Gold Coast attraktioner

Visit Queensland’s first national park on Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast Hinterland region, to enjoy the natural wonders of eucalypt forests, palm groves, prehistoric volcanic rock outcrops and lush subtropical waterfalls. Mount Tamborine National Park originated with the protection of the Witches Falls and has since expanded across the Tamborine plateau and surrounding foothills. Popular national park activities include walking the many mapped and marked bush trails, spotting Australian brush-turkeys and listening for the call of the threatened Albert’s lyrebird. Once you’ve explored the natural wilderness of Mount Tambourine National Park, be sure to indulge in the boutique beers, local wines and specialty crafts from the Tambourine Mountain township, which is known as a luxury getaway destination and hang gliding hotspot.

Springbrook National Park is the lush, water-trickled remains of a prehistoric volcano. An explosion some 20 million years ago is what made this impressive plateau that looms over the Gold Coast skyline. All that rock is just perfect for hanging a heap of cool temperate rainforest vegetation - strangler figs, trailing vines, palms. It also makes the perfect launching place for countless waterfalls and cascades, and it's this that the park is famous for. Hike to one of the many vantage points for stunner views across to Mount Warning, the most spectacular of the volcano's remnants. Choose Best of All lookout if you'd like to see the stand of ancient Antarctic beech trees on the way up. Other highlights include Natural Bridge, a naturally formed rock bridge and cave with a waterfall flowing through it; Egg Rock; the park's colony of glow worms; and the chance to hear the virtuoso performance of the shy Albert's Lyrebird.

The Gold Coast means theme parks, and one of the most popular is Sea World. The emphasis is on educational animal encounters at Sea World, with the interactive fun of dolphin adventures a particular highlight. Watch polar bears in action, go on a seal safari, see performing dolphins, and meet Bert and Ernie at Sesame Street Beach. Sea World isn't just about wildlife, it's also the home of roller-coaster action on Jet Rescue. Ride the Bermuda Triangle, lose your lunch on the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, splash down on the Viking's Revenge, or take to the high seas on the Pirate Ship.

One of Queensland, Australia’s absolute gems, Lamington National Park exemplifies what it means to explore Australia’s markedly majestic natural life. Full of waterfalls, hiking tracks, rainforests and expansive plant- animal-life, it is no wonder that Lamington is considered one of this continent’s premiere destinations. Covering over 20,500 hectares, Lamington has a diverse flora life, housing majestic plants that are not found anywhere else in the world and has tree-roots that have been in existence for more than 5,000 years. You can also find a similarly significant and overwhelming bird-life--it's full of king parrots, cockatoos, pale-headed rosella’s, sooty owls, red-browed treecreepers, just to list a few. Also be on the lookout for exotic reptiles, frogs and mammals.

North Stradbroke Island, nicknamed “Straddie” by the locals, offers a low-key escape from Brisbane. The picturesque island, the most popular of all the islands in Moreton Bay, is lined by white sand beaches on its eastern shores, while the interior is dotted with freshwater lakes. The first inhabitants of the island showed up some 40,000 years ago, and members of three Australian Aboriginal groups call the island home today. Before you begin your explorations of the island, spend some time learning about the island’s long history at the North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum. Besides the museum, all of Straddie’s other attractions revolve around Mother Nature. Along the coast, it’s possible to spot dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and humpback whales, and more something a little more active, you can dive, surf, fish, sand board, sea kayak or take a 4WD tour of the island’s interior.

There are many critters nestling in the rainforest setting of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, but the prettiest - and loudest - are the flocks of rainbow lorikeets that cluster round visitors for twice-daily feeds. If you've never seen these birds before, you're in for a treat - they're a photogenic patchwork of emerald green, sapphire blue and sunset orange. They're not shy, and will perch on your head or arms to eat. The rainbow lorikeets were the ones that started it all - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was begun by a beekeeper and gardener who started feeding the lorikeets to keep them off his crops - but there are now hundreds of native animals in the sanctuary, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats and crocodiles. You can tour the sanctuary with a guide on Segways, take on the Tarzan ropes and Flying Fox of the Green Challenge, feed and cuddle animals and go behind the scenes to visit nurseries and hospitals.

Rainforests are some of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems, yet humans usually only experience them from the ground. O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk provides a new point of view, allowing visitors to experience the world of the rainforest from inside the canopy. O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk is a 590-foot (180-meter) walkway through the rainforest of the Gold Coast hinterland that consists of nine suspension bridges and two observation decks. Sitting right next to the incredible landscape of Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest with its walkway that sits 50 feet (15 meters) off the ground. The highest sections soar an even higher 110 feet above the forest floor. Visitors to the walkway stroll among trees entwined with vines and covered in flowers and fruit. Ferns and orchids cling to the upper reaches of the trees, and the bird life is plentiful.

You won’t have to sign a lease to experience the incredible 360-degree views from atop one of the world’s tallest residential towers. Visitors to the SkyPoint Observation Deck, a glass-encased wonder located on the 77th and 78th floors of the iconic Q1 building, can look out some 230 feet above sea level at the scenic Surfers Paradise. These epics views are some of the most memorable in the city, but travelers agree, a trip to this architectural destination is not for the faint of heart—or anyone afraid of heights. A high-speed elevator zips visitors to the top of the SkyPoint Observation Deck, where clear glass walls make for perfect viewing on cloudless days. Whether it’s catching the bright pink sun dipping down to the horizon or witnessing the twinkling city lights flickering on after dark, views from the deck prove picture perfect any time of day.

Slightly north of the internationally popular party destination, Surfers Paradise, on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Southport offers coastal relaxation with water and city skyline views. Queensland’s famous marine theme park, Sea World, is the main attraction of Southport, offering live shows and up-close encounters with seals, dolphins, penguins and polar bears, among other marine life and theme park rides. Parkland spans along the calm sea inlet at Southport, making it a perfect place for families with young children, boating and fishing enthusiasts and those wanting to try some water sports. Take a picnic blanket, indulge in some fish and chips from the parkland foreshore and enjoy the crystal blue water views. Southport’s Australia Fair shopping centre at the heart of the town’s retail and dining hub, and a short stroll from the coastal parklands. An Event Cinema is located in the Australia Fair complex.

The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk offers a whole new perspective on the forest - from within and above, as if you were a bird or a sugar glider. You'll walk on a delicate steel structure (vertigo sufferers need not apply - this thing sways!) through 12 hectares (30 acres) of the divine Mount Tamborine Rainforest. What will you see on the way? The walk, which takes about an hour (you can pace yourself), starts off in the middle and upper canopies and descends, via a cantilever lookout, to rock pools and butterfly hotspots and then the rainforest floor. There's a snug visitors center (the walk starts off here) in the Rainforest Eco Gallery, which will fill you in on the flora and fauna you're about to see. There's also an aquarium with freshwater fish, and the Birdwing Café.

There’s something mildly disconcerting about riding in an elevator called “Death Wish.” Or encountering a bleeding, gut-stained lifeguard who’s been mauled by a Great White Shark. These are just two of the spooky encounters inside Dracula’s Haunted House—a state of the art, house of horrors on Queensland’s bustling Gold Coast. Beginning in the depths of “The Underworld,” the path leads up to “The Phobia Level” where your biggest fears come true—including walking through a spider’s nest and crawling through pitch-black tunnels. Be sure to keep your head on a swivel for rogue, sneak attack zombies, and never has it felt so scary and unnatural to crawl through a human being. In total, this haunted house is about 20 minutes of non-stop nightmares and screams—unless your fears get the best of you and you sprint for the nearest door. Definitely not for the faint of the heart—and enter here if you dare.

A prosperous suburb on Australia’s famous Gold Coast, Burleigh Heads boasts a population just shy of 8,000 people, making it a cozy destination for travelers seeking rest and relaxation in the region. The main commercial center in Burleigh Heads is James Street, a village of sorts that is packed with cafes, delis, hairdressers, retailers, chemists, restaurants and charity stores. The main attraction for many visitors is the main surf break, a welcome opportunity compared to other quality spots that have become overrun with flocks of tourists and adventure-seekers. The Quicksilver Pro and the Breaka Burleigh Pro are two popular local surfing events. The area known as “The Point” is a favorite of locals and foreigners alike who seek a pleasant place to have picnics, barbecues, recreational cricket matches and to surf. A bi-monthly event known as “The Village Markets” promotes local emerging designers and artists.