📍Grab Your Bags! These 14 Unforgettable Gold Coast Day Trips Will Have You Racing Out The Door!
WONDERING WHAT THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM THE GOLD COAST ARE?
Ah, the Gold Coast. Famous for its iconic golden beaches, towering skyscrapers, world-class surf, vibrant day-and-night atmosphere, and impressive lineup of activities and attractions that perfectly embody its “Famous for Fun” spirit. It’s easy to see why this illustrious city has earned its status as Australia’s most prolific seaside destination.
But its intoxicating blend of atmospheric city liveliness with its natural aquatic playground is only scratching the surface of what this corner of Queensland has to offer. Within just two hours’ travel of its illustrious CBD, Surfers Paradise, lies a spectacular river city, ancient Gondwana rainforests and dramatic volcanic plugs rising from the landscape, just to name a few.
So without further ado, here are the best day trips from the Gold Coast by car, ferry, and, surprisingly, private flight (check out No. #10), written by a local, road-trip-loving outdoor enthusiast.
👉 My top 2 picks for where to take a day trip near the Gold Coast:
- Within An Hour: Coolangatta & Tweed Heads.
- Within 1.5 Hours: Green Mountain, Lamington National Park.
- Within 2 Hours: Lady Elliot Island.
Planning Your Trip? These Are My Favourite Go-To Resources!
- 🎟 Activities & Experiences: Viator – My first stop for unique tours and experiences anywhere in the world.
- 🏨 Accommodation: Expedia – Hotels +members get 10% off!
- 🗺 Fully-Organised Trips: Tour Radar. Multi-day tours with leading companies. Use my code BelindaA50 for $50 off tours over $1,250!
Best Short Self-Drive Gold Coast Day Trips.
1. Brisbane.
No trip to the southeast corner of Queensland is complete without visiting the state’s gorgeous capital, Brisbane. Offering a vastly different, but just as quintessential Australian experience that no tourist to the Land Down Under should miss, the fact that these two incredible cities are so close and can so easily be done in conjunction with each other is just the gift that keeps on giving.
Capitalising on its year-round warm weather, the city sets itself apart with its enviable riverine lifestyle that puts its natural asset, the Brisbane River, front and centre for many of its unmissable attractions and activities.
The reigning headliner of that long list is striking Story Bridge, which is not only, structurally, the country’s longest steel cantilever bridge, but is also the home of the city’s most iconic adventure experiences to the summit of its southern peaks, it’s offering magnificent uninterrupted 360 degrees views of the city, including unique perspectives of the city I’d never seen before.
Speaking of spectacular viewpoints, the latest addition to the lineup is the new Star Casino’s Sky Deck, which offers just as much for the significantly budget-friendly cost of zero dollars! That’s right! Unseen public panoramic penthouse views for the inner city’s eastern side, 100m above the river from Brisbane’s highest and most high-end lookout, are completely FREE! That’s insane!
Some of that view includes a few more mustn’t-miss attractions, such as the South Bank Parkland’s gorgeous resort-style beach lagoons, and the iconic Wheel Of Brisbane ferris wheel.
Other inner city highlights include abseiling the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, cruising the river on the famous CityCats, or strolling along the city’s revered riverside walkways. With so much to see and do — and with easy access by car, train, or even plane, pre-coastal adventure — it’s easy to see why Brisbane is an elite all-around day trip from the Gold Coast for solo travellers, couples, families, and groups of friends alike.
Psst: Public transport in Brisbane South East Queensland is only 50c! This includes trains, City Cats, and Cross River Ferries. But for even more budget friendliness, the City Hopper (which is the same vessel as the Cross River Ferries) is free and gets you to several key tourist attractions.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 77km
- Minimum Time To Traverse By Road/ By Train & Tram: 1hr/ 1hr 30min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Theme Parks.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Jephson Hotel & Apartments.
2. Coolangatta.
Down at the southernmost end of Queensland’s coastline, and NSW’s northernmost, lies what I think is one of this part of Australia’s most underrated destinations, the twin, border-straddling towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads. But think of it as your next adventure playground, because while they look like peaceful coastal towns where you can enjoy the scenery from some of the city’s best lookouts and kick your feet up at some of its top eaches, and relax all day — and that’s one way to go about it — that’s just surface-level stuff. It is not tapping into the epic potential this place has to offer, which is home to some of the Gold Coast’s and Northern Rivers region’s best-kept adrenaline-pumping secrets. And that’s after you include its world-famous hollow barrel waves that surfers travel from across the world to ride at Snapper Rocks.
Nah, I’m talking about exhilarating, non-stop aerobatic manoeuvres in a gorgeous Yak-52 Russian warbird, pulling off extreme stunts and reaching borderline blackout g-forces until your stomach gives out. Literally. WARNING: You may puke! But that’s not to scare you off, because I almost did and it is still, to this day, my favourite experience ever, so that’s saying something. Plus, as if it couldn’t get any better than that, the backdrop is the Gold Coast city sky rises.
Speaking of which, they are also what you fall face first towards if you opt for the Gold Coast’s only skydiving experience, where you not only reach terminal velocity speeds from an eye-watering 14,000 feet, but you’re also getting the most unforgettable, uninterrupted aerial views of Australia’s world-famous coastal city before landing on the beach, which is just the perfect way to cap off an unforgettably exhilarating experience.
Meanwhile, from across the border, there are also snorkelling and diving trips at the nearby Cook Islands and scenic Tweed River Cruises, just to make it even more of an epic Gold Coast day trip for solo travellers and adventure seekers.
Psst: Because these twin towns are right next to the domestic and international airports, their experiences are a phenomenal way to start or end your Gold Coast or Australian adventure.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 26km
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 45min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Skypoint, Burleigh Head National Park, Currumbin & Elephant Rock.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Tessa’s On The Beach Boutique Hotel.
👉 Quick Guide To The Gold Coast:
- 🚗 Getting Around: G:Link trams are great for Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport, with Lime bikes great for hiring to get between places. Renting a car is the best for more widespread travel.
- 🌄 Must-Do Activities: Skypoint Climb, Water activities on the Gold Coast Broadwater, Yak-52 aerobatic flight.
- 🏠 Best Hotel: Rhapsody Resort.
3. Mt Tamborine.
When people think of beautiful mountain getaways in South East Queensland, Mt Tamborine is often one of the first places people think of, and for good reason. For a tiny rainforest town, it sure is dynamic, perfectly blending its beautiful natural assets with fun and adventure, culminating in one of the top hinterland day trips from the Gold Coast for couples and families.
Thunderbird Park is where the heart of the action lies, headlined by being home to Australia’s largest guided zipline canopy tour and its biggest Tree Top Challenge ropes course, which are both fun and engaging activities for adventurous dates and quality time with family members of all ages, including my then 68 year old dad, was out there like a young tarzan! But that’s not all. Another must-do is rummaging through the world’s Thunder Egg Mine to see what magnificent thousand-year-old Thunder Eggs you can find, which are exceptionally beautiful when cut open, revealing never-before-seen intricate crystal formations forged from prehistoric volcanic lava., They make incredible souvenirs and gifts.
As for walking trails, two of the best offerings include the 1.1km return or 2.5km circuit walk to the gorgeous rainforest-shrouded Curtis Falls and the 1.1km return track to the stunning rock pools of Cedar Creek Falls, where a refreshing dip in the cooling mountain-fed waters is a must, particularly in summer.
Then to cap it all off, did anyone say sunset picnic? Rob Sowter Lookout is an elite place in the greater Gold Coast region to lay a blanket down on the grass and watch the sun set over the picturesque Scenic Rim, which is super cutesy romantic. But be warned, it is a super popular spot, so be prepared to enjoy it with others.
It is also pretty steep for a picnic spot. And that’s because the location was cleared for pilots to launch their hang gliders and paragliders, which just completely — and literally — elevates Mt Tamborine even further into elite day trip destination status if you’ve come packing the wind’s favourable.
Psst: Thanks to all the rustic cabins scattered throughout the mountaintop, it is also the perfect romantic weekend rainforest getaway.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 43km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 55min.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: The Polish Place.
4. Springbrook National Park.
For those all about hiking, Springbrook National Park is the Gold Coast’s elite destination to get lost in an ancient realm of gorgeous Gondwanian rainforests. Sitting atop a breathtakingly rugged plateau, it is a nature lover’s paradise, thanks to it being the home of several of the region’s most epic waterfalls that dramatically plunge over 100m off the spectacular sheer cliff faces year-round.
Purlingbrook Falls is the most iconic, but Twin Falls and Rainbow Falls are just as magnificent and have trails that take you behind the “veil”, allowing you to see the world from a different perspective, which is a cool experience that you can’t find anywhere else in the South East.
Plus, there are plenty of smaller waterfalls around too, along with a few breathtaking lookouts to see too, such as the Clifftop Canyon Lookout, and the boldly-named Best Of All Lookout, which overlooks the massive erosion caldera — the largest in Australia — left when the Tweed Volcano erupted 23 million years ago, with its volcanic plug, Mount Warning, being an iconic remnant landmark of that catastrophic natural event.
Oh, but that’s not all. Off the plateau, things get even more special with the Natural Bridge, a waterfall unlike any other in this part of the Australian continent. What makes it different is that it just casually gently flows down a rocky slope, and then, BAM! Next thing it knows, the rocks have given out and now it’s plunging through the ceiling of a dark cave and flowing back out of it into daylight again. The coolest thing about it is that the walkway leads into the cave, and seeing the water rush in and feeling the power surge through is a simultaneously unsettling and awe-inspiring experience; the raw, unfiltered power is truly captivating.
Best of all, because all the landmarks & lookouts I’ve mentioned are short to medium walks, most hikers can knock them all out in a day, making Springbrook one of the most jam-packed scenic day trips from the Gold Coast there is.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 47km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Hinze Dam.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Springbrook Mountains Chalets.
5. Hinze Dam.
If you’re craving some lakeside scenery or just a short, picturesque drive through the countryside, less than an hour from Surfers Paradise, Hinze Dam, the Gold Coast’s only supply lake, is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the fresh air.
Walking across the dam wall is a lovely way to drink in the picturesque mountains surrounding the lake, overlooking the Gondwanian rainforest wilderness that stretches to the border while the lookout below is great for marvelling at the spillway architecture. You can also learn about its stats and construction process at the information centre near the cafe, all easy-breezy ways to spend time there. The lake is en route to two sections of Springbrook National Park, so you can visit both these beautiful places in one fell swoop.
Or if you come packing, you get a whole heap more out of a visit here. The Waterside Park is a particularly gorgeous picnic area or the two there are while across the other side of the dam wall is the Pat Hallinan Mountain Bike Precinct, perfect for tearing up the terrain up the terrain.
Meanwhile, further south along the Nerang Murwillumbah Road is the Western Boat Ramp, where you can launch an electric boat, sailboat, or kayak from the ramp and spend a few hours tranquilly exploring the quietest parts of the dam, which makes this lake a fantastic Gold Coast day trip for couples and families.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 25km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 40min.
6. Kingscliff & Fingal Head.
Craving more peaceful coastal vibes? Not far south of the border in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, lies the tiny town of Kingscliff and its lovely neighbouring village, Fingal Head, which, together, make for one of the best free and relaxing self-drive day trips from the Gold Coast.
These two sleepy under-the-radar places are perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle and living life at a slower pace. As with all coastal destinations, they are best visited in summer when it’s hot out and all you want to do is cool off in the water. And that is especially true with Kingscliff’s gorgeous Cudgen Creek, because, for some reason, despite visiting on a super hot, high 30s November day, the water was freezing when I went.
But don’t let that stop you (but maybe…. wetsuits?) as its waters are beautiful, crystalline, and are super inviting to swim in, which is the activity of choice here. You may even see a dolphin (as the news once reported)! It’s also a stunning place for kayaking, stand-up paddling and even snorkelling, though, be aware of the current, as it’s fairly strong.
Meanwhile, Fingal Head lies on a thin peninsula between the Tweed River and the Pacific Ocean. The former side is picturesque, with many scenic picnic areas creating the perfect setting for outdoor dining. It also has gentle slopes and boat launching areas, providing watercraft with easy access to traverse the stunning waterways.
As for the latter, the short walk to the lighthouse is a must. Not for the heritage structure, which is the cute twin of the Richmond River Lighthouse in Ballina, but for the incredible views of Cook Island in the distance and the impressive lava columns that jut up from the ocean nearby. Take your long camera lens or binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins swimming close by, and Australasian gannets divebombing the waters, hoping to catch fish.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 25km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 40min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Coolangatta.
Best Day Trips Gold Coast Within 1.5 Hours.
Lamington National Park.
For those who love to get lost in nature, outdoor adventure day trips from the Gold Coast don’t get much more beautiful than Lamington National Park. Comprised of two massive neighbouring sections on the other side of Springbrook, Binna Burra and Green Mountains, both have many incredible hiking trails through lush Gondwana heritage rainforests, ranging from short and easy to hard and challenging, perfect for visitors of all fitness levels.
6. Binna Burra.
Binna Burra is the closest of the two to the coastal city and involves a lovely drive through the countryside to the hilltop town of Beechmont, where stopping at Rosin’s Lookout is a must. Then, not long after that, it’s a long, slow, steep and narrow ascent into the high-elevation rainforest wilderness, making for a fantastic drive, where plenty of walks await.
The top highlight I recommend is easily accomplishable in a day is the Caves Track. The name is a little misleading, there are no caves along this circuit — well, unless you count a small archway — and features two massive and spectacular rock overhangs — The Kweebani Cave and another much cooler, unnamed one — which are both gorgeous landmarks well worth visiting.
A small side note, the through-track ends at a different place along the road from the start, so there’s the option to visit the overhangs before heading back or continue the other side, and then back along the asphalt.
And if you want to spend more time here and turn it into an epic overnight or multi-day trip from Surfers Paradise — and why wouldn’t you, it’s gorgeous up here— the famous Binna Burra Sky Lodges provide some incredible luxury accommodation. There are also hike-to campgrounds scattered through the national park, and even the 22km hike-through Gold Coast Great Hinterland walk to the Green Mountains section to accomplish.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 47km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 10min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Rosin’s Lookout.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Binna Burra Lodges.
7. Green Mountains.
Green Mountain, or O’Reilly’s as it’s often also called, is an even larger mountaintop destination further inland and is even more challenging to reach, making it easily the best self-drive day trip from the Gold Coast by car.
The first part to Canungra is cruisy, traversing through the picturesque countryside on lovely meandering roads. But it’s past the town where things switch gears and the long drive up becomes narrower with plenty of single-lane sections, windier with many blind hairpin turns and becoming steeper as it makes quick elevation gains. It’s certainly a fun and sometimes tense driving challenge, but with glimpses of the gorgeous countryside along the way and a lovely Kamarun Lookout near the end, not to mention all the good stuff at the top, like the Stinson Replica and the trailheads for the many walking trails, it is certainly well worth it.
The family-friendly Tree Top Walk is an iconic and unmissable short trail featuring a suspension bridge and a sleep ladder that goes to a tiny hidden lookout for a canopy perspective of the rainforest. Other great day trip tracks are Python Rock & Morans Falls track, which both have epic views, while the latter also features the Moran Creek plunging over a sheer, exposed cliff face into the gorge of the same name.
Picnic Rock, Elabana Falls & Box Falls are a fantastic little trifecta of waterfalls at the intersection of several trails, which also makes a great walk. However, if you are a fast walker, I highly recommend doing the 10.9km Box Forest Circuit (anticlockwise), which features even more gorgeous waterfalls and is particularly epic after consistent heavy rain!
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 69km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 35min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Kamarun Lookout.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
8. Byron Bay.
Want to experience the epitome of the idyllic Australian lifestyle? Then head south — because no place in the Land Down Under embodies it more iconically than Byron Bay. This gorgeous small town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year, hoping to get a taste of what this enviable seaside atmosphere is like, even if it’s only for a little while. And thanks to it providing the perfect beachside contrast to the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast, you get two vastly different iconic coastal experiences so close to each other, which makes it the perfect complementary seaside escape from the city.
Diving into what makes this place world-famous is its proximity to the rugged coastal beauty of Cape Byron Conservation Park. Home of the gorgeous Cape Byron Lighthouse, it is a spectacular heritage site and one of the region’s best lookouts where you can watch both the sun rising over the sea in the morning and setting over the mainland in the evening, and enjoy all the panoramic ocean scenery in between.
While you’re there, don’t overlook the trail leading from the lighthouse to the base of the headland, as it leads to the easternmost point of mainland Australia! There’s even a sign earmarking this place of geographical significance, which provides the perfect unique photo opportunity!
It is also home to beautiful beaches, fantastic surf and a bustling atmosphere of people living it up here. But that’s not all this dynamic coastal town has to offer. Under that small town exterior, it’s got some exceptional thrill-seeking adventures that’ll elevate any trip here into several leagues above what it presents at face value.
One is talking leaping out of a perfectly good plane to free-fall back down to the earth at terminal velocity with a tandem skydive. Two is launching yourself off a ramp and riding the thermals over the aforementioned lighthouse with a tandem hang gliding experience which I absolutely loved, while three is soaking in all that jaw-dropping coastal and country scenery from an open-aired two-seat gyrocopter for a truly unique experience to complement an adventure to this globally renowned seaside destination.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 96km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 21min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Coolangatta.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: The Hide Byron Bay.
Best Day Trips 2 Hours
From The Gold Coast.
9. Lady Elliot Island.
When people think of the Gold Coast, it’s all beaches and fun times, right? The Great Barrier Reef is not even within the realm of possibility as it’s a thousand miles away, right? But that’s where they’re wrong! But in the absolute best way!
The world’s largest and most biodiverse marine ecosystem isn’t just a North Queensland adventure, as its southernmost gateway starts right here at Coolangatta. And that’s what makes Lady Elliot Island, its southernmost coral cay, the most surprising, unusual and unforgettably unique Gold Coast day trip for solo travellers and outdoor adventure-loving couples.
Although expensive, an all-inclusive day tour with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort will pay you back tenfold with memories that will last a lifetime. The epic trip starts and ends with a spectacular 100-minute flight from the Gold Coast Airport to the breathtaking coral cay 457km north and includes activities such as a glass bottom boat excursion and snorkelling where you’ll encounter the likes of majestic sea turtles and friendly reef sharks swimming around the incredible underwater formations like bommies, arches and caves.
At least that’s what I experienced when I did it, departing Bundaberg, and I can’t speak highly enough of it. It is an exceptional trip, especially if you didn’t think you’d ever get the opportunity to experience the Great Barrier Reef because you weren’t travelling to one of its famous gateways, such as Cairns, the Whitsundays, or even Gladstone or Bundaberg, but always wanted to see what this renowned marine environment is all about.
- Distance From Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta): 457km.
- Minimum Time To Fly: 1hr 40min.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: –
- Wanna Stay Overnight?: Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.
10. Glass House Mountains.
Epic hiking destinations in the South East corner of Queensland don’t get much more outstanding than the Glass House Mountains. Scattered throughout the Sunshine Coast, on the northern side of Brisbane, lie 13 individual peaks that are hardened volcanic plug remnants of past volcanic activity and an absolute icon of the region, thanks to some having epic stature, rising dramatically out of the landscape like massive, giant shards.
Best of all, they’re not just a gorgeous sight travelling throughout the region but are home to many phenomenal hikes that lead to some of the most magnificent natural lookouts.
Two of my favourite ones, easily accomplishable in a fun adventure-seeking day trip from the Gold Coast, are Wild Horse Mountain and Mt Ngungun. Wild Horse Mountain is a short but physically demanding 1.4 km return hike along a relentlessly steep, exposed concrete driveway to a fire watchtower, that’s bound to leave your calves and buttcheeks in better shape than before. From the 123m elevation, enjoy breathtaking sweeping panoramic views of the other Glass House Mountains, Bribie Island, Pumicestone Passage and the Bruce Highway.
Right in the heart of all this gorgeous individual mountain terrain is the spectacular Mt Ngungun. The scenery from the top of this 2.8km return, grade 4 hike is magnificent. The exposed 253m high summit provides a captivating, 360° uninterrupted panoramic view showcasing all the other volcanic plugs rising dramatically up out of the landscape in all directions, providing what is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable natural lookouts in South East Queensland.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise To Mount Ngungun: 148km
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 50min.
11. Cunninghams Gap.
Main Range National Park.
One of the best things about the Queensland/NSW border is that from the western edge of the Great Dividing Range to the coast, it’s all super rugged mountainous terrain! This provides many exceptional opportunities to get lost in nature, with the Cunningham’s Gap section of Main Range National Park adding to the already incredible lineup of phenomenal day trip hiking destinations from the Gold Coast well worth seeking out.
The drive will take you two hours to reach the historically significant “Gap” that European explorer Alan Cunningham and his expedition group used to cross the range, but it goes through the gorgeous Scenic Rim countryside, providing you with one of the most beautiful scenic drives in South East Queensland. Then, when you get there, two magnificent mountains await that you can summit, with both the Mount Cordeaux & Bare Rock, and Mount Mitchell trails having exceptional views of the breathtaking region you just drove through to get here.
NOTE: Due to roadworks, The Crest carpark (the one at the top of the Gap) is closed. You can still do the walks from the West Gap Creek picnic area, 1.7km down the road, but it’ll add an extra 5km to the trail. Click here for more info.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 163km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 2hr.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Mt Tamborine, Lake Wyaralong.
- Wanna Stay Longer? Spicers Gap Campground.
12. Nightcap National Park.
If you frequently visit the Gold Coast and are looking for a hidden hinterland day trip because you’ve ticked off all the iconic destinations, or just want something further off the beaten path, then Nightcap National Park is a fantastic alternative.
Located across the border in New South Wales, this beautiful place is home to two of the Northern Rivers’ biggest and best waterfalls. Minyon Falls is on the eastern side of the park and plunges an epic 100m over a sheer escarpment and can be enjoyed from the wheelchair-accessible lookout at the top, where there are also epic views of the valley, or by the unforgettable 13km return trip to the base of the spectacular landmark, where you can see this thing in all its epic glory, or both as one of the trailheads starts from the unforgettable viewpoint.
Over on the national park’s western side lies a much shorter and easier 1.4km return trail to Protestors Falls, another gorgeous, 30m sheer cliff waterfall, which also has many picturesque rock pools along the way to enjoy along the way.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise To Minyon Falls Lookout: 106km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 37min.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Rummery Park Campground.
13. Evans Head.
Relaxing, under-the-radar day trips from the Gold Coast by car don’t get much better than Evans Head. This spectacular overlooked town is no ordinary sleepy seaside destination, as it packs a powerful punch that makes it well worth travelling nearly 2 hours along the Pacific Motorway to reach.
It’s got gorgeous beaches like the picturesque Shark Bay, the stunning sheltered Watsons Beach tidal lagoon for the kiddies to play, the spectacular Razorback Lookout overlooking the northern coastlines and the fascinating Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Museum which provides an intriguing insight into the town’s role as a bombing and gunnery school during the World War II and featuring genuine, full-sized retired military aircraft, some of which you can even go inside of.
And that’s not all, where it comes into its own is with the nature reserve and two national parks it has on its doorstep. Dirawong has spectacular rugged headlands, picturesque viewpoints and beautiful walking beaches. And thanks to the surfer letting me know, I also saw pods of dolphins playing in the waves, super close to shore! It was magnificent!
Broadwater National Park, north of the town, has massive dunes that make walking along the sand feel so far, wild and blissfully distant from civilisation, while the northern end of Bundjalung National Park has a beautiful kayaking creek that meets up with the main Evans River for longer paddling adventures. Forewarning: Be wary of the rides as the creek almost completely empties. I had to drag my kayak through parts of it.
- Distance From Surfers Paradise: 150km
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 50min.
- Wanna Stay Longer?: Reflections Holiday Parks Evans Head.
Accommodation: Where To Stay In Surfers Paradise.
- Budget: Paradise Resort Gold Coast.
- Mid-Range: The Island Gold Coast.
- Luxury: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.
Conclusion: Best Gold Coast Day Trips By Car & Private Plane.
Visitors to Australia’s world-famous seaside destination are spoilt for choice when it comes to additional adventures beyond its iconic beachfront playground.
From spectacular mountain escapes like Mt Tamborine, Lamington National Park, and the Glass House Mountains, to dynamic coastal getaways such as Coolangatta and Byron Bay — not to mention its dynamo duo partner, Brisbane — there are countless phenomenal day trips from the Gold Coast for solo travellers, couples, and families alike.
