Gold Coast… made out of actual gold? Tempting theory, but no. The name actually originated as a joke. In the 1950s, journalists in Brisbane began using it to mock the area’s rapidly increasing real estate prices and tourist fees, implying that you’d need gold just to afford living there. Locals embraced it and it was officially named Gold Coast in 1958. Since then, the Gold Coast has become known for the abundant experiences it offers, which truly make it deserving of its name.
This isn’t your average list of “things to do in Gold Coast” visitors find in every travel guide. This is your excuse to actually do them. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a nature lover, or someone who just wants a cracking day out, the Gold Coast has a way of delivering more than you expect. Here’s where to start.
Jet Boating on the Broadwater
If your idea of a good time involves spinning 360° at full speed over open water while screaming your lungs out, the Gold Coast Broadwater is exactly where you need to be.
Jet boating on the Gold Coast Broadwater is one of those experiences that sounds fun in theory and absolutely delivers in practice as well. You’re out on the water, the engine is roaring, and before you’ve had time to brace yourself, the boat is fishtailing, spinning and launching across the surface at high speed. First-timers will spend the whole ride somewhere between laughing and regretting their decision and then immediately want to go again.
Bonus Tip: Consider pairing your jet boat adventure with a guided glow worms tour in Gold Coast to experience a completely different side of the region. Additionally, you can also pair it with a visit to Mt Tamborine or a trip through Lamington National Park. This way, you can enjoy high-speed thrills on the water alongside some of the most spectacular scenery in the hinterland.
Natural Bridge Hinterland
Located within Springbrook National Park, Natural Bridge is one of the most unique natural attractions on the Gold Coast. The circuit walk winds through ancient subtropical rainforest where towering hoop pines, native birdlife and a natural rock arch carved by Cave Creek create a landscape that feels worlds away from the coastline.
By day, visitors can enjoy the lush rainforest scenery and waterfall views. After dark, the cave beneath the bridge comes alive with thousands of glow worms, creating a magical display of blue-green lights across the rock ceiling.
It is one of the few places where you can experience two completely different sides of the same destination. Whether you visit for the rainforest walk, the waterfall, or the famous glow worms on Natural Bridge, it delivers one of the most memorable nature experiences in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Tamborine Mountain
If the Gold Coast has a laid-back, artsy, slightly wine-drunk older sibling, it’s Tamborine Mountain. Sitting about 45 minutes inland from Surfers Paradise, this lush volcanic plateau rises around 550 metres above the coastal plain and is made up of three small townships: North Tamborine, Mt Tamborine and Eagle Heights. Gallery Walk in North Tamborine is the main tourist strip, lined with local art galleries, handmade fudge shops, distilleries and cafes that take their coffee very seriously.
The mountain is also home to the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, a series of elevated boardwalks and a suspension bridge that takes you through and above the rainforest canopy. Cedar Creek Estate is another stop worth making, where you can taste local wines alongside a glow worm cave you can actually visit during the day. And if you want to make a full day of it, you can book it together with a jet boat ride on the Broadwater as a combo. There are certain pakages that lets you club jet boating with
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
You can travel to a lot of places in the world. But very few of them will let you have a kangaroo fall asleep on your feet. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary sits about 30 minutes south of Surfers Paradise and has been a Gold Coast institution since 1947.
What started as a lorikeet feeding station has grown into one of Australia’s most beloved wildlife experiences. Free-roaming kangaroos wander the grounds completely unbothered by visitors. Koalas can be seen up close and in certain areas there are also saltwater crocodiles, wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils and a cast of native Australian wildlife that most people have only ever seen in documentaries.
Final Thoughts
The Gold Coast has a habit of surprising people. You come for the beaches and the theme parks and then find yourself standing in a glowing cave at midnight or hand-feeding a wallaby in the afternoon sun, wondering how you didn’t know about any of this sooner.
The good news is you don’t have to choose between experiences. Gold Coast Cruise combos let you stack your day smartly, pairing a jet boat ride on the Broadwater with a glow worm tour, a hinterland adventure or a morning up in Tamborine. More Gold Coast, less planning. Start on the water. See where the day takes you.
