If you’re spending time on the Gold Coast, it would be a wasted trip if you didn’t make your way to the beach. But there are plenty more Gold Coast beachside activities than simply sitting on the sand – although that’s a great way to start!
Here are some of our favourite Gold Coast beachside activities, so you can plan your next seaside trip with a difference.
Hit the Sand
It’s the go-to destination for Gold Coast locals and visitors alike, and it’s not hard to see why. The Gold Coast beaches are among the best and most beautiful in the world. Not only are they clean, golden, and sunshine-soaked, there are so many to choose from! Head to Surfers Paradise and get a photo under the iconic sign, before hitting the sand or walking the boulevard.
There are plenty of other choices, each with their own appeal. The Spit is the northernmost point of the Gold Coast beaches, and provides a long walkway that extends into the seaway – a great place for spotting migrating whales and other wildlife. On the other end, Currumbin Beach offers golden sands and beautiful surrounds of its own.
Currumbin Rock Pools
So good they deserve a post of their own, the Currumbin Rock Pools are an open secret that locals love to visit. Bathe in shallow pools of water right by the waves, or fly over the water on one of the rope swings. Along with the lovely swimming opportunity, there are plenty of BBQ facilities and picnic-worthy spots that will keep you coming back. The pools feature a range of depths and pool sizes to choose from, which makes them great for families to explore and enjoy the water. When you’re done with your swim, take a walk and check out the fantastic waterfalls
To Market, to Market
South East Queensland has plenty of awesome markets, but the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets have an unbeatable location with the famous golden beach as the beautiful backdrop. Wander the huge variety of stalls offering delicious food and artisan goods, or take some time to check out the street performers and musicians that add an unbeatable atmosphere to the fantastic markets. The markets are open between 3pm and 8pm every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. When you’ve finished browsing, it’s the perfect opportunity for a moonlight stroll along the beach.
Visit the Broadwater Parklands
The Broadwater Parklands playground is second to none. Overlooking the Gold Coast Broadwater, it has all the usual park features, but with some additional drawcards that make it a family favourite. A peddle monorail circles the park, which gets kids active and on the move. It’s the giant jumping pillow that really sets this park apart – a massive, fenced cushion gives kids the opportunity to bounce to their heart’s content. To the side, there is a sandy beach and a roped off area of calm water to swim in, with some platforms that the bravest can swim out to reach. If you’d like to pay for some extra fun, a giant inflatable aqua playground is located just opposite the park.
To round off the day, check out the beautiful walking paths beside the water that are dotted with artistic installations, and make the most of the picnic areas and BBQs. If you’d like to head back to the water there is a small open-air water play area where the kids can have a splash, located close to the café.
Get Some Exercise
The beach is the obvious choice to get your heart rate pumping – beautiful surrounds, warm sun, cool breeze, and then a quick dip in the surf to cool off. Go for a run in the sand, go for a swim in the waves, or make the most of the paths alongside the water to cycle or run. You’ll see many people taking advantage of the tranquil surrounds to practice yoga, and some fitness classes meet at various locations around the Coast. The Gold Coast also has plenty of free, open air exercise equipment that you can utilise, dotted around the paths that run alongside the beach.
Eat and be Merry
If you’re looking for beachside dining, your best bet is to head towards Cavill Avenue and check out the range of restaurants there. Alternatively, there are plenty of surf clubs in great locations along the water – the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club has particularly beautiful views. The Gold Coast has plenty of choice when it comes to dining, but you can’t beat taking your food out into the open air. Whether you get takeaways, take a picnic, or utilise one of the free BBQs areas, there are numerous picturesque spots. The Kirra Lookout is a lovely location to check out, with views of the Gold Coast shoreline on both sides. You can also check out Kingscliff and Jack Bayliss Park for more beautiful views. But the magic of the Gold Coast is that you can’t really go wrong – any spot will have more than its fair share of breathtaking beauty.
Getting Around
The Airtrain leaves the Brisbane Airport every 15 minutes in peak times, and can take you all the way to Helensvale in comfort and on time. From there, heading to the Gold Coast is a simple change onto the G:link tram, which arrives every 7.5 minutes in peak times. You’ll only need the one ticket to get all the way from the airport to your Gold Coast destination.
Once you have arrived, you can use a smart card for travel, or you can purchase a paper ticket. Visitors should check out the go seeQ card, which allows you unlimited travel for 3 or 5 consecutive days on buses, trains, ferries, and trams. It also includes 2 Airtrain journeys to/from the Brisbane Airport. The go explore smartcard allows you travel in the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for up to 8 days, but you don’t have to use them consecutively.
You can easily get around with a go card – just touch on at your station of departure and touch off when you arrive at your destination. The go card is accepted on all translink transport throughout Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
To purchase your smartcards or to find out more, head to the nearest Airtrain counter. You’ll be able to purchase tickets for travel, attractions, and events around South East Queensland.
Gold Coast Beachside Activities
The blue surf and golden sand are worth a trip all on their own, but there are plenty of Gold Coast beachside activities to keep you occupied from morning to night. Whether you prefer to relax or get active, head out solo or go with the family, get up early or stay out late – there’s always something to do.
If you’re heading to the Gold Coast, choose the best way to get there on time and in comfort. Start your journey well – travel with Airtrain.
