Hotels in Gold Coast

Gold Coast Hotels

Drenched in sunshine, Queensland's Gold Coast is a place to lie back and watch surfers practicing their art on crashing rollers, while digging your toes into the warm, powdery sand. While the sparkling beaches that lend the city its name are spectacular, Gold Coast has so much more to offer– and whether it's breathing in the aroma of one of the region's fine red wines, or plummeting down terrifying rollercoasters, there's always a new experience waiting. With 300 days of sunshine a year, and average sea temperatures of a tropical 22°C, the Gold Coast is one of Australia's most appealing tourist hotspots.

Things to see

Surfer's Paradise Beach draws surf lovers from across the world, and is one of Australia's most iconic beaches. The first time you manage to catch a wave, and roar back towards the shore, you'll be treated to the sight of miles of white sand, overlooked by towering glass skyscrapers. You can't fail to notice the soaring Q1 tower, which dwarves the rest of the skyline and - once you've dried off - take the express lift up to SkyPoint Observation Deck to enjoy views out over the city and the ocean. You can even strap on a harness and head out onto the roof if you have nerves of steel. Impressive views are also available at nearby Sea World, where you can spot dolphins leaping playfully - and yellow collared king penguins waddling - moments before plunging from the top of a rushing log flume, or spindly rollercoaster. Afterwards, return to Earth with a wander through Cavill Avenue, where you can grab a cooling beer, or lose yourself in overflowing shops. If you'd rather escape the city for a while, head out to Lamington National Park. Follow the Waterfall Trail to experience the power and noise of crashing rivers and streams, while hiking amongst luminous green plants, and apple-red songbirds.

Hotels in Gold Coast

High-rise hotels on the coast allow you to slide open huge glass doors to step out onto a private balcony, where you can enjoy a morning coffee while soaking in the shimmering turquoise ocean. Later, try the restaurant attached to your luxury hotel for a taste of barbequed prawns, gently seasoned with salt, pepper and parsley. Even the budget hotels in Gold Coast offer spectacular views out to sea, combined with instant beach access. WiFi is usually available in public areas, and many rooms have useful refrigerators in them – perfect for chilling drinks on scorching hot days.

Where to stay

If you want to spend the evenings sipping bottles of chilled beer in buzzing beachfront bars, then the vertical Surfer's Paradise hotels will be the best option. The Broadbeach suburb is a quieter choice, and is linked to the downtown area by a futuristic monorail. Each year, during May, the suburb's residents head to the beach to nod their heads to the notes of gritty blues guitar that drift through the air during the lively Broadbeach Music Festival.

How to get to Gold Coast

The size of Australia means air travel is the best way to move between most cities. Gold Coast Airport is around 14 miles from the city, and is linked with the much larger Brisbane Airport by shuttle bus. Brisbane receives international flights from popular stopover destinations like Singapore, and if you choose to land there, grab a train from the Airport to Gold Coast Station – they leave every 30 minutes - or hire a car and drive between the 2 in under an hour.