What to see in Surfers Paradise

The Gold Coast is lined with numerous suburbs and cities to be explored. The most popular stop for backpackers is Surfers Paradise and I cannot recommend it enough. With its gorgeous cityscape sitting right on the beach, it’s truly a place both city goers and beach lovers can enjoy.

Head to the Beach!

Surfers Paradise Beach is THE beach of Gold Coast. Although it has different names depending on the suburb you are in, it is one huge beach extending the majority of the Gold Coast’s length. You can be in the middle of the city, walk 5 minutes and be at the beach for the day.

NOTE: Because of its length, Surfers Paradise Beach can get pretty windy at times but don’t let that stop you from enjoying its beauty!

Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 4-9pm, enjoy the Beachfront Markets on the esplanade. These markets are filled with artisan goods and sweets for you to admire and/or purchase each week.

Surfers Paradise Beach is perfect for sunrise but if you’re more of a sunset person, head over to Budds Beach on the western side of the city. This beach gives you a great view of Surfers Paradise’s canals and sometimes various wildlife as the sun goes down.

Explore the City!

Surfers Paradise is insanely easy to get around. With a single tram running the length of the Gold Coast, you can pretty much get anywhere in the city either by walking or tramming. Surfers is very pedestrian friendly and it can be fun just wandering around at times. Below are some of my favorite things to do in the area.

Get your heart rate up with the Slingshot in the middle of the city. This permanent ride is perfect for thrill seekers as you sit in your seat and are thrown up into the air by bungee cords. The ride lasts about a minute and costs 40 AUD. Another good activity for the inner child is Timezone, the local arcade. Along with your average arcade games, Timezone also has mini bowling, bumper cars, and laser tag!

For a more relaxed adventure head to the Gold Coast Skytower for a nice dinner, cocktail, and view of the city. Most major cities have a tower similar to this one, but this has definitely been my favorite view so far. A bit more inland and across the canal you can find the HOTA Gallery, the city’s gorgeous art museum.

As I said before, just wandering the streets and exploring the different shops can also be incredibly fun. Two of my favorite spots are the Crazy Cat Cafe and Condom Kingdom. The cat cafe is exactly what its name suggests – a cafe where you can play with adorable kitties while you eat. Condom Kingdom is just a funny and iconic store in Surfers that has everything you would never think of needing (from penis shaped marshmallows to boob shaped slippers).

Take a Day Trip!

With Brisbane and Stradbroke Island to the North, the rest of Gold Coast to the South, and the hinterland to the West, you can never run out of day or weekend trips to take from Surfers Paradise.

Brisbane
Tamborine Mountain
North and South Stradbroke Islands
Miami
Burleigh Head National Park
Currumbin
Coolangatta
Springbrook National Park
Lamington National Park
Canungra Valley

click here for 10 of the BEST Day Trips in Australia’s Gold Coast

Experience the Night Life!

Empire – Free and easy fun! This club always has great music for a good time and is busy pretty much any night of the week.
Cali Beach – This rooftop pool club is perfect for feeling bougie and having a good time. Cali beach is only open on the weekends.
Orchid Ave – I could sit here and name every club on Orchid Avenue or I could just tell you to go to Orchid Avenue. More popular spots are Bedroom, Asylum, and Havana but this whole street is bustling nearly any night of the week.

Cavill Ave – Right near Orchid Ave, Cavill is home to street performers in the early evening and the 24 hour Maccas – a necessity after a long night out.
Steampunk – A steampunk themed bar that is fun and easy for pre-drinks.
Suzy Cue’s – A fun and chill pool hall and bar.
Holey Moley Mini Golf – This mini golf bar chain is always a classic. Although not open too late, it is still fun for an evening activity.

Although some people say Surfers Paradise is not that fun, I think they just didn’t find the right spots. Surfers is a great place to stay either short or long term so don’t miss out on all the fun it has to offer!