Destination guides > Australia > Queensland > Gold Coast > Sights & activities
Gold Coast
Sights & activites
The Gold Coast’s main attractions are the beaches and the nightlife, but there are plenty of other attractions including a host of amusement parks catering to Australian families. If you don’t want to plough through a wad of cash it would be a good idea to stick to the beach or the natural attractions in the hinterland.
If you’re planning on visiting several theme parks, you may want to consider a multi park Super Pass that allows 14 days unlimited entry to Movie World, Seaworld and Wet ‘n’ Wild for $177 or a single entry to each park for $142. A two-day World Pass gives you entry to Dreamworld and WhiteWater World for $102.
Australian Outback Spectacular
This is essentially dinner and a show - on horseback. You get a three-course Aussie barbecue dinner while you watch an Australian-themed show with entertainment on horseback in the 1000-seat arena. It’s expensive and geared mostly toward older international tourists who can’t get to the outback. The show goes for 1½ hours or 2¼ hours including the pre-show entertainment.
Pacific Motorway, Oxenford
Bus TX1, TX2, TX5
Tel (07) 5573 3999 or 13 33 86
Website http://outbackspectacular.myfun.com.au
Admission $95
Open 6.15pm
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Sanctuary is an excellent wildlife park at the southern end of the Gold Coast. The park is home to wombats, tree kangaroos, kangaroos, wallabies and Tasmanian devils; although birds are the main attraction.
Gold Coast Highway, Currumbin
Bus 700, 760, 765, TX1
Tel (07) 5534 1266
Website www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au
Admission $32
Open 8am-5pm
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a big theme park that features the Tower of Terror – the world’s tallest and fastest ride. Other features include an IMAX theatre and an animal park.
Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera
Bus TX1, TX2, TX5
Tel (07) 5588 1111 or 1800 073 300
Website www.dreamworld.com.au
Admission $66, $102 including entry to Whitewater World
Open 10am-5pm
Lamington National Park
This national park in the Gold Coast hinterland has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage area and is home to unique flora and fauna. The park is close enough to the Gold Coast to make an easy day trip from either Coolangatta or Surfers and there is a good choice of both half-day and full-day walks.
Beechmont, via Nerang
Tel (07) 5534 1266
Paradise Country
This is basically an oversized – and overpriced – petting zoo. You can cuddle a koala and feed kangaroos and watch sheep shearing demonstrations.
Entertainment Road, Oxenford
Tel (07) 5573 8270
Website http://paradisecountry.myfun.com.au/
Admission $57.50; price includes lunch
Tours 9.30am, 11am, 11.45am, 1.45pm
Sea World
Home to Australia’s only polar bear enclosure, Polar Bear Shores, Sea World offers a range of shows and rides. The interactive marine programme offers visitors a chance to get up close to the park’s popular residents, including going behind the scenes with Sea World’s marine mammal trainers to meet the dolphins and sea lions, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins and, for the more adventurous, diving with sharks.
Seaworld Drive, The Spit
Bus 715, 750
Tel (07) 5588 2222
Website www.seaworld.com.au
Admission $66 or $142 for a 3 park pass
Open 10am-5pm daily
Q1 Observation Deck
The 322.5m-tall Q1 Tower is the world’s 20th tallest building. It is the world’s tallest residential building when measured to the top of its spire, but only the second tallest (to Melbourne’s Eureka Tower) when measured to its top floor. It features the world’s only beachside observation deck on the 77th and 78th floors, which offer breathtaking 360 degree views that allow you to see from Brisbane to Byron Bay.
Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Bus 700, 702, 703, 704, 706, 707, 709, 745, 750, TX2
Tel (07) 5630 4700
Website www.qdeck.com.au
Admission $18.50
Open 10am-late daily
Warner Bros Movie World
The Warner Bros theme park has a good range of rides and areas themed on Warner Bros movies.
Pacific Highway, Helensvale
Bus TX1, TX2, TX5
Tel (07) 5573 8485
Website www.movieworld.com.au
Admission $66 or $142 for a 3 park pass
Open 9.30am-5.30pm daily
Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World
Wet ‘n’ Wild features loads of water slides and many people find it is the most fun of the theme parks.
Pacific Highway, Oxenford
Bus TX1, TX2, TX5
Tel (07) 5573 2277
Website www.wetnwild.com.au
Admission $45 or $142 for a 3 park pass
Open 10am-5pm daily
WhiteWater World
This new water themed park has loads of waterslides and aquatic-themed rides.
Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera
Bus TX1, TX2, TX5
Tel (07) 5588 1111 or 1800 073 300
Website www.whitewaterworld.com.au
Admission $43, $102 including entry to Dreamworld
Open 10.30am-4.30pm
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