Gold Coast: Things To Do

There are several galleries to check out in the Gold Coast. The most notable is 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, located in Mermaid beach, which is a large art gallery with a fantastic collection of colourful contemporary pieces, including the owners personal collection which can be viewed. Royal Queensland Art Society has a gallery in Broadbeach next to the ocean. Wayne Sorenson photo gallery in Miami displays incredible images of landscapes and wildlife. There are three Aboriginal art galleries including Jerrgul (see above), Boomerang Art, and Spirit of Australia gallery.

Beyond the hub of Surfers Paradise, there are many other suburbs to check out spread along the coastline. North of Surfers is Main Beach and Southport, both being close to some of the attractions (marina, Sea World). South of Surfers is Broadbeach, which is a close second behind Surfers in terms of development. The casino and many hotels are here. It starts to get quieter and more laid-back further south from here with Mermaid Beach, Miami and Burleigh Heads. Even further south are Palm Beach, Currumbin and Coolangatta. Each have a little something to offer, even if it's just a stunning beach.

The Real Human Body Parts exhibit is exactly what it says on the tin. Plastination is the technique they have used to preserve the body parts before being displayed to show the "beauty of our human body. It shows how amazing is the functioning of our body." It's perhaps not for the squeamish, but it is artfully presented and a fascinating exhibit. Located in the lobby of the Hilton Surfers Paradise.

Miami Marketta is an undercover laneway street food centre. It has a lively atmosphere brought on by the live music. There are at least 10 different options to choose from. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. They also have a roster of events lined up. Get there via tram and bus from Surfers Paradise, or drive it in under 15min.

Skirting the southern edge of the Burleigh Head national park, but still right in the developed area of the Gold Coast, this creek is wide enough to be a river and a beautiful one at that. It has white sand, blue calm clear waters, and is lined with palm trees. It's good for fishing, Tallebudgera beach lays around the corner, and there is a popular caravan park next to it. A tram and bus can get you there in 40min from Surfers, or drive it in 20min.

Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum is home to a collection of historical buildings and experiences with a decent focus on Aboriginal culture. By day you can visit to explore all this history and visit the cafe and gift shop. The evening experience, Spirits Of The Red Sand, consists of an Aboriginal theatre, song and dance performance, telling the story of an Aboriginal family, and accompanied by a three course meal. This immersive event will allow you to appreciate the history and beauty of the oldest culture in the world. Located north of city, half way to Brisi, take the tram and bus in a little over 1hr, or drive in 30min.

The Gold Coast has it's own 24hr casino - The Star. The gaming floor has over 70 tables and 1400 machines. It is a resort, so you can also find hotels, events, restaurants and bars. A massive expansion and tower development is underway too. To get there from the rest of the Gold Coast, the tram passes by, so you can easily use this option from wherever you may be staying.

An area of natural pools that are perfect for taking a dip and splashing around with family and friends of any age. There is no public transport, so plan to drop in if you have a car available.

With dozens of golf courses around the Gold Coast for you to visit, it could be said that this is the golfing capital of Australia. Topgolf offers a fun driving range experience too. Check out the link for a guide to different golf course options.

North of the Gold Coast and closer to Brisbane is this bay that's full of sparsely populated islands to explore. Moreton island is a sparsely populated national park island with sand dunes (for sandboarding), stunning beaches and the Tangalooma wrecks - purposely sunk ships that create a great area for snorkelling. North Stradbroke is more developed due to it's mining history and has sealed roads with 3 settlements. Both islands offer opportunity to see Dugongs, Whales and sharks. From the Gold Coast, it's easiest to explore this area on a tour. Some Stradbroke island tours are available too.

There are three big inflatable attractions on the Gold Coast, each offering the ability have a fun time getting wet and going down massive slides or clambering over obstacles. GC Aqua park is a big inflatables course sitting on the Neranag river in Southport. They also have another version at the Wake Park. The Big Wedgie is a group of massive land based slides located next door to the Southport GC Aqua park. Tuff Nutters is a land based inflatables course located up near Dreamworld.

Nerang national park is on the western edge of the city around 12km from Surfers Paradise. It has an extensive amount of mountain bike trails and was used for the mountain biking events during the 2018 Commonwealth games. Just Ride Nerang is a shop where you can hire mountain bikes close to the start of the tracks. You can get out here with a 30min bus ride or 20min drive.

If you have kids to entertain and have run out of unique attractions, there are plenty of fun places to take them. Bowling, ice skating, Iplay adventure, and arcades are all options.

The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub is a cabaret theatre specially designed for "cabaret, burlesque, comedy, acrobatics, drag and more". The art deco themed space includes booth seating, cocktails at the ready, and a variety of shows on offer depending on your tastes. Tickets start at $25 but go over $100, depending on the time, level of experience you want (VIP), and the show. The club is located in Broadbeach and next to the tram.

This is a spooky themed cabaret show that includes a ghost train ride, a three course meal, and a fun show to entertain you whilst you eat. The show is for adults only and includes adult themes, partial nudity and foul language. The theatre is located in Broadbeach close to a tram stop.

This club is located on a relatively large catamaran, so it sails around the Gold Coast waterways whilst you have a drink and enjoy one of the many events that they hold. There are lunch time, diner time, or evening options with varying themes, in addition to the special events like New Years Eve. Boarding takes place at the marina near Sea World, at the northern end of the Gold Coast, a short drive from Surfers Paradise. Tickets start at $50 for entry only during dinner time, $129 for lunch with food and a cocktail included, or upwards into the thousands for VIP packages. Dress code may apply.

This car museum is located on the way to the Hinterland and is housed in a large warehouse like structure. It showcases dozens of vehicles with cars from 1900 to 1988, motorbikes, horse drawn buggies and other exhibits. There is also Stanley's barn restaurant next door that's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Get there with a 30min drive - public transport is not possible.

Opened in 1972, this museum showcases a replica of an early settlers cottage, a heritage listed artists studio, tools, sugar cane history, Aboriginal artefacts, and photographs of life in the Gold Coast through the years. Drive there is 5min from Surfers Paradise, or take a 2.5km walk.

This museum displays various waxworks that are intending to portray various celebrities, a chamber of horrors, diorama's, and the "crown jewels". It's been open since 1968 and the quality of the waxworks is not comparable to Madame Tussauds, if you have visited one of their attractions.

This museum is located on the edge of the city and the hinterland and displays a collection of tanks, planes, other vehicles and a range of exhibits about Australian involvement in different wars. There is no public transport access, but you can drive there from Surfers Paradise in around 25min.