The best time to visit the Gold Coast: When you really should and shouldn’t go

Are you planning a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast but wondering when you should visit? In this guide we go through, the best time to visit the Gold Coast in detail, to help you decide when to visit. We will also go through a month by month account, as well as looking at factors like weather, crowds, and costs.

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We are going to go through a month by month comparison on the best time to visit the Gold Coast shortly. But before we do here are some thoughts on the best time to visit the Gold Coast based on different factors.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast to avoid the crowds

The Gold Coast is at its busiest in the summer months. But the weeks leading up to and including Christmas and New Year are when it is at it’s busiest. The weather is warm and sunny, and kids are off school for summer. So a lot of Australian families will book accommodation at the Gold Coast during the summer break.

Christmas Day and Boxing day are especially popular and you will see lots of families having BBQs by the beach.

If you want to avoid the crowds but still want to go in summer you are probably best off visiting in mid- late January, or even February.

It’s also worth noting that at the end of November school leavers head to the Gold Coast en mass to party for a week. This is honestly not a great time to visit it’s busy, crowded, and you have to deal with a lot of 17 and 18 years partying.

The best time to visit the Gold Coast if you don’t like crowds though will be March – October.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast for good deals

The best time to visit the Gold Coast for cheaper holiday deals will be in the autumn months of April, May, and June. The weather tends to be a lot cooler at this time of year, plus the kids are still in school so you don’t get a lot of local travellers.

A lot of hotels or apartment lets will offer cheaper accommodation, which is great news if you are trying to find a good deal.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast for warm weather

December, January, and February are the warmest months for visiting the Gold Coast. Temperatures usually go above 30 degrees Celsius during the day. You do tend to get a few storms at this time of year which is something to keep in mind.

November, March, and April, are also excellent times to visit for warm weather. These months can also be quite humid, and temperatures peak in the late 20s (Celsius).

Best time to visit The Gold Coast to avoid summer holidays

School summer holidays in Australia take place in December, and January. Because of this, this is one of the busiest times to visit the Gold Coast. If you want to avoid the crowds, and costs, that come with visiting during school holidays you definitely want to avoid these months.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast for the beach

If you are wanting to swim or chill at the beach the best time to visit the Gold Coast is between November – April. The weather is warm, and you tend to have lifeguards patrolling the beaches at this time of year too.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast to go hiking

The best time to visit the Gold Coast for those looking to explore nature, and go hiking is June, July, and August. These are the winter months, and temperatures tend to be a lot more mild.

During the day temperatures average between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius, so this is a great time to enjoy the outdoors without overheating.

Best time to visit The Gold Coast to see the theme parks

There are several theme parks on the Gold Coast, including, Dreamworld, Wet n Wild, and Movie World. The best time of year to visit the theme parks in our opinion is autumn for places like Movie World, and summer for the waterparks.

We highly recommend that you don’t visit during school holidays no matter what time of year, as this is when they get incredibly busy.

If you are tossing up between visiting the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast here is a handy guide.

Is January the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

January on the Gold Coast is one of the hottest months. Temperatures average between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius. There is also a high chance of storms and rain in January.

Despite this it is still a very popular month to visit for locals and international travellers. Summer school holidays in Australia happen in January, with kids going back to school towards the end of the month. This means that accommodation costs can be high.

Because of the warm weather January is the best time to visit the Gold Coast if you are wanting to visit the beach or one of the water parks.

Is February the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

February is another warm month to visit the Gold Coast. It’s usually around 21 – 28 degrees Celsius and incredibly hot and humid. If you aren’t used to the heat, take extra care. A lot of the beaches aren’t shaded, so wear suncream, hats, sunglasses etc, to protect yourself from the sun.

Due to the humidity, February can bring in a lot of rain and storms, so this is something to keep in mind when visiting.

Australian school kids will have gone back to the classrooms at this time of year, so it is definitely quieter than December and January. That being said though, February is popular for international travellers, so accommodation costs are still high, and you do need to book in advance.

February is the best time to visit the Gold Coast if you are wanting to cool down and enjoy the beaches or water parks during the hot Australian summer.

Is March the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

March is still a warm month, and a good time to visit the Gold Coast to make the most of the many beaches. Things start the quieten down towards the end of the month, and this is when you are more likely to nab a good deal on accommodation.

Temperatures average between 19 and 28 degrees Celsius. It can still be hot and humid at times, and it is probably one of the rainier months of the year.

Is April the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

As long as you don’t visit the Gold Coast during any school holidays that may occur in April, it is generally a quieter time to visit. It’s also a lot cheaper. If you book accommodation in advance you can get some good deals. The weather starts to cool slightly averaging between 17 and 26 degrees Celsius.

Generally you won’t find many Aussies nipping out to swim at the beach at this time of year, but some tourists who consider the weather to be warm might go for it. It’s still a great time for surfing though.

Is May the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

Again as long as May doesn’t coincide with school holidays, it is a much quieter time to visit the Gold Coast. If you visit during the week, you will find the beaches relatively scarce compared to the craziness of the summer months.

Temperatures range between 14 and 24 degrees Celsius on average. It’s not a great time of year to swim because of this, but you can enjoy some excellent walks along the beach at this time of year. It’s also the best time to visit the Gold Coast, if you are planning on hiking and exploring the Gold Coast hinterland area as it is a lot cooler.

You also get some beautiful sunsets to witness as you walk along the beach.

Is June the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

June is the best time to visit the Gold Coast if you want to grab a cheap deal on accommodation, and avoid the crowds. The weather is mild, ranging between 11 and 21 degrees Celsius. And on the plus side there isn’t a lot of rain at this time of year either.

The beaches tend to be quiet, and perfect for walking along and enjoying the coastline. It’s also a good time to visit the theme parks as kids are still at school.

Is July the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

July is still a cold month, by Australian standards anyway. Temperatures usually range between 9 and 21 degrees Celsius. Although on the plus side this is one of the driest months of the year.

July isn’t a hugely popular time to visit the Gold Coast. Kids are usually still in school, and with the mild weather locals tend to avoid the beach. Because of this you are likely to get a good deal on accommodation.

There is still lots to do on the Gold Coast in winter, and we highly recommend exploring the outdoors, including the Gold Coast hinterland. It’s also a good time of year to visit some of the theme parks like Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dreamworld. With the milder weather it makes it a lot easier to walk around.

Is August the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

August is one of the more mild months at the Gold Coast when it comes to weather. It’s cool, or at least by Australian standards. On average you are looking at a peak of 22 degrees Celsius during the day. It’s not quite swimming weather but as mentioned above, perfect for hiking. The days tend to be cool but sunny.

August is Australia’s winter, so the Gold Coast isn’t inundated with masses of tourists. It’s a great time to visit if you are wanting to blend in with the locals, and explore some galleries, or do some shopping.

On top of that, August is the best time to visit the Gold Coast, if you are planning to visit one of the theme parks. With milder weather it’s easier to walk around and enjoy the outdoors, especially if you are not used to heat. It’s also off season so you shouldn’t get crowds of people at the theme parks, particularly during the week.

Is September the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

Like August, September is a good time to visit the Gold Coast if you are planning to spend a bit of time outdoors. The weather is cooler, and days tend to be pretty sunny at this time of year despite the lower temperatures.

On average temperatures will be somewhere between 12 and 24 degrees Celsius. Accommodation tends to be a lot cheaper, although try to avoid visiting during the spring school holidays if you can.

Is October the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

October is a good time to visit the Gold Coast, if you want to experience slightly warmer weather, without the crowds. Temperatures are milder at the beginning of the month, usually averaging at about 25 degrees Celsius, but start warming up towards the end.

You can still get some good deals on accommodation in October, and this is your last opportunity to do so before the busy season arrives.

October is the best time to visit the Gold Coast if you are wanting to visit before the humid summer months and still want reasonably dry weather.

Is November the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

Early November one of the best times to visit the Gold Coast in our opinion. The weather is warm, averaging between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius. It’s a great time for swimming and other outdoor water activities.

In early November most schools are still open, so you shouldn’t get huge crowds at this time of year. That being said mid-late November is completely different, and we highly recommend avoiding the Gold Coast at this time.

Every year in mid November to early December, it is a right of passage for school leavers to attend what is called ‘Schoolies week’. To celebrate the end of their studies, students flock to places like the Gold Coast, rent out apartments, and party to celebrate the end of high school.

It’s not ideal to visit, if you aren’t a school leaver, because it can get a little bit crazy. Ok a lot crazy. Places tend to be incredibly crowded, and you will come across swarms of 17 and 18 year olds on the streets and beaches partying. Whilst authorities tend to clamp down on it, particularly when underage students are involved, there is a lot of drinking that goes on.

If you are visiting the Gold Coast at this time of year, it will not be a relaxing experience. Take that from someone who once attended Schoolies Week many moons ago! On top of that, accommodation prices skyrocket.

Mid November is when Queenslanders have their schoolies week, and the two weeks following usually draw in school leavers from New South Wales, and Victoria.

Is December the best time to visit The Gold Coast?

December is a good time to visit the Gold Coast when it comes to weather. Temperatures are warm, averaging at 20-28 degrees Celsius. It’s perfect for enjoying the beach, having a swim or even surfing.

The main problem with visiting in December is that accommodation books up very quickly. You need to be incredibly organised and book months in advance. Prices are also at an all time high due to demand.

December marks the beginning of summer holidays for school kids, so expect crowds of people flocking to the Gold Coast.

The Christmas and New Year season is incredibly busy, and Aussies tend to book a self contained apartment for the week, and celebrate the festive season with their families and friends.

Conclusion: The best time to visit The Gold Coast

Honestly the Gold Coast is one of those places that you really can visit at any time of the year. In Australia’s winter months, you can visit theme parks, hike in the hinterland, or even just spend a relaxing week enjoying the sights along the coastline.

In the summer months you will get to experience the Gold Coast at its peak with beautiful sunny days perfect for lounging around the beach.

So when is the best time to visit the Gold Coast? Apart from Schoolies weeks in late November, we genuinely think anytime is a good time to visit Australia’s Gold Coast.

If you are planning to visit the Gold Coast as part of a larger Queensland itinerary, here is a helpful guide to getting from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and everything in between.

Or if you are thinking of doing a day trip to the Gold Coast from Brisbane, this might be useful.