How to Enjoy 5 Days in Gold Coast – Beaches, Theme Parks & National Parks, All in One Place!

The Gold Coast is known for its inviting, sunny beaches, stunning mountain views, and generous smattering of theme parks. All things considered, it should come as no wonder that it's one of the top tourist destinations in Queensland and the country. Here're some of the best ways to enjoy your time on Queensland's Gold Coast!

Kgbo, Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Queensland 05, CC BY-SA 4.0 

A Little Background

You might wonder why it's called the Gold Coast. No, it's not because gold was mined there once upon a time. Actually, the moniker, when it was initially coined, was quite mocking in nature, as it referred to the fact that the area was considered to be quite overvalued. This is because around the mid-20th century onward, the real estate prices, as well as the costs of goods and services in the area, became over-inflated. This made everything in the area quite pricey. Before the name 'Gold Coast' caught on, the area was actually known simply as the South Coast, due to its location south of Brisbane.

Spend a Day or Two at the Beaches

Whether you're more of a tanning-and-playing-Frisbee-at-the-beach kind of person or one who prefers to dive straight into the water, the beaches of the Gold Coast are sure to delight. If you're the latter kind, you can find a multitude of watersports to supplement your time spent swimming in the sea. If you're the former kind, you'll be happy to note that there are plenty of beachside cafés within easy reach. They offer a great break from the sun, if you want it, and serve up delicious snacks and thirst-quenching beverages that are sure to be the cherry on the cake of your lazy day spent unwinding languorously on the beach.

Something else that the Gold Coast is famous for is surfing! Many surfing enthusiasts come here from all over the world to enjoy the waves. One place that you should visit if you're interested in surfing is the Snapper Rocks beach. You can catch some great waves here, and when you need a break from the water, you can catch your breath at a nearby café such as D-Bar Café. If you'd rather relax on the beach than be in the water, keep your eyes peeled since you might be able to spot a whale or two out in the sea if you're lucky!

Another very popular beach is Surfer's Paradise beach, which is also a must-visit. There are also several other beaches you can check out such as Mermaid Beach, Coolangatta Beach, Currumbin Beach, Nobby Beach, and Broadbeach beach to name some. Honestly, if you want to do justice to the coastline, you'll need to set aside a full day or two to go beach hopping on the Gold Coast.

Spend a Day at a Theme Park

The Gold Coast has quite a few theme parks that are great if you're travelling with children or adult thrill-seekers. You'll want to set aside a day at DreamWorld in your itinerary since it's the biggest theme park the area has to offer. If you are travelling with kids, it's often helpful to have flexible accommodation options, especially if your trip is going to last five days. Consider staying at one of the serviced apartments Gold Coast has to offer, such as the Oaks Gold Coast Calypso Plaza Suites rather than a traditional hotel. They offer freedoms such as being able to prepare your own meals, while still offering many hotel-like perks.

There's More Here than Just Beaches

It would be easy to assume that the Gold Coast is merely a beachside town. However, that would be a big mistake. From ancient rainforests to National Parks, the Gold Coast is truly a wonder in terms of the diversity of the natural landscape that it offers visitors. And there's one great way to get a snapshot of it all while enjoying a gloriously indulgent breakfast in the sky - a breakfast date at the SkyPoint Observation Deck, which offers unhindered, 360-degree views of the region.

Buy yourself a full-day pass that includes a delicious buffet breakfast, and spend the morning feasting your eyes on the beauty of the ocean and sandy beaches, which lie at one end, as well as the lush treetops of the local rainforest and national parks. During the day, set off on an excursion to the rainforest or national park, and as night falls, you can return to the SkyPoint Observation Deck to attend events such as comedy nights or movie screenings at Sky High Cinema.