Top Gold Coast Nature and Wildlife Tours

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot whales in the wild so close to the Gold Coast. Just a twenty-minute cruise off shore, the Australian Whale Sanctuary is prime humpback whale habitat. Get great views of the creatures (when conditions are right) from on board your comfortable boat. This easy 2.5-hour trip can fit into busy itineraries.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy a close encounter with Australia's native animals at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the Gold Coast. Your ticket includes admission to the park plus daily keeper presentations and animal shows. Admire critters such as the kangaroo, Tasmanian devil, koala, wombat, echidna and reptiles that live in natural-style bush and rainforest habitats. Walk through the stunning 5-acre forest of the Lost Valley and see unique flora and wildlife such as lemurs, red pandas, capybaras and other exotic reptiles.

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.

Experience the thrills of parasailing while on the Gold Coast of Australia. First, you’ll receive a short safety training before being outfitted with a harness. Then, soar high above the Gold Coast, up to 400 feet (122 meters) high, and take in aerial views of the coastline. This is available for solo travelers or with one or two partners.

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.

Go sailing on the Gold Coast Broadwater at sunset aboard a luxury sailboat. Glide past landmarks such as the Southport Yacht Club, Marina Mirage, Wave Break Island and Surfers Paradise on this romantic and relaxing 2-hour sunset cruise. Travel in a small group with a maximum of 10 people, and enjoy complimentary sparkling wine and appetizers during your sunset cruise. Have the option to upgrade to include a gourmet dinner featuring fresh Australian seafood.

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot whales in the wild so close to the Gold Coast. Just a twenty-minute cruise off shore, the Australian Whale Sanctuary is prime humpback whale habitat. Get great views of the creatures (when conditions are right) from on board your comfortable boat. This easy 2.5-hour trip can fit into busy itineraries.

Spotting whales in their natural habitat can be tricky if you don't know where to look. Skip the guesswork on this whale-watching cruise, which guarantees you will see humpback whales as they migrate past the Gold Coast from June to November or you receive a complimentary second cruise. The tour is led by a marine biologist guide who is passionate about conservation and offers insights into whale behavior that enrich the experience. Includes morning tea and a photo booklet souvenir.

Make your way through watery, winding, hightide passages that turn and bend during this half-day, guided, 49-mile (80-kilometer) Jet Ski adventure. Follow your guide through hairpin turns testing your speed as you lookout at the lush, tropical plant life that flanks your watery path. Glide over the water under mangrove trees before stopping at a South Stradbroke Island bar for lunch.

On this family-friendly tour of a 200-acre commercial fruit plantation you’ll learn how tropical fruits grow, how they’re harvested and planted, and, most importantly, how they taste. Enjoy a fully guided plantation safari, tasting show, wildlife-spotting cruise, fauna park, and Aussie bush tucker experience. Shop for more frit, juices, ice-creams, and other snacks at the on-site cafe.

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.

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.

Finally a tour that tells the stories behind the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast! This is an Adults only tour. Secrets, Scandals and Sunsets is a fun look at the tales of the millionaire high flyers, fraudsters, celebrities and their lives on the Gold Coast complete with beer, bubbles and snacks. The one and a half hour tour is a fantastic way to celebrate summer, kicking off at 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays This tour is ideal for a pre dinner drink and some fun with your partner or a group of friends. This is Aquaduck as you have never seen it before. Tickets include alcoholic or soft drinks and snacks. Please note you are unable to book on this site within 48hrs of travel. Please contact us if you wish to book within this timeframe.

Cooly Eco Adventures uses the ‘soft in-water encounters’ approach which is a proven method to achieve a successful and sustainable whale swim. Every whale swim is unique and our highly experienced skipper and crew are on hand throughout to make this experience personal as well as professional. They have a wealth of knowledge and passion for whales and the stunning Gold Coast region they look forward to sharing with you.

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.

Discover the Federation Walk Coastal Reserve in Main Beach on a Gold Coast Segway tour. You'll cruise through an undeveloped area of sand dunes—one of the last remaining in the area—and admire the bush scenery. Enjoy the chance to take your Segway off-road onto gravel and sandy terrain, and ride along an ocean path.

Consult with your dedicated personal tour guide to develop a hiking itinerary best suited to your group. With two national parks to explore, we offer trails with distance and difficulty ranging from 1km strolls to 20+km epics. Want to focus on waterfalls, ancient Antarctic Beech forests or a spectacular sunrise? Book a Private Tour and create your own unforgettable rainforest experience!

Easily travel around Sydney’s Gold Coast on this Segway tour. Hop on your all-terrain Segway and ride along the Main Beach pathway into the Federation Walk Coastal Reserve, an undeveloped sand dune system along the coast. The Segway will allow you to smoothly tackle gravel, sand, and concrete in the bush and rainforest on this short tour.

Daily Service, Helensvale Station to and from Tamborine Mountain. Servicing, Eagle Heights, Mount Tamborine, North Tamborine, The Skywalk, Thunderbird Park and Treetop Challenge. See amazing wildlife in a geological rich oasis that is Tamborine Mountain, visit waterfalls, translucent rock pools, inspiring landscapes, towering rainforest, majestic views and star-studded skies all add to the magic that is Tamborine Mountain. Enjoy an affordable mountain adventure, a romantic escape, or a family holiday. Stay a day or a week.

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.

Departing from Brisbane, enjoy this 10 day Australian surfing adventure giving you an experience you will hold on to for a lifetime! Travel from Brisbane to Sydney and learn how to surf with friends whilst checking out some of Australia's best coastline. You'll visit must see attractions, national parks and hidden gems along the way.