Winter on the Gold Coast

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Winter on the Gold Coast

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There’s no need to give in to the winter blues. The sunny Gold Coast is the best place to spend the colder months, with mild and balmy winters making the beach a year-round destination. There are so many things to see and do, and the comfortable climate is the perfect setting for your indoor and outdoor adventures.

Here are 5 great reasons to visit the Gold Coast during the winter time.

The weather

With the temperatures reaching an average of 21.5° C and the weather mostly sunny, the Gold Coast winter weather won’t keep you indoors. That’s not to say it’s short sleeves all day – it can get a bit chilly when the sun goes down, so you can still enjoy a hot drink and warm clothes at night while making plans to hit the beach the next day.

The cooler air provides a fantastic environment for getting active and outdoors, making it a great time to explore the hinterland, find a bushwalk, or soak up some sun on the beach. For those rare days where the weather does let you down, there are plenty of indoor attractions to keep you and your family entertained.

The indoor adventures

If you’d prefer to keep indoors, why not try some retail therapy? The Gold Coast has some of Australia’s most exciting shopping destinations, from luxury malls to eclectic markets. Harbourtown is Australia’s biggest outlet mall, with brands like Cotton On, Calvin Klein, Nike, and literally hundreds of other choices. If a focus on luxury items in a ultra-luxe setting is more your style, head to Pacific Fair , or maybe try some of the incredible markets hosted in different locations around the Gold Coast. For more shopping ideas, check out our list of shopping destinations, and how to get there.

For other indoor activities, there is still plenty of choice. Have a ball teeing off at the driving range and sipping some cocktails at Top Golf, head to one of the many excellent dining destinations, get pampered at a five-star day spa , or make it a trip to remember with some indoor sky-diving at iFly. Keep a roof over your head and still keep up the adventures with the many indoor attractions located around the Gold Coast.

The outdoors

Obviously, the biggest drawcard for the Gold Coast in any season is the breath-taking natural beauty, and winter is a great time to explore. The water might be a bit cold (unless you’re very brave), but that doesn’t take away from the beautiful sun-soaked white sand beaches – perfect for building sand castles with the kids and long dreamy walks.

There are plenty of areas to take a picnic, have a BBQ, or take the kids to the park. A stand-out example is the Broadwater Parklands, featuring a massive blow-up jumping pillow, a pedal train, and other great facilities for the whole family. There are plenty of spots to fish, or you could walk or take the bikes on one of the many paths and tracks that follow the water’s edge.

The wild life

Winter is a great time for spotting wild life on the Gold Coast, especially as the mild weather makes being outdoors even more pleasant. One of the most exciting wild life winter events is the annual migration of whales from May to November. If you’re lucky you can spot them from the beach, but to really get up close and personal there are plenty of whale watching tours for an incredible sea life experience.

If you’d rather not take your chances looking for wild life in the wild, the Gold Coast is home to plenty of theme parks https://www.airtrain.com.au/blog/key-destination/theme-parks/ and wildlife sanctuaries full of exotic and native animals. You can purchase your tickets at the Airtrain counter to save time and beat the crowds at the entrance.

Dreamworld has white tigers and many other species, along with the thrilling rides and experiences. For incredible animals that live on or under the sea, Sea World is the perfect place to spend a day filled with wonder and excitement. Or walk the beautiful hectares of pristine bushland at Currumbin Sanctuary, dotted with exhibits that are home to hundreds of different animal species. The Gold Coast winter weather creates the perfect environment to spend the day walking, exploring, and making life-long memories.

The events

The Gold Coast hosts plenty of exciting events throughout the year, with the beautiful surroundings providing the perfect backdrop for concerts, sporting events, and more. For foodies, why not check out the Gold Coast Cheese, Chilli, and Chocolate festival on the 13th of June, or one of the exciting dining experiences held throughout the year.

Rock ‘n Roll lovers from around the world gather at the Gold Coast on June 9 – 13 for Cooly Rocks On, and venues such as the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre and the Outdoor Stage play host to stars such as Amy Shark this winter. For a more active experience, check out the Australian Open Bowls tournament at the Burleigh Bowls Club on the 13^th of June, or sign up for the Gold Coast Marathon between July 3 – 4.

For more ideas on upcoming events on the Gold Coast, check out our blog.

Getting around on the Gold Coast

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.