Top Gold Coast Day Trips

Journey into the hinterlands on this 5-hour afternoon tour of the Springbrook National Park from the Gold Coast. Explore the UNESCO-listed Goondawanna rainforests by coach, stopping to walk through the jungle, peek into ancient caves and enjoy views of Mount Warning from the Best of All Lookout.  Visit natural wonders like Purling Brook Falls, Numinbah valley and Rainbow Falls, and soak up the scenery from the Canyon Lookout. This small-group tour is limited to 16 people for a personalised experience, and includes hotel pick-up and afternoon tea.

Exploring the Gold Coast Hinterland can be a challenge if you don’t have your own transport, but this full-day tour from the Gold Coast offers the perfect introduction. Discover the natural wonders of the Springbrook National Park, stopping to take in the views of Mt Warning and the Numinbah Valley, and admire landmarks including the Natural Arch, Rainbow Falls, and Goomalarah Falls.

A fully guided tour visiting the world’s largest Sub Tropical rainforest and famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Experience stunning panoramic views, canopy treetop walk, see wild birds and more on this relaxed journey to 1,000 metres above sea level. Learn about the O’Reilly’s amazing history on route including the Stinson plane crash and see why this beautiful property is on the must do list for travellers from all over the world. When visiting the Scenic Rim, a stop at a vineyard is a must. O’Reilly’s own Canungra Valley Vineyard set by a mountain stream gives you the chance to check out the vineyard and enjoy a complimentary glass of their own sparkling wine. This is also home to Mountain View Alpaca Farm. Remove the hassle of driving and experience the hinterland with the Gold Coast’s most experienced rainforest tour operator.

Exploring the Gold Coast hinterland can be tricky for those unfamiliar with the area. See places you'd never find on your own on this guided tour to Tamborine Mountain. Embark on a rainforest walk to Curtis Falls, travel through Eucalyptus Forest, and explore the Tamborine Mountain Forest Skywalk, a network of forest floor trails, steel bridges through the highest points of the upper canopy, and a 131-foot (40-meter) cantilevered bridge that soars 98 feet (30 meters) above the creek and rainforest below.

Explore the wild beauty of the Gold Coast hinterland on this full-day tour to Mt Tamborine. Encounter koalas, kangaroos and cascading mountain waterfalls on a guided bushwalk through the eucalypt rain forest of Mt Tamborine National Park. Indulge in some mountainside produce tasting.

Experience the nighttime enchantment of Mt Tamborine National Park on this unique 4WD rain forest walk and glowworm tour. At the mountain summit, stop for a light supper of cakes and hot chocolate, and soak up views of the twinkling Gold Coast from a lookout. Then, observe nocturnal wildlife by torchlight with a guided bushwalk through the rain forest, where you’ll come across an ethereal waterfall illuminated by glowworms.

Short on time? Sample the natural beauty of the Gold Coast on this outdoor tour. Hop on a sea kayak and paddle your way over to Wave Break Island to swim and snorkel amid tropical fish and colorful coral. Spot dolphins, stingrays, and sea turtles along the coast, and enjoy a snack before heading back to shore.

Start your day off right with a half-day kayak tour to South Stradbroke Island. Enjoy a great vantage point on the beaches and wildlife of the Gold Coast as you paddle at a leisurely pace, stopping to snorkel off Wavebreak Island, visit secluded beaches, and enjoy a picnic breakfast on the beach. Your expert guide shares informative commentary about the region's ecology and animals, and provides full instruction on kayaking and snorkeling — making this tour suitable for both experienced paddlers and first-timers.

Experience the Gold Coast’s beautiful Surfers Paradise on a tour aboard an amphibious Aquaduck. Bring the kids and hop aboard this unusual dual-purpose vessel for a jaunt along the area’s picturesque beaches and past local landmarks like Palazzo Versace and Marina Mirage. Then, enjoy a thrilling river cruise past the glitz of millionaire’s row as the Aquaduck transforms from a bus into a boat.

Become part of the art at the incredible ArtVo Gold Coast, an art gallery with a difference. Queensland’s first trick art gallery is a fun destination to visit with your family or friends. Be amazed by the skillful art, spread over a huge area, and stop for plenty of photos and selfies. Staff are willing to help out if you need. Pre-purchase your tickets for a smooth arrival.

Visit Tropical Fruit World, where you can learn about tropical fruit around the world and taste the fruit grown on the farm. Cruise down the farm's waterway and feed the wild birds as they swim and swoop alongside the boat, then transfer to a miniature train for a ride through the eucalyptus trees.

Taste award-winning liqueurs, spirits, and wine on this tour of the Mt. Tamborine area, which also includes a gourmet lunch. Taste the bounty of the Great Brisbane region, including locally produced cheese from Witches Chase Cheese Factory, spirits from Tamborine Mountain Distillery, and vintages from multiple wineries. All tastings, snacks, and beverages provided means a seamless, belly-filling experience.

This comprehensive full-day tour allows you to sightsee, swim, hike, and bushwalk through The Royal National Park. Including transportation to the Figure 8 Pools, only about an hour's drive from Sydney, you'll discover coastal views and local wildlife. Pickup and drop-off at a central Sydney meeting location.

Visit three craft breweries on the Gold Coast during a half-day tour that includes lots of beer tastings and a delicious lunch. You'll sample the goods at Black Hops Brewing, Burleigh Brewing, and Balter Brewing, meet some of the brewers, and learn what goes on behind the scenes during the brewing process.

Enjoy deep sea fishing on a 5-hour charter tour from the Gold Coast. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure for this fishing tour with professional fishing guides who assist you to find and land your catch. A wide variety of pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish can be found in the waters off the Gold Coast. Includes the use of fishing equipment and a safe ride on a fully equipped boat.

Head into the Gold Coast hinterland for an evening of luminescent glow worms, a torch-lit rain forest walk, and stargazing in the clear night sky. Deep inside the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest, marvel at the natural phenomenon of thousands of tiny glow worms lighting up an ancient cave before trekking among the nocturnal creatures of Queensland on a guided night safari. Cap off the evening with stargazing at the Springbrook Research Observatory and a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Leaving the urban jungle of the Goldie, we’ll cruise up through the verdant green hills of the Gold Coast hinterland to Tamborine Mountain. A rainforest-covered escarpment formed by a 23 million-year-old lava flow, Tamborine Mountain is the gateway to the Scenic Rim – one of Australia’s most underrated wine regions. And you’ll be enjoying a tasting at three of its finest wineries on this gourmet day trip, topped off with a two-course lunch at Hampton Wines (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) or Mason Wines (Wednesday and Thursday). A visit to Witches Falls Winery – often ranked among Queensland’s best – is included on every tour. You’ll also get a chance to sample a selection of the artisanal spirits and liqueurs produced by Tamborine Mountain Distillery, a local icon which has won more than 300 awards for its quirky tipples – eucalyptus gum leaf vodka, anyone? If you’re a sucker for a great view, you’ll love the spectacular Scenic Rim lookout we stop at before heading back to the city.

Mt Tamborine is renowned for its boutique wineries and artisan producers, and lies just an hour south of Brisbane. On this private tour, enjoy a customizable itinerary, stopping at up to four wineries, along with a distillery, craft brewery, and cheese factory (optional). Sample a variety of wines and tasters along the way, then indulge in a scrumptious 2-course lunch at a winery restaurant.

Many wine tours focus only on the great wine but on this tour you’ll also visit some of the most beautiful heritage buildings in the area, which happen to be wineries. On this tour you’ll be taken to four different estates, including a home that three previous Queensland premiers lived in. Learn about wine-making and local history while indulging in a tasty drop or two.

The forested valleys and vine-clad hills of Brisbane’s Scenic Rim area are even more magnificent when viewed from above. With this tour, make an early start to catch the sunrise and float over the picturesque landscapes in a hot air balloon. After admiring the views, celebrate your flight with a glass of Champagne and a scrumptious hot buffet breakfast at a local vineyard.

Experience the beautiful Gold Coast on this small-group guided cruise. Enjoy a flexible itinerary—cruises last from one to five hours—and a quiet ride on this custom built boat with an electric motor. Check out amazing views of sites like Main Beach, Southport, Cronin’s Island, and Isle of Capri. Marvel at the million dollar homes and gorgeous canals, elegant bridges and marine life that could include dolphins, turtles, and sea eagles.

Explore the lush rainforests and waterfalls around Brisbane and the Gold Coast on this personalized group adventure through Springbrook or Lamington National Park. Perfect for private groups of up to 11, this personalized tour gives you the chance to choose your own itinerary, with guided walks, waterfalls, wildlife, and snacks included—along with pickup/drop-off at a destination of your choosing, transport, park fees, and even optional sunrises/sunsets.

Whether you want to see the sights from the channels and coastlines or you just want to have dinner and drinks on the water, this private canal cruise can be tailored to your needs. Take this water-limo, custom-built for small groups, out for one hour or for half the day, cruising in the shadow of the grand Gold Coast skyline. With a skipper on hand to point out all the highlights, from Surfer’s Paradise to the homes of the rich and famous, this is a unique and discreet way to experience the Gold Coast.

Spend a day exploring the sights of Tamborine Mountain on this daily shuttle service from Helensvale Station on the Gold Coast. Stopping at Eagle Heights, Mount Tamborine, North Tamborine, Rainforest Skywalk, Thunderbird Park, and Treetop Challenge, this comfortable shuttle bus gives you the chance to explore without worrying about organizing your own transport. You’ll also learn about the region from your driver-guide and do some sightseeing as you cruise around.