Day Trips from Gold Coast to New South Wales

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.

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.

Explore the World Heritage-listed rain forest of the Gold Coast hinterland on this full-day tour to Lamington National Park. Rumble along remote tracks in a 4WD vehicle, soak up spectacular views from the summit of Tamborine Mountain and explore the subtropical rain forest on a guided nature walk. At O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, get a closer look at native plants, birds and even koalas on an elevated treetop walk. A traditional Aussie barbecue lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off from Gold Coast complete this fantastic eco-adventure.

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.

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.

Feel a rush of adrenaline as you soar through the air on this tandem sky dive over Byron Bay.  Enjoy the thrill of a 60-second free fall from a height of more than 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), then look down over the spectacular beaches and bay during the five-minute parachute descent. Once you’re safely back on solid ground, celebrate your achievement with a personalized photo certificate to show off to friends and family back home.

Wave Break Island is one of the best places for snorkeling on the Gold Coast, home to over 50 different fish species. Marvel at the island’s underwater wonders on this 4-hour snorkeling tour and dive in to swim and snorkel amid schools of exotic fish. Hotel pick-up and round-trip transfers are included.

Zip through the Gold Coast’s sparkling waters and sunny skies with a package that offers an action-packed jet boat ride and a scenic helicopter tour.  See landmarks including Palazzo Versace Hotel, Marina Mirage, SeaWorld, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, Sovereign Islands and Moreton Bay Marine Park. Your jet boat captain takes the vessel on a 55-minute ride with high-speed tricks that spin the boat around in thrilling circles and turns. The 5-minute helicopter tour provides an aerial perspective on the region’s landmarks and beautiful beaches.

Explore the wild beauty of the Gold Coast hinterland on this half-day 4WD 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 wine tasting, learn how to throw a boomerang and enjoy a morning or afternoon tea break with scones on this delightfully diverse tour.

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.

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.

Enjoy a hot air balloon tour from Brisbane with Australia's most experienced and professional team. Be picked up in airconditioned comfort from Nerang or Canugra and drive to Brisbane's Scenic Rim area for your balloon flight. With an early morning start, experience the landscape from your balloon basket as you soar with the breeze over the land below. Upon landing, you are welcome to participate in packing away your aircraft - not something you get to do every day! Top off your morning with a full hot buffet breakfast, complete with a chilled glass of celebratory champagne to toast a successful hot air balloon flight. Relax on your return journey back to your pick up location or ongoing itineraries.

Zip through the scenic Gold Coast Broadwater on a high-octane jet boat ride that combines speed-driven fun with sightseeing. Hang on as your boat performs 360-degree spins, power slides and other tricks, then slow down to see Southport Yacht Club, Palazzo Versace Hotel and Marina Mirage. You'll also buzz past Seaworld, the mansions of Sovereign Island and Moreton Bay Marine Park, venturing further than other similar tours. Dolphins and other marine life often seen in these waterways — keep your eyes peeled!

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.

The exotic marine life of Wave Break Island offers a spectacular backdrop for a scuba diving adventure, and this half-day scuba diving tour is open to all levels. Choose a beginner-friendly dive, accompanied by a PADI instructor, or a solo dive for certified divers only, and marvel at the underwater world of the Gold Coast.

• Enjoy the thrills of parasailing for you and a friend or partner in this experience  • Great gift idea or idea for a fun & memorable experience  • Soar in the sky 400ft high above the Gold Coasts broad water taking enjoying all the breath taking views of the beautiful Gold Coast and surrounds  • You will receive a short safety training session with your instructor before being harnessed to take the skies  • You will be harnessed up in the latest safety equipment and winched up high above their purpose built Parasailing boat for around 8 minutes fly time, but allow approximately 45 minutes for the experience with briefing, harnessing and flight time

During your visit to the Gold Coast, learn the basics of surfing with a 2-hour beginning surfing lesson at Main Beach. With gentle waves it is an ideal place to learn to surf, and your lesson includes use of all necessary equipment. Your guide ensures a safe and fun introduction to surfing, and provides hotel pickup and drop-off.

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.

Be a boat captain for a day with a leisurely cruise through the Gold Coast’s scenic canals. Even without experience or a boating license, you can pilot a canopy-covered vessel with room for up to 10 friends or family members and plenty of amenities. You decide where to go and when to stop, enjoying unparalleled views from the water of Gold Coast luxury homes, beaches, and marine life.

The two-mile beach and seaside attractions of Surfer’s Paradise make it one of the most scenic walks on the Gold Coast. This one hour Segway tour offers you and your group a more exciting way to take in the scenery as you effortlessly ride between the Coast’s most popular landmarks across various terrains.

• Enjoy the thrills of parasailing for you and a friend or partner in this tandem experience • Soar in the sky 400ft high above the Gold Coasts broad water taking enjoying all the breath taking views of the beautiful Gold Coast and surrounds  • You will be harnessed up in the latest safety equipment and winched up high above their purpose built Parasailing boat for around 8 minutes fly time Then • Embark on a 55-minute ride through Gold Coast’s Broadwater • The jet boat ride is a 45kms round trip • Departing from the GC Base at Marina Mirage the jet boat will hit speeds of up to 75kph includes 360-degree spins, high-speed slides, and fishtailing

Take off from Main Beach on a Jet Ski tour to enjoy the natural beauty of the Gold Coast in an exciting way. You'll cruise up to South Stradbroke Island, traveling about 9 miles (15 km) past beaches, sandbars, and mangroves.

This quick, safe Jet Ski rental is ideal for travelers who are new to watersports and want to explore parts of the Broadwater. Listen to a safety briefing, don your lifejacket, and spend about half an hour riding around a .6-mile-long circuit (1 kilometer) located inside the Seaworld Resort. Afterward, you’re free to use the resort facilities, including a swimming pool and waterslides.

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.