Great Value Gold Coast
There’s so much more to the Goldie than skyscrapers and theme parks, as these five budget-friendly experiences reveal
Head to the beach
You can’t start a story about the Gold Coast without
mentioning beaches – and there are 21 of them stretched along the coast you can
talk about. The Goldie is particularly famous for surfing – Burleigh Heads
offers some of the most consistent waves in Australia while Snapper Rocks hosts
the annual Quiksilver Pro World Surf League event. Plus, most of the Gold
Coast’s beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers so they’re very safe.
See some Aussie wildlife
Get up close and personal with cute and cuddly Australian
animals at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingos,
rainbow lorikeets, crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas . . . the
whole gang! Book online and admission costs just $35 – but you can’t put a
price on selfies like this.
Explore the hinterland
Head inland to discover the Gold Coast Hinterland, a
collection of picturesque national parks that will provide Instagram material
for weeks. Check out the incredible Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National
Park (pictured) and the panoramic views from Tamborine Mountain, as well as the
waterfalls of the Numinbah Valley and the secret swimming hole at the idyllic
Currumbin Rock Pools. The best part? All these hinterland national parks are
free!
Nab a bargain at the markets
Lap up the atmosphere and sniff out a bargain at one of
the Goldie’s many great markets. Every Friday and Saturday night you can pick
up a souvenir at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets every Friday and Saturday night or grab some tasty street food at NightQuarter, and if you’re after fresh produce try the Burleigh Farmers Markets (Saturday mornings) and Gold Coast Organic Farmers Market (Sunday
mornings).
Get active
Take in the scenery as you cruise along the Gold Coast’s
sparkling waterways on a stand-up paddleboard – great for your fitness and not
too hard on your hip pocket (the going rate is $20 for 1.5 hours). The Goldie
also boasts 36km of coastal pathways to cycle, as well as world-class mountain
bike courses for the more adventurous.