The best place to stay in the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise (or very nearby). This coastal area features some of the city’s best attractions, nightlife and Gold Coast accommodation options. Business travelers will have no problem finding mid-range hotels in Surfers Paradise, and backpackers have a fine selection of cheap, yet quality, hostels. For travelers looking for luxury resorts and beachfront properties are plentiful. After all, it’s not called Surfers Paradise for nothing! Tourists who stay in the neighborhood also will be within walking distance of Gold Coast’s best beaches, SkyPoint Observation Deck and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
The beauty of Surfers Paradise is unparalleled. From sky-high towers to pristine, white sand beaches, this area is a major draw for tourists from all around the world, and the moment a traveler sets foot into this area, it is easy to see why. When traveling to Surfers Paradise, many visitors will land in Gold Coast Airport, which is about an hour away by car.
From the airport, visitors have a few options for transit to Surfers Paradise. Public transit is the cheapest option and is certain to appeal to backpackers and individuals seeking budget-friendly stays. The public bus travels from the airport to Broadbeach, which is a suburb of Gold Coast, and from there, travelers can take a tram the rest of the way into Surfers Paradise and city center hotels. The cost of the trip will be around $10.
For travelers who are looking for a simpler option for transit, private bus, taxi, and rideshare are all options and will start at around $40 for the trip. What’s nice about these options is that visitors can prepurchase a private bus, or decide at the airport whether they’d like to take a taxi or order a rideshare. These options are more direct, and will probably save visitors travel time. No matter what option a vacationer chooses, Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise are well served by transit and other services, so it won’t be too difficult to find a ride to a hotel or resort.
The Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast
Conveniently located just a few minutes from Surfers Paradise in Broadbeach, The Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast is a 5-star property offering a wide range of rooms and suites. The waterfront Gold Coast accommodation features several onsite restaurants and bars, plus a casino that never closes. Guests have access to an outdoor swimming pool and endless ocean views.
Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to the entertainment options this hotel offers. On-site, visitors can engage in a game of golf, get a massage, indulge in spa services, or hit up the fitness center. For any travelers who like to have fun gambling, the hotel also has a casino, so guests can try their luck on the casino floor and see where the night takes them.
Things to do near The Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast
- Dracula’s Cabaret Gold Coast
- Broadbeach
- Surfers Paradise
- SkyPoint Observation Deck
- The Oasis shopping mall
Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise
Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise is truly an escape like no other. This elegant beachfront hotel offers spacious accommodations, exquisite views, air conditioning, and free Wi-FI. For entertainment and relaxation, the hotel delivers boating excursions, on-site entertainment, massage services, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. For families in the area, the hotel offers babysitting services, a family room, kids’ meals, and a kids’ pool, so there’s something for everyone at this hotel. Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise’s proximity to attractions means it’s a top choice for accommodations in the area.
FIND MORE HOTELS & RESORTS IN GOLD COAST
Paradise Resort
A perfect fit for families and groups, Paradise Resort offers rooms that can cater up to eight people. It also features the Zone 4 Kids Club, a supervised activity center with an onsite water park, playground and ice-skating rink. Children who join activities at Zone 4 Kids Club also have an opportunity to participate in arts and crafts workshops and a variety of hands-on activities. Parents receive special treatment, too, with a spa and lounge area in Zone 4 Adults.
For food, Paradise Resort impresses with a variety of options, including a continental breakfast, restaurants, a snack bar, a coffee shop, and more. When it comes to room amenities, the resort offers in-suite air conditioning, daily housekeeping, a refrigerator, and free Wi-Fi. For family fun and group travel needs, Paradise Resort in Surfers Paradise is the perfect pick.
Things to do near Paradise Resort
- Budds Beach
- Gold Coast Wax Museum
- Infinity
- Surfers Paradise Beach
- Main Beach
Rhapsody Resort
Affordable and luxury go hand in hand at Rhapsody Resort. While the surrounding area is packed with entertainment options, including beaches, water sports, and nightlife opportunities, at the resort, guests will be impressed by the stunning sightlines, modern rooms, and great amenities. Guests are certain to appreciate the air-conditioned suites, along with free Wi-Fi, and travelers with kids will love the family room and babysitting services. When it’s time to relax, the hotel offers pool facilities, a steam room, and spa services, so guests can recharge after a long day of having fun. At this resort, everything is taken care of so guests can sit back, relax, and fully enjoy their vacation at Surfers Paradise.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
With an aquatic playground complete with heated pools, spas and waterfalls, guests at Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa may never want to leave the premises! This 5-star luxury Gold Coast accommodation, though, is too close to some of the city’s best attractions to pass them up. Tourists who stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa enjoy easy access to Main Beach and the Esplanade.
Modern, beautifully appointed rooms feature air conditioning, balconies, and free Wi-Fi, along with blackout curtains, a minibar, and soundproofing. The hotel’s food options are similarly impressive, with American, Asian, vegetarian, and vegan options available, and several facilities, including a poolside bar, a coffee shop, restaurants, and a snack bar. For fun in the sun, travelers won’t go wrong with a stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.
Things to do near Surfers Paradise Marriot Resort & Spa
- Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
- Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast
- Budds Beach
- Sea World
- Australia Fair Shopping Centre
Mantra On View Surfers Paradise
Indulge in epic views of the coast with a stay at Mantra On View Surfers Paradise. This gorgeous hotel offers generously sized rooms, balconies, air conditioning, blackout curtains, and Wi-Fi. The hotel’s food options similarly impress, with a restaurant on-site, along with full English or Irish breakfast options. For entertainment, guests can take a dip in the pool, head to the fitness center, make use of the massage services, step into the garden, and more. So indulge in a body scrub, sneak out to the garden and enjoy the tranquility, or hit the beach and enjoy, all during a stay at Mantra On View Surfers Paradise.
Novotel Surfers Paradise
Novotel Surfers Paradise is one of the most centrally located hotels guests can find. This 4.5-star Gold Coast accommodation puts guests right next door to Gold Coast’s Hard Rock Café and within walking distance of some of the city’s finest shopping spots. In fact, the hotel is connected to Paradise Centre, an upscale mall on the Esplanade and near Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets.
Along with its prime location, this hotel is packed with entertainment options, including a pool, fitness center, tennis courts, a games room, and spa services. For amenities, guests will appreciate the air-conditioned rooms with balconies, free Wi-Fi, and daily housekeeping. With plenty of dining options, like a continental breakfast, on-site restaurant and bars, and a snack bar, Novotel Surfers Paradise is ready to serve.
Things to do near Novotel Surfers Paradise
- Surfers Paradise Boulevard
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
- Eileen Peters Park
- Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre
- Appel Park
The Island Gold Coast
Adventure-seekers will love staying at The Island Gold Coast. Not only are the hotel’s rooms beautifully appointed, but they also feature stellar amenities, like air conditioning, a kitchenette, and free Wi-Fi. When it’s time for adventure, guests can step into the hotel’s casino and try their luck or they can hit the water and engage in some water sports, like boating. Modern, hip, and ready for anything, couples and solo travelers alike will love staying at The Island Gold Coast.
Q1 Resort and Spa
Located in the Q1 building with the SkyPoint Observation Deck, Q1 Resort and Spa pampers guests with scenic views, a luxury spa and full-size apartments. Guests can choose accommodations with up to four bedrooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities and free on-site parking, and visitors are treated with access to two swimming pools, gym, sauna, steam rooms, barbecue areas and even a private mini theater.
While these expansive suites offer kitchens, the resort is also packed with dining options, including several restaurants, a bistro and bar with amazing views, and even a poolside bar. For relaxation, guests can enhance a pool visit with the sauna or spa services, settle into the steam room, or step over to the fitness center to work up a sweat. For a true home away from home experience, Q1 Resort and Spa is exactly what travelers need.
Things to do near Q1 Resort and Spa
- Gold Coast Beach
- SkyPoint Observation Deck
- Surfers Paradise Beach
- Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
Things to do near Gold Coast
Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise are made for fun, and whether visitors want to hit the beach or retreat indoors to enjoy some air conditioning, this spectacular area has so much to offer. Here are some of the top attractions for visitors to check out during their vacation to Gold Coast:
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is an exceptional town, and technically a suburb of Gold Coast. With stellar beaches, unparalleled sightlines, and opportunities for surfing, the outdoors is what most people come to see in Surfers Paradise, but that’s not all the area has to offer. With shops, eateries, and plenty of entertainment options, visitors to the area will be spoiled for choice. If possible, travelers should indulge in the area’s vibrant nightlife, as it certainly will leave an impression.
Gold Coast Wax Museum
The Gold Coast Wax Museum is home to the largest collection of wax figures in the southern hemisphere and is a great stop for travelers who are looking to get out of the sun and indulge in some fun and air conditioning. With several displays, including the World in Wax, which showcases famous individuals from all across history, and the Chamber of Horrors, which showcases instruments of punishment, this wax museum is a must-see when in the area.
SkyPoint Observation Deck
Take in the view when dropping by the SkyPoint Observation Deck. This observation deck stands 750 feet high and offers impressive views of Surfers Paradise. There’s a separate climbing activity that takes visitors outside to climb to the summit of SkyPoint, and this activity is not for the faint of heart. With dining options also available, there’s plenty to do and see at SkyPoint.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Surfers Paradise
Lovers of kitsch and the unique will more than enjoy a stop at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Surfers Paradise. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! is famous for detailing strange and almost unbelievable facts, and at this location, visitors can dive into the unknown and incredible. With rare artifacts, like a shrunken human head and rare skeletons of animals, this location is certain to appeal to lovers of all things weird.
Surfers Paradise Boulevard
Step onto the most famous street in the area, and have some fun on Surfers Paradise Boulevard. This epic street is home to a variety of retail shops and entertainment establishments, with family-friendly fun being concentrated on the east side of the strip, and nightclubs and adult-leaning entertainment options on the west side. The G:link tram also runs through the area, so it’s simple for travelers to hop on to the tram and traverse from one part of the street to the next.
SeaWorld
SeaWorld isn’t just an aquarium, it’s an exciting attraction that features live presentations, snorkeling opportunities, and fun rides. Visitors who are hoping to get close to the animals will be happy with the opportunity to slip into the water and interact with dolphins who are under the care of a marine mammal specialist, while kids are sure to love the high-energy shows that feature their favorite Nickelodeon and PAW Patrol characters. Visitors who want to visit an attraction that’s fun for the whole family will love SeaWorld.
Crazy Cat Cafe
Visitors who are looking for an experience that’s a little different will love visiting the Crazy Cat Cafe. As the name suggests, this establishment is a cat cafe, and inside guests will find a family of more than 20 cats living, playing, and thriving. Settle in, get up close, and cuddle with fuzzy friends at this cafe. If any visitors are allergic to cats, but still want to get in on the fun, this establishment offers a viewing area for those visitors to enjoy as well. This all-ages establishment offers award-winning coffee, and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, along with delicious food options, so there’s plenty to enjoy at this cafe.
Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast
Soar up high on a trip with Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast. Hot air balloons take visitors way up into the sky, offering spectacular, 360-degree views and an experience that travelers won’t soon forget. From mountains to skyscrapers, and everything in between, a ride in a hot-air balloon will offer guests a chance to see the world from an entirely new point of view, and is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. So pack along a good camera and snap some shots while soaring.
More Gold Coast Accommodation Options
Komune Resort and Beach Club Greenmount Beach
Coolangatta Sands Hotel
Rainbow Bay Resort
