Are you an adrenaline junkie looking for your next buzz? If you’re ready to push yourself to the limit, face your fears and go to the extreme, then you’re in luck. The Gold Coast is adrenaline central with a bunch of hair-raising activities for you to try out. From swimming with sharks to jumping out of planes and every eye-watering experience in between, this is your guide to an action-packed Gold Coast adventure.
GOLD COAST SKYDIVE
Only the biggest adrenaline junkies need apply for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Take in the best views of the glittering Coast (if you can keep your eyes open that is) with the crew at Gold Coast Skydive. No experience is needed here, as you’ll be given a safety briefing and get kitted up before departing Gold Coast Airport and soaring high into the clouds. Now for the hair-raising part – strapped safely to your tandem skydive instructor you’ll free fall from 12,000 feet, reaching speeds of up to 220kph before deploying your parachute and floating down for a soft sand landing on beautiful Kirra Beach. If you’re looking for one of the best adrenaline-pumping experiences – this is it!
STEEL TAIPAN
Roller coaster aficionados, get ready for the ride of your life! Climb aboard Dreamworld’s Steel Taipan and hold tight. Sitting at 39 metres high with a G-force of 3.8 this reptilian roller coaster snakes around 1.2km of truly terrifying twists, turns and stomach-lurching drops. Getting up to speeds of 105kph, even the biggest thrill-seekers will struggle not to scream and as you zip through four inversions and the world’s first ‘Tailwhip’ – a spinning seat at the rear of the train. Thrill-seekers, you’ve met your match with this one.
MOVIE WORLD’S HOLLYWOOD STUNT DRIVER EXPERIENCE
If you’ve got the need for speed, make like you’re a character from Fast and Furious with Movie World’s Hollywood Stunt Driver Experience. Perfect for lovers of torque, speed and adrenaline, this VIP experience will put you right in the centre of the action at the theme park’s most popular show. You’ll get to go behind the scenes, meet the members of the Showtime FMX stunt team (and score some driving tips) and take a backstage tour of Kustom Garage before strapping yourself into one of the stunt cars and getting the ride of your life. You’ll even get your own video of you zooming around the set, so you can share your moment of glory with your mates.
SKYPOINT CLIMB
Some people like to live on the edge and those people probably enjoy hanging off the side of high rises too. If you’re one of them, head to the Q1 Resort tower in Surfers Paradise to undertake Australia’s highest external building climb. After a safety briefing, you’ll start at the SkyPoint Observation Deck on level 77 and exit the building for an awe-inspiring, sky high adventure. Safely harnessed onto a handrail and led by an experienced climb leader, you’ll ascend exterior stairs towards the massive spire, stopping along the way to enjoy 360-degree views of the Gold Coast, from the golden beaches and city skyline, to lush green hinterland and beyond. Once you reach the summit of SkyPoint Climb, you’ll have the opportunity to lean out over the 270m drop – not for the faint-hearted! There’s something so liberating and exhilarating about being out in the elements so high up – even when your feet are back on the ground it will take you a while to come back down to earth. You can climb at sunrise, during the day, at twilight and after dark to admire the Gold Coast’s many different moods.
SEA WORLD SHARK BAY EXPERIENCE
If you really want to push yourself to the limit with a seriously blood-pumping experience, then head to Sea World for their Shark Bay Discovery where you’ll get the chance to swim with one of the ocean’s top predators. First, you’ll come face to face with whaler sharks inside an acrylic cage in Sea World’s Shark Lagoon. Then, try to keep your cool as you snorkel through the Reef Lagoon, home to tropical fish, rays and Black and White Tip reef sharks. But don’t panic, you’ll be accompanied by an experienced diver during your snorkel, who will point out a number of “safe havens” for you to retreat to if needed. Pro tip: don’t watch JAWS before doing this.
JET SKI SAFARI
Feel the wind in your hair and the spray in your face as you take to the seas with a Jet Ski Safari Tour. Offering everything from 30 minute beginner sessions to land and sea explorations, you’ll be hooked on this exhilarating experience. For something extra special, book yourself on the Ultimate Jet Ski Safari. Over two and a half hours you’ll venture off the beaten track, riding through high tide passages that wind their way through untamed mangroves and flood plains all the way to North Stradbroke Island. For 80km you’ll be on the edge of your jet ski as you tackle hairpin bends and the open ocean (with an experienced guide of course). The tour also includes a stop at the island’s beachfront pub for a feed, drink and dip in the sea. Bucket list experience – check!
Any one of these experiences will leave you feeling exhilarated and elated. There’s nothing like high speed, full throttle fun to make you feel alive. So if life’s been a little low on excitement lately, an action-packed Gold Coast adventure could be just what the doctor ordered!
Like this article? You might also enjoy our Top 10 Best Adrenaline Activities
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.