Gold Coast Itinerary For Solo Travellers

Travelling solo is the ultimate freedom. You can go wherever you want, whenever you want at your own pace, without having to accommodate anyone else's schedule or preferences. There's no shortage of incredible solo adventures and unique experiences to be had on the Gold Coast. And since we were recently voted in the Top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on earth by booking.com, you can be confident you’ll get a warm welcome from the locals. The only thing we love more than this special part of the world is sharing it with others. So come as you are, come on your own and discover why the Gold Coast is the ideal destination for solo travellers.

Day 1

Morning: Get your day off to a cracking start with a leisurely bike ride along the beautiful beachside cycle path that runs from Coolangatta in the south all the way up Paradise Point in the north. The Darren Smith Memorial Route is 48 km all up but you don’t need to do it all. Hire a bike from Kool Bike Hire in Coolangatta (choose from a cruiser, mountain bike or eBike) and set out north, stopping for a swim and a bit of breakfast at one of the cafes you pass along the way. At Currumbin, the route takes you inland along the creek before joining the coastline again at Burleigh, where it’s a smooth, mostly flat ride up to Miami and Mermaid Beach. There are plenty of pretty, shady spots to stop and take a breather and soak up the stunning coastal vistas that the Gold Coast is famous for.

Noon: After all that exertion it’s time to chill out and fill your cup with some sublime self care at Earth & Skin Organic Day Spa in Mudgeeraba. When you step through the door , you’re enveloped by a sense of serenity, only enhanced by natural decor, soothing music and leafy plants. The treatment rooms are like a cocoon of calm and you’ll sink into a state of bliss under the hands of their highly skilled therapists, during one of their organic facials, signautre massages or body treatments. All products used in their treatments are chemical-free, cruelty-free and organic - gentle on the planet and fantastic for your skin. 

Night: As a solo traveller you get used to eating on your own - after a while it doesn't feel weird anymore. But if you’re keen for some company and camaraderie while you dine, sign up to a cooking class at Icon the Cookery School at Robina Town Centre. They offer a variety of classes including Greek, Moroccan or Spanish cuisine and night classes run from 6-9pm (check the class schedule on their website for dates). Their friendly and talented chefs will guide you through the process as you learn new kitchen skills, cook a fabulous meal and enjoy the culinary creative process. It’s a great atmosphere for making connections and having fun - and since you made it yourself, the food is sure to be first class. 

Day 2

Morning and Noon: Jump aboard a Southern Cross Tours mini-bus for a full day tour exploring Gold Coast’s gorgeous Hinterland with a small group, where you’ll be made to feel like a friend. The Mount Tamborine Tour takes you on an adventure around the quaint mountain top village and surrounds and you couldn’t be in better hands. Throughout the experience, your guide will share stories and local knowledge about the places you visit as they show you around some Hinterland highlights. The drive up takes you through some stunning scenery with stops at mountaintop lookouts where the views will leave you speechless. You’ll meet passionate local producers and taste locally grown produce at lunch and try the region’s best coffees and award-winning spirits. Stroll down the village’s main street, browsing boutiques and locally made arts and crafts. Take a guided walk through one of the region’s most beautiful rainforests to soak up the serenity at a spring fed waterfall, splashing into a pretty waterhole. Learn about the fascinating biodiversity and how the local Indigenous people gathered food from the forest and about the wildlife that live there. A great way to see a different side to the Gold Coast for solo travellers.

Night: Make your way to Miami to experience a firm favourite - Miami Markatta. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm, this local treasure is a melting pot of street eats, live music, local design, art and fashion plus a number of very cool boutique bars. There’s succulent street food from around the world and free live music every night. Everyone eats at communal tables, which makes it easy to strike up a conversation and meet people. Entry is always free but check the website for regular ticketed events and performances from touring Australian and international acts - Marketta does double duty as one of the city’s best live music venues.

Day 3

Morning: Pack your towel and discover the aquatic adventures waiting on Gold Coast’s waterways. The numerous creeks, canals and lakes spread across the city provide plenty of opportunity to make a splash. Relax and cruise around at a leisurely pace on a paddleboard, kayak,  picnic boat (self drive electric boats that you don’t need a skipper's licence to drive) or a sailing cruise. If you’ve got the need for speed and prefer more action-packed pursuits, take your pick from jet ski tours, jet boat tours, parasailing or hydrofoiling. And if all of that sounds like it belongs in the too-hard basket, just take your towel down to Tallebudgera Creek and bask on the banks and swim in the sparkling water. 

Noon: Shout yourself lunch at one of the iconic surf life saving clubs that line the coastline - there’s nearly one in every suburb between Coolangatta and Southport. You can enjoy a budget friendly meal (Chicken Parmi anyone?) and a refreshing drink while enjoying ocean views from the alfresco balconies that are so close to the sand you can hear the waves breaking. A quintessential Queensland experience that should definitely be on your to do list.

Night: Unleash your inner artist and have a damn good time doing it with Pinot & Picasso art classes. It’s a paint and sip experience that everyone can try - no artistic abilities required! Take on some basic techniques of painting as your host guides you through step by step instructions. The creative process is enhanced by sipping on your favourite drop as you fill your canvas with colour. It’s a very enjoyable, social experience and you’ll be able to take home your very own masterpiece as a souvenir of your Gold Coast holiday. Choose from two locations in Palm Beach and Broadbeach.

More For Solo Travellers on the Gold Coast

If you’re staying for longer, here are some more suggestions on how to make the most of your time on the Gold Coast.  

Get your PADI Certification in a two-day dive course and dive Wonder Reef. This $5 million new dive attraction is the world’s first buoyant reef and offers a completely unique underwater experience, where you can swim between nine steel structures that are anchored to the ocean floor and move with the currents like a magical aquatic hanging garden, inhabited by all kinds of marine life. 

Head up to Binna Burra Lodge in the Hinterland. It’s situated on the fringe of Lamington National Park and you’ll have untouched wilderness and ancient rainforest right on your doorstep. Think long hikes, waterfalls galore, wildlife, stillness and natural beauty. The Tiny Wild Houses are a great accommodation option for solo travellers - tiny homes perched atop an escarpment with picture windows framing beautiful views across the bush.

South Stradbroke Island is only a short boat ride from the Gold Coast but it feels a million miles away. This peaceful, picturesque island is the Gold Coast’s best-kept secret. If you’re after some nature based chill time or crave space and solitude, this 1800-hectare conservation park is the spot. No cars, no crowds, no traffic… Just a sky full of stars, perhaps a crackling campfire and the soothing rhythm of waves lapping at the shore. Surfing, fishing, watersports and beach walks are the main activities here.

Sign up for a course of surf lessons and learn to ride the waves. The Gold Coast is an ideal spot for beginners with plenty of protected beaches and a lineup of surf schools who show you the skills in a fun, friendly, safe and supportive environment.