Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise is a suburb of the Gold Coast in Queensland, and one of the largest tourist destinations in Australia. Set on kilometres of ocean surf beach, Surfers has more going on than just the waves. From the high rise apartments that line the shore, to the nightclubs, pubs and late night shopping lining the mall, Surfers is busy all through the day and night.

Surfers Paradise is the "capital of the Gold Coast", and is a site of near-pilgrimage to many Australian teens. It's a destination for New Zealanders, with direct flights bringing frozen Kiwis to defrost on the golden beaches, and an attraction for travellers from around the world.

Many believe that Surfers Paradise, whose population had grown to almost 24,000 in 2016, has been over-commercialised, and there is certainly intense high-rise development. The area has a reputation for rip-off shopping, timeshare salespeople, and seedy strip clubs (which are plentiful). The beaches and the rest of Surfers sit in the long shadows of the high rises in the late afternoon.

Love the beaches, or hate the kitsch. Love the nightlife, or just find the drunks stumbling and singing down Cavill Mall a turn-off. You can't be ambivalent about Surfers.

This part of Gold Coast is a 30-minute taxi ride from the Gold Coast Airport.

If coming via car, the Gold Coast Highway (Rte 2) connects Surfers from Tweed Heads in NSW to the Northern suburbs.

Surfers Paradise is quite compact, and you walk between much of the Surfers accommodation, Cavill Mall, and the beaches. In fact walking may often take less time than trying to find a parking spot close to the centre.

Surfside bus lines and the G-Link tram provide public transport services for the Gold Coast area, for timetable information and prices [1].

Taxi cabs are another way to go, but can be quite expensive.

Mobike sharebike scheme operates. Download the app to locate your nearest station.

There are theme parks, water parks, wildlife parks, and a range of things to see in the surrounding Gold Coast.

In Surfers Paradise there is:

• -27.999153.4271 Q1, 9 Hamilton Ave (at the waterfront). Rising 323 m, it is the tallest building in Australia and when it was built it was also the tallest all-residential tower in the world. Visit the SkyPoint Observation Deck on level 77, or climb outside in the Skypoint Climb. Observation deck $25.  (updated Feb 2018)
• -27.998065153.4271632 Gold Coast Wax Museum, 56 Ferny Ave, ☏ +61 7 5538 3975. Daily 10AM–6PM, April 25 (ANZAC day): 2–6PM, closed Christmas Day and Good Fri. Contains the southern hemisphere's largest wax collection.  (updated May 2022)
• -28.01094153.412873 Gold Coast Historical Museum, 8 Elliot St, ☏ +61 490487586. Tue Wed 9AM-1PM, Sun 10AM-3PM. The entry fee is $5 for adults; children may enter for free.  (updated Aug 2025)

As the name of the city implies, surfing is the order of the day. Other water sports like boating and fishing are also plentiful.

If you are going to swim make sure you swim in patrolled areas (between the red and yellow flags). Each year hundreds of swimmers get into trouble in the strong currents swimming outside the flags. If you do get in trouble just put your hand up above your head to get the lifesaver's attention. There are many sets of flags around the Surfers area. Head north or south from the main beach if the crowds are too much.

• The Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Choice of lunches for $10. Dinner meals under $20. Right across for the beach just down from Cavill Avenue. (updated Jul 2018)
• Surfers Paradise RSL Club: the staff at the sign-in desk are quite rude and the whole place feels a little seedy as you walk right in to the pokie machine lounge, however once you get upstairs it's ok. This club offers a great value roast dinner from 5:30PM till about 8:30PM for about $6.50, all the other meals are well priced. Beer is cheap and it's just a short walk to Melba’s and Cavil ave.
• Jacks Kebabs: this is a great little kebab joint across from the beach opp. McDonald's. It makes a very tasty kebab and it's popular in the early hours of the morning as all the drunks stumble out of the clubs looking for a meal.
• King of Noodle is a great little Chinese restaurant in the Centre Arcade across from Circle on Cavill (next to the Hilton). They offer cheap Asian dishes however unlike some other cheap Asian restaurants, the dish sizes are quite very good for the price (Dishes start from $8). Offer a good range of vegetarian alternatives

• -27.9997153.4277141 Medexotic, Chevron Renaissance, 35/23 Ferny Ave, ☏ +61 5592 0004. Middle Eastern/Mediterranean style restaurant. Friendly service with funky decor and great food. Belly dancing every Friday and Saturday night from 8PM.  

Plenty of the hotels around Surfers Paradise offer buffet all-you-can-eat seafood, which is normally quite nice for $50-60 per person plus drinks. Some offer lunch specials or early bird deals.

Most of the night clubs are down Orchid Ave just off the main strip Cavil Ave, ones to check out are:

• Elsewhere
• Cocktails & Dreams (multi-level club)
• Shooters
• Melbas
• Stingray.  

There are accommodation options all up and down the Gold Coast. Surfers itself is home to numerous apartments, premium high-rise hotels, and many backpacker hostels. Motel style accommodation is generally elsewhere on the coast.

• Backpacker hostels are mostly found in Surfers Paradise, Southport, Main Beach and Coolangatta. Some backpacker operators in Surfers Paradise require an international passport. If you hold an Australian passport, you may be asked to sign up and pay for membership to a group the backpacker operator is affiliated with (e.g. YHA, or VIP)
• Motels are located all along the Gold Coast Hwy. Most can be found in Labrador, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Palm Beach and Tweed Heads. Single rooms are $60 to $80, while doubles rooms are $70 to $90 but prices increase during peak summer. Prices are lower and availability is better, the further they are away from Surfers Paradise.
• Camping and Caravan grounds are dotted about the Gold Coast, although many have closed to make way for other development. The largest operator is Gold Coast Tourist Parks^{[dead link]} a business arm of the Gold Coast City Council. It has 7 parks: Main Beach, Tallebudgera Creek, Burleigh Heads, Kirra Beach, Broadwater, Jacobs Well, Ocean Beach (Miami). Other caravan parks can be found in Miami, Carrara, Labrador, Nerang and Mudgeeraba. Accommodation options include caravan and camping sites, luxury cabins and group lodgings. Facilities may include swimming pools, play equipment and barbecue areas.
• Apartment accommodation in high and low rise buildings is plentiful. Book early, and you will have a vast array of choice. A two-bedroom apartment in Surfers Paradise will cost around $150 per night in the off-season, and upwards of $300 a night in peak summer. Many have a minimum stay of 3 or 5 nights, and in peak periods there may be other restrictions as they try to block book as many nights as they can. Reception hours are limited and a bond may be required in some cases. Inside amenities typically include kitchen, washer and dryer, and separate bedrooms. Outside amenities often include a swimming pool, and sometimes a gym and other resort facilities.
• Hotels, include chains such as the Mariott, Crowne Plaza and Novotel. Hotels are concentrated in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

• -27.9959153.42591 Budds in Surfers Backpackers, 9 Pine Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5531 5202, info@buddsinsurfers.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Age Limit: 18–35 in dorms; 18+ in private rooms. A quiet, highly rated hostel situated away from the central clubbing noise. Features a saltwater pool, an on-site bar, free Wi-Fi, and a large communal kitchen. Shared dorm beds are restricted entirely to travelers between 18 and 35, while anyone over 18 can book private rooms. Children under 18 are not permitted at the property. Dorms from $42.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9976153.42722 Bunk Surfers Paradise, 32 Olive Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5647 6025. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Age Limit: 18–35 years old only. A premium boutique youth hostel built around a tropical outdoor pool oasis. Exclusively reserved for genuine international backpackers. Offers modern air-conditioned dorms and private en-suite rooms. Note: The minimum check-in age increases strictly to 21 during the annual November/December Schoolies festival weeks. Dorms from $49.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0033153.42873 Down Under Hostels, 4 Hanlan Street, ☏ +61 7 5526 8488. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. 18–40 years old only. Highly secure and intimate youth hostel situated right next to the transit line and a brief 2-minute walk to the sand. Features custom timber bunks, a modern kitchen, and common areas. Check-in is strictly capped for travelers under 40 years old for both shared dorm rooms and private setups. Dorms from $39.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0125153.43084 Maxmee Resort, 2837 Gold Coast Highway, ☏ +61 7 5592 4677. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Age Limit: 18–35 years old only. A relaxed youth hostel at the quieter southern end of Surfers Paradise. Features an outdoor pool, tennis and basketball courts, shared kitchen facilities, and a social communal lounge. You must present an international passport upon arrival. Children and adults over the age of 35 are strictly not permitted to check in. From $82.  (updated Jul 2026)\
• -28.0019153.42815 Tequila Sunrise Hostel Surfers Paradise, 3031 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, ☏ +61 7 5647 6185. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Age Limit: 18+ only (Adults only). Famous for its pod-style luxury bunk beds that offer optimal privacy curtains, private reading lights, and personal charging outlets. Rates uniquely include a complimentary hot breakfast and family-style dinners. Children under 18 are completely barred from booking or staying. Dorms from $48.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -28.0116153.42996 Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, 2807 Gold Coast Highway, ☏ +61 7 5592 9900, res@crowneplazasp.com.au. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Features a revolving rooftop dining space, a massive outdoor lagoon pool with a sun deck, and two towers offering a flexible mix of hotel rooms and spacious serviced holiday apartments. From $180.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0011153.42717 Mantra Circle On Cavill, 9 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5582 2000, toll-free: +61 1300 987 604, circleoncavill.res@mantra.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A modern high-rise apartment-style resort situated right in the heart of the Cavill Avenue shopping and dining precinct. It features spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments equipped with private spa baths and balconies. Guests have access to lifestyle facilities including a sandy lagoon pool, indoor lap pool, and an in-house cinema. From $180.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9968153.42818 Mantra Crown Towers, 5-19 Palm Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5555 9999, crowntowers.res@mantra.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A family-focused tropical paradise resort just slightly outside the noisy centre. Boasts a magnificent tropical lagoon pool with its own sandy beach, water slides, and a pirate ship play setup for children. Features fully self-contained apartment living with private balconies alongside the award-winning on-site Chiangmai Thai restaurant. From $190.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0047153.42979 Mantra Legends Hotel, 25 Laycock Street, ☏ +61 7 5588 7888, toll-free: +61 1300 987 604, legends.res@mantra.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. It is 100 metres from Surfers Paradise beach and a quick walk to the centre of Cavill Avenue. Offers sleek hotel rooms and studio suites featuring private balconies with sweeping views of the ocean or city skyline, complemented by an outdoor pool, gym, and on-site dining at Fables Restaurant. From $140.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9995153.429210 Mantra on View, 22 View Avenue, ☏ +61 1300 88 99 00, view.res@mantra.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A centrally located high-rise hotel near Surfers Paradise Beach. Offers comfortable hotel rooms and twin suites, each featuring a private balcony with ocean or city skyline views. Facilities include a fitness center, the Ocean Day Spa and Salon, and on-site dining. Street-facing rooms can experience evening noise from nearby nightlife hotspots. From $140.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9961153.429711 Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise, 86 The Esplanade, ☏ +61 7 5620 0888, toll-free: +61 1800 214 822, stay@meritonsuites.com.au. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. A luxury 5-star apartment-style hotel housed inside the 76-story Ocean skyscraper, towering 252 metres above the Gold Coast. Features beautifully detailed studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites equipped with full kitchens and internal laundries. Amenities include a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna, state-of-the-art fitness centre, and a ground-level outdoor pool with a sundeck directly across from the beach. From $154.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0028153.428412 Novotel Surfers Paradise, 3105 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, ☏ +61 7 5579 3499, ha7p0@accor.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. A reliable and lively 4.5-star hotel offering excellent proximity to Cavill Avenue and the beach. Rooms feature contemporary configurations with private balconies highlighting ocean or city skyline vistas. Features a large outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, an on-site fitness centre, a full-size tennis court, and all-day dining at the BLVD Cafe & Bar. From $170.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0076153.429213 Palazzo Colonnades, 2988-2994 Surfers Paradise Blvd, ☏ +61 7 5538 4555, info@palazzocolonnades.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A boutique high-rise building offering premium, fully self-contained holiday apartments. Features spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments equipped with full kitchens, laundry units, and private balconies boasting city, river, or ocean views. On-site resort facilities include a heated outdoor pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium, and secure parking. From $150.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9947153.428614 QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5584 1200, reservations_qtgoldcoast@evt.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A vibrant, 5-star designer boutique resort known for its quirky, retro-surf aesthetic and energetic atmosphere. Features custom-designed ocean-view rooms, the popular interactive marketplace-style Bazaar Restaurant, high-end Japanese dining at Yamagen, and the lively Stingray Lounge. From $190.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0062153.428415 voco Gold Coast, 31 Hamilton Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5588 8333, reservations.vocogc@ihg.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. An upscale 4.5-star lifestyle hotel under IHG's trendy voco brand. Features bright, modern rooms, two outdoor swimming pools, L'Aqua Day Spa, and excellent casual dining venues including the Social House café/bar and Clifford’s Grill & Lounge. From $130.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9944153.425516 Paradise Resort Gold Coast, 122 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5691 0000, book@paradiseresort.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Renowned as one of Australia's premier family-focused resorts. Features an expansive, complimentary on-site multi-level water park, an outdoor swimming pool, a giant hot tub, a supervised kids' club, and an indoor ice-skating rink. Accommodation options range from standard resort rooms to specialised family suites equipped with gaming consoles and bunk beds. From $199.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9992153.424817 Vibe Hotel Gold Coast, 42 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5538 5111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A chic, contemporary riverside lifestyle hotel featuring 199 rooms with private balconies showing sweeping views of the river or ocean. Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool and sun deck, a fully equipped fitness centre, a jacuzzi, and the popular riverside Driftwood Social dining and cocktail bar area. From $140.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -28.0017153.428518 Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences, 6 Orchid Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5680 8000, surfersparadise.reservations@hilton.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Two spectacular curved towers rising over the city centre, offering standard hotel rooms, executive club suites, and oversized 1- to 4-bedroom self-contained private residences. Features four pools, a dedicated eforea day spa, two gymnasiums, and premium sustainable dining at Catch Restaurant. From $205.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9926153.425819NOT EXISTING IMAGE JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, 158 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5592 9800, toll-free: +61 1800 251 259, jw.oolsp.reservations@marriott.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Luxury 5-star resort featuring a signature 5-metre-deep saltwater lagoon complete with a living coral reef and over 400 tropical fish. Voted as one of the top 10 Resorts in Oceania at the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards. Following a multi-million dollar transformation, it offers upscale dining, family activities, and full-service day spa experiences. From $280.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0003153.426920 Mantra Towers of Chevron (Chevron Renaissance Towers), 23 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5584 8100, chevron.res@mantra.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Sprawling holiday resort complex offering self-contained 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom vacation apartments. Known for its 5th-floor "Beaches in the Sky"—a massive 600m² sandy lagoon pool surrounded by subtropical gardens. Additional amenities include an indoor heated lap pool, a modern gymnasium, a health sauna, and a private in-house theatrette From $229.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -27.9926153.425821 Marriott Vacation Club at Surfers Paradise, 158 Ferny Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5592 9800. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. A premium vacation ownership resort integrated directly within the JW Marriott tower. Offers spacious, contemporary multi-room suites ideal for longer family stays. Guests share complete, unfettered access to the landmark 5-metre-deep saltwater fish lagoon, pools, and premium resort infrastructure. From $315.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0016153.429922 Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise, 8 The Esplanade, ☏ +61 7 5635 5700. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A striking 77-story ultra-luxury apartment resort redefining beachfront glamour. Offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with completely unobstructed ocean views, private balconies, and designer kitchens. Incredible podium facilities include a secret garden, a state-of-the-art gym, indoor lap pool, and a dramatic outdoor swimming podium directly facing the sea. From $320.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0061153.429423 Q1 Resort & Spa (Q1 Tower), 9 Hamilton Avenue, ☏ +61 7 5630 4500, toll-free: +61 1300 792 008, res@q1.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Housed inside one of the world's tallest residential skyscrapers, this luxury apartment resort towers 80 stories over Surfers Paradise. Offers expansive, self-contained holiday apartments with unique glass-enclosed balconies, state-of-the-art day spas, tropical lagoon pools, and direct internal access to the SkyPoint Observation Deck. From $210.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -28.0165153.433224 The Langham, Gold Coast (Jewel Residences), 38 Old Burleigh Road, ☏ +61 7 5638 8888, tlgdc.info@langhamhotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The first new ultra-luxury absolute beachfront hotel to rise in the city in over 30 years. Soaring above the shoreline, it offers 339 beautifully detailed hotel rooms and multi-bedroom managed residences. Features a stunning lagoon pool with a swim-up bar, a luxury wellness day spa, the famed Palm Court for high tea, and Cantonese fine dining at T’ang Court. From $281.  (updated Jul 2026)

As with all beaches in Australia you need to swim between the Red & Yellow flags at all times. These flags mark the safest area of water in which to swim & also the area in which the lifeguards are supervising. Many lives have been lost due to people not swimming in the marked area.

Surfers Paradise, as with all other clubbing areas, can have its fair share of alcohol related problems as drunks stumble out of clubs (or are not let in to them due to the 3AM lockout law). You'll even see a few who've obviously started earlier. There is probably safety in the crowds.

Go anywhere else on the Gold Coast, even if it's just a walk down the beach to Broadbeach. If you confine yourself to Surfers for the duration of your stay you haven't actually seen the Gold Coast.