Getting Here and around

One of the easiest ways to arrive on the Gold Coast is by air. More than 400 domestic and international flights arrive every week into Gold Coast Airport with eight airlines currently operating services including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, Etihad Airways, Air Asia, Air New Zealand, Scoot and Singapore Airlines. You’ll find the Gold Coast Airport located at Bilinga on the Gold Coast’s southern end approximately one kilometre from Coolangatta and approximately 25 kilometres from Surfers Paradise. Public Transport is available outside the airport terminal to take you to your preferred Gold Coast address.

An airport bus service operates from Gold Coast Airport. Look for route 761 or 777 to reach Surfers Paradise in approximately 45 minutes. Alternatively, there’s door-to-door transfer on the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle, which can be booked in advance, or there are taxis and Ubers available just outside the airport terminal entrance.

A convenient way to transfer to the Gold Coast from Brisbane Airport is using the Airtrain service. Trains depart regularly from the Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast, where connections can be made from Airtrain stations via G:Link or bus connection to popular Gold Coast locations. You can also choose to transfer from Brisbane Airport by bus, private transfer or limousine. Brisbane Airport is located approximately 80km from the Gold Coast and transfer times are dependent on traffic conditions, so check when you make your booking how long it is likely to take.

Public transport is a safe and practical way to get around on the Gold Coast and you’ll find stations prominently identified, maps and timetables readily available, and online information easy to access and understand. Buses, trains and G:link trams operate on the Translink network and the easiest way to ride is to buy a Go Card ticket which can be purchased at any 7-eleven store, visitor information services, most train and tram stations plus selected newsagents. The card can be topped up at these places in person, online or by phone. G:link trams also use Smart ticketing, so a tap of your preferred credit card or smartphone can be used for payment. A Go Explore card is another great option for travellers - allowing unlimited use of the Translink service for just $10 a day and $5 for kids.

The Gold Coast is a mostly flat, highly connected city, with quality pathways spanning over 2400km. While extremely walkable (and bike-friendly), as Australia’s 6th largest city and stretching over 400km, the Gold Coast would be a challenge to traverse on foot alone. Southport, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh and Coolangatta are considered the GC’s most walkable suburbs with beaches, cafes, shopping and restaurants linked by a network of walkable streets. For a breathtaking walk, the Gold Coast Oceanway’s 36 kilometres of shared cycle and pedestrian pathways follow the coastline from the Gold Coast Seaway all the way to the New South Wales border. Along the way, you’ll find verdant parklands, endless beaches to admire, plus plenty of public amenities and water drinking fountains, plus cool local cafes to call into when it’s time to fuel up.

Yes, public transport options are available for the Gold Coast theme parks, and different options to reach each one are available, which can be considered via the theme park websites. One of the easiest ways to use public transport to reach Movie World, Wet ’n’ Wild, Dreamworld, and WhiteWater World from Surfers Paradise is by taking the G:link tram to Helensvale then the TX7 bus which reaches all four parks in approximately 30 - 40 minutes. Surfside Buses also run regular theme park services from as far south as Tweed Heads. Sea World is the closest theme park to Surfers Paradise, and you can reach it within 10-15 minutes by taking the 705 Bus route. For more options, use this handy planner from Translink to plan your journey.

With over 750 Lime pedal-assisted electric bikes located in major tourist areas on the Gold Coast, it’s easy and fun to let pedal power drive your holiday. Simply sign up to the Lime App, find your nearest bike (they are generally found along beaches, public transport stations, shopping centres and along major tourist thoroughfares), reserve it first via the app and it will unlock. Remember to pop on your helmet, which will be provided with the bike, consider the best route to take and start exploring. One of our most popular bikeways is the stunning 36km Gold Coast Oceanway, which runs parallel to the shore and stretches from the Gold Coast Seaway to our southernmost village, Coolangatta.

The Gold Coast has many scenic drives that will wind you through a tapestry of charming beach villages, right beside the sparkling sea and skipping beside golden beaches following our coastline. But you can also head for the hills and follow the ribbon-like roads that reel through the ancient rainforest pockets that shroud the Gold Coast Hinterland, past whispering waterfalls and gushing mountain streams and down bush-fringed back roads where you will spot wildlife foraging and animals grazing in emerald green fields. The Gold Coast is a postcard - and a self-guided drive is the best way to become a part of it.

If want to see the Gold Coast through the lens of a local, hiring a car really is the best way to do it. And while public transport is handy, and tours a great way to immerse too, there are so many pretty little pockets that you might otherwise not get to see if you don’t have your own wheels. The Gold Coast road system is easy to navigate and roads are well sign-posted, so it’s easy to get around. You’ll also find most hire car companies offer satellite navigation so you can plan your journey and be guided on which roads to take. Australia’s well-known car rental companies can be found located opposite the arrivals terminal at Gold Coast Airport, with additional pick-up locations in Surfers Paradise too.

You’ll find many locals out and about early on the Gold Coast. Often rising before the sun, our beachside pathways become an exercise track for runners, bike riders and walkers, while first light is a perfect time to catch the first wave of the day, and you’ll find plenty of surfers out enjoying our most popular surf breaks. If you do rise early, stay on designated, sign-posted pathways, only surf where there are others in the water already and wear a visibility light if it’s still dark. If you can find a quiet place to pause to enjoy sunrise over the ocean - you’ll find yourself in sync with many of our life-loving locals doing the same.