The Ultimate 7-Day Gold Coast Itinerary

Welcome to Australia’s favourite playground, the Gold Coast. Australia's premier holiday destination for people of all persuasions - you've made a good choice. Upon arrival check into your accommodation for the next week. The GC has a wide range of high-rise beachfront accommodation. There are also plenty of cheaper low-rise apartments a few blocks back from the ocean. Wherever you choose to stay on your Gold Coast holiday, you'll be walking distance from all the action. 

For families, some of our favourites include Paradise Resort Gold Coast, which has been voted Australia's Best Family Resort for 11 years in a row. Known as a ‘cruise ship on land’ the resort features an ice-skating rink, waterpark, kids club, miniature train, and a heap of activities for the kids. 

For couples, Mantra Crown Towers is a popular option for Kiwis. Just 100m from the beach and it has spacious living areas, gourmet kitchens and all apartments feature large balconies with views of the surrounding city. For those that want a true luxurious experience, stay at QT Gold Coast, a retro-glam, designer hotel packed with all kinds of indulgence and sophistication. 

Once checked into your hotel, your immediate trip is to the beach! Surfers Paradise Beach is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most famous and beautiful beaches. A two-kilometre stretch of golden sand and rolling surf, this is the perfect place to go for a swim, or give surfing a go, with board hire and surf lessons available and beach breaks extending the full length of the beach. 

Today is your day for adrenalin, thrill rides, and fun as you spend the day exploring Dreamworld and WhiteWater world theme parks. Start the day early and drive on the Pacific Motorway for the 25-minute journey to Australia’s favourite theme park, Dreamworld.

Boasting 13 worlds-in-one, Dreamworld is a theme park for all ages. Adrenalin junkies can't get enough of Dreamworld's fast and furious rides including the famous Tower of Terror, Giant Drop, the Claw, the Gold Coaster, Taipan Steel and the stomach-churning Wipeout. For fun at a slower pace, families can ride the Dreamworld Express or drive in a 1920s vintage Ford replica. 

Dreamworld is also the home of Wiggles World, a place where kids can meet all their favourite Wiggles characters as well as enjoy some rides of their own including the Big Red Boat Ride and Dorothy's Rosy Tea Cup Ride. But it doesn't stop there.  

After taking a pit stop for lunch, venture next door to spend the afternoon at WhiteWater World, a water theme park that has groundbreaking technology to deliver some serious splash. For thrill seekers, check out the Triple Vortex - an oscillating slide which drops the rider onto a series of funnels; the Green Room - a four-person tube ride which drops you down from a 75-metre tunnel; The Wedgie - step inside the launch chamber, cross your arm and prepare to be dropped; and The Rip – a massive whirlpool with high-speed revolutions and a black terror tunnel. 

For your Gold Coast shopping, head to Pacific Fair one of Australia's largest shopping centres, which boasts an outstanding collection of luxury, high-street fashion, and dining and bar experiences, plus a world-class indoor/outdoor leisure and entertainment precinct and around 400 specialty stores.  

After all that shopping, you’ll be wanting to have a little relax time. Head out to Burleigh Heads, which sits like a cool comma between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta.  Locals flock here for world-class point break, unbeatable beaches, lively café and dining scene, nature walks and the all-around sunny vibes that this beloved location has to offer. We recommend Rick Shores Restaurant where you can enjoy some delicious Pan-Asian food right on the beach.  

It’s time for another theme park day, so strap yourself in, it will be a bumpy ride! 

Affectionately known as "Hollywood on the Gold Coast" Movie World is a theme park where famous characters wander the streets and action-packed movie scenes come to life. For lovers of stunts, blockbusters and cute cartoon characters, Warner Brother's Movie World is the ultimate day out. Movie World has hosted numerous movie premieres and is constantly updating its attractions and rides to coincide with the latest in entertainment. 

Ride the DC Rivals HyperCoaster,  the tallest, longest and fastest HyperCoaster in the Southern Hemisphere! Or go on The Green Lantern Coaster which has one of the steepest inverted drops in the Southern Hemisphere! Or experience Superman Escape where you will reach 100km an hour in only two seconds. You can also watch the dazzling Hollywood Stunt Driver show and you can meet your  favourite Looney Tunes, Justice League and Scooby Doo characters at the Main Street Star Parade each day. 

After all those theme parks, today is a whole different vibe as you journey inland to see Mount Tamborine and Springbrook National Park. A 30-minute drive from the Gold Coast and perched high on the rim of an ancient volcano is Mount Tamborine. Despite being so close to the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain feels like you’re a world away. The beautiful and picturesque area in the Scenic Rim has a rich history, is home to some of the most fertile land in Queensland, with stunning national parks and rainforests, and has its fair share of food and wine experiences.  

The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is probably the best – and easiest – way to get your head around just how beautiful Mount Tamborine is. Wander among the treetops and follow the path that gradually descends to the lower canopy, past rock pools to the cantilever that stands 30 metres above the valley and offers endless views. 

For those that want a unique experience, Hot Air Balloon Scenic Rim takes you up into the sky, giving a 360-degree view of the beautiful green landscape of the Scenic Rim and out to sea.   

You can also go on a unique guided tour through the Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves. Unlike most wild glow worms, this colony is fully visible during the daytime. Plus, visit the local Tamborine Village for a wide variety of options for lunch. 

For the afternoon, visit Springbrook National Park. Spectacular waterfalls, lush rainforest, ancient trees, impressive views, exceptional ecological importance and natural beauty make Springbrook an outstanding place to visit.  

t’s your last full day on the Gold Coast so why not make the most of it! Visit the Skypoint Observation Deck, Australia’s tallest building. 230m above sea level located atop the iconic Q1 building, SkyPoint's unique vantage point lets you take in the entire city skyline from one location so you can enjoy a delicious meal or a signature cocktail at Gold Coast’s highest Bistro+Bar, sitting 77 levels up!  If you are feeling a little more adventurous, conquer the SkyPoint Climb, Australia's highest external climb. 

Today is the day where you depart a place you now realise why so many travellers call paradise. If you’re looking for something to do on the last day of your Gold Coast holiday, we have a couple of options still up our sleeves!  

The first thing would be to learn to surf, since you’re literally in surfers’ paradise! There are many places to learn to surf and we can organise that for you, either in Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach where you can take a 2-hour introductory lesson with Go Ride a Wave Queensland. These lessons are best for complete beginners, all equipment is included and even kids as young as 5 can join. The main goal of your lesson will be to get you to stand up, it’s a challenge for a first timer but we believe in you!  

Otherwise, if you’d prefer to stay dry on your last day in the Gold Coast, you could take a river and city tour on the legendary Aquaduck! This tour is a hoot, and kids especially will love it! The Aquaduck is an amphibious vehicle with a big yellow beak, that will take you on a quacktastic 1-hour tour around the landmarks of Surfers Paradise both on land and in the water!