QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Totally Gold Coast
The independent, no-fluff guide to Australia's Gold Coast — suburbs, beaches, theme parks, weather and the local know-how, written properly by people who know the coast.
LOCAL NEWS
Annual prawn-trawling closure is now under way
Southern prawn trawling is paused until 1 November. The Spit co-op says spanner crab remains open, but shoppers should check the day’s catch before making a special trip.
START HERE
Plan your trip in four moves
SUBURBS & BEACHES
Pick your patch of coast
The Gold Coast isn't one beach — it's more than twenty of them, each with its own personality. Here's where locals actually send their friends.
Surfers Paradise
The high-rise heart of the Gold Coast — beach, nightlife and the tram line all in one strip.
Broadbeach
Polished, walkable and food-focused — the calmer, classier neighbour to Surfers Paradise.
Burleigh Heads
National park headland, a world-class point break, and the most 'local' feeling town centre on the coast — now directly on the G:link tram line.
Coolangatta
The Gold Coast’s southern beach hub beside the NSW border, with famous surf breaks, walkable foreshore precincts and very easy airport access.
THEME PARKS
Home of Australia's theme park capital
Warner Bros. Movie World
Australia's only film-themed park — Hollywood-and-superhero rollercoasters, stunt shows and characters at Oxenford.
Sea World
Marine-life shows, a genuine rescue program and Australia's tallest wooden coaster, right on the Broadwater in Main Beach.
Dreamworld
Australia's biggest theme park — the Gold Coast's biggest thrill-ride lineup, plus a genuine wildlife precinct, at Coomera.
WhiteWater World
Dreamworld's adjoining water park — an Australian beach-culture-themed slide lineup, a wave pool and a lazy river, right next door at Coomera.
WHY TOTALLY GOLD COAST
Built like a local's notebook, not a listicle
No auto-generated filler, no recycled press releases. Every page is written to actually answer the question someone typed into Google — then linked to the next useful page, the way a good local guide would talk you through it.
We cover suburbs, beaches, theme parks and itineraries in real depth, with selected core guides also available in German and Japanese.
More about this project →FROM THE GUIDE
Latest itineraries & deep dives
3 Days in Gold Coast Itinerary
A realistic three-day plan covering one theme park, a beach day, and a Hinterland escape.
Free Things to Do on the Gold Coast
A real, non-padded list of things to do on the coast that don't cost anything.
Gold Coast Markets Guide
Miami Marketta, Carrara Markets, beachfront night markets — what each is actually like.
Coomera Houseboat Holidays
How to plan a self-drive houseboat holiday around the Coomera River and northern Gold Coast waterways.
Gold Coast Hinterland
Waterfalls, rainforest walks and cool mountain air, 45 minutes from the beach.
Start planning properly
Suburb by suburb, beach by beach — the local detail that actually helps you decide where to go.