush green forests, making it an ideal destination for swimming, surfing, coastal walks and long-distance trekking.

Greenmount Beach

• Location: Coolangatta suburb, south of Gold Coast city, Australia

On the list of the most worth-experienced Gold Coast tourist destinations, Greenmount is a destination that you cannot miss on your upcoming trip. Greenmount Beach has a rare pristine and charming beauty, accompanied by a peaceful atmosphere and excellent resort quality.

Not only is it an ideal stopover for vacations, Greenmount also offers visitors countless exciting experiences such as surfing, whale diving, etc.

Springbrook National Park

• Location: Old School Rd, Springbrook QLD 4213, Australia

Springbrook National Park is a famous Gold Coast tourist destination, suitable for the whole family to visit and experience together. Springbrook attracts visitors with its attractive natural landscape and diverse biosphere, making it an unmissable destination for nature lovers and explorers.

Not only that, when coming to this national park, visitors also have the opportunity to visit Purling Brook Falls and Natural Bridge – the most beautiful roads in the “land of kangaroos”.

Moreton Island

• Location: Between Moreton Bay and Coral Sea, Queensland, Australia

Moreton is a beautiful island located off the coast of Moreton Bay and Coral Sea, in the territory of Queensland, Australia. With its picturesque natural scenery, this is an attractive destination for those who want to explore the wild nature and travel for relaxation.

Gold Coast travel tips

To make your upcoming Gold Coast exploration journey smoother and more complete, please save the useful information below!

Transportation to Gold Coast

From Vietnam, visitors can easily visit Gold Coast tourist destinations through connecting flights. Normally, you will have to land in Sydney or Melbourne, then take a domestic flight to Gold Coast.

Depending on the departure point, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the flight time will range from 13 to 14 hours. In Gold Coast, the plane will land at Surfers Paradise Airport, about 20km from the city center.

With a distance of 20km from the airport to the city center, visitors can choose a bus or taxi to travel. Taxi fares for the airport – Gold Coast city center route range from 65 USD/trip (~ 1,650,000 VND), travel time is about 30 minutes.

If you want to save money, you should choose Translink or Surfside bus to get to the city. The plus point of the above means of transport is that the ticket price is affordable and clearly listed, the minus point is that it takes more time to travel than taking a taxi.

In addition, to be more proactive in traveling and visiting attractions in Gold Coast, you should book Traveloka’s airport shuttle service in advance. The biggest advantage of this service is that customers will be able to choose the type of vehicle and travel schedule, the price is also much more reasonable than similar forms of transport.

Transportation in Gold Coast

As one of the most famous tourist cities in Queensland, Gold Coast owns a modern public transport network that covers the entire city. You can easily travel between Gold Coast tourist destinations by bus and taxi. The cost will depend on the type of transport and route you choose.

Where to stay in Gold Coast?

In addition to booking flights and planning your itinerary, visitors should book hotel rooms in advance, especially when traveling during peak season.

Coming to Gold Coast, you will have many options for accommodation, from 3-5 star luxury sea view hotels to cheap apartments and motels. Depending on your needs and financial ability, you can choose a suitable Gold Coast hotel on Agoda or Booking.

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Q1 Resort and Spa, a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $189/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $397/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $568/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $459/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Above are the attractive and worth-experiencing Gold Coast tourist destinations that we want to suggest to you, hopefully helping you have more options for your upcoming trip.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Gold Coast you can refer to

• Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast
• SkyPoint Climb Experience
• Natural Bridge and Springbrook Waterfalls Tour from Gold Coast
• Aqua Park General Ticket in Gold Coast
• Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Story Bridge Adventure Climb
• Aquaduck Safari City Tour and River Cruise in Gold Coast
• Australia Zoo Ticket with Transfer from Brisbane and Gold Coast
• Gold Coast Helicopter Flight
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Ticket
• Natural Arch and Springbrook Tour from Gold Coast
• Moreton Island Day Tour from Brisbane or Gold Coast
• iVenture Gold Coast Flexi Attractions Pass
• Gold Coast Theme Parks Combo Ticket
• Dreamworld Entry Ticket in Gold Coast (304412 East)
• Warner Bros Movie World Entry Ticket
• Gold Coast Sea World Entry Ticket with Optional Helicopter Scenic Tour
• Wet n Wild Water Park Entry Ticket
• Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and Skypoint Observation Deck 3-Day Pass
• Gold Coast Sea World Entry Ticket with Optional Helicopter Scenic Tour
• Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Ferry Day Pass

Are you looking for more top things to do in Gold Coast: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.