Located in South-East Queensland, 66 kms south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast, the Gold Coast is the sixth-largest city in Australia and home to over 700, 000 people. Our compact coastal city is a diverse and beautiful destination, celebrated for its subtropical climate, natural environment, enviable outdoor lifestyle and welcoming culture.
The Gold Coast offers the infrastructure and benefits of a big city with easy access, premium amenities, numerous retail and dining precincts, attractions, major events, a growing economy and a thriving cultural scene.
Metropolitan areas of the city are encompassed by stunning natural surroundings including 52km of pristine coastline and beaches, waterways that wind throughout the region and the mountainous Hinterland of lush rainforest and National Parks.
ACCESS
Gold Coast International Airport (also called Coolangatta Airport) is a 30-minute drive to the central suburb of Broadbeach, while Brisbane International Airport is a 65-minute drive or a 90-minute train journey away. The Gold Coast Airport is one of Australia’s fastest growing airports with non-stop daily flights from all major Australian cities and direct flights from Asia-Pacific connecting to Asia and Europe.
Major Australian domestic carriers, Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Rex operate frequent domestic flights between the Gold Coast and a number of destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Newcastle, Townsville, Rockhampton, Avalon and Albury.
Jetstar and Air New Zealand operate direct services to Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington. Access from Asia is also available from Gold Coast Airport direct international flights to Bali and Kuala Lumpur.
Climate
-
Summer
During summer the average temperature is a pleasant 21 - 28.4°C (69.8 - 83.1°F) but can regularly reach 35°C (95°F) and the heat combined with humidity can be intense.
-
Winter
The average maximum temperatures during the winter months are around 21 - 25°C (71°F), while the minimum is around 12°C (55°F).
-
Wet Months
February is the wettest month and short, tropical storms are common in the late afternoon and early evening.
-
Daylight
The longest hours of daylight are in December, with sunrise at approximately 4:45am and sunset at 6:40pm. June has the least hours of daylight with sunrise at approximately 6:30am and sunset at 5pm.
First Nations
The Kombumerri and the Yugambeh peoples are the traditional owners and custodians of the Gold Coast, and have inhabited the lands, mountains and coastline of this region for over 60,000 years. Some suburbs and places around the Gold Coast, such as Tallebudgera, Coolangatta and Coombabah, are still known by their Aboriginal names. To learn about the fascinating First Nations culture and history of the Gold Coast, visit Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre on the banks of Tallebudgera Creek.
Today, our First Nations Community includes the Yugambeh and Kombumerri people whose Country lies within the City of Gold Coast area and those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have moved here from other regions around Australia.
Accessibility
The Gold Coast is gaining a reputation as one of the most inclusive cities in Australia in terms of accessibility. From our airport to accommodation, shopping centres, theme parks, tourism experiences, natural areas and beaches, significant progress has been made in the accessibility space. A number of initiatives are underway to continue making the Gold Coast an accessible and inclusive city.
The City of Gold Coast and Experience Gold Coast have partnered to produce the ‘Gold Coast Accessible Visitor Guide’, which presents key information for visitors with disabilities across areas such as accommodation and experiences.
The City of Gold Coast has also created the Accessible and Inclusive City Action Plan 2020 - 2025, based on feedback from the community to create a city where everyone’s included.
Geography
The Gold Coast has been shaped by the forces of nature – water, wind and volcanic activity – over millions of years. To the east the city is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the environment consists of coastal plains with river floodplains, bays, estuaries, wetlands, beaches, and dunes. Some 80 kilometres of rivers and streams, as well as 774 hectares of lakes, dams and canals, wind their way through the landscape to our ocean beaches.
A short distance inland, foothills are divided by river valleys. These river valleys sit at the base of mountain ranges and high plateaus which rise to around 1000 metres above sea level - the Gold Coast Hinterland. The Springbrook and Lamington plateaus form part of the Border Ranges group with 4524.8 hectares of World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests in the city, protecting areas of extremely high species diversity. The Gold Coast is one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia.
Public Transport
Public transport services on the Gold Coast include bus, train, tram and ferry services, as well as taxis, Uber and rideshare options.
The Gold Coast's light rail service is called G:link, a 20 km (12 mi) line between Helensvale and Broadbeach with 19 major stops around the city and frequent services running seven days a week.
Queensland Rail operates an intra-city rail service from Brisbane to the Gold Coast along the Gold Coast railway line. Once past Beenleigh, the line services stations at Ormeau, Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang and Robina before terminating at Varsity Lakes.
Translink coordinates bus services across South East Queensland, including the Gold Coast region. You can find timetables, routes and journey-planning tools here.
HOPO Ferry has five stops at Surfers Paradise, HOTA, Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World.
A go card is an electronic ticket for fast and convenient travel on all Gold Coast public transport. Purchase or top up your go card or top up at participating convenience stores, new agents and stations. Alternatively,Smart Ticketing is available on trams and trains - simply present your contactless credit card or device to tap on and tap off.
Industry & Economy
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.