Things to do in Gold Coast
The unmissables
Most booked
Gold Coast Whale Watching Tour: Humpback Migration May–October★ 4.58 (918) · 2h 50m
Top rated
Gold Coast: Hot Air Balloon Flight & Wheelchair Access★ 4.93 (700) · 4h
Best value
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Lorikeet Feeding & Animal Shows★ 4.30 (559) · 2h–6h
Recommended (7)
Gold Coast Tandem Skydive: 12,000ft Jump & Beach Landing★ 4.94 (481) · 2h 30mAU$ 525View ›
Tamborine Mountain: Wine & Distillery Day Tour with Lunch★ 4.80 (473) · 8hAU$ 200View ›
Gold Coast: Hot Air Balloon Ride & Winery Breakfast with Pickup★ 4.84 (450) · 4hAU$ 495View ›
Aquaduck Gold Coast: 1-hour city and river tour★ 4.54 (384) · 1hAU$ 65View ›
Gold Coast: Jet Ski Safari to South Stradbroke Island & Bar Stop★ 4.91 (380) · 3hAU$ 299View ›
Gold Coast: Whale Watching Cruise Fast Boat & Small Group★ 4.94 (379) · 2h 30mAU$ 88View ›
Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Shared Shuttle to Hotels★ 4.05 (374) · 1hAU$ 32View ›Top rated (10)
Gold Coast: Sunset Sailing Cruise with Drinks & Tasting PlateYou’ll watch Gold Coast’s skyline fade into color as you sail past islands and spot dolphins with a small group. Sip sparkling wine or beer, snack on cheese and fruit, and listen to your guide’s stories while the sun sets behind you. That feeling of calm — it sticks with you long after you’re back on land.
Gold Coast: Jet Ski Safari with Island Stops & Local GuideYou’ll learn to ride a jet ski with a local guide right off Gold Coast’s sandy shores, zip past islands like Crab Island and South Stradbroke, and feel that salty wind in your face. Includes all safety gear plus waterproof storage for your stuff — just show up ready for a little adrenaline (and maybe some laughs at your own expense).
Learn to Surf Gold Coast: 2 Hour Lesson with 5-to-1 RatioA 2-hour surf lesson on the Gold Coast with a maximum of five students per instructor, equipment and safety instruction included. The operator picks the best beach each day based on ocean conditions and guarantees you'll stand up. Guides speak English, Spanish and French, and children from age 5 are welcome. A free photo package of your session is included.Is it for me?If you speak Spanish or French, you can book a guide in your language so the instruction is clear and you're not translating in your head while learning to balance. The small group size also means you're not competing for the instructor's attention—five students per guide is the ratio that lets everyone get real feedback instead of a wave and a shout.
Gold Coast Aqua Park: 50-Minute Inflatable Water CourseYou get fifty minutes on an award-winning inflatable course with life jackets, safe group ratios, and the option to book online and skip the queue. Kids aged 5–15 work best here, though adults have just as much fun. Plan for high energy and confident swimming; the saltwater environment and constant climbing mean you need decent stamina. Aqua Socks are mandatory and sold at the front desk.Is it for me?Right for families with confident swimmers aged 5–15 or groups of adults looking for high-energy water fun. Expect fifty minutes of non-stop climbing and jumping—it's intense, which is exactly what makes it work for people who want to actually tire themselves out.
Gold Coast: Aqua Park Inflatable Water Fun for FamiliesYou’ll splash through giant inflatable obstacles right on Gold Coast’s waterfront with your crew—kids or grownups alike—cheering each other on as you climb, slip, and laugh together for 100 minutes. Local guides keep things safe and lighthearted while you soak up sun and salty air. Expect sandy toes, tired arms—and memories that stick around longer than your bruises.
Gold Coast: Jet Ski Safari to South Stradbroke IslandYou’ll feel your pulse race as you ride a jet ski from Gold Coast up to South Stradbroke Island with a local guide leading the way. Expect salty air, laughs with your group, time to pause on open water, and pro photos so you don’t forget your wild side. It’s one hour that’ll stick with you.
Gold Coast: Jet Ski Safari Tour & South Stradbroke Island StopYou’ll feel your heart race as you zip across Gold Coast’s waterways on a jet ski safari with a local guide leading the way. Tackle twisting tidal passages, spot wildlife in mangroves, and pause for drinks at South Stradbroke Island’s laid-back bar before heading back salty and smiling.
Gold Coast: Snorkel Cook Island with Turtles & Fresh FruitYou’ll ride out from Gold Coast to Cook Island for a guided snorkel with sea turtles in their natural habitat. Expect close-up moments with marine life, easy-going guides who know their stuff, and fresh fruit waiting after your swim. If you’re up for saltwater hair and honest wonder, this is one of those days that sticks with you.
Gold Coast: ArtVo Trick Art Gallery & Photo IllusionsYou enter a 1400-square-metre gallery of hand-painted optical illusions spread across eight themed zones, pose in front of oversized murals of wild animals and landscapes, take as many photos as you want with staff help, and move through at your own pace. The whole visit is self-guided, wheelchair accessible, and works for all ages. Entry ticket included.Is it for me?A good choice if you want an interactive, photo-friendly activity that works for mixed-age groups and doesn't require a guide or schedule—you move through the zones at your own pace and the staff actively encourage you to take as many photos as you want.
Gold Coast Canyon Flyer Zipline Tour: Australia's Largest FastestThe Canyon Flyer is a guided zipline tour across Cedar Creek Gorge on the Gold Coast where you fly eight ziplines spanning 1.5km at speeds up to 70km/h, reaching heights of 70 meters above the rainforest canopy. The tour runs about three hours with two experienced guides who manage all safety equipment, and groups stay under ten people. Children from age 10 are welcome; you'll need to weigh between 40kg and 120kg and wear closed-toed shoes and a harness.Is it for me?Show up to Cedar Creek Gorge ready to fly—two guides handle everything else, from gear to timing, while you experience seven massive ziplines at speeds up to 70km/h across the rainforest canopy.
Lowest price (10)
Surfers Paradise: Sunset River Cruise with Snacks & BarYou’ll step aboard in Surfers Paradise just as evening falls, cruising past waterfront mansions and marinas while snacking on cheese and crackers with a drink in hand. Listen to local stories from your guide as you watch city lights flicker on across the Gold Coast Broadwater. It’s relaxed, friendly, and leaves you with that warm afterglow only a real sunset can give.
Gold Coast SkyPoint: 360° Views from Q1 BuildingYou get single-entry access to Gold Coast's only beachside observation deck, 230 metres high in the Q1 building. Spend as long as you want taking in the 360-degree views of coastline, city and hinterland, grab a drink or meal at the on-site bar if you want to linger, and come down whenever you're ready. No guide, no schedule — just the view and the time to absorb it.Is it for me?A good choice if you want the Gold Coast's best vantage point without a guide or a schedule — you arrive during operating hours, take the lift up, and spend as much time as you want with the view.
Gold Coast Jet Boat Ride: 45 minutes of high-speed actionArro Jet's 45-minute jet boat ride on the Gold Coast Broadwater delivers high-speed spins, 360-degree manoeuvres and power slides with expert pilots who maximize action over travel time. Life jackets and spray jackets are provided; the minimum height is 120cm. A waiver of liability is required before boarding, and the ride is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health.Is it for me?Book this one if you want continuous adrenaline and not downtime—the route cuts slow zones and travels further than other Gold Coast jet boats, so the full 45 minutes stay on the water doing what makes the ride worth taking.
Gold Coast: Surf Lesson at The Spit Beach with Gear & PhotosYou’ll feel your heart race as you paddle out with local instructors on Gold Coast’s favorite surf beach. Practice on sand before hitting real waves with all gear included. After your surf lesson, check out your action photos and swap stories back at the shack—it’s messy fun you won’t forget soon.
Main Beach: Surf Lesson at The Spit for Ages 14+ with GearYou’ll feel the rush of paddling out on Main Beach, get expert tips from local surf instructors, and maybe even catch your first real wave (or at least laugh trying). All gear is sorted for you, plus there’s free parking and showers right by the shack. It’s one of those days you remember every time you spot sand in your bag later.
Currumbin Ziplining: 14 lines over rainforest and crocodilesCurrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers a high ropes and zipline adventure with 14 ziplines reaching up to 100m, more than 100 challenges across 7 courses, and full safety equipment and training included. The activity takes around 3.5 hours and is self-paced, so you move through each circuit at your own speed. Children from age 8 are welcome if they reach 160 cm tall; spectators can watch from the ground with a separate sanctuary entry ticket.Is it for me?Pick this if you're staying elsewhere on the Gold Coast and want to start with Green or Blue courses before moving to Black Diamond—the self-paced format lets you build through all seven difficulty levels at your own speed.
Gold Coast: Tamborine Mountain Zipline & Ropes CourseYou'll work through eight courses at your own pace, starting easy and progressing to extreme challenges if you want. The day includes full safety training, all gear, and access to 140+ obstacles plus 13 ziplines through rainforest. Plan 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and book ahead since group sizes can fill up quickly on weekends.Is it for me?Right for families and groups with mixed fitness levels who want a real adrenaline experience without needing climbing skills or prior training — the eight courses and multiple difficulty levels mean everyone finds their challenge at the same location.
Gold Coast Lunch Cruise: Buffet & Broadwater ViewsYou board in Surfers Paradise, eat a buffet lunch with king prawns and roast chicken while the boat cruises past Sea World, Marina Mirage and the Gold Coast Broadwater, listen to crew commentary from the open-air upper deck, and return to the same departure point two hours later. Wine and cocktails are available at the bar. No transport logistics, no separate entry fees, no timing yourself — the boat handles the schedule.Is it for me?Book this if you want lunch and sightseeing without arranging a separate restaurant reservation or transport — the two-hour window and fixed departure point from Surfers Paradise mean you can fit it into a morning or afternoon without reshuffling the rest of your day.
Sirromet Winery Tour and Tasting: 6 wines, lunch includedA 3-hour winery tour at Sirromet on Gold Coast combines a 45-minute guided walk through the vineyard, barrel hall and production facility with a 45-minute tasting of 6 Granite Belt wines, followed by a 2-course lunch and glass of wine at Cellar Door. The guide is WSET-qualified and speaks English. Minimum age is 18; children must be accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?The three-hour commitment means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day on the Gold Coast. If you want to taste wines and understand how they're made without a full-day commitment, this tour holds the production facility, the tasting and lunch inside a single block of time.
Whale Watching Gold Coast: Live Underwater FootageWhale Watching by Sea World Cruises is a 2.5-hour cruise departing from Main Beach on the Gold Coast, where you watch humpback whales in their natural habitat from a purpose-built luxury vessel. The operator guarantees a whale sighting or you return free; onboard hydrophones and underwater cameras (subject to daily conditions) let you hear whale song and watch live footage streamed to your mobile device. Expert captains and marine naturalist guides provide commentary throughout. Complimentary parking is included; the vessel is wheelchair accessible, though advance notice is required for wheelchair passengers due to limited seating.Is it for me?The 2.5-hour window fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day, leaving time to explore the Gold Coast before or after. If you're traveling with a wheelchair, confirm accessibility in advance—seating is limited.
