The Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches, excellent shopping scene and vibrant nightlife are famous all over the world. However, there’s much more to this stunning part of Australia.
In fact, along the coast and in the hinterland, stacks of unusual adventures are to be had – from meeting the biggest group of glow worms in Australia to seeing the Gold Coast from 270 metres up in the air. Here are five unexpected experiences you shouldn’t miss.
MEET AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST GROUP OF GLOW WORMS
50 minutes’ drive southwest of the Gold Coast is Springbrook National Park, where you’ll find the biggest group of glow worms in Australia. They live in an enchanting place called Natural Bridge – a stunning rock formation that frames a dramatic waterfall. It lies along a one-kilometre circuit walk, which travels through ancient rainforest.
To see the glow worms, you’ll need to visit at night, as part of a guided tour. If you return during the day, you’ll meet wildlife of all kinds – from paradise riflebirds and green catbirds to cascade tree frogs and koalas.
TAKE THE LONGEST, FASTEST, HIGHEST ZIPLINE TOUR IN AUSTRALIA
Around 80 minutes’ drive northwest of the Gold Coast, on Tamborine Mountain, you can take the longest, fastest, highest zipline tour in Australia. Your adventure starts with a 4WD drive off-the-beaten track to the first of seven ziplines, which, together, span 1.4-kilometres.
You’ll soar at heights of up to 60 metres and speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour over a rainforest-filled canyon. Along the way, your guides will challenge you to travel backwards and upside-down – if you dare.
LEARN TO MAKE A VASE AT THE CRAFT PARLOUR
Holidays don’t have to be all about relaxing – you can also take the chance to upskill. The Craft Parlour in Miami is dedicated to helping you to do just that. It hosts creative workshops of all kinds.
One day, you might learn to make a ceramic vase by hand, the next you might find yourself hand-pouring a candle and, the day after that, you could be creating resin jewellery. Most of them are one-off classes, which means you can fit them easily around your itinerary.
FIND OUT WHAT INFINITY IS LIKE
Inside Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, you’ll find a tourist attraction like no other. Called Infinity, it transports you into a world that never ends – through special effects, soundscapes and even aromas. All in all, you’ll experience 20 surroundings, each entirely different to the one before it.
Once you’ve finished, be sure to take a wander through the shopping centre. There’s plenty to see, browse and experience, including the Eclipse Escape Rooms.
SEE THE GOLD COAST FROM 270 METRES UP IN THE AIR
The Gold Coast is beautiful from any angle, but there’s nothing quite like seeing it from 270 metres high in the air. For that, you need to head to SkyPoint Climb.
You’ll catch a lift to the 240-metre level, then climb outside the building for 30 metres, with your guide leading the way, before reaching the open-air platform. Tours available by day, at sunset and at night – when the Gold Coast’s thousands of lights turn the view into a magical fairyland.
GETTING TO THE GOLD COAST
The Gold Coast is an hour’s drive south of Brisbane, nine hours’ drive north of Sydney and 18 hours’ drive north of Melbourne. SIXT rental cars are available in all three cities, and in many other locations across Australia.
If you’d prefer to fly, catch a plane to the Gold Coast Airport, then jump in a SIXT car rental.
