Ten great things to do on the Gold Coast

Every city should have a Top 10 Things To Do, but on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia - with such diversity on offer - restricting it to just 10 is the hard part.

The Gold Coast has 300 days of sunshine a year, an iconic city skyline hugging white sandy surf beaches and tropical rainforests in the hills behind.

Surfing, sunbaking, shopping, bushwalking - the list of options is endless but with the help of locals' inside knowledge, here is a list of 10 that will ensure a terrific visit.

Gold Coast city skyline by the beach

1. View from Q1: It is the tallest residential building in the world and the views up and down the coast or back towards the hills are sensational. You might even spot a whale frolicking in the Pacific Ocean as you gaze from the 78th floor wall-to-roof windows.

2. Dawn Parade: In summer the sun rises around 5am. Join the hundreds of hardy souls who walk the sand highway every morning. The kilometres of white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast make the perfect place for a morning walk or jog. Go alone and enjoy the sunrise over the water or take a friend and share the crisp, clean morning air.

3. Crab sandwich: Ok, we're sharing a local secret here. The fresh crab sandwiches at the kiosk at the end of The Spit are a Gold Coast special. Take a few moments longer and walk out along the sand pumping jetty just next door and feel the waves crashing underneath you as the jetty stretches out into the ocean.

4. Pac Fair shopping: Hundreds of busloads of tourists can't be wrong as they head to Pacific Fair (Pac Fair to the locals) every week. It is an all-day shopping experience with acres of retail therapy beckoning.

5. Place a bet: Nothing beats a day at the races and the horses run every Saturday afternoon at the Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall. But you can also have a bet at any hotel featuring the 'PubTAB' sign. Yes, anyone over 18 can buy a beer, fill in a betting card, pay over the bar and watch your horse on the pub TV in the corner. It's an Aussie specialty.

Surfing at Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast

6. Picnic in the park: Pack your sausages, bread, a few drinks and a frisbee and head to one of the Gold Coast's top class parks for a barbecue and picnic. Parks like Rosser Park, Cascade Gardens, Kurrawa Park and Macintosh Island have plenty of open space, shade, free electric barbecues, toilets and town water.

7. Cruise the Broadwater: Grab a cruise or rent a boat and head around the Broadwater for a few hours. It is romantic and beautiful at sundown. Marvel at the yachts moored at Southport. Another unique experience is buying a few refreshments from the floating shop that does the rounds.

8. Walk the Burleigh Hill: You can't get much better than this. Walk through the lush rainforest remnant that is Burleigh National Park, spot the scrub turkeys and birdlife, as you round the headland and return to the picnic area with breathtaking views back towards Surfers Paradise.

9. Learn to Surf: Whether you're 6 or 60, if you are on the Gold Coast, you have to have a go at surfing. There are plenty of schools to choose from and most will promise to get you upright and riding in a day. Go on, do it, imagine the home video once it's over.

10. Enjoy a day spa: After getting through the top nine, you will need an ultimate relaxation package. The Gold Coast has world class day spas offering everything from hot rock massage to mud-pack facials. Make the time, spend the money and let your body and soul be nourished.

About the author:

Dean Gould is a career journalist with a passion for travel that has taken him all over the world, from the jungles of Africa to the streets of New York. He lives on the Gold Coast - and loves it.

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