Sydney to Gold Coast road trip: Stops, distance & driving time

Sydney to Gold Coast drive: Gold Coast activities

Tweed Heads and Coolangatta are effectively one town split by a state border. Coolangatta is officially the start of the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Things to do in Coolangatta include taking surf lessons and walking from Point Danger to Snapper Rocks.

The highway – now the Pacific Motorway – skips to the west, however. It also runs west of Kirra Beach, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Currumbin and Palm Beach.

If continuing to Surfers Paradise, leave the motorway at Exit 87 and drive along the Southport-Burleigh Road. This runs parallel to the coast past Burleigh Heads, Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach before you reach Surfers Paradise.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Things to do on the Gold Coast include jet boat rides, sunset cruises, parasailing and amphibious vehicle tours. You can also go whale-watching during whale season.

Gold Coast accommodation is mainly apartment-style, but good Surfers Paradise hotels include the luxurious Q1 Resort and Spa and the good value Vibe Hotel.

7 Gold Coast experiences worth booking in advance

See waterfalls and natural wonders – on a full day Springbrook National Park tour.
Be awed by massive migrating humpbacks – on a great value whale-watching cruise.
Feast as you explore the Gold Coast waterways – on a dinner cruise.
Kayak with dolphins and snorkel with hundred of sub-tropical fish – on the same tour.
Enjoy high speed thrills along the waterways – on a jet boat adventure.
Glide above the beautiful hinterland – on a serene hot air balloon flight.
Taste the best Scenic Rim wines – on an indulgent Tamborine Mountain wine tour, with lunch.