Top Gold Coast Day Trips

Exploring the Gold Coast Hinterland can be a challenge if you don’t have your own transport, but this full-day tour from the Gold Coast offers the perfect introduction. Discover the natural wonders of the Springbrook National Park, stopping to take in the views of Mt Warning and the Numinbah Valley, and admire landmarks including the Natural Arch, Rainbow Falls, and Goomalarah Falls.

Journey into the hinterlands on this 5-hour afternoon tour of the Springbrook National Park from the Gold Coast. Explore the UNESCO-listed Goondawanna rainforests by coach, stopping to walk through the jungle, peek into ancient caves and enjoy views of Mount Warning from the Best of All Lookout.  Visit natural wonders like Purling Brook Falls, Numinbah valley and Rainbow Falls, and soak up the scenery from the Canyon Lookout. This small-group tour is limited to 16 people for a personalised experience, and includes hotel pick-up and afternoon tea.

Exploring the Gold Coast hinterland can be tricky for those unfamiliar with the area. See places you'd never find on your own on this guided tour to Tamborine Mountain. Embark on a rainforest walk to Curtis Falls, travel through Eucalyptus Forest, and explore the Tamborine Mountain Forest Skywalk, a network of forest floor trails, steel bridges through the highest points of the upper canopy, and a 131-foot (40-meter) cantilevered bridge that soars 98 feet (30 meters) above the creek and rainforest below.

Explore the wild beauty of the Gold Coast hinterland on this full-day tour to Mt Tamborine. Encounter koalas, kangaroos and cascading mountain waterfalls on a guided bushwalk through the eucalypt rain forest of Mt Tamborine National Park. Indulge in some mountainside produce tasting.

Visit Tropical Fruit World, where you can learn about tropical fruit around the world and taste the fruit grown on the farm. Cruise down the farm's waterway and feed the wild birds as they swim and swoop alongside the boat, then transfer to a miniature train for a ride through the eucalyptus trees.

Start your day off right with a half-day kayak tour to South Stradbroke Island. Enjoy a great vantage point on the beaches and wildlife of the Gold Coast as you paddle at a leisurely pace, stopping to snorkel off Wavebreak Island, visit secluded beaches, and enjoy a picnic breakfast on the beach. Your expert guide shares informative commentary about the region's ecology and animals, and provides full instruction on kayaking and snorkeling — making this tour suitable for both experienced paddlers and first-timers.

Short on time? Sample the natural beauty of the Gold Coast on this outdoor tour. Hop on a sea kayak and paddle your way over to Wave Break Island to swim and snorkel amid tropical fish and colorful coral. Spot dolphins, stingrays, and sea turtles along the coast, and enjoy a snack before heading back to shore.

Experience the Gold Coast’s beautiful Surfers Paradise on a tour aboard an amphibious Aquaduck. Bring the kids and hop aboard this unusual dual-purpose vessel for a jaunt along the area’s picturesque beaches and past local landmarks like Palazzo Versace and Marina Mirage. Then, enjoy a thrilling river cruise past the glitz of millionaire’s row as the Aquaduck transforms from a bus into a boat.

Experience the nighttime enchantment of Mt Tamborine National Park on this unique 4WD rain forest walk and glowworm tour. At the mountain summit, stop for a light supper of cakes and hot chocolate, and soak up views of the twinkling Gold Coast from a lookout. Then, observe nocturnal wildlife by torchlight with a guided bushwalk through the rain forest, where you’ll come across an ethereal waterfall illuminated by glowworms.

Discover the glittering waters and sandy beaches of the Gold Coast on this 2-hour luxury sailboat cruise. Sip a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and tuck into appetizers as you set sail along the Gold Coast Broadwater, passing waterfront landmarks like the Marina Mirage, Wave Break Island and Surfers Paradise. Alternatively, upgrade to include a delicious 2-course lunch on-board and indulge in a lavish seafood platter. This small-group tour is limited to 10 participants, ensuring an intimate experience.

Experience the thrills of parasailing while on the Gold Coast of Australia. First, you’ll receive a short safety training before being outfitted with a harness. Then, soar high above the Gold Coast, up to 400 feet (122 meters) high, and take in aerial views of the coastline. This is available for solo travelers or with one or two partners.

Taste award-winning liqueurs, spirits, and wine on this tour of the Mt. Tamborine area, which also includes a gourmet lunch. Taste the bounty of the Great Brisbane region, including locally produced cheese from Witches Chase Cheese Factory, spirits from Tamborine Mountain Distillery, and vintages from multiple wineries. All tastings, snacks, and beverages provided means a seamless, belly-filling experience.

This comprehensive full-day tour allows you to sightsee, swim, hike, and bushwalk through The Royal National Park. Including transportation to the Figure 8 Pools, only about an hour's drive from Sydney, you'll discover coastal views and local wildlife. Pickup and drop-off at a central Sydney meeting location.

Visit three craft breweries on the Gold Coast during a half-day tour that includes lots of beer tastings and a delicious lunch. You'll sample the goods at Black Hops Brewing, Burleigh Brewing, and Balter Brewing, meet some of the brewers, and learn what goes on behind the scenes during the brewing process.

Enjoy deep sea fishing on a 5-hour charter tour from the Gold Coast. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure for this fishing tour with professional fishing guides who assist you to find and land your catch. A wide variety of pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish can be found in the waters off the Gold Coast. Includes the use of fishing equipment and a safe ride on a fully equipped boat.

Head into the Gold Coast hinterland for an evening of luminescent glow worms, a torch-lit rain forest walk, and stargazing in the clear night sky. Deep inside the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest, marvel at the natural phenomenon of thousands of tiny glow worms lighting up an ancient cave before trekking among the nocturnal creatures of Queensland on a guided night safari. Cap off the evening with stargazing at the Springbrook Research Observatory and a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Get up to the Scenic Rim to explore one of Australia’s most underrated wine regions when you take this day tour from the Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain. You’ll have a delicious two-course lunch for starters, and then get to Witches Falls Winery. You can also sample spirits from Tamborine Mountain Distillery known for its unique flavor profiles.

Mt Tamborine is renowned for its boutique wineries and artisan producers, and lies just an hour south of Brisbane. On this private tour, enjoy a customizable itinerary, stopping at up to four wineries, along with a distillery, craft brewery, and cheese factory (optional). Sample a variety of wines and tasters along the way, then indulge in a scrumptious 2-course lunch at a winery restaurant.

The forested valleys and vine-clad hills of Brisbane’s Scenic Rim area are even more magnificent when viewed from above. With this tour, make an early start to catch the sunrise and float over the picturesque landscapes in a hot air balloon. After admiring the views, celebrate your flight with a glass of Champagne and a scrumptious hot buffet breakfast at a local vineyard.

Experience the beautiful Gold Coast on this small-group guided cruise. Enjoy a flexible itinerary—cruises last from one to five hours—and a quiet ride on this custom built boat with an electric motor. Check out amazing views of sites like Main Beach, Southport, Cronin’s Island, and Isle of Capri. Marvel at the million dollar homes and gorgeous canals, elegant bridges and marine life that could include dolphins, turtles, and sea eagles.

Experience the beauty of the Hinterland on this full-day discovery tour of Lamington National Park and the Scenic Rim from Surfers Paradise and Gold Coast. You’ll start your adventure with a drive into the subtropical rainforest, where you’ll take a walk through the tree tops and see colorful birds, before swinging by the Scenic Rim to visit a winery and alpaca farm for a glass of bubbles with a view.

Whether you want to see the sights from the channels and coastlines or you just want to have dinner and drinks on the water, this private canal cruise can be tailored to your needs. Take this water-limo, custom-built for small groups, out for one hour or for half the day, cruising in the shadow of the grand Gold Coast skyline. With a skipper on hand to point out all the highlights, from Surfer’s Paradise to the homes of the rich and famous, this is a unique and discreet way to experience the Gold Coast.

Explore the lush rainforests and waterfalls around Brisbane and the Gold Coast on this personalized group adventure through Springbrook or Lamington National Park. Perfect for private groups of up to 11, this personalized tour gives you the chance to choose your own itinerary, with guided walks, waterfalls, wildlife, and snacks included—along with pickup/drop-off at a destination of your choosing, transport, park fees, and even optional sunrises/sunsets.

Spend a day exploring the sights of Tamborine Mountain on this daily shuttle service from Helensvale Station on the Gold Coast. Stopping at Eagle Heights, Mount Tamborine, North Tamborine, Rainforest Skywalk, Thunderbird Park, and Treetop Challenge, this comfortable shuttle bus gives you the chance to explore without worrying about organizing your own transport. You’ll also learn about the region from your driver-guide and do some sightseeing as you cruise around.