Surfers Paradise Gold Coast

Shimmering skyscrapers line the snow-white sandy beach as endless turquoise waves roll in. In the evenings, the streets of the city transform into a stage for hot parties and a vibrant nightlife: Welcome to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Surfers Paradise is a small town on Australia's east coast. At the heart of the Gold Coast, this city is the Las Vegas of Down Under. People from all over the country, as well as backpackers from around the world, travel to Surfers - as the city is affectionately called - to celebrate with abandon. However, the region has much more to offer than just a diverse nightlife. Miles of white beaches, tropical rainforests, spectacular amusement parks, universities, and 365 days of sunshine a year await you here.

We will show you many of the beautiful corners of the city. What exactly you can experience here, which spectacular excursions are worth it, and why Surfers Paradise might be one of the coolest cities in the world, you can read now!

Surfers Paradise is located quite centrally on the east coast of Australia, just under an hour south of Brisbane. The coast is lovingly called the 'Gold Coast' because of its endless golden sandy beaches. If you decide to make a detour to this small paradise, you can fly into the airport in Brisbane. Airlines such as Emirates, Qantas, and Lufthansa fly here from all over the world. If you are already traveling in Australia or perhaps coming from Asia, you should check flights to the Gold Coast Airport, which mainly services budget airlines.

The bus or train will take you from Brisbane Airport to Surfers Paradise in about one to two hours.

While Aussies mainly come here to party hard, tourists from all over the world are drawn by the sensational combination of beautiful beaches, amusement parks, surfing events, and stunning nature. Here are seven things you should not miss:

The Q1 Tower shapes the skyline of Surfers Paradise like no other building: it is 323 meters high and offers apartments with spectacular balconies and high-priced hotel rooms. At the very top of the tower, there is, of course, an observation deck: the SkyPoint Observation Deck. From up here, you can not only view the entire city but also large parts of the beautiful Gold Coast, extending up to Brisbane in the north and the hippie town Byron Bay in the south.

The whole Gold Coast is known worldwide for its good surf spots, and the name Surfers Paradise is no coincidence. Every year, from April 3 to April 13, 2019, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast takes place here, where the best surfers in the world compete against each other. The event is held in Coolangatta, 30 minutes south of Surfers. You definitely shouldn't miss it.

If possible, you should definitely land in Australia between May and November, as that's when whales appear off the east coast. Occasionally, you can even see them from the beach as they shoot their water spouts. However, it's much better from a boat. A provider called Whales in Paradise offers whale watching tours in Surfers Paradise multiple times a day. Tickets for $99 can be purchased at small stalls in the city or online in advance - sightings are guaranteed. It's definitely worth it; the majestic animals are incredibly impressive.

The biggest and wildest party in Surfers Paradise takes place during the so-called 'Schoolies,' which is like Spring Break. Every year at the end of November, thousands of high school graduates celebrate their graduation for a week. The huge party takes place right on the beach, but the entire city is overrun with party animals at this time. You can join in or simply buy an ice cream and watch the spectacle from the front row - both are almost equally fun.

The exotic wildlife, including spiders and snakes, is a part of Australia, but alongside the creepier insects and reptiles, you must also see the cute koalas and lovable kangaroos. Visit one of the many wildlife sanctuaries, such as the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, about 30 minutes south of Surfers. The Farm Animal Rescue is particularly lovely, where injured or abandoned animals are cared for, and you can witness it live.

Another special highlight is the adventure parks in Surfers Paradise: For example, you can visit Dreamworld, Movie World, White Water World, and Wet n Wild. Just a few minutes north of the city, you can easily take the Theme Park Express to get there. Huge roller coasters and water slides guarantee adrenaline kicks. If you're interested in visiting several parks, discounted combo tickets are available.

Decades ago, when Surfers Paradise was reserved for the wealthy and famous, several designer shops settled here: Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada. Today, there are many luxurious shops, but also colorful stands like those at the Beachfront Market, which are suitable for backpackers. For extensive shopping, I recommend the Pacific Fair shopping center, just ten minutes down the coast, where you'll find numerous cool shops. If that's not enough, you should get lost in the huge Robina Town Center, 20 minutes from Surfers.

The wide white Surfers Paradise Beach is part of the 70 kilometers of beach on the Gold Coast. It's considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, if not the world. Right in Surfers itself, the beach is often well visited. However, just a little farther up or down, you hardly see a soul, so it's worth walking a few meters. In addition to the beach in Surfers Paradise, we recommend the beautiful bay at 'Currumbin Creek' nearby. It not only looks stunning, but thanks to the shallow water, you can also swim and kayak beautifully.

Now, here's our favorite spot: Drive to the northern tip of Surfers, going straight along the road by the beach past a small harbor and Sea World until you find yourself right in front of the sea. Welcome to the Spit! Here, a small cove and a pretty park invite you to watch the sun rise and set. Dolphins often stray into the cove, which can be seen wonderfully from the shore. The perfect place for a picnic!

In Tweed Heads, just 30 minutes south of Surfers Paradise, you have the opportunity to observe dozens of pelicans up close. The exact address is 214 Kennedy Drive - here stands a small fish shop, and right behind it lies a large lake, on which many pelicans swim and rest. With a portion of fish & chips in hand, you can relax wonderfully while watching these quirky creatures.

Head into the mountains: While the coast offers less exotic rainforest, you only ride into the hinterland to experience Australia's beautiful nature. Close to Surfers Paradise is Mount Tamborine, 40 minutes directly west. In addition to the mountain, there's endless green rainforest, waterfalls, streams, and diverse wildlife. Take your time, as there are no less than twelve short hiking trails leading you to the most beautiful viewpoints in the national park. Be sure to try to take the trip on a sunny day, as you can see all the way to the coast.

Those who regularly watch quality German television know that the top-notch RTL jungle camp candidates are all housed right here, in the luxurious Palazzo Versace Hotel in Surfers Paradise. Before heading off to the dangerous jungle by helicopter, the celebrities enjoy the golden dream beach at the northern tip, just before the Spit. So if you're in Surfers Paradise in January, you definitely should take a trip to the stylish Versace Hotel to perhaps catch a glimpse of the stars. If you want to stay nearby, you can find hotels in Surfers Paradise with us.

Surfers Paradise - a city with that name can only be incredibly sexy. Local entrepreneurs and landowners thought so too and re-named the former Elston. Since the 1950s, Surfers Paradise has been booming - clearly, this piece of earth is absolutely stunning, but even the name alone has attracted countless travelers. That surfing in Surfers Paradise is particularly good is only partially true. Along the Gold Coast there are some hotspots where the waves are even better. However, if you still want to tick off 'Surfing in Surfers Paradise', you should go into the water at the northern tip of the city.

Along Main Beach Parade, around house number 3,472, you'll find pretty good waves, especially in the mornings. However, if you want to ride the best waves the Gold Coast has to offer, here are our top 3 best surf hotspots:

We have, of course, tried numerous restaurants and pubs and can warmly recommend several to you.

For a quick snack, you should head to the Surfers Paradise strip, Cavill Avenue, where you can find the absolute best sushi rolls at small sushi shops. Another very good, albeit slightly more expensive, option for Japanese cuisine and fresh seafood is Citrique Restaurant, while Cafe Alfons is also very popular. The supposedly best burgers on the Gold Coast can be found at Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co.

For the evening, we also have a list of the best restaurants and pubs for you. We can wholeheartedly recommend the following nightlife options:

Australians are more the wild type when it comes to partying - especially in Surfers, where bachelor parties from all over Australia flock, students celebrate their graduations, and young backpackers from around the world let loose. Accordingly, the club scene is large, leaning more toward the mainstream, but some alternative spots also exist. Here are some clubs and bars in Surfers Paradise that we can definitely recommend:

By the way, if you didn't know: Alcohol in Australia is really extremely expensive. A six-pack of beer can cost up to $20. What most party people do is not very tasty but cheap: they indulge in a pack of 'Goon.' It won't be ten minutes in Surfers before you know exactly what we're talking about. Goon is the cheapest alcohol you can find in Australia: four liters of wine in a plastic bag for $10 - it doesn't get much better than that. Please make use of the free water available in bars and clubs during your party night to avoid a terrible hangover.

When you're in Australia, you pretty much can't miss a trip to Surfers Paradise. Let yourself be swept away by the incredible joie de vivre and cool flair of the city, relax on the beach, and enjoy the nightlife. We also have everything you need for your trip to Australia!