From its fabulous surf spots to its rollercoasters, skydiving locales, and hodgepodge of other energetic outdoor activities, the Gold Coast has an abundance of action packed pursuits for everyone.
Whether you’re an action seeker, a nature lover, or looking for family fun, you’ll be sure to find some adventure activities that pique your fancy in today’s guide.
Here are our top picks for adrenalin-fuelling activities to enjoy during your stay in the Sunshine state.
Scuba diving
Being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef makes the Gold Coast amongst Australia’s best travel destinations, providing holidaymakers with once in a lifetime opportunities to experience the reef’s rich cultural history and the many wonders that still paint the Coral Sea today.
For those interested in experiencing the Gold Coast’s unique marine life, you can book scuba and snorkelling tours with local reef guides across various sections of the reef, all of which have their own stories.
Pro tip: while reef tours are generally safe, it’s important to keep in mind that scuba diving can still be risky, especially if you’re unlicensed and unfamiliar with scuba gear. It’s highly recommended you secure sports travel cover for your holiday insurance if planning to go scuba diving on the Gold Coast.
Boating and kayaking
If you’d prefer to stay above the water, there’s still plenty you can see from the comfort of your own boat. In fact, there are plenty of glass bottom boat tours that will unearth a whole underwater world for you without you even having to get wet.
For more adventurous types, you could even rent your own kayak and enjoy some ocean kayaking. You’ll find plenty of Gold Coast residents and other holidaymakers alike out on the water in their own kayaks at all hours – even at night!
Surfing
They don’t call it ‘Surfers Paradise’ for nothing! A trip to the Gold Coast is arguably incomplete without grabbing a board and hitting the waves at least once during your stay. With excellent surf conditions year-round, you also don’t necessarily need to be lucky in your timing to enjoy a good sesh out on your board. Just be ready to get up early enough for the best swells.
Pro tip: new to surfing? Check with your hotel concierge to see if you can book some beginner surf lessons with a local instructor.
Skydiving
Speaking of your hotel concierge, you may have noticed plenty of pamphlets for helicopter tours over the Coral Sea in the downstairs lobby. When you see some of the aerial photos of the aquamarine waters, it definitely does feel like a hard opportunity to pass up. But what if you could kill two birds with one stone, and get an aerial tour with an adventure activity thrown in?
This in a nutshell is the appeal of skydiving on the Gold Coast. The skydiving experience here is breathtaking from start to finish, promising otherworldly views on the way up, and an unforgettable experience on the way down.
Pro tip: not keen to jump out of a plane? Then you can always swap out traditional skydiving for an indoor skydiving booking at iFLY in Surfers Paradise.
Canopy walking
This next one’s a great activity for families in particular. Neighbouring the verdant Gold Coast hinterland, holidaymakers also have the opportunity to venture out into the heart of the bush and explore the rich Queensland rainforests and mountain ranges. Local attractions here include Tamborine National Park, which is also home to the TreeTop Challenge – Australia’s largest high ropes adventure park.
Buckle up and climb high up into the treetops, where you can enjoy canopy climbing courses, bridge walks, drops, and ziplining that delivers fantastic views of the wider parklands.
Pro tip: if you loved the TreeTop Challenge, then consider it good training for the Cape Tribulation Zipline Canopy Tour in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest further north.
Theme parks
Another one for the kids and kidults alike! It’s no secret that the Gold Coast is Australia’s #1 theme park destination, with Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, and more to be experienced. And with an annual park pass, you can gain unlimited entry to all of these theme parks.
Movie World in particular is a multi-generational favourite, boasting some of the Gold Coast’s best rollercoasters, including Superman Escape, the DC Rivals HyperCoaster, the Batwing Spaceshot, and the nostalgia-inducing ghost train mixed with a laser light show that is the Scooby-Doo! Spooky Coaster.
Buggy tours
There are plenty of destinations across the Gold Coast that offer V8 turbo buggy tours, ranging from well-maintained circuits on the mainland, to whole road networks across some of the islands in the Coral Sea.
For instance, you can book an island buggy tour at South Stradbroke Island that includes a boat cruise to and from the island. Or for a more off-road experience, there’s Off Road Rush, which is located midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Alberton.
Hot air ballooning
This list getting too terrestrial for you? Then let’s get back into the air for a little more high-altitude fun – this time with a hot air balloon! Promising drop-dead gorgeous views of the Coral Sea as well as the Broadbeach city skyline, the Gold Coast is amongst Australia’s most unreal destinations for hot air ballooning.
There are a few different hot air balloon tours to pick from, all of which also include different types of tour packages, spanning from family tours to romantic couples tours (which are particularly popular for proposals). So if you’re looking to put a ring on it after a romantic and adventurous Gold Coast getaway, look no further.
Book the Gold Coast for your next Aussie adventure holiday
If you’re currently planning out your next trip itinerary for a Gold Coast getaway and are yet to add some high-intensity activities to your schedule, then be sure to gather some inspiration from this list.
Just remember to make your bookings nice and early before you depart to avoid missing out on your preferred dates and times for action activity bookings! Activities like hot air balloon rides and surf lessons may be limited to strict morning timeslots to avoid intense afternoon heat, poorer surf conditions, etc.
