The coast at its best costs nothing. Beaches, walks and events with no ticket.
Not sure where to start? Tell me what you're after and I'll build you a day around it — free, no signup.Walks & nature
Twin Falls Circuit
My absolute favourite Springbrook walk. Four kilometres of rainforest, two waterfalls you can actually walk behind, and a glow-worm cave that lights…
Purling Brook Falls Circuit
A hundred and nine metres of waterfall — the tallest drop at Springbrook. You walk down a set of stairs into the rainforest, cross a suspension…
Burleigh Headland Circuit
My pick for visitors who only have an hour. A 2.3km coastal loop around the Burleigh headland with lookouts over Tallebudgera Creek, surfers carving…
Natural Bridge
The poster shot of the Gold Coast hinterland. A natural rock arch with a waterfall pouring through into a cave full of glow-worms. One kilometre…
Curtis Falls
Short, easy, magic. A kilometre down into the rainforest at Tamborine ending at a waterfall pouring over basalt columns. Glow-worms behind the falls…
Witches Falls Circuit
Queensland's very first national park section, opened in 1908. Three kilometres of mixed rainforest and eucalypt, past seasonal lagoons that fill…
Cougal Cascades
Eight hundred metres each way to the cleanest swimming hole this side of the border. Cougal Cascades is a string of small waterfalls and rock pools…
Mount Wagawn - Eastern Ascent
Mount Wagawn - Eastern Ascent is a 3.16km one-way in Springbrook National Park. Mount Wagawn - Eastern Ascent
Mount Hobwee Circuit
Mount Hobwee Circuit is a 0.98km circuit in Lamington National Park. Mount Hobwee Circuit
Araucaria Lookout track
The Araucaria Lookout track is a ripper of a walk through Lamington National Park. You'll wind through the rainforest on a solid dirt track before…
Wagawn Peak track
the Wagawn Peak track is a ripper of a climb through Lamington National Park. It's only a touch over two k one way, but don't let that fool ya—this…
Stairways Falls Track
The Stairways Falls Track is a ripper of a walk through Lamington National Park. You'll trek 3.47km through lovely bushland to reach a stunning…
MacDonald Rainforest Circuit
This little ripper of a circuit winds through proper subtropical rainforest—the kind where the canopy's so thick you'll swear it's twilight at noon…
Jorama Curtis Falls Track
The Jorama Curtis Falls Track is a short stroll through Tamborine National Park that leads you to a lovely little waterfall. It's dead easy — barely…
Jorama Curtis Falls Lower Circuit Closed
This little circuit round Jorama Curtis Falls is a ripper for a quick splash about in the rainforest. It's just shy of a kilometre, so perfect if…
Witches Falls
Witches Falls is a beaut of a short walk through Tamborine National Park, taking you down to a lovely waterfall that'll make the trek worthwhile. The…
Bellbird Lookout track
Bellbird Lookout is a short dirt wander through the bush to a proper nice vantage point — reckon it's barely over half a kay each way, so no mucking…
Lower Ballunjui Falls Track
This little ripper takes you through the rainforest to a lovely waterfall – perfect for a quick splash about without eating up your whole day. The…
Upper Ballunjui Falls Track
This little ripper takes you through rainforest to a proper beaut of a waterfall. It's only just over a kilometre in, so you won't be out here all…
Rainforest Circuit
Rainforest Circuit is a 0.54km circuit in Lamington National Park. Rainforest Circuit
BB - Caves circuit
then, the Caves circuit is a beaut of a little loop through Lamington National Park. You'll meander through the rainforest for just under two…
Bushrangers Cave
Bushrangers Cave is a cracker of a little walk tucked away in Springbrook National Park. You're heading through mixed terrain — bit of bush, bit of…
BB - Mt Hobwee track
the Mt Hobwee track is a short and sweet circuit through Lamington National Park that'll get you to a proper summit without too much faffing about…
Beaches
Broadbeach
# Broadbeach Broadbeach is the Gold Coast's answer to a perfect day without the circus. You get that classic wide sandy stretch—proper room to…
Northcliffe
# Northcliffe Beach Northcliffe is where the Gold Coast gets real. This is a proper patrolled beach tucked into the hinterland—no theme parks, no…
The Spit-Miami
# The Spit-Miami Beach The Spit-Miami is where the Gold Coast gets real. This isn't your postcard-perfect crescent of sand—it's a narrow, dynamic…
Surfers Paradise Beach
# Surfers Paradise Beach Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast's most iconic stretch of sand—a proper wide, open beach that stretches generously along…
Kurrawa
# Kurrawa Beach Kurrawa is the real beating heart of the Gold Coast beachfront—a proper patrolled stretch where the sand meets a busy, purposeful…
Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast
# Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast This is a proper resort beach—the kind where the sand feels intentional, the lines are clean, and you can tell…
Mermaid Beach
# Mermaid Beach Mermaid Beach is what the Gold Coast does best when it takes a breath. It's a proper local's beach—the kind of place where you'll…
Nobby Beach
# Nobby Beach Nobby Beach is where the Gold Coast slows down a little. Wedged between the busier shoulders of Broadbeach and Miami, this sheltered…
Southport
# Southport Beach Southport is the beating heart of the Gold Coast's famous beachfront strip — a patrolled stretch of sand where the energy is real…
Miami Beach
# Miami Beach, Gold Coast Miami Beach is one of the Gold Coast's proper scene-stealers — a trendy strip where the sand meets real life, right now…
North Burleigh
# North Burleigh Beach North Burleigh is a proper working beach—the kind where you'll see lifeguards on the sand, swimmers in the water, and a real…
Burleigh Beach
# Burleigh Beach Burleigh Beach is where the Gold Coast gets real. This is a proper, working beach—patrolled and purposeful, lined with the…
Burleigh Heads Beach
# Burleigh Heads Beach Burleigh Heads is one of those iconic Gold Coast spots where the coastline actually *does* something interesting. It's a…
The Spit
# The Spit The Spit is one of those rare Gold Coast spots that feels like a secret even though everyone knows about it. It's a sandy spit that sits…
Tallebudgera Creek
# Tallebudgera Creek Tallebudgera Creek is where the Gold Coast remembers how to be calm. It's a sheltered creek mouth—not a roaring beach break…
Pacific
# Pacific Beach Pacific is a proper working beach—the kind where you can feel the ocean's real personality. It's an exposed beachfront that catches…
Palm Beach
# Palm Beach, Gold Coast Palm Beach is where the Gold Coast gets a bit of itself back. It's a wide, generous stretch of sand with real room to…
Currumbin Inlet
Currumbin Inlet is a tidal beach that catches you right at the sweet spot between wild and welcoming. It's not a long stretch of unbroken sand—it's…
Currumbin Beach
# Currumbin Beach Currumbin Beach is a proper wide sandy sweep that pulls in locals and visitors alike—the kind of place where the sand actually…
Flat Rock
# Flat Rock Flat Rock is one of those rare Gold Coast spots where the coastline still feels raw and honest. This rocky headland doesn't do beachside…
Bilinga
# Bilinga Beach Bilinga marks the southern gateway to the Gold Coast, where the sprawl of the city finally gives way and you feel the coastline…
Tugun-Kirra
# Tugun-Kirra Beach Tugun-Kirra is one of those stretches of Gold Coast sand that wears its popularity honestly. This is a proper exposed…
North Kirra
# North Kirra North Kirra is a proper beachfront strip where the Gold Coast shows its hand most honestly. It's exposed and alive—the kind of place…
Coolangatta Beach
Coolangatta Beach is where the Gold Coast gets serious about doing beach properly. This is a wide, proper beach—the kind with real sand and real…
Coolangatta-Greenmount
Coolangatta-Greenmount is one of those rare stretches of Gold Coast sand that actually lives up to the hype. This iconic headland beach has the…
Rainbow Bay
# Rainbow Bay Rainbow Bay is one of those rare Gold Coast pockets that feels a world away from the sprawl. It's a sheltered rocky cove with…
Snapper Rocks
# Snapper Rocks Snapper Rocks is where the Gold Coast's swell obsession meets the Queensland–NSW border. This is a proper point break—the kind that…
Kirra Beach
# Kirra Beach Kirra is one of those Gold Coast breaks that's earned its stripes—a proper iconic beach where you'll find consistent swell, keen…
South Stradbroke
# South Stradbroke Beach South Stradbroke is the Gold Coast's quiet escape—a windswept island beach where the landscape is stripped back to…
Couran Cove
Couran Cove is a sheltered island cove where you'll find a proper sandy beach backed by minimal development—the kind of place that feels genuinely…
FINGAL
# Fingal Beach Fingal sits on the far north coast of the Gold Coast, and it's not like the beaches you might've picture when you think of the…
Dreamtime
# Dreamtime Beach Dreamtime is the kind of beach that rewards you for seeking it out — an exposed, unpatrolled stretch where the Gold Coast shows…
Cudgen Creek Beach
# Cudgen Creek Beach Cudgen Creek Beach is one of those rare Gold Coast spots where the water actually stays still. It's a sheltered creek inlet…
Kingscliff Beach
# Kingscliff Beach Kingscliff Beach is one of those proper Gold Coast stretches that actually *works* — a long, genuine beach with real character…
Jumpinpin Inlet
# Jumpinpin Inlet Jumpinpin Inlet is where the Gold Coast shows you its raw edge—a narrow tidal inlet carved between sandbars, stripped back and…
Casuarina Beach
# Casuarina Beach Casuarina Beach is where the Gold Coast's relentless energy softens into something genuinely liveable. This is a sheltered…
Main Beach
# Main Beach Main Beach is where the Gold Coast learns to take a breath. Unlike the rollicking ocean beaches further south, this is a sheltered…
Burleigh Heads Dog Beach
# Burleigh Heads Dog Beach Burleigh Heads Dog Beach is where the southern end of Burleigh meets the water in the most delightfully relaxed way…
Tallebudgera
# Tallebudgera Beach Tallebudgera is one of those Gold Coast beaches that feels properly *sheltered*—backed by the Tallebudgera Valley, it sits in a…
Tugun
# Tugun Beach Tugun is a patrolled beachfront that catches that sweet spot between the bustle of the Gold Coast and something a little quieter…
Greenmount Beach
# Greenmount Beach Greenmount Beach is one of those Gold Coast spots that just gets it right. You've got a proper headland beach—the kind with real…
FLAGSTAFF/DURANBAH
# Flagstaff/Duranbah Beach Flagstaff/Duranbah is where the Gold Coast shows you its wild side—a rugged, exposed headland beach that doesn't…
LETITIA SPIT
# Letitia Spit Letitia Spit is one of those proper Gold Coast beaches that doesn't apologize for what it is. This is a narrow spit of sand with real…
Markets — free to wander
Miami Marketta Live
Burleigh Farmers Market
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
More on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Restaurants Gold Coast Events
Common questions
What is there to do on the Gold Coast for free?
The beaches and the coastal walks, mostly — none of them charge. This page has 43 beaches, 23 walks and 3 markets, including Twin Falls Circuit, Purling Brook Falls Circuit and Burleigh Headland Circuit.
Are the Gold Coast beaches free?
Yes — every beach here is public and there is no entry fee. Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise Beach and Mermaid Beach are patrolled.