THINGS TO DO ON THE GOLD COAST | Aquaduck tours the Surfers Beach Rd and high rises, then we dive nose first into the water. Aquaduck now becomes an exciting boat ride exploring the spectacular sights of the broadwater. |
 | Experience the complete freedom of open cockpit flying with the sound of the wind in the wires. Gentle scenic or thrilling aerobatic flights. 1930's antique aircraft, highest thrill ride on the Gold Coast. We outfit you in genuine "Biggles" helmet & goggles. |
| Australian Kayaking Adventures | |
 | No experience necessary. User friendly sit-on-top Kayaks. Dawn Tours, Half or Full Day Tours. See dolphins, snorkel amongst tropical fish and surround yourself in wildlife. |
| Australian Outback Spectacular | |
 | Australian Outback Spectacular, the first of its kind in Australia, is a unique and exciting show capturing the grandeur of the Australian Outback and positioned right next to Warner Bros. Movie World – the Gold Coast’s premiere theme park. |
| Australia Zoo Self Drive Tour | |
 | Drive yourself to the legendary Australia Zoo. Come face to face with a Bengal Tiger, hand-feed an Asian Elephant and stacks more. The best part, come home when you're ready! |
| Barnies Jet Ski Adventures | |
 | A great 1/2 day on the water. 3 Activities available. Jetboating and jet ski adventures. |
 | North Stradbroke Island 4WD tour. Situated only a short distance from the Gold Coast. View magnificent Humpback Whale (June - Nov), dolphins, turtles and manta-rays. |
 | World's No.1 adrenalin activity! We take customers 40 metres high. The Gold Coast's only bungy jump! |
| Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary | |
 | So much to do, so much that's new. A full day's entertainment for the whole family. 1,400 Australian Birds, Reptiles and Mammals, 27 hectares of lush surrounds. |
| David Fleay Wildlife Park | |
 | Discover the amazing collection of Queensland's rare and threatened species amongst a backdrop of rainforest, eucalypt forest and wetland. Daily wildlife presentations including crocodiles, koala talk, platypus feeding and snakes alive. |
| Discovery Fishing Charters Australia | |
 | Discovery Fishing Charters provide great fishing action for the whole family, Skipper Tim has over 10 years experience fishing the Gold Coast waters. Experience the fun of fishing without worrying about motion sickness. Calm water fishing - no motion sickness! |
| Dolphin Wild's Moreton Island Cruise | |
 | See the Tangalooma Wrecks. A fantastic day of fun, adventure. boomnetting, dolphins and a delicious smorgasbord lunch that features prawns & crabs. Snorkelling an optional extra. |
 | Home to Tiger Island, Nick Central, Wiggles World, Australian Wildlife Experience, Big Brother, FlowRider and The Big 5 Thill Ride - some of the tallest, fastest thrill rides in the world, Dreamworld is the ultimate place for family fun. With so many worlds in one location, Dreamworld has something for everyone to enjoy! |
 | Prepare yourself for Extreme Exhilaration aboard the Gold Coast's Awesome V8 POWERED Jet Boat. It's 45 minutes of PURE ADRENALIN as you experience high speed slides, wicked fishtails & amazing 360° spins. |
 | Experience Australia's most extreme ride. Zero G Free Fall. Smooth, fast and totally exhilarating! Fly with us on the Flycoaster. Room for up to 3 extremists per flight. |
 | Have you ever driven a $650,000 Ferrari? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to drive a V12 600 horsepower monster through the streets of Surfers Paradise. |
 | Experience the unique view from our custom made Trike as you cruise through exciting Surfers Paradise or enjoy the crisp mountain air as you wind your way up into the Hinterland for wineries, rain forest canopies and spectacular views of the Gold Coast. 20 minute Joyrides to Full day tours. Great fun and safe! Up to 3 passengers - extra Trike available. |
| Gold Coast Kayaking & Snorkelling | |
 | Experience & explore the Gold Coasts unique waterways & wildlife. Encounter local wild dolphins and discover 100's of sub tropical fish metres from the beach on the Wavebreak Island Snorkelling Adventure. |
| Gold Coast Motorcycle Tours | |
 | The ultimate riding experience. 1/2 hour to 1/2 day tours. Destinations include the Broadwater, Mt Tamborine and Byron Bay. Harley Rentals also available. |
 | The Gold Coast Turf Club is one of Australia's busiest racecourses - racing every Saturday and midweek feature events throughout the year. |
 | An adrenaline rush you'll never forget! Our Twin Jet Powered 500hp Turbo Charged Jet Boat will get your adrenaline pumping with 360° Jet Spins and amazing Speed and Exhilaration. |
 | Fully guided jet ski tours. Explore the Gold Coast's beautiful Broadwater & river. The ultimate adventure! Special tours designed. Jet ski to Straddie & back, breakfast included. Ocean wave jumping tours available. We are the Jet Ski Specialists! |
 | Recreational & Corporate Karting at Darlington Park. Karting in Paradise is the longest permanent hire Kart circuit in Australia at 1.3km. We regularly play host to many of the V8 Supercar drivers. One of the only karting circuits with undulating terrain, long straights & tight turns. So come and race ya mates & see what everyone is talking about. |
 | Mini Golf at its best! Featuring two fully themed 18 hole indoor Mini Golf courses. Ancient Egyptian with Glo in the Dark holes and Jurassic with fearsome life–sized dinosaurs. The longer challenging outdoor course is set amongst tropical palms overlooked by King Tutt himself.
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 | Kitesurf Gold Coast is operated by CJ Jones. CJ works with the worlds best instructors which makes Kitesurf Gold Coast stand out offering the absolute best in tuition and tours. |
| Le Mans Kart Racing Complex | |
 | The longest circuit and the fastest karts. Wild 700 metre circuit. Dual Karts now available. Free admission. No licence required. |
 | BBQ Pontoon & Boat Hire. All watersports and activities. Party cruisers, tinnies, half cabin cruisers, luxury charters. Drive yourself no licence required or skippered. Water taxi & speed boat rides and tours. |
 | For everything on the water. Half Cabins, Speedboat, BBQ Pontoons, Luxury Party Pontoon, Lark Mini Speed Boats. The perfect way to Cruise & Fish. |
 | 3 Hour Calm Water Cruise. Catch live mud crabs, cooked & eaten on the boat. Hand feed the pelicans (feed supplied) or relax and soak up the sun. Optional activities available, jet skis, parasailing, speed boat rides. |
| O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse | |
 | Fantastic days drive to explore local vineyards and World Heritage Listed Lamington National Park. Discover the famous Treetop Walk, hiking trails, abundant bird life and the panoramic views over lunch at Gran O'Reilly's Store. |
 | Fantastic day fishing, the fastest & biggest Aerocat in Australia. We get there quicker so you fish for longer! Reef fishing, game fishing, private & corporate charters. |
 | 360° spins, exciting nose-offs, up close beach buzzing and incredible wake surfing... all at almost 80kph. 45 minutes of adrenaline charged adventure! |
| Party Tours hosted by Plan B | |
 | Go crazy in Surfers Paradise hosted by Plan B. Free entry at 5 clubs on the Coast. Free recovery party, fun party games all night and more... |
 | Putt Putt Golf at Mermaid Beach featuring 3 Fun Filled 18 Hole Putting Courses. Open 7 Days & Nights 9am – 10pm. |
 | Link up to 7 drivers on the worlds no.1 racing car simulator as used by leading V8 Supercar drivers. Unlike an arcade game - this experience is a total reality package. Huge range of model cars and clothing available. |
 | Watersports adventures. We are No. 1 on the Coast. Jet ski, parasail, speedboat rides & underwater adventures. Try one of our packages and save. |
 | Visit Australia's only Polar Bears at the amazing Polar Bear Shores. Come and join us for fun at Cartoon Beach. Experience the amazing world of marine life and aquatic action. Enjoy a host of rides and stunt shows. |
| Scenic Hinterland Day Tours | |
 | Scenic Hinterland Day tours offers the best selection of day tours on the Gold Coast. Visit the most popular attractions South East Queensland has to offer at the best prices GUARANTEED! Compare other company's, see our extra value for the same tours. Take up our latest offer of book any two tours and receive O'Reilly's full day tour absolutely FREE. |
| Shane's Watersports World | |
 | Best watersports action on the Gold Coast! Waverunners, Parasailing & Speedboat Rides. Try our exciting Adventure Packages and save $! We offer friendly service, great gear & fun on the water! |
 | Fully supervised by qualified range officers - No experience necessary. Revolvers, semi automatic pistols - up to .50 calibre including .357 & .44 magnums. |
| Skirmish - Paintball Shooting Game | |
 | Skirmish is a great holiday action and leisure time activity. The best life-size playing fields and equipment in the country. Get your mates together Now for Adrenaline, Adventure & Excitement to the Max. |
 | "The ride of the 21st Century" Become a human projectile! From 6g's of Acceleration to weightlessness 80 metres of vertical exhilaration! |
| South Stradbroke Island Resort | |
 | Join us on our fast calm water cruise to South Stradbroke Island. Day includes a delicious BBQ lunch buffet. Optional extras include jet skiing, parasailing, sand tobogganing, tractor rides, paddleboats & canoes. |
 | Self Drive - No Licence Required. Free fuel and use of fishing gear. All boats are easy to drive. Cheap way to fish and cruise the waterways. |
 | The largest indoor entertainment centre in Australia. Over 300 of the latest games and attractions. Fully air conditioned and open 7 days till midnight in Surfers Paradise. Includes dodgems, mini golf, and laser skirmish. Now even bigger! |
 | Mud Crab Tours, Rainforest and River Cruises. As seen on 7 television "Creek to Coast". Great value cruises. |
 | Powered by 2 huge electric motors, the giant 45m arm rotates at 110km per hour exerting a massive 5g's on the rider brave enough to experience the terror. |
 | Where movie magic happens every day with a kaleidoscope of behind-the-scenes action, comedy stunts, rides and shows at Warner Bros. Movie World.
MOVIE WORLD and WARNER BROS. MOVIE WORLD logos are trademarks of Warner Bros. ©2004. All Rights Reserved. |
 | The largest Wax Museum in the Southern Hemisphere. 'The Famous People' features life size figures wearing authentic costumes including Scientists, Royalty and Explorers. Visit 'The Chamber of Horrors'. |
 | Ride the River, Survive the Plunge at Mammoth Falls, dare to ride Terror Canyon II or compete on the Super 8 Aqua Racer. It's a whole world of splashtacular fun for the entire family. |
 | Departs central Surfers Paradise. Morning Tour 9am, Sunset Tour 2pm. Independently voted the best viewing vessels and whale watch cruise. 100% sightings record (guaranteed sightings). |
 | Introducing Australia’s latest water park. Located next to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World is no ordinary water park, it’s one of the most technologically advanced water parks in the world! Everything from extreme waterslides to family friendly attractions. |
| Family cruise specialists. View magnificent homes of the rich & famous. Informative commentary, air conditioned comfort, sundeck viewing and a fully licensed bar. Morning & afternoon tea and refreshments provided. |
FREE THINGS TO DO ON THE GOLD COAST
There are plenty of fun things to do on the Gold Coast, which won't cost you anything.
The beach is the obvious choice, but if you don't like salt water, you can easily spend a day without getting your feet wet. Here's a list of fun things to do on the Gold Coast which are free.
Go for a swim at the beach - almost all open surf beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and are protected from sharks. In fact, shark attacks are extremely rare on open beaches (just don't go swimming at dawn or dusk with lumps of bloodied raw meat tied to your body). Make sure you only swim between the flags - read our beach guide for more information. If you're worried about the waves, or the wildlife, there's a protected swimming enclosure in Southport, just opposite Australia Fair in Marine Parade. Even the dreaded parking meters haven't managed to encroach upon most beaches up and down the coast.
- Go for a walk on the beach at sunrise, or after dark - few views can compare to the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean and the full moon rising over the water at night is so huge you won't believe it's real. Beaches are generally safe places to walk after dark, but use your common sense (don't walk alone in a totally deserted place like The Spit) at 3am, but if you stick to populated beaches at reasonable hours (ie. 6am to 12am), you really shouldn't have anything to worry about.
- Window shop - most the world's best fashion houses all have dedicated stores in Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach, and there are more square metres of shopping centre on the Gold Coast than many small European nations.
- Visit a national park in the hinterland - none of them charge an entry fee and the views and fauna are breath-taking. You can run through an ancient rainforest, walk under a waterfall, and swim in a mountain stream without paying a cent.
- Go to one of the many excellent world-class museums and art galleries and check out the works of the world's greatest minds. (OK that's a joke, but there is always the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame in Southport and the Gold Coast City Art Gallery at the Gold Coast Arts Centre in Bundall, there are also plenty of great beachside sculptures in Surfers Paradise and Currumbin)
Gold Coast Hinterland “the green behind the gold”
About 1 hours drive west Surfers Paradise is situated the Gold Coast's Hinterland mountains which includes world heritage listed national parks and reserves where visitors can enjoy wonderful views, local restaurants and picnic spots, shopping, bush walking, bird watching, swim in natural rock pools, take 4WD day tours. Lamington National Park, Australia's largest preserved stand of subtropical rainforest, offers more than 160 kilometres of graded walking tracks. About 23 million years ago an ancient volcano formed Lamington, Springbrook, Border Ranges, Nightcap and Mount Warning National Parks which are spread across an area of some 7,000 square kilometres throughout the hinterland.
Some other Hinterland Highlights are:
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat: A true nature paradise, situated in the picturesque rainforest covered mountains of World Heritage Lamington National Park,
Binna Burra: Have a picnic at Binna Burra. Picnic tables, toilets, electric barbecues and tap water are provided. See colourful crimson rosellas, king parrots, pademelons and brush-turkeys around the picnic areas. Go bush walking, bird watching during the day.
Binna Burra & Mountain Lodge: A cosy mountain retreat nestled in the World Heritage listed rainforests of the Gold Coast Hinterland offering panoramic views of the Numinbah Valley and include private amenities plus ...
Natural Arch: A spectacular waterfall which cascades through the roof of a cave into an icy pool. The cave is home to Australia's largest glow worm colony that is best viewed at night.
Mount Tamborine: The area includes no less than seven national parks and is a favourite weekend trip for locals who take time out to browse through the craft workshops brimming with Australian crafts, wineries and galleries. Mount Tamborine is also an ideal location for spectacular views back towards the Pacific Ocean & Mt Warning.
Springbrook: Has plentiful waterfalls, bush walks and range of interesting flora and fauna and is renowned for its teahouses and wide choice of self-contained cottages and welcoming bed & breakfast lodges.
Mount Warning: World Heritage-listed Mount Warning (Wollumbin) is the remnant central plug of an ancient volcano.