Surfing is our favourite thing to do on the Gold Coast. There are lots if places to surf, try Currumbin Alley or Rainbow Bay for beginner friendly waves. We'll organise boards to lend you.
The Australian coffee culture is huge, we love our coffee here! Why not try a few trendy cafes and find your favourite? Cafes open early and close early - generally 6 am to 2 pm. Our favourites include Salt Mill Currumbin, Custard Canteen Tallebudgera and Canvas Palm beach.
There's nothing better than cruising down the beaches and grabbing coffee while exploring the coastline. We've got two electric bikes you can borrow.
Turtle Snorkelling off Cook island is an amazing experience all year round, only a 20 minute boat ride out. On a good day, we see 10+ turtles in the water and they're not scared to get up close, plus a few species of friendly sharks and big fish! We have a boat and would love to take you out.
There are plenty of dining options around. Our local favourites include Frida Sol tacos, Balboa Italian, Toro's pizza, Tank Bar (good deals and happy hour 5 pm), Sticky Rice Thai food, Limlay Thai, Jimmy Wah's, The Yiros shop + frozen yogurt dessert at Yo-Chi .
Visit Coolangatta (20 min away), their famous surf beaches and grab coffee and ice cream with views of the ocean. Visit Rainbow bay surf club for a drink and incredible sunset views (make sure to get a table early as it gets busy by sunset). Point Danger is located on the hill above Snapper rocks and the walk along the headline here is amazing, the Black Dingo caffe have incredible views.
We love our farmers markets on the Gold Coast - where we get our bread, fruit and vege supply for the week (and our Saturday coffee fix). Visit Palm Beach Farmers market on Saturdays 6.30-11 am, or Coolangatta farmers market Thursdays 6.30 - 11 am.
Drive along Tweed Coast road and visit the many beaches along the stunning NSW coast, the first beach only 25 minutes from here. Cabarita and Hastings point are two great beaches to stop at. Bring swimwear, surfboards and beach umbrellas and make it a full day activity. If you want to see more country Australia, visit Farm & Co Cafe on your way down, or Red Earth Brewery on your way back. Add Husk Gin Distillery to your drive to experience scenery and cocktails.
Get to know Australian wildlife by visiting our local wildlife centre. It's a nice half day activity with plenty of animals, including kangaroo feeding and koala photos.
A headland with amazing views of the water, lava rocks and wildlife. This is somewhat of a spiritual and sacred place. We frequently see dolphins, whales and stingrays from the rocks here. The beaches and surf here are fantastic too so pack snacks and drinks and make it a day activity.
Whale watching is available May-October on the Gold coast, with only a few whales remaining in November. Consider arriving in October if you're keen to see whales.
Camping is one of the biggest activities in Australia and must be experienced! There are so many beautiful campsites along the coast and in national parks, but also on private properties on the app "Hipcamp". Ask us to borrow camping equipment.
Beautiful waterfalls are located at the end of Tallebudgera Valley or Currumbin Valley, both 30 minutes from Palm Beach. Drive past the wedding venue to get to Tallebudgera Rock Pools, or head into Currumbin Valley for Cougal Cascades. The Cougal Cascades are the nicest PAST the fenced area - consider jumping the fence and hiking up the waterfalls until you get to the higher pools! Ground Cafe is a nice cafe stop along the way.
Beautiful rainforest hikes with multiple options for length: 1/3/6 hour loops. They all pass multiple waterfalls and swimming holes.
Experience all the fun of Byron Bay, just an hours drive south. Walk to the light house, visit the many great restaurants and cafees, and finish off by watching the live musicians play in front of the main beach at sunset.
Visit North Stradbroke island for 2-3 days to experience proper Australian wildlife and coastal lifestyle. Straddie is the home of many wild koalas, kangaroos and dolphins. It also has beautiful beaches and nice little restaurants and cafes. Access the island by car ferry or bus.
If you wanna combine your Gold Coast trip with another destination, we recommend Queenstown. Only a short flight away, you can fly into Queenstown, rent a car and experience the New Zealand mountains and wineries in the region. 5 days is a minimum, but you won't regret staying longer!