Gold Coast stands out from many of Australia’s destinations for its long stretches of beaches, exciting combinations of theme parks and scenic sunset views. On one side, it hugs the South Pacific Ocean and on the other side looms mountains of hiking trails that crosses the Lamington National park. The city itself boast a laidback surfer’s paradise and its suburbs, an elaborate system of inland canals and waterways where the boating lifestyle has taken root.
In other words, Gold Coast is the perfect escape for any Malaysian wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities like Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Sydney. If say, you only have 4 days to see what this sunny city has to offer, then let our itinerary take you through its adventurous side.
Getting to Gold Coast
We highly recommended flying overnight into Gold Coast to make the most of your trip. The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast Airport (formerly known as Coolangatta Airport) takes about 8 hours 10 minutes. The airport itself is only 40 minutes from Surfers Paradise, the heart of Gold Coast’s city.
DAY 1 - BEACH ESCAPE
Begin your getaway at Broadbeach – the epitome of Aussie beach culture. With glamorous apartments, shops and bar centred around its Kurrawa Beach, you can start off your morning with a cup of coffee in hand as you stroll along Kurrawa Beach. Join in a beach yoga session near Pratten park or check out the Sunday markets nearby.
Entrance Fee: Free Opening Hours: 24 hours Address: Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach QLD 4218, Australia
Gold Coast is well known for over 70km of coastline to explore. Take your pick from Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Kurrawa Beach, Mermaid Beach, Miami Beach, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach and Kirra Beach, just to name a few.
Be it just sunbathing, surfing or dipping in the cooling waters, a morning at Gold Coast’s beach can easily become a day there.
Grab a Bite at Tupe-Aloha
After a day at the beach, head to the local’s favourite post-surf hangout: Tupe-Aloha. Enjoy tasty Mexican food, wicked cocktails and tiki vibes and stay for the eccentric staff. Stack your table with a mix of their uber popular jalapeno poppers or Hokie Pokie (fresh, raw tuna with soy, wasabi mayo and ginger). And don’t forget to order a side of the curly fries. They are perfectly crispy and dusted with just the right amount of salt and a little hint of chilli.
Where: 1/1 Douglas Street, Kirra When: 3pm – late (Monday to Friday); 12pm – late (Saturday and Sunday).
Tip: At Tupe-Aloha, Taco Tuesdays (three tacos for just AUD10) is followed by 2-4-1 Burrito Wednesdays. Tuck in!
DAY 2 – THEME PARK DAY!
Wet’n’Wild
Kick off a day of adventure and fun at Gold Coast’s Wet’n’Wild. The appeal of this aquatic playground is that there is an underpinning element of H20 for everyone. You have fast water slides, sudden drops into loops, epic waves to gentle, lazy rivers with donuts to sit on. It is a guarantee you will be soaked to the bone by the end of this trip.
You can check out this blog post on how to conquer Australia’s biggest water park in a day.
Entrance Fee: AUD79 (Adults) AUD74 (Kids 3 - 13 years old) Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford QLD 4210, Australia
Warner Bros Movie World
And right next door to Wet’n’Wild is Warner Bros Movie World. If you’re a fan of DC, Bug Bunny, Looney Toons and just crazy rollercoaster fun, then this theme park is a must. Warner Bros. Movie World is arguably the Gold Coast‘s most famed, and not only is it a particularly child-friendly way to spend the day, parents might just have some fun along the way too. Plan your afternoon around their daily parades of famous comic book characters such as Batman, the Flash and many more.
Check out this post for a more detail rundown on how to do Movie World Gold Coast in a day.
Entrance Fee: AUD99 (Adults) AUD74 (Kids 3 - 13 years old) Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford QLD 4210, Australia
Tip: Book your tickets online or with your travel agent to save the hassle of queueing to get in as believe me, there will be a lot of people there. Buying the 3 Days multi-park-pass gives you even more value as it costs only AUD 139 with unlimited access to Wet’n’wild, Movie World and Sea World for three consecutive days.
Dine at Hurricane’s Grill and Bar
After a whole day at the theme parks, it is time to head back to Surfers Paradise for a bite at Hurricane’s Grill and Bar. Famed for the flamed grilled ribs and steaks, the restaurant offers beach front views and a relaxing tropical lounge bar to rest and chill while watching the sunset.
Where: level 2/4-14 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia When: 12 -10pm daily.
Tip: Reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the place.
DAY 3 – BACK TO NATURE
SeaWorld Gold Coast
With so much to see and do at SeaWorld Gold Coast, you need to plan your time carefully. There’s lots to cover, but Sea World’s famous educational marine life shows, featuring penguins, seals and dolphins are always popular, so get in early to snap up the best spot. Make a list of the attractions you want to visit and shows you want to see, so you don’t miss a thing. That way, you can easily jump from one to the other without wasting time looking at what’s on when.
We have got six insider tips here for you to enjoy the most of Sea World Gold Coast, courtesy of Queensland Tourism.
Entrance Fee: AUD89 (Adults), AUD79 (Kids 3 – 13 Years old) Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm Address: Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland 4217, Australia
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Pop on over to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to spend some time with the native Aussie wildlife. All 27 hectares of Currumbin rainforest is home to a variety of native creatures with open animal enclosures. You can get up close and feed kangaroos or cuddle koalas for an unforgettable experience. Half a day will just easily fly by here. As it is a non-profit organisation, all proceeds are channelled into its wildlife and conversation programmes.
Entrance Fee: AUD40 Opening Hours: 930am – 5pm Address: 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin QLD 4223, Australia
Whale Watching
Between June to November, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Queensland. If you’re lucky, you can spot a whale or two completely FOC at the naturally elevated lookout points at Currumbin Rocks.
Day 4 – Shop Shop Shop
What’s a holiday without some shopping for souvenirs and Aussie’s famed chocolates? There are many shopping options in Gold Coast but we find the most fun one to shop at is Harbour Town. An open air shopping mall with factory outlets and retail for many well known brands such as Roxy, Cotton On and so on, you will be walking away with bargain steals and more.
Opening Hours: 930am – 530pm (daily), 930am – 7pm (Thursday), 10am – 5pm (Sunday) Address: 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin QLD 4223, Australia
Gold Coast Transportation
If you’re not planning to drive around Gold Coast, get the go explore Gold Coast card. It allows you travel on buses and trams all day until 3am at only AUD10 for adults and AUD5 for kids. Uber and cab services are also available in Gold Coast.
However, if you’re planning to extend your visit beyond the city and into the surrounding areas and even to Brisbane, then we recommend hiring a car to allow for more flexibility. In groups of 3 – 4, it might even work out to be cheaper. Driving around Gold Coast is relatively easier than Melbourne or Sydney as the roads are pretty straight forward and easy to navigate.
Gold Coast Itinerary Budget Breakdown (excl flights)
Sedunia 4D3N Gold Coast Free and Easy Package incl: Accommodation, breakfast for 3 days and airport shuttle: RM668
Wet’n’ Wild, Movie World, Sea World Pass: AUD139 (RM417~)
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: AUD40 (RM120~)
Transport*: AUD100 (RM300~)
Food*: AUD200 (RM600~)
Miscellaneous*: AUD100 (RM300~)
Total: RM2,405
*Amount given is a rough estimate for a comfortable trip and is subjected to the traveller’s preferences and budget
~ AUD1 = RM3
This itinerary is great for a short quick trip to Gold Coast to take advantage of a long public holiday-weekend combo or as part of a longer, more adventurous trip around Queensland. Brisbane is just an hour’s drive or a train ride away, opening up more possibilities to explore what Queensland has to offer.
Check out Sedunia Travel for more packages to Gold Coast and the rest of Queensland. For more travelinspiration, Queensland Tourism website offers a variety of activities and ideas to get your wanderlust flowing.