Things to do on the Gold Coast in winter and why it’s the best time to visit!

Are you visiting Australia in the winter, and wondering what to do? In this guide we look at visiting Queensland’s Gold Coast in winter, and give you travel tips, including the best things to see and do.

When you think of Australia most people think of the beach, so no trip to Australia is complete without spending a bit of time here. There are so many places to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf but one of the top has to be Queensland’s Gold Coast. It’s a vibrant place full of life, and beautiful beaches where you can escape and walk barefoot watching the sun set.

We visited in the winter and even then there are no shortage of things to do. Winters in Queensland tend to be pretty mild so you can still do a lot of the things you wanted to do in summer. Here is our guide for things to do on the Gold Coast in winter.

Gold Coast in Winter Factsheet

Country: Australia

Currency: Australian Dollar

Known for: Golden sandy beaches, nightlife, theme parks, and more.

Winter months: June, July & August

Average Temperatures: Between 10 – 22 degrees Celsius.

Located on the East Coast of Australia, the Gold Coast is just south of Brisbane. It covers a 1402 square kilometre areas between South Stradbroke Island to Rainbow Bay. And with over 300 dry days per year it is the perfect place to visit at any time, including winter.

Some background to visiting the Gold Coast in winter

The Gold Coast is a little over an hours drive from Queensland’s capital, Brisbane. And with highways spanning 4 lanes it is a pretty smooth drive. The first sign that you are at the Gold Coast are the huge theme parks that you pass. These are great for kids and adults alike. But the real centre is Surfers Paradise. During the day the beaches are packed with surfers and sun lovers.

The sand is soft and golden and the water is glistening. There are several cafes and restaurants to enjoy and most of these spill out onto the streets with their outdoor seating areas. At night the party really begins with the bars and clubs filling up and music can be heard blaring into the night. Most of the action takes place around Cavill Avenue so our recommendation is to book your accommodation a little bit away from this area.

Why visit the Gold Coast in winter?

f you are thinking of visiting the Gold Coast in winter, here are some reasons why we think it is the best time of year to visit.

• It’s not as busy as the summer months so there are less crowds
• Accommodation is cheaper – like a lot cheaper!
• The weather is mild making it the best time of year to hike or do other outdoor activities
• You still still enjoy the beaches, even if you don’t swim in them
• The Theme Parks are way less crowded as the kids are still in school
• You get a more authentic and less touristy experience of life on the Gold Coast
• It’s still pretty sunny and dry in winter.

The Gold Coast in winter a month by month breakdown

If you are planning on visiting The Gold Coast in winter you might be wondering which month is the best. Here we give a month by month breakdown of what to expect in the city.

The Gold Coast in June

June is a great time to visit the Gold Coast, particularly if you are wanting to avoid the crowds, and find a good deal on accommodation. It’s relatively dry and sunny, with temperatures ranging between 11 and 21°C (51-69 F).

You can walk around places like Surfers Paradise at this time of year with few people around. It’s a really great experience, and if you wrap up warm it’s so worth it.

June is perfect for those long walks on the beach, or visiting them parks – especially during the week as the kids are still in school at this time of year.

The Gold Coast in July

July is still cold – or at least it’s cold by Queensland standards. Like June temperatures are usually between 11 and 21°C (51-69 F). Also it is worth noting that July is the driest month of the year.

Again accommodation is cheap, and tourists tend to avoid beaches due to the cooler climate. That being said you still do get a few people surfing or taking a dip.

July is great for hiking especially places like the Gold Coast hinterland. With the cool weather you can explore more without the worry of sunburn or heatstroke. Although make sure you still protect yourself from the sun.

The Gold Coast in August

August is when the Gold Coast starts to warm up. But before you get too excited it’s only slightly. There is more chance of those ‘freak’ hot days. Overall average temperatures during the day are about 22°C (71F).

It’s still not quite swimming weather, unless you are really brave! But as mentioned above it’s great for hiking, visiting galleries, or even shopping.

Weather for the Gold Coast in winter

Here is an average for what to expect in terms of weather at the Gold Coast in winter.

Where to stay at the Gold Coast in winter

Accommodation at the Gold Coast in winter is a lot cheaper than the overcrowded summer months. You are more likely to nab yourself a deal at this time of year.

You have the choice to stay in a hotel, or book an apartment. We prefer the apartment option especially if you are staying for more than a few days. They usually come with balconies, so make sure you request a sea view.

Surfers Paradise is one of the more popular areas to stay at the Gold Coast. In the winter months it is a lot quieter here, which is great if you want to chill out and relax. Broadbeach is another good accommodation spot with lots of hotels and apartments to choose from.

Another great option is staying in the hinterland. At places like O’Reilly’s you can stay in accommodation overlooking the rainforest. It’s a lot more secluded, but fantastic if you want to get up close and personal with nature.

Getting to the Gold Coast in winter

The closest major Australian city to the Gold Coast is Brisbane. From Brisbane you can either drive or get the train.

The best way to get from Brisbane to the Gold Coast in our opinion is to drive. The roads are fantastic and the drive itself takes just over an hour. Although this does depend on which part of Brisbane and the Gold Coast you are travelling to and from. The good thing about driving is that you can stop when you like, and create your own Brisbane to Gold Coast itinerary.

You can rent a car from a number of places in Brisbane including Brisbane Airport. The roads are really well signposted but do keep in mind some roads have tolls. It is best to discuss this when you rent your car as usually you will get a bill after you have driven on the toll road if you don’t have a payment device set up. For more information on toll roads and how to make payments here is a handy link.

Another option for fuss free travel from Brisbane to the Gold Coast is to take the train. The airtrain goes from Brisbane Airport (via the city centre) to the Gold Coast.

The trains are pretty frequent (every 15 minutes in peak times and every 30 minutes otherwise), and on the plus side you can avoid the traffic. The train takes over an hour and you also need to factor in tram transfers. All in all you are probably looking at 2 hours travel time each way.

The Gold Coast also has an airport, so if you are flying directly here here is a handy link to help you get to the Gold Coast.

Things to do on the Gold Coast in winter

Here are some of the amazing things you can do on the Gold Coast in winter.

Visit Jupiters Casino

If you are feeling lucky get yourself over to Jupiters Casino. It’s like a little slice of Vegas in the Gold Coast. You can get lost in the huge casino and watch the high rollers come in from all over the world to make some money (or more to the point lose it).

If that is not for you, you can sip cocktails at one of the hotels many bars or indulge in some world class cuisine at one of the restaurants. My personal favourite happens to be the seafood buffet. There are also a lot of Vegas style shows you can catch if you are looking for a bit of glitz and glamour.

Visit Q1 Observation Deck

Q1 is a residential skyscraper at the Gold Coast. It was the world’s tallest residential building from 2005 – 2011, and boasts some pretty awesome views. On the 77th floor of the building you have the Observation Deck, and for the super brave, a Skyclimb.

Do a river cruise

The Gold Coast is home to a lot of canals and rivers. Therefore a river cruise is a great way to explore these. The houses are fancy and the yachts are massive, and it might be a dream for some of us, but interesting seeing how the other half live!

Have a beachside BBQ

Another must for your to do list is a very Australian BBQ. There are a number of clean public facilities where you can cook your lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon sunbathing or building sandcastles on the beach. It’s perfect if you are wanting to relax and recharge.

Head to one of the theme parks

The Gold Coast is home to a number of theme parks including, Dreamworld, and MovieWorld. If you love rides, and family fun then we recommend a visit. You can purchase passes online in advance. Our favourite has to be Dreamworld, which is sort of your Australian Disneyworld sort of equivalent (obviously on a way smaller scale). MovieWorld is also a lot of fun if you do like films, and they have tons of movie theme rides.

Do a jet boat and helicopter ride

This option is actually reasonably priced, so if you are after a bit of a thrill then this is for you. You can purchase tickets here in advance.

Visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

A short drive from the beach and you can visit a sleepy little town called Currumbin, which is home to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. It is perfect if you want to get your very Australian photo with a Koala or Kangaroo, or if you are feeling slightly brave even a snake. You can hand feed Kangaroos as they hop around you in a massive enclosure.

I’m not a huge fan of wild animals being cooped up but they do have a lot of room. Sadly Kangaroos are losing a lot of their natural habitat to land being used to for commercial reasons, so at least you do feel they are safe and really well fed here.

Like clockwork, towards the end of the day, you can feed the Rainbow Lorikeets. The great thing is these birds are wild, and after you pay a small fee to get a plate of specially mixed bird food, you hold it above your head and just wait. Your first clue that the birds are coming is the loud squawking noise, and then you are surrounded by them.

Your arms and your head become like tree branches as they greedily wolf down the food, and then fly off again into the wild.  It’s a really nice way to end your time at the Gold Coast and an experience that you  are bound to keep with you forever.

You can book your tickets in advance here.

If you are short one time and are only visiting the Gold Coast for a day then here is an article to help you plan the perfect day trip from Brisbane.

Visit Tamborine Mountain

Mount Tamborine and Lamington National Park are must see places and pretty perfect if you are looking for things to do on the Gold Coast in winter. There are a number of tours you can book that include wine tasting, ziplining, and much much more. If you do have the time this is somewhere we recommend visiting.

Winter at the Gold Coast is the perfect time especially to enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape. The weather is way cooler, and it’s much easier to hike and explore in milder temperatures.

Planning a larger trip? Here is a handy guide to getting from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast.

Getting around The Gold Coast in winter

Getting around the Gold Coast in winter is relatively easy. Ideally you would have a car as this is the quickest and most practical way to get around.

If you are visiting the beaches then the G:Link which is the tram service that will take you to the beaches of Southport, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach to name a few. You can also use the bus, but make sure you plan your route in advance and work out where the return bus stop is etc.

To use public transport you will need a Go Card, which you can purchase at Newsagents around the coast. You just need to top it up with money, and then tap on and off.

Costs for visiting The Gold Coast in winter

The Gold Coast can be quite expensive, particularly as it is a very commercial destination to visit. Accommodation costs can be high in the summer months, but the Gold Coast in winter is substantially cheaper.

Costs will be dependant on your own individual spending habits, but all in all we would recommend budgeting around $150 – $200 per person per day. Of course if you just want to sit at the beach this will be a lot less.

Attractions at the Gold Coast can be pricey. For example entry to Dreamworld, which is one of the more popular theme parks, starts at $109 for an adult.

Accommodation can be as cheap or expensive as you want, depending on standards, but expect to pay on average about $170 – $220 per night for a 4 star hotel/apartment.

What to pack for visiting the Gold Coast in winter

Here are some must have items when visiting the Gold Coast in winter:

• Swimmers/ towel etc – I know it’s chilly but you can still sit on the beach. Plus some hotels do have heated pools.
• Sun protection – just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be safe.
• Comfortable walking shoes and flip flops for the beach.
• A nice outfit in case you want to enjoy a nice meal.
• A light jacket and cardigan as the evenings do get cool.

Final tips for visiting the Gold Coast in winter

Here are our final tips for visiting the Gold Coast in winter.

• Make the most of the cool weather and spend time outdoors. It’s much easier to hike for example in winter than the scorching hot summer months.
• Weekdays are a lot quieter than weekends. Still book accommodation and tours in advance on weekends.
• Don’t just hang around the tourist hotspots, explore some of the lesser known areas too.
• The Gold Coast isn’t just about beaches, venture out into the rainforest for something a bit different.

So should I visit the Gold Coast in winter?

If you are wondering whether you should visit the Gold Coast in winter, then honestly we highly recommend it. Ok you might not enjoy the beach in the same way that you would in the summer months, but due to the mild winter weather in Australia, you can still dip your toes in the water, or sit and relax as the waves crash in the ocean in front of you.

There are also a number of attractions that don’t involve swimming, so make the most of the cheaper rooms, and book a trip to the Gold Coast in winter.

For more information on the best time to visit the Gold Coast here is a handy guide.

Or if you are tossing up a trip to the Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast this might help you decide.

Hopefully you have found this guide to visiting the Gold Coast in winter useful. And if so you can pin it for later below.

Happy Travels!