15 Places to Visit Near Gold Coast: 2024 (Updated with Distance)
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Tourist Places Near Gold Coast

Great Barrier ReefDaintree Rainforest, Cairns, Surfer's ParadiseLamington National ParkGold Coast theme parksTamborine Mountain, Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, South Bank, West End, Story Bridge, Roma Street Parkland, Fraser Island, Whitsundays and more.

There are a myriad of popular and equally beautiful places to visit near Gold Coast, thanks to the idyllic tropical islands, pristine beaches, gurgling rivers, picturesque waterfalls, and World Heritage-listed rainforests of Queensland. These quick getaways from the Gold Coast offer exhilarating outdoor fun and adventures to travelers looking for a day out or short vacation away from the city.

Vacationers seeking the ultimate laid-back and relaxed holiday can head to Fraser Island or Cairns, where they can spend time in a beach resort and go fishing and whale watching. On the contrary, adventure seekers can have their action-packed vacation in WhitSundays where they can not only unwind in the lazy resorts, but also enjoy jet skiing and helicopter tours. Wildlife hotspots like Daintree Rainforest, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Lamington National Park let tourists see the native animal species of Australia and spend time feeding and petting them. Other off-beat places near Gold Coast to visit like the Great Barrier Reef and Surfer’s Paradise offer some adrenaline-pumping water activities like scuba diving and surfing for the die-hard thrill seekers.

Here are some places to visit near Gold Coast:

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01

Great Barrier Reef

The world-famous, iconic Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest coral reef of the world. This reef is larger than even the Great Wall of China and the only living thing visible from space. The Great Barrier Reef is home to a myriad of flourishing marine creatures and makes for one of the excellent places to visit near Gold Coast for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Distance from Gold Coast : 1,228 km

Read More: Places To Visit In Australia

Book Now: Melbourne River Cruise
02

Lamington National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park is one of the best places near Gold Coast to visit for family picnicking as well as adventure activities. Nestled amidst the lush Border Ranges, this picturesque national park is home to thick rainforests, fascinating animals, and stunning waterfalls. Featuring striking gorges and cliffs, the mighty Lamington Plateau is basically the remnant of an age-old volcano. The park shelters over 190 species of colorful birds including bowerbirds and bright hued parrots. Other animals residing here are the long-nosed bandicoots and the red-necked pademelons.
Distance from Gold Coast : 45.7 km

Read More: Activities In Australia

Checkout and Book Now: Melbourne Museum Tickets
03

Tamborine Mountain

Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, Tamborine Mountain offers the perfect amalgamation of nature and culture. The prime highlight of this place is the Tamborine National Park, which is home to tranquil waterfalls, deep eucalyptus forests and rainforests, and fascinating birds. Mount Tamborine also houses a quaint little town that features art galleries, boutiques, cafes, craft shops, and modern spas. You can also find the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens, which features a huge number of beautiful tropical and temperate plants.
Distance from Gold Coast : 39.6 km

Suggested Read: Theme Parks In Australia
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Explore All (13)
04

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the most recommended places to visit near Gold Coast for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a heritage zoo that houses indegenous Australian wildlife. Apart from the main resident of the park, the furry koalas, you can also find other fascinating animals here including Wombats, Echidnas, Wallabies, Dingoes, and Kangaroos. You can also enjoy many attractions in the park, like treetop challenge and segway safari. The park also has a number of in-house eateries to let you satisfy your hunger pangs, after a full day’s fun and activities.
Distance from Gold Coast : 26.4 Km

Read More: National Parks In Australia
05

Daintree Rainforest

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the breathtaking Daintree Rainforest is home to a wide range of diverse flora and fauna. With many wildlife resembling that of the ancient marsupials and many floral species appearing to be the closest relatives of the ones that are usually found in a Gondwanan forest, the Daintree Rainforest is known to house living remnants of the Gondwanan era. The forest also features wild rivers, gushing waterfalls, and beautiful coastal vistas, which make it one of the perfect places near Gold Coast to visit for a relaxing day out.
Distance from Gold Coast: 58.8 km 

Checkout: Winter Australia

Book Now: Hot Air Balloon Yarra Valley
06

Cairns

One of the best places to visit near Gold Coast for backpackers, Cairns happens to be a quaint, charming resort town. It has a pleasant and moderate climate that makes it an amazing getaway from the city of Gold Coast. Well-facilitated with buzzing cafes, a beautiful platypus park, and flamboyant beach markets, the tropical paradise of Cairns offers a relaxed atmosphere for a laid-back holiday. The town of Cairns is also known popularly as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Forest.
Distance from Gold Coast : 1775.3 km

Also Checkout: Things To Do In Sydney This Weekend
07

Surfer's Paradise

Surfer’s Paradise is one of the top places near Gold Coast to visit for a perfect beach day out, especially for thrill seekers and watersports enthusiasts. As its name suggests, this famous beach town is the abode of avid surfers, thanks to its super amazing waves. The town is home to a number of affordable beach hotels and upmarket nightclubs and bars. Some of the popular tourist hotspots in Surfer’s Paradise include Dracula’s Haunted House, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Hard Rock Café.
Distance from Gold Coast : 4.3 km

Read More: Places To Visit In Sydney
08

Gold Coast Theme Parks

Gold Coast is home to four amazing theme parks, namely Wet’n’Wild, Dream World, Warner Brothers’ Movie World, and SeaWorld. The biggest theme park on the Gold Coast, Dream World is known for its exhilarating rides and the Tiger Island. Featuring some of the greatest waterslides of the country, Wet’n’Wild is a renowned aquatic theme park. Warner Brothers’ Movie World is home to your favorite characters along with some hi-tech theme rides. Sea World shelters a myriad of fascinating Australian marine life and is facilitated with cable cars and a monorail system.
Distance from Gold Coast : 9.5 km

Suggested Read: Museums In Sydney
09

Australia Zoo

The iconic Australia Zoo is one of the perfect places to visit near Gold Coast, especially with young children. A myriad of Australian animals like wombats and kangaroos call this zoo home. The zoo offers visitors a number of unique experiences, such as petting a tiger, enjoying a photoshoot session with the koalas, and hand-feeding a tortoise. The zoo also shelters a number of exotic plant species including Australian Fan Palm, Beehive Ginger, Cat’s Whiskers, Cardboard Cycad, Crucifix Orchid, and Dwarf Bottlebrush.
Distance from Gold Coast : 24.6 Km

Do Read: Indoor Activities Sydney

Checkout and Book Now: Luna Park Melbourne
10

South Bank

The south bank of the Brisbane River flaunts a postcard-perfect floral walkway, a wide range of beautiful upmarket fine dining restaurants, some intriguing galleries and museums, and a pristine artificial beach. This place also has a picturesque botanical garden, a majestic Nepalaese Pagoda, and a stunning Rainforest Walk. A number of freshwater turtles can be easily spotted wandering around in this area. Some of the tourist hotspots in the South Bank area include the Maritime Museum and the QLD Museum Science Centre.
Distance from Gold Coast : 76.5 Km

Must Read: Theme Parks In Gold Coast
11

West End

Boasting a quirky and hippy vibe, the upmarket West End area has acquired a great popularity amongst the hipster and indie population. This place has some great fashion outlets to shop for vintage garments. It also houses some of the best cafes of Brisbane and of course the famous Lychee Lounge that offers excellent cocktails. The weekend markets hosted here offer an insight of the creative side of Australia. One of the prime attractions of West End is the picturesque Orleigh Park, where visitors can take a stroll enjoying the breathtaking views of the serene Brisbane river.
Distance from Gold Coast : 77.3 km

Also Read: Things To Do In Gold Coast
12

Story Bridge

A number of beautiful bridges are built over the iconic Brisbane river that forms the backbone of the daily lives of the people residing there. One of these river bridges is the very famous Story Bridge, which is known to be a heritage landmark. Established in 1940 and made of steel, this bridge connects Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point. Crossed by more than 100,000 commuters daily, this bridge comes to life at night, when it is completely lit up with bright coloured lights.
Distance from Gold Coast : 78.1 km

Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Gold Coast

Book Now: Hot Air Ballooning In Melbourne
13

Roma Street Parkland

Nestled above the city center of Brisbane, the bustling Roma Street Parkland flaunts an urban crowd and a picture-perfect lush garden. Spread across a huge area of a whopping 16 hectares, the breathtaking Spectacle Garden is home to a beautiful year-round floral display and immaculate grounds. The garden features a cute cafe, a picnic area, free wifi, two playgrounds, and barbeque. Roma Street Parkland is home to beautiful birds from distinct species, making for an excellent hotspot for avid birdwatchers.
Distance from Gold Coast : 78.2 km

Do Read: Gold Coast Beaches
14

Fraser Island

A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, the beautiful Fraser Island happens to be the world’s largest sand island. This island makes for an excellent hotspot for nature lovers and couples, seeking a relaxed leisure vacation. Fraser Island is also popular among adventure seekers, who often visit this place to enjoy fishing, whale watching, and 4WD-ing. This place has a number of luxury holiday resorts and also offers great camping opportunities.
Distance from Gold Coast : 431.7 km

Must Read: Gold Coast Cruises
15

Whitsundays

Whitsundays is a conglomeration of a total of 74 islands, out of which 4 offer accommodation and others are uninhabited national park islands. Packed with hotels for every budget, Whitsundays is the perfect destination for all kinds of travelers, starting from backpackers to luxury seekers. Known as the abode of adventure seekers, this place offers a number of adrenaline-pumping activities, such as helicopter rides, seaplane tours, and jet skiing. The nowy-white sand beaches of Whitsundays are also perfect for sunbathing, relaxing, and enjoying a game of beach volleyball.
Distance from Gold Coast : 1003 km

Also Read: Things To Do In Melbourne

Checkout and Book Now: Melbourne Zoo Tickets

People Also Ask About Gold Coast

  1. Which are the best theme parks to visit in Gold Coast?

    1. Sea World: One of the best places to visit near Gold Coast for marine enthusiasts, SeaWorld is home to a myriad of fascinating Australian marine animals. This place lets you get up close with marine life, feed the animals, and also watch some great marine live shows. Dreamworld: Dreamworld is known to be the biggest theme park in Australia, which not only offers thrilling rides, but also houses many indegenous animals like Koalas, Wombats, and Kangaroos. Its prime attraction is Tiger Island, which shelters diverse species of tigers.

    2. Wet’n’Wild: Flaunting an aquatic theme, Wet‘n’Wild is home to more than 40 slides and attractions, including a kids' pool and heated pools for winter baths. There is also the Calypso Beach, where visitors can enjoy beach volleyball and sunbathing.

    3. Warner Brothers’ Movie World: Warner Brothers’ Movie World houses iconic movie characters and visitors can click pictures with their favorite icons. It also has some amazing themed rides for the fun and adrenaline seekers.
  2. What is the most breathtaking place in Queensland?

    1. Gold Coast Wax Museum: The iconic Wax Museum of Gold Coast is home to human-like wax statues of world-famous celebrities, including movie stars, singers, artists, characters, and other eminent historical figures.

    2. Lamington National Park: Home to fascinating animals and some of the best waterfalls of Australia, Lamington National Park is one of the most off-beat places to visit near Gold Coast. This place offers many fun and thrilling activities including trekking, treetop walking, birdwatching, jungle camping, and nature walks.

    3. Port Douglas: A picturesque holiday resort, Port Douglas is one of the best places near Gold Coast to visit for a laid-back vacation. Adorned with mango and palm trees, this place is home to upmarket shops, fascinating art galleries, and cute cafes.

    4. Cairns: Cairns is a quaint tropical resort town, featuring buzzing cafes, flamboyant beach markets, palm-fringed streets, colorful gardens, and beautiful parks. One of the prime attractions of this place is the Cairns Esplanade that flaunts a water-themed playground and a saltwater swimming lagoon.
  3. What is Gold Coast famous for?

    Gold Coast is famous for its mind-boggling theme parks, pristine beaches, endless shopping opportunities, intriguing museums, fascinating art galleries, breathtaking gardens, national parks, and intoxicating nightlife culture. The city is also known for its thrilling adventure sports, such as snorkeling, surfing, hot air ballooning, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and Go karting.
  4. Which is the best thing to do near Gold Coast?

    1. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef: Go snorkeling in the world’s largest and most iconic coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to a myriad of flourishing marine creatures. On your snorkeling tour, spot 400 different types of corals, 4,000 different types of mollusc, and 1,500 different fish species.

    2. Relax at Roma Street Parkland: Head for a relaxed holiday in the picturesque lush gardens of Roma Street Parkland, one of the most beautiful places to visit near Gold Coast. Spend your time enjoying a lovely picnic with barbeque lunch.

    3. Enjoy Adventure Sports in Whitsundays: If you are an adventure enthusiast, spend a day in Whitsundays enjoying a number of adrenaline-pumping activities, such as helicopter rides, seaplane tours, and jet skiing.

    4. Spend Some Time In West End: Plan a day out to the quirky, bohemian West End, where you can spend time shopping for vintage outfits and relishing some excellent cocktails at the famous Lychee Lounge.
  5. What is Lamington National Park famous for?

    Lamington National Park is famous for its thick rainforests, fascinating animals, stunning waterfalls, and dramatic cliffs. It is also known for its 190 species of colorful birds including bowerbirds and bright hued parrots. The Park is also a very popular hiking and camping destination.
  6. How long do people spend at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary?

    You need around 3 to 4 hours to explore the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. This much time is enough for meeting the animals there and participating in fun activities, such as cable car rides, segway safari, and hand-feeding the animals.
  7. What are the best activities and attractions in Australia that you can book via Thrillophilia?

    The following are the best activities and attractions that you can book via Thrillophilia:
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Chakravartee Butt Gold Coast Water Sports Combo
Excellent
We chose jet ski and flyboarding option on this tour and are very happy with the experience. Flying above the waters and in the middle of beautiful views added a cherry to the cake. Thank you thrillophilia for providing Gold Coast water sports combo ticket at cheap prices
Excellent
60 metres above the ground gave me chills. The instructor was very good and he gave me all the necessary information. After he helped me wear all the safety gears, I was confident. I am glad I was able to do it and I am glad I choose this.
Adventurous zipline and too above most beautiful views, it was a perfect combination. Going above the greenery at a great speed and winds blowing on my face refreshed me. Gold Coast canyon flyer zipline tour was better than perfect.
Excellent
The driver was very friendly and he helped us reach the airport without letting us miss the flights. It was a budget transfer option that we could choose and value for money as well. The vehicle was clean and air-conditioned. Thanks to the driver and thrillophilia
Excellent
Shared Gold Coast airport transfers was a comfortable and convenient package. We did not have to worry about being transferred to the hotel as the driver was at the right time. Would recommend this over taxis
Excellent
Alex took care of me while I was surfing. He was so friendly and knowledgable and helped me learn from scratch. He even showed us his skills which were amazing. I would recommend beginner surf experience in Gold Coast to all.
Excellent
Being a beginner I was worried about availing this tour at first. But Thrillophilia did what it promised. I was so excited when the experience started. I could learn the basics of surfing and show off my moves to all. Thank you Thrillophilia for this package.
Excellent
It was a thrilling time. From booking tickets to availing it everything was very easy. This was my first time and at first I was scared but then I I started to get the hold of it, I enjoyed it throughly.
Excellent
this experience in Gold Coast was one the most memorable . Driving a jetski gave me goosebumps and being an advance one, we could do so many things. At that moment I could feel the adventure reaching at max level.
Excellent
The ground staff which helped us throughout this package was super friendly and supportive. We enjoyed thoroughly and had a great overall experience. I personally liked parasailing and will recommend to all the travellers.

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