Welcome to the Gold Coast

Queensland boasts five of Australia’s eleven World Natural Heritage areas, showcasing its diverse natural beauty. These include the Scenic Rim National Parks, K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), Riversleigh Fossil Fields, the Wet Tropics (encompassing Daintree National Park), and the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef, one of the Wonders of the World. Additionally, Queensland is home to over 2000 national parks, covering an impressive 6.5 million hectares.

As a team of ocean and nature enthusiasts at The Tour Collective, we are passionate about exploring the wonders above and below the sea. We are fortunate to have three protected marine parks in Queensland: the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, Great Sandy Marine Park, and Moreton Bay Marine Park. In South East Queensland, you can effortlessly journey from subtropical islands to ancient rainforests within a few relaxing hours. Experience the vibrancy of cities and world-class shopping one day and escape to a natural paradise the next. Most importantly, don’t forget to slow down, take in the unforgettable sights, and enjoy the relaxed pace just like the locals the locals do.

The Gold Coast offers a year-round opportunity to bask in summertime fun, as it boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine and over 12 million visitors per year. It’s blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, world-famous beaches, peaceful waterways ideal for cruising and water sports, and abundant entertainment options for all ages.

Everything sparkles here on the Gold Coast, so it’s affectionately called the glitter strip by the 700,000+ locals. There’s so much to do on the Gold Coast from Surfers Paradise to the Coolangatta Airport. You can have a picnic at Burleigh Headland, indulge in fine dining in Broadbeach, learn to surf in Currumbin, explore the breathtaking waterfalls in Springbrook, ride the rollercoasters at the Theme Parks, and dive into the underwater wonders at Wonder Reef. The Gold Coast truly is a mecca for fun!

• The Gold Coast has over 52-kilometres of coastline, and reaches to the border of the Great Dividing Range to the west.  The Gold Coast hinterland has the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park, both of which have stunning views of waterfalls, giant rainforest trees, and the ocean.
• Did you know the Gold Coast has more waterways than Amsterdam and Venice combined?  The sparkling Broadwater and Nerang River are surrounded by million-dollar homes, expansive riverside parklands, local hotspots plus of course boats big and small!
• The must-see Gold Coast Hinterland and the Scenic Rim were shaped by Wollumbin (Mount Warning, 1157m) an extinct volcano. Wollumbin is culturally significant to the Bundjalung nation, who cared for the surrounding area and country for over 60,000 years.
• The Gold Coast is a location of choice for Hollywood productions, so you may spot a celebrity at a local cafe. Recent hit movies include Elvis, Thor Ragnorok, King Kong and Aqua Man.
• The Gold Coast has a thriving economy with tourism, health, education, tech, professional services, manufacturing and construction industries ensuring there are ample jobs available and low unemployment.
• Wildlife and the natural environment are an important part of the Gold Coast community. There are protected koala populations in the wild, kangaroos roaming the western suburbs, and over 40,000 whales swimming past each year. We have over 3000 native species; that’s more fish, birds, frogs and mammals than in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory! See what The Tour Collective does to support sustainability here.
• There are 23 patrolled beaches on the Gold Coast, and hundreds of BBQ facilities to cook the perfect sausage AKA snag! Check out the Council’s website on the facilities which also include accessible beaches.  The famous Burleigh to Snapper Rocks is part of the World Surfing Reserve, bringing surf legends to the coast multiple times a year in search of the perfect wave.

Getting around the Gold Coast is easy, there’s an assortment of options to choose from:

• Tram (G:Link)
• Train including the AirTrain from Brisbane
• Hopo Gold Coast Ferry
• Lime Bike Hire 
• Surfside Bus
• Car Hire

If you’re feeling active or want to soak up the sunshine, there is also 2400 kilometres of bikeways and pathways

Grab your GoExplore card for easy public transport travel on bus, train, or tram it’s perfect for tourists and visitors.