The Very Best Things to Do on the Gold Coast (Plus Where to Eat & Stay)

Surfing

The coastline stretches a whopping 57 kilometers. Currumbin Alley is the gentle entry point—a spot where beginners, families, and old-school longboarders share the break without fuss. Head further south to Snapper Rocks and you’ll find yourself in the lineup with literal world champions. And if you’d rather stay dry, hire an e-bike and trace the Oceanway: a coastal catwalk of pandanus palms, glittering surf, and a skyline that keeps reminding you where you are.

Tallebudgera Creek

Known to locals as “Talle,” this turquoise inlet is basically the Goldie’s communal backyard. On weekends, it’s paddleboards, inflatable unicorns, and kids daring each other off the bridge. Rent a SUP and glide across glassy shallows where stingrays drift beneath you.

Hinterland hikes

When you need a break from the beach, head inland. Springbrook National Park has waterfalls that look straight out of a screensaver. For something more adventurous, hike the Warrie Circuit: 14 kilometers of rainforest, rock pools, and misty lookouts. Pack mozzie spray and stop at The Fudge Shop in Springbrook Village after—the macadamia brittle is a must.

Theme parks (with a twist)

Theme parks are part of the Gold Coast's DNA—embrace the kitsch. Go mid-week when the crowds are light. Dreamworld’s vintage rides still have a charm, and the new Sky Voyager is surprisingly worth the hype (a flying theater that feels like Soarin’ at Disney but through an Aussie lens). If water parks are more your vibe, Wet’n’Wild is chaos in summer, but snag a cabana and it becomes a fun way to escape the heat.

Rick Shores

The dish that launched a thousand Instagram stories: the Moreton Bay bug roll. Buttery, spicy, handheld perfection that genuinely lives up to the hype. Pro tip: Time your reservation for sunset, because the tables are basically on the sand.

Tommy’s Italian

Just across from Currumbin Beach, Tommy’s feels like you’ve dropped into a postcard of the Amalfi Coast. The prawn fettuccine is some of the best pasta I've had outside of Italy. Upstairs has a balcony with a few tables that’s pure magic on a balmy night.

Jimmy Wah’s

Burleigh’s best-kept secret for modern Vietnamese. The turmeric fish with dill is my order every time.

Siblings Kirra

All-day dining with ocean views. Oysters and a spritz at brunch, cocktails and ceviche come sundown—it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place.

The Tropic

Part of Burleigh Pavilion but with a Mediterranean lean. Go for the whole roasted snapper with salsa verde—it’s made for sharing, preferably with a round of spicy margaritas.