Gold Coast family-friendly travel guide

The Gold Coast boasts pleasant temperatures all year round. Its coldest month is July, with an average of 21 degrees Celsius, and its hottest January, with an average of 29 degrees Celsius.

Australian visitors normally travel to the Gold Coast by car or plane. The main domestic airport serving the Gold Coast is Gold Coast Airport. 

The Gold Coast is a 10-hour drive from Sydney and a 20-hour drive from Melbourne. An overnight stop is recommended when driving from Sydney, and three stops from Melbourne. The Gold Coast is roughly a two-hour drive from Brisbane.

The Gold Coast is connected by trains and buses. You can find timetabling information and routes here. 

The Gold Coast boasts a huge range of dining opportunities. There are plenty of great family restaurants as well as a myriad of smaller outlets for grabbing a snack at any time of the day or night.

Dining highlights include fresh seafood and modern Australian cuisine along with brilliant French, Italian and Japanese options. One of the culinary centres of the Gold Coast is around Tedder Avenue in Main Beach where the Gold Coast’s top restaurants and bars conveniently line either side of the street.

Other parts of the Gold Coast such as Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise also offer good variety. Surfers Paradise is a popular dining area for families with many cafes and eateries offering well-priced family meals.

Shopping is a major tourist activity in the Gold Coast, with an incredible range of shopping resorts, boutiques and themed shopping villages.

Sanctuary Cove, Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre are the major developments, but you’ll find a treasure trove of fashion, art, crafts and gifts around every corner, as well as monthly or bi-monthly markets in places like Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta and Robina Town Centre.

Harbour Town offers outlet shopping and is only a 15-minute drive from Surfers Paradise.

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

Casual lightweight clothing is the norm in the Gold Coast. A jacket or warmer clothing may be required for cooler winter evenings. Long pants and comfortable walking shoes are recommended if you plan to do any bushwalking or horse riding. To ensure adequate protection from the sun, wear a broad-rimmed hat, sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen. These are essential all year round.

Australia is renowned for its laid-back, egalitarian culture. By and large, friendliness is equated with good manners.

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australian cities.

By and large, the Gold Coast is considered a safe destination, although still exercise regular safety precautions as you would at home.

Perhaps the most iconic Gold Coast building, the Q1 Resort and Spa’s Skypoint Observation Deck rises 322.5 metres above Surfers Paradise, with 360-degree views over the hinterland and Pacific Ocean, all the way to Byron Bay (on a clear day).

This stunning piece of coastline is made up of numerous parks, walking tracks, viewing platforms, hilly grassed areas and restaurants overlooking the water – perfect for a day trip and a quaint picnic spot.

The Surfers Paradise sign is located right where bustling Cavill Ave meets the beach and makes the perfect backdrop for your holiday shot. Get there at sunrise for the best lighting!

This waterfall and natural arch has been formed over millions of years by water wearing away the basalt rock and under cutting into the cave below. The best place to snap a picture is from inside the cave looking out or from up on the walkway looking into the cave. The added bonus? If you visit after sunset, glowworms can be seen inside the cave!

If you’re on a budget and can’t make it to the wildlife sanctuary for the real deal, the sculpture in Coolangatta makes a cool substitute. If you have time to make a tour out of it, there are actually 30 koala sculptures scattered around the Gold Coast, starting in Tweed all the way up to Southport!