Australia Roadtrip: Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast

Australia has it all, beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, large modern cities, small charming towns, and everything in between. As you make your way along the Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast, there are plenty of amazing spots that you can’t miss. Here are five of our favorite things to do on a roadtrip from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast Australia.

Top 5 things to do from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast Australia

Table of Contents

• 1. Watch the Surfers at Snapper Rocks
• 2. Play at Surfer’s Paradise Beach
• 3. See Koala Bears at Daisy Hill Koala Center
• 4. Take A River Cruise in Brisbane
• 5. Ride the Rollercoasters at Aussie World

1. Watch the Surfers at Snapper Rocks

As you head up the coast from Byron Bay, be sure to take a quick stop at Snapper Rocks about 40 minutes south of Gold Coast.  This location is a world-famous surf break and home of the Quicksilver Pro.

A large man-made sandbank, called the “Superbank”, was created from a sand bypass system to ensure safe shipping at the river mouth.

As a result, this sandbar surf break creates multiple barrel sections and is legendary for creating some of the longest and most hollow waves in the world.

A single wave at the Superbank has reportedly been ridden for a total distance of 1.22 miles!

Snapper Rocks is a fun beach town with plenty of shops and cafes along the boardwalk. Grab some lunch and head to the beach to watch the surfers in action.

2. Play at Surfer’s Paradise Beach

Surfer’s Paradise is one of our favorite Beaches in Australia (Although Whitehaven is our absolute favorite!) Surfer’s Paradise is a suburb within the city of Gold Coast. It consists of high rise apartment buildings and a wide stretch of golden sand.

Spending the day soaking up the sun at Surfer’s Paradise is one of the most popular things to do in Gold Coast.

Cavill Mall is located at Surfer’s Paradise and is one of the busiest shopping strips in Queensland with a vibrant nightlife as well.

For a unique shopping experience, check out the Beach Front Night Markets Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 5-10:00 pm.

For a scenic view of the coast with the distant Surfer’s Paradise skyline, head south to Miami North Burleigh lookout.

A short steep climb up the hill will bring you to a lookout point where you can see for miles down the coastline.

For the most spectacular aerial view of Gold Coast, head to Skypoint Tower. This observation deck offers unparalleled 360-degree views of the beach and city.

3. See Koala Bears at Daisy Hill Koala Center

On your way to Brisbane, make a stop at the Daisy Hill Koala Center about 15 miles south of the city.

Come observe Australia’s adorable koala bears in their natural setting and learn more about them at this free educational center.

Climb the observation tower, watch a film all about koalas, and enjoy interactive displays.

The center is nestled in beautiful native bush. Take advantage of the picnic facilities and enjoy a nice outdoor lunch while you’re there.

4. Take A River Cruise in Brisbane

Have you ever visited a city and immediately fell in love? Brisbane did that for me! Visiting cities with kids can be hard, but Brisbane is so kid-friendly.

The highlight for our family was taking the ferry along the city river. The ride offers great views of the city as you cruise along the river.

Best of all, you can take advantage of the hop-on-hop-off service so you can visit various destinations without the hassle of finding parking.

The city offers a free hop-on-hop-off CityHopper ferry that runs every 30 minutes. They are older boats and run slower, but it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.

You can also ride the CityCat ferries for a fee. They have a fleet of newer boats that travel much faster. The CityCat ferries accept cash or Gocards only, no credit cards. The CityCat ferry also runs every 15 minutes.

If you’re exploring the city during the day, be sure to visit the Southbank Parklands area where you can wander along the riverfront or hang out at Streets Beach in the man-made lagoon.

Kids will also enjoy Aquativity, an interactive water play park, or take a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane to soak in the views.

Other things to do in Brisbane

• New Farm Park: This park has an incredible playground built right into the large cluster of fig trees.
• New Farm River Walk: This pedestrian pathway along the river offers beautiful views of the city from different vantage points. It connects Kangaroo Point to Story Bridge. I would recommend parking by the Story Bridge and catching the free city hopper to Sydney Street. Walk back along the River Walk to the Riverside Center where you can catch the city hopper back to Story Bridge.
• Mount Coo-tha:  Mount Coo-tha offers beautiful views of the city, especially at sunset. Be sure to also visit the Botanic Gardens and keep your eyes out for wild water dragons. While you’re there, grab a bite to eat at the Summit Restaurant.
• Wynumm Water Park: This park is a favorite among locals. The park features a water playground with a splash pad, playground equipment and a shallow wading pool that fills up with sea water at high tide. The perfect way to spend a hot day!
• Clock Tower Tour: Take a tour to the top of the Historic City Hall Clock Tower in a hand-operated lift. You’ll be rewarded with a bird’s-eye view of the expansive city. Tickets are free and tours operate every 15 min (10:15-4:45). Tickets are first-come-first-serve basis.

5. Ride the Rollercoasters at Aussie World

I much prefer wide open spaces over amusement parks, but my kids would say otherwise.

We saw and did some pretty incredible things on our Australia road trip. However, if you ask my kids what their favorite part was, they will most likely tell you Aussie World.

Aussie World is located just south of Sunshine Coast. I think what made it so great was that we traveled there in the off-season, June, and had the whole place virtually to ourselves.

Movie World near Gold Coast is also a popular amusement park that any kid is sure to love!

There is plenty to do and see in this beautiful region of Australia. Hopefully, these top 5 recommendations of things to do from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast Australia will help inspire your explorations!

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This is the second part of our Australia Road Trip guide. The first part covers Sydney to Byron Bay. Be sure to check it out if you’ll be visiting that area as well as our Sydney Guide and our guide to 7 Things to do on Australia’s Sunshine Coast.

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