Gold Coast travel articles

Queensland‘s Gold Coast is often reduced to surf beaches and high-rise apartments, but the region works best when you combine the coastline with the rainforest-covered hinterland. Within an hour of the beach towers at Surfers Paradise, you can be walking through ancient volcanic landscapes, spotting glow worms in mountain caves or swimming beneath waterfalls in national parks.

Gold Coast Hinterland waterfalls, rainforest walks and glow worms

The forested mountains behind the Gold Coast contain some of south-east Queensland’s most accessible rainforest scenery. Tamborine Mountain mixes easy walking trails with family-friendly attractions, whilst Springbrook National Park protects dramatic volcanic formations, waterfalls and subtropical forest recognised as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

• The Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves recreate the conditions needed for glow worms to thrive, whilst nearby Curtis Falls offers one of the easiest rainforest waterfall walks in the region.
• The Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park features a waterfall plunging through a basalt cave formed by ancient volcanic activity.
• Hinze Dam combines mountain scenery with walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and broad views across the reservoir and surrounding hills.

Wildlife parks on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast’s wildlife attractions focus heavily on native Australian animals rather than large international zoo collections. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is best known for its lorikeet feeding sessions and broad family appeal, whilst David Fleay Wildlife Park has a quieter, more conservation-focused atmosphere with strong platypus and nocturnal animal exhibits.

• The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary includes koala encounters, kangaroo feeding areas and regular bird shows centred around rescued Australian wildlife.
• The David Fleay Wildlife Park focuses on native species conservation, with boardwalk trails through wetland habitats and one of the better platypus viewing areas in Queensland.

Gold Coast beaches and coastal lookouts

Whilst Surfers Paradise draws most of the attention, many of the Gold Coast’s better beach experiences are further south. Currumbin and Burleigh Heads combine surf beaches with headland walks, calmer swimming areas and some of the best coastal viewpoints on the strip.

• The Currumbin Beach visitor guide covers parking, lifeguard patrol times and the best spots near Elephant Rock and Currumbin Alley.
• Burleigh Heads Beach combines a broad surf beach with the rainforest walking trails of Burleigh Head National Park.