Gold Coast

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Top 10 attractions in Gold Coast

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Gold Coast Sea World
2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Gold Coast Sea World

8.2
4.6/5
1k reviews

Gold Coast Sea World is a long-established marine theme park in Australia, located in the northern part of the Gold Coast. It combines marine animal exhibits, animal shows, and mechanical rides within a single park, so visitors can see animals and watch performances as well as enjoy thrilling attractions. Seeing animals is the main draw here: the penguin exhibit is home to king penguins and gentoo penguins, and through the viewing glass set against an icy landscape, visitors can watch them waddle about or dive into the water; Polar Bear Shores recreates the rocky shores and pools of an Arctic summer and is a rare place in Australia to see polar bears in person; in Shark Bay, sharks and rays swim in schools, and at the adjacent Ray Reef visitors can touch rays by hand; at Seal Harbor, Australian sea lions and fur seals either lie on the shore basking in the sun or chase and play in the water. The park hosts multiple dolphin shows and educational sea lion presentations every day, so it is recommended to confirm the day's time slots upon entry before planning the order of your visit, and remember to secure seats early before popular shows begin. Visitors bringing children should not miss Nickelodeon Land, where animated characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer, and PAW Patrol meet and take photos with visitors; those who enjoy thrills can take on the wooden roller coaster Leviathan, the motorbike-style roller coaster Jet Rescue, and the Storm Coaster, which ends with a big splash. △ Meet your favorite animated characters △ Get close to marine life △ Experience thrilling rides

Main Beach · 642m from downtown
Dreamworld
No. 5 of Best Things to Do in South East Queensland

Dreamworld

7.6
4.5/5
633 reviews

Dreamworld is located on the Gold Coast of Australia, and the park is divided into multiple themed areas, covering a variety of experiences such as thrilling rides, wildlife encounters, and children's play areas. Riverside Town is one of the park's newer themed areas, set against a jungle adventure storyline. Its centerpiece attraction, the Jungle Rush roller coaster, features a unique tilting triple-turn design, weaving through ancient temples and jungle scenery; Murrissippi Motors is a sightseeing drive suitable for the whole family, passing ancient ruins and hidden treasures along the way. Main Street is the heart of the park, home to attractions such as the Steel Taipan roller coaster, the high-altitude flying ride Dreamworld Flyer, and the immersive flying experience Sky Voyager. Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland is designed especially for children, themed around classic characters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's children's channel, and features rides such as The Wiggles Big Red Boat roller coaster and the Bananas in Pyjamas carousel, with regular live performances at the Dreamworld Theatre. Tiger Island is home to Sumatran tigers and Bengal tigers, where visitors can observe the tigers almost face to face through close-up viewing passages and watch them swim gracefully underwater from the splash pool. The WILD wildlife world area, created in partnership with Australian Geographic, is the park's native animal exhibit area, where visitors can hold koalas, touch dingoes, and observe crocodiles up close, and also experience "Our Country," a panoramic film experience that presents Australia's natural scenery with an ultra-large screen and surround sound. The ocean cruise area is themed around Gold Coast surfing culture and features thrilling rides such as The Gold Coaster roller coaster and King Claw.

Coomera · 3.2 km from downtown
Paradise Country
No. 6 of Best Things to Do in South East Queensland

Paradise Country

7.5
4.2/5
414 reviews

Paradise Country is the home of the ultimate Australian farm experience! Here you can watch various performances, feed kangaroos, and take pictures with koalas. Visit the brand new Shaun the Sheep Park, face-to-face with cute pets such as koalas and kangaroos, and experience the real Australian farm life. You can also enjoy delicious Aussie BBQ. 1. There are a lot of performance items Tourists can experience many shows at Paradise Country Farm. Upon entry, you can obtain a visitor guide listing the show times for each attraction, allowing you to plan your visit accordingly. Recommended activities include sheepdog herding and Australian darts. Here, you'll experience authentic Australian farm life, especially witnessing how farmers and sheepdogs drive and control their flocks. You can also watch them perform boomerang throwing and whip cracking demonstrations. 2. Interact with animal kangaroos and koalas up close You can also see kangaroos and koalas here. These two animals can be said to be Australia's "national treasures". Visitors can hand-feed the kangaroos near the bushes where the kangaroos live, and pay to take pictures of the cute koalas in the arms of the koala village. 3. Visiting Australian-style residences Here, you can also see traditional Australian residences, and there are souvenir shops for you to choose and buy cheap and special products as souvenirs.

Oxenford · 1.5 km from downtown
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

8.6
4.7/5
1.5k reviews

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is split in two by the Gold Coast Highway, with the two areas connected by a concrete tunnel. Established in 1947, the sanctuary was initially known for feeding wild rainbow lorikeets and has since gradually developed into a comprehensive park integrating animal exhibits, interactive experiences, and wildlife rescue. The kangaroo area is one of the core experience zones in the park, where kangaroos and emus roam freely within an open grassy enclosure, and visitors can feed and observe them up close. Koalas reside in a dedicated koala area, where visitors can walk into the koala habitat for close observation and have the opportunity to take photos with the koalas. The park is also home to Australian native species such as crocodiles, cassowaries, possums, echidnas, and dingoes. There is a wild lorikeet feeding experience every morning and evening, where flocks of rainbow lorikeets fly in and land on visitors' hands to feed—a signature activity the sanctuary has carried on to this day. The WildSkies free-flight bird show displays the flying skills of various bird species, and the Lost Valley area brings together tropical rainforest species such as red pandas, tree kangaroos, and capybaras. There is also an Aboriginal cultural performance every afternoon, presenting traditional dance and didgeridoo performances. The wildlife hospital in the park is also open to the public, where visitors can learn about wildlife rescue work through observation windows. △ Get up close and personal with Australia's native species △ Learn more about biology and geography △ Enjoy exciting performances held daily

Currumbin · 14.5 km from Gold Coast

Experiences you can't miss in Gold Coast

Featured Food & drink in Gold Coast

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Gold Coast cruise seafood buffet [Round-trip boat ticket + lunch/dinner + round-trip to Sea World/Surfers Paradise]
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5.0/5
· 1 review· 59 booked
Duration: 2–2.5 hrs
English
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FromBRL 353.45
Lamington National Park & O'Reilly's Vineyard Tour
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Duration: 2.4 hrs
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10% off
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FromBRL 465.02BRL 516.69
Tastes of Tamborine Mountain
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Duration: 4.6 hrs
English
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10% off
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FromBRL 788.81BRL 876.46
Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's & Vineyard Tour
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4.9/5
· 36 reviews
Duration: 6–7 hrs
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97.2% of travelers recommend
FromBRL 529.53
Gold Coast: Hop-on Hop-off Wine Tasting Tour to Mt Tamborine
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 6 hrs
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FromBRL 684.14

Featured Day tours in Gold Coast

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Gold Coast Glow Worm Night Tour [Optional Tamborine/Springbrook National Park with Transfers]
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4.8/5
· 4 reviews· 138 booked
Duration: 4 mins
English
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FromBRL 500.72
Gold Coast: SkyPoint Climb Experience
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4.5/5
· 6 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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FromBRL 351.65
Brisbane Moreton Island adventure 1-day tour [optional snorkeling with fish feeding/sandboarding/canoeing at Dolphin Island]
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FromBRL 639.57
Wild Kangaroos & Tamborine Mountain Scenic Tour (Half-Day Tour)
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Duration: 3.5 hrs
English
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10% off
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FromBRL 430.57BRL 478.42
Gold Coast Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park half-day tour [Purling Brook Falls, Springbrook National Park + rainforest hike]
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5.0/5
· 4 reviews· 67 booked
Duration: 5.5 hrs
English
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FromBRL 483.92
Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise
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4.8/5
· 6 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromBRL 89.44
Half-day tour to tropical fruit world [tractor/cruise/fruit tasting + optional lunch]
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29 booked
Duration: 2.2 hrs
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FromBRL 286.13
Brisbane Moreton Island 1-day Tour [Includes Snorkeling, Sandboarding, Kayaking, and Lunch]
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FromBRL 723.73

Featured Culture & history in Gold Coast

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Southport Audio Tour: Southport Landmarks Audio Adventure
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
Filipino
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20% off
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FromBRL 24.81BRL 31.02
Warner Bros. Movie World Transfers
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FromBRL 107.21
Golden Coast Sky Point cloud-high exploration | 2-hour panoramic view guided tour
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FromBRL 555.42
Gold Coast: Jellurgal Cultural Guided Walking Tour
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5.0/5
· 5 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
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FromBRL 225.48
Full-Day Aruba History and Must-See Landmarks Tour
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Duration: 7 hrs
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FromBRL 387.58
Brisbane north island 1-day tour small group in English #North Stradbroke
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FromBRL 605.07
Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour
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4.7/5
· 40 reviews
Free cancellation
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95% of travelers recommend
FromBRL 305.97
Century-old prison: 1.5H immersive guided tour of the Brisbane Boggo Road Gaol Museum
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Duration: 2 hrs
English
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FromBRL 516.15

Featured Outdoor & sports in Gold Coast

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Byron Bay skydiving [ocean view skydiving + Brisbane/Gold Coast pick-up and drop-off]
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4.6/5
· 11 reviews· 187 booked
Duration: 1 hr
English
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75 travelers saved
FromBRL 1,430.62
Gold Coast surfing 2 hr beginner lesson [Surfers Paradise surfing + group/private lesson]
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4.7/5
· 12 reviews· 425 booked
Duration: 2 hrs
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FromBRL 315.58
Gold Coast Broadwater kayaking + Wave Break Island snorkeling
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4.9/5
· 7 reviews· 109 booked
Duration: 2 hrs
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FromBRL 324.49
Learn to Surf at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast
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4.9/5
· 132 reviews· 30 booked
Duration: 2 hrs
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34 consecutive positive reviews
FromBRL 388.37
Gold Coast Paradise Jet Boating
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21 booked
Duration: 50 mins
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FromBRL 302.12

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Free things to do in Gold Coast

What travelers say about Gold Coast

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Travel.coffee.donutsFebruary 26, 2026
5.0
describe gold coast beachesBest Beaches On The Gold Coast to Visit | QueenslandGold Coast beaches feature 57km of stunning, white-sand coastline along the Pacific Ocean, offering world-renowned surf breaks, patrolled swimming areas, and vibrant, developed shorelines. Key spots include the bustling Surfers Paradise, the surfing mecca of Snapper Rocks, and serene spots like Currumbin and Burleigh Heads.

Gold Coast beach

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TC the Airbus PilotNovember 10, 2026
5.0
I visited SkyPoint Observation Deck solo and really enjoyed the experience. The 360-degree views from the top of Q1 are excellent—clear views over Surfers Paradise, the beach, the coastline, and the hinterland. It is a great place to take in the scale of the Gold Coast from 230 metres above ground.As a solo traveller, I found it very easy to enjoy at my own pace. I found a seat by the windows, ordered a beer from the bar, and simply relaxed while watching the city and coastline below. The atmosphere was comfortable and unhurried, and having a drink while taking in the view made the visit feel more special than just walking around an observation deck.The lift ride up is quick, and the deck is spacious enough to move around and find a good viewing spot. I would recommend visiting around late afternoon if possible, so you can enjoy both daylight and the changing light over the coast.Overall, a highly recommended stop in Surfers Paradise.

SkyPoint Observation Deck

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焚書坑儒October 26, 2026
5.0
No tickets are needed; simply scan the QR code to enter the park, which is significantly cheaper than buying tickets on the official website. Most rides have no queues, making for an extremely enjoyable experience. Even the most popular roller coasters only have queues of about 20 minutes. Transportation is convenient; take the Surfers Paradise light rail to the northernmost station and then transfer to a bus; the entire journey takes only one hour.

Warner Bros. Movie World

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Anonymous userOctober 13, 2026
5.0
It was so much fun, much better than Tokyo DisneySea! The lines for the rides were shorter, and there were shows and interactions with manta rays. It's a shame we arrived a bit late in the morning and missed out on so many rides. The only downside was that the daily operating hours were too short. It's perfect for the whole family (the worst part is that adults aren't allowed to ride the carousel because they're tall; they can only ride in small cars, ugh).

Gold Coast Sea World

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IrisSKJune 22, 2026
4.0
The rides and attractions are good. However, most of the rides got only one staff operating the process. Even though not many people were queuing (maybe around 30), we had to wait for at least 30 mins or more. Therefore we didn’t have enough time to play.

Dreamworld

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5OJuly 6, 2025
5.0
Paradise Farm is a treasure trove for experiencing the Australian countryside! As soon as you enter the farm, you can smell the natural scent of hay and soil. The fluffy sheep, cute kangaroos and emus are wandering on the grass, which is very immersive. The most important thing you can't miss is the wool shearing performance! The farm workers skillfully "transform" the sheep. After the fluffy thick hair is shed, the sheep instantly becomes "skinny". You can also touch the wool on the spot, which is soft and healing. There is also a sheepdog show, where the dogs flexibly shuttle among the sheep, which is super smart! By the way, you can also feed the kangaroos by hand. They look super cute holding the feed bags. Remember to touch their backs gently. There is also a traditional Billy Tea brewing performance in the farm. Tea is boiled on the campfire with a tin kettle and paired with Australian toast. One bite is the authentic country taste. If you want to take photos, put on the cowboy clothes provided by the farm, stand in front of the red barn, and take photos that look like a western movie in minutes. It is a great place to immerse yourself in the Australian farming and pastoral life.

Paradise Country

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_TI***ghAugust 13, 2026
5.0
Great fun way to see Gold coast in a short time for both adults and children!

Aquaduck Gold Coast

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知了ChanOctober 16, 2026
5.0
We went straight to the zoo after getting off the plane. We arrived quite late, but we were lucky enough to see most of the animals, including wombats, Tasmanian devils, and smiling rats. A great zoo, highly recommended. The coffee at the entrance was delicious, and feeding the parrots was also very interesting. Feeding starts at 4 PM, and even when we left at 5 PM, there were still parrots to feed.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

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IceMoonTeaJune 23, 2024
5.0
We had an unforgettable experience on the Sea World Cruise Whale Watching tour! The crew was knowledgeable and friendly, providing fascinating insights about the whales and their behavior. The boat was comfortable and offered excellent viewing spots. We were fortunate to see several whales up close, making the trip truly magical. I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to experience the beauty of marine life in their natural habitat. A must-do adventure!

Sea World Cruises

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M48***32April 12, 2026
5.0
Very good and exciting

Jet Boat Extreme

Trip Moments in Gold Coast

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Frequently asked questions

You can give Gold Coast cruise seafood buffet [Round-trip boat ticket + lunch/dinner + round-trip to Sea World/Surfers Paradise] and Gold Coast Outback Spectacular Show (Large-Scale Cowboy Performance) + Beefsteak/Chicken/Vegetarian Dinner Experience a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Gold Coast Glow Worm Night Tour [Optional Tamborine/Springbrook National Park with Transfers], Gold Coast: SkyPoint Climb Experience, and Brisbane Moreton Island adventure 1-day tour [optional snorkeling with fish feeding/sandboarding/canoeing at Dolphin Island]. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of November 13, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Gold Coast is around BRL 89.44 – BRL 723.73. Rates vary by duration, group size, transportation, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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