Gold Coast suburb guide
Hugging a dazzling stretch of sand backed by lush hinterland, Australia’s famous Gold Coast offers a unique neighbourhood base for every type of visitor.
By Natasha Dragun and Carly Spek
Packed your swimsuit? The Gold Coast’s 57km (37mi) shoreline offers some of Australia’s best beaches for surfing, all lined with buzzy shopping and dining precincts. Just 30 minutes inland, you’ll land in ancient hinterland rainforest, a place where wellness retreats and wineries sit side by side. Here are the key areas to explore while you’re here.
Central Gold Coast
Skypoint Climb, Gold Coast, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
Where: Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach
In the lively Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach neighbourhoods, skyscrapers overlook the sand, creating a dramatic skyline. This area is particularly well-known for its alfresco bars and restaurants where you can make the most of the city’s famous sunshine. Join the active locals on a walk along beachfront promenades dotted with street art and trendy cafés.
Northern beaches
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland © Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
Where: Southport, Main Beach
North of Surfers Paradise, the glamorous Main Beach neighbourhood is adorned with exclusive designer hotels, a yacht-studded marina, and malls with designer boutiques aplenty. Combined with increasingly hip Southport, on the western shores of Broadwater, it’s also your family’s best base for the Coast’s iconic theme parks, just to the north.
Burleigh area
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Burleigh Heads, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
Where: Miami, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach
The neighbouring suburbs of Miami, Burleigh and Palm Beach exude laid-back seaside living, boasting hip bars, boutiques and breweries, with views of the Surfers Paradise skyline to the north. Burleigh’s headland also has deep spiritual significance to its traditional Aboriginal owners, the Yugambeh people, who run the excellent Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at its base.
Southern beaches
Pink Hotel, Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Queensland © Destination Gold Coast
Where: Coolangatta, Currumbin
The southern beaches are a gorgeous place where crashing waves meet powdery beaches. Most visitors come to these seaside suburbs to surf or laze on the sand, with the gleaming towers of Surfers Paradise proving a great photo backdrop at sunset. The region is buzzing with trendy bars and restaurants as well as a chance to see some local wildlife.
Gold Coast hinterland
Curtis Falls, Tamborine National Park, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
Where: Lamington National Park, Mt Tamborine, Tallebudgera Valley, Springbrook National Park, Numinbah Valley
You only need to drive 30 minutes from the beach to reach the verdant string of neighbourhoods known as the Gold Coast hinterland, home to a staggering stretch of UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest. Wild valleys, waterfalls and mountain peaks characterise the region, with forward-thinking culinary offerings set among walking trails and wellness resorts.
