the gold coast

i am lucky to be able to say that i grew up on the southern gold coast. surf, sand and sunburn - this was, and still is, the place to be. the gold coast will always be home no matter how far i travel and i am excited to share local knowledge with you. for the first ten years i grew up in burleigh heads and have spent the most recent years in tallebudgera + palm beach. as a result, i really only know the southern parts of the gold coast in depth so there is definitely much more out there than what you will find in this guide. but, this is what i know best. 

a car is pretty much necessary on the gold coast, although from the airport you can find public transport links, taxis and private transfers. i would recommend hiring a car if you are planning on making the most of our gorgeous coastline and hinterland. if you only have a few days i would recommend spending your time in the southern parts of the coast because this is a more local/slow travel experience and the beaches are in a different league. burleigh offers the more stereotypical gold coast as it is a more well-known tourist destination (and as you can guess from this guide, has slightly more options for everything) and beloved world-famous surf break. but palm beach, currumbin and tugun definitely stand up in their own right and offer the best of what the coast is famous for. 

in regards to weather - expect lots of sunshine and warmth. the gold coast is great to visit all year round and the 'best' time to visit depends on what your preferences are. head to the coast in winter for crystal clear blue skies and flat water, but head in summer if you're after your yearly dose of vitamin d and surf, but beware, it can get quite warm and humid. however, if you stick by the coast this is more than manageable as the temperature drops a couple of degrees as there is often a sea-breeze coming off the ocean. spring and autumn offer the best of both worlds and the more milder temperatures. 

i hope that this guide offers a great starting point for your gold coast adventure. there is so much to do here and we can't wait to welcome you to our little slice of paradise. 

palm beach