Top Gold Coast How to Get Around in 2026

Embark on a day of discovery with the Hop on Hop off Bus to Tamborine Mountain, visiting two of the area’s top attractions—the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and the Glow Worm Caves. Travel in comfort and enjoy the flexibility to explore Tamborine Mountain’s unique charm at your leisure. • Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk: A scenic eco-adventure through elevated walkways, bridges, and forest trails, offering spectacular views and a deeper connection to nature. • Glow Worm Caves: Experience the enchanting glow of thousands of bioluminescent glow worms in a specially designed cave. A unique and unforgettable encounter!

Start your day off right with a kayaking and snorkeling tour to Wavebreak Island from Biggera Waters, south of the Gold Coast. Paddle at a leisurely pace, while keeping an eye out for wildlife such as stingrays and seabirds. Head to a secluded island for a snorkel break, where you can spot loads of tropical fish. Visit a secluded beach and enjoy a picnic breakfast to refuel before heading back.

Embark on a day of discovery with the Hop on Hop off Bus to Tamborine Mountain, visiting two of the area’s top attractions—the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and the Glow Worm Caves. Travel in comfort and enjoy the flexibility to explore Tamborine Mountain’s unique charm at your leisure. • Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk: A scenic eco-adventure through elevated walkways, bridges, and forest trails, offering spectacular views and a deeper connection to nature. • Glow Worm Caves: Experience the enchanting glow of thousands of bioluminescent glow worms in a specially designed cave. A unique and unforgettable encounter!

Operating wine and food tours since March 2000, the award-winning Cork ‘n Fork Winery Tours are without doubt the premier specialist wine tour business in South East Queensland. Our Experienced Guides are avid food and wine lovers. Let us take you on a journey to experience what Tamborine Mountain's many wineries and distilleries have to offer. You will love it and we can't wait to take you there! Full Day Tour Your tour includes tastings, with the chance to sip and learn about a range of red, white, and sparkling wines in a relaxed small-group setting. Your guide shares their deep knowledge of the wine you taste and the winemakers you encounter during stops at top wineries. You will also visit the tasting room of Tamborine Mountain Distillery, which brews schnapps, vodka, and other award-winning liqueurs. Enjoy free time to explore Gallery Walk—a vibrant mountain village strip brimming with boutique shops, local produce, and cosy cafés—and have lunch (at your own expense).

Get a different perspective on the Gold Coast by soaring over it in a hot air balloon. Get a bird's eye view over the city or hinterland, (depending on the wind pattern) and enjoy plenty of room to move around and take photos in Australia's only basket with doors. You have the option of helping to pack the balloon up afterward and will also receive a photo and movie package.

Sirromet Wines is one of Queensland’s most celebrated wineries. On this tour of their Mount Cotton winery on the outskirts of Brisbane, get an exclusive behind the scenes look at how they make their award-winning wine and sample some for yourself. End the tour with a two-course meal at their cellar door with views of Mount Cotton.

Make your way through watery, winding, hightide passages that turn and bend during this half-day, guided, 49-mile (80-kilometer) Jet Ski adventure. Follow your guide through hairpin turns testing your speed as you lookout at the lush, tropical plant life that flanks your watery path. Glide over the water under mangrove trees before stopping at a South Stradbroke Island bar for lunch.

This is far more than a standard sightseeing tour. Led by renowned local wildlife expert and qualified zoologist "Phil the Frogfather", this private experience combines spectacular waterfalls, ancient rainforest, breathtaking lookouts and authentic wildlife encounters that most visitors never get the chance to experience. Unlike large group tours that follow a fixed itinerary, every tour is tailored to your group and adapted to current wildlife activity, weather conditions and your interests. Phil's extensive knowledge of the Gold Coast Hinterland allows guests to discover hidden locations and search for rare native wildlife including pademelons, koalas, echidnas, platypus, rare frogs, reptiles and birdlife. With private transport, lunch, snacks and refreshments included, this is a personalised, immersive nature experience designed for travellers seeking a genuine connection with Australia's remarkable wildlife and natural landscapes.

Sample some of Queensland’s finest wines during a 1.5-hour wine tasting experience at the Sirromet Winery in Mount Cotton. Stroll around the vineyards, enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the family-run winery, then try the award-winning red, white, and sparkling wines during an expert-led tasting.

Test your skills with this short-duration Jet Ski rental package that includes access to a technical and speed-based circuit. No matter your ability level, hop aboard a Jet Ski after a safety briefing and zip across the waves, taking in views of Gold Coast as you try to perfect the track.

Explore Springbrook National Park at your own pace with our self-guided adventure. Begin at Purlingbrook Falls, a stunning waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. Take photos or savor the sound of falling water. Next, visit Canyon Lookout for incredible park views and a glimpse of the distant Gold Coast. Twin Falls features two side-by-side waterfalls in a serene forest setting, perfect for relaxation. Discover Bilbrough Falls, a hidden gem for quiet nature moments. The highlight is 'Best of All Lookout' with miles of breathtaking views. Wrap up at Natural Bridge, a unique rock formation with glowworms at night. Learn park history and ecosystems as you drive, surrounded by fragrant flowers and soothing waterfalls. This self-guided tour is for nature lovers, photographers, or those seeking tranquility. Join us to make memories in Springbrook National Park!

Get out on the waters around Gold Coast in style with a private sailing charter. Enjoy an intimate experience as a couple or bring your friends and family, with space for up to 10 passengers. Let your captain and crew take care of everything. Sit back, soak up the views, and enjoy the complimentary snacks and beverages.

The spread of the Gold Coast hinterland—its vineyards, pastures, and forest—can only be taken in from the air, which is hard to arrange yourself. Drift over it by hot-air balloon at dawn instead, picked up first from your Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach accommodation. Come back down to a buffet breakfast with sparkling wine at a local vineyard.

Experience the thrills of parasailing while on the Gold Coast of Australia. First, you’ll receive a short safety training before being outfitted with a harness. Then, soar high above the Gold Coast, up to 400 feet (122 meters) high, and take in aerial views of the coastline. This is available for solo travelers or with one or two partners. Allow approximately 90 minutes for the full experience including briefing and flight time.

Leave the neon shimmer and relentless pace of the Gold Coast behind and ascend into a different dimension of time. This redthread tour takes you through the misty, ancient Gondwana rainforests and the quiet, deliberate artisan workshops of Tamborine Mountain. Discover the psychological dichotomy between the synthetic coast and the organic hinterland. You will witness the fiery birth of glass art, breathe in the scent of one-hundred-and-eighty-million-year-old earth, taste the slow-steeped botanicals of local spirits, and uncover the delicate, unresolved paradox of a sanctuary trying to survive its own popularity. This is a journey of sensory reawakening. - A 8.7 km self-guided tour with 6 stops over 201 min - Ideal for travelers interested in Spirituality, Myth & Nature and Art, Design & Aesthetics - Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals - Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app

The Gold Coast Broadwater is an estuary north of Surfers Paradise, known for sheltered waters, island beaches, and dolphins. Working out where to go and what do there can be hard visiting on your own. With this tour, your guide will get you set up kayak equipment and snorkeling gear for you to visit nearby Wavebreak Island. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin in the area.

Meet us at Tamborine Mountain for an unforgettable evening! Your guide will welcome you with a picnic blanket so you can relax and enjoy the stunning sunset. As the sky darkens, get ready for an incredible adventure under the stars. Look through powerful telescopes to see the Stars, Moon craters, Planets and distant galaxies while savouring a complimentary drink and a BBQ dinner. A magical night you won't forget! Spaces are limited, so book now! Please note: The exact meeting location will be shared with you on the day of the event.

This small-group tour takes you through family-run vineyards for guided tastings. Soak up mountain lookouts, browse the charming Gallery Walk, and enjoy the ease of luxury. With expert local guides, it’s the most relaxed way to sip, savour, and explore the best of Tamborine Mountain. We handle the driving and winery stops; two tastings are included – guests simply pay for extra tastings and lunch as they choose. Pick up drop off from designated locations in the city.

Since time immemorial, Aboriginal people who speak the Yugambeh language have lived off the land of Burleigh Heads National Park. Delve deep into their culture on this fascinating walking tour, led by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander guide. Encounter dreaming stories at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Culture Centre, then discover sacred sites, traditional bush tucker, and the sustainable practices that have kept the land liveable for thousands of years.

Experience the beautiful Gold Coast on this private guided cruise. Enjoy a flexible itinerary—cruises last from one to five hours—and a quiet ride on this custom built boat with an electric motor. Check out amazing views of sites like Main Beach, Southport, Cronin’s Island, and Isle of Capri. Marvel at the million dollar homes and gorgeous canals, elegant bridges and marine life that could include dolphins, turtles, and sea eagles.

Many wine tours focus only on the great wine but on this tour you’ll also visit some of the most beautiful heritage buildings in the area, which happen to be wineries. On this tour you’ll be taken to four different estates, including a home that three previous Queensland premiers lived in. Learn about wine-making and local history while indulging in a tasty drop or two.

The forested valleys and vine-clad hills of Brisbane’s Scenic Rim area are even more magnificent when viewed from above. With this tour, make an early start to catch the sunrise and float over the picturesque landscapes in a hot air balloon. After admiring the views, celebrate your flight with a glass of sparkling wine and a scrumptious hot buffet breakfast at a local vineyard.

A rainforest visit is easy to rush when you're working out which trails, viewpoints, and waterfalls to fit in. Leave the planning to your guide on this private tour as you head from the Gold Coast to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests and Springbrook National Park. Watch for wild koalas and kangaroos, stop at scenic viewpoints, and learn about the Aboriginal custodians of the land. At lunch, choose a picnic spot at the top or bottom of a waterfall.

Just a short drive from both Surfers Paradise and Brisbane, Dreamworld offers world-class thrill rides, family attractions, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Explore the new Rivertown precinct featuring Jungle Rush, a thrilling family rollercoaster, and Murrissippi Motors vintage cars. Feel the adrenaline on The Giant Drop, Steel Taipan, and newest thrill ride King Claw, a 27-metre swing ride reaching 98 km/h. Families will love Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland, home to rides from The Wiggles and ABC Kids favourites. Visit WILD with Australian Geographic featuring Our Country to meet koalas, kangaroos, and crocodiles. Whether you’re visiting from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Dreamworld delivers the ultimate theme park experience for all ages. Dreamworld, SkyPoint and WhiteWater World are closed on ANZAC Day and Christmas Day. Dreamworld operates extended hours (10am-9pm) on 25-26 September and 2-3 October.