The Gold Coast – centred on Surfers Paradise – is located in southeast Queensland, around 66km (41mi) south of Brisbane.
Gold Coast City stretches from Beenleigh to the border with New South Wales (NSW), about 70km (43mi) of coastline, and extends from the coast west to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and the World Heritage listed Lamington National Park.
The most convenient route to the Gold Coast is by air to Gold Coast Airport (OOL), formerly Coolangatta Airport, located around 22km (14mi) south of Surfers Paradise.
From some international destinations this may require first flying into Brisbane Airport (BNE) – the closest international airport to the Gold Coast.
Brisbane Airport is located about 12km (7.4mi) northeast of Brisbane centre, and around 87km (54mi) north of Surfers Paradise, taking around 1 hour 15 minutes by bus and tram, and less by car.
The following are the most convenient flights to Gold Coast Airport (OOL).
Within Australia: Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar operate daily nonstop flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Adelaide to Gold Coast is 2 hrs 20 min, direct flight
Canberra to Gold Coast is 1 hr 30 min, direct flight
Sydney to Gold Coast is 1 hr 20 min, direct flight
Melbourne to Gold Coast is 2 hrs, direct flight
Perth to Gold Coast is 4 hrs 30 min, direct flight
From New Zealand: Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Virgin Australia offer the most convenient daily flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Auckland to Gold Coast is 3 hrs 35 min, direct flight
From Singapore: Scoot Tigerair and Singapore Airlines offer the most convenient daily flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Singapore to Gold Coast is 7 hrs 25 min, direct flight
From China: Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar and Cathay Pacific offer the most convenient flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Shanghai to Gold Coast is 10 hrs, direct flight
Hong Kong to Gold Coast is 11 hrs 45 min, connecting flightˆ
Beijing to Gold Coast is 13 hrs 10 min, connecting flightˆ
From United States: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia offer the most convenient daily scheduled flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Atlanta to Gold Coast is 23 hrs 53 min, connecting flightˆ
Boston to Gold Coast is 25 hrs, connecting flightˆ
Chicago to Gold Coast is 21 hrs 20 min, connecting flight
Dallas-Fort Worth to Gold Coast is 20 hrs 5 min, connecting flightˆ
New York to Gold Coast is 20 hrs 50 min, connecting flightˆ
Los Angeles to Gold Coast is 17 hrs 45 min, connecting flightˆ
San Francisco to Gold Coast is 17 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
From Canada: Air Canada, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Virgin Australia offer the most convenient daily scheduled flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Toronto to Gold Coast is 23 hrs 44 min, connecting flightˆ
Montreal to Gold Coast is 25 hrs 40 min, connecting flightˆ
Vancouver to Gold Coast is 18 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
From United Kingdom: Emirates, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Scoot Tigerair, Virgin Australia and Qantas offer the most convenient daily flights to Gold Coast Airport.
London to Gold Coast is 21 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
Manchester to Gold Coast is 24 hrs 50 min, connecting flightˆ
From France: Emirates, Air France, Scoot Tigerair, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar offer the most convenient daily flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Paris to Gold Coast is 24 hrs 50 min, connecting flightˆ
From Germany: Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, Lufthansa and Scoot Tigerair offer the most convenient flights to Gold Coast Airport.
Berlin to Gold Coast is 24 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
Dusseldorf to Gold Coast is 23 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
Frankfurt to Gold Coast is 23 hrs 30 min, connecting flightˆ
Hamburg to Gold Coast is 26 hrs 5 min, connecting flightˆ
Munich to Gold Coast is 23 hrs 10 min, connecting flightˆ
(ˆincludes transfer time.)
Gold Coast Airport (OOL) is located about 22km (14mi) south of Surfers Paradise. Bus shuttles offer a regular service from Gold Coast Airport to Surfers Paradise, taking 45 minutes several times daily. Taxis and hire cars are also available for the 20-minute drive.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is located about 12km (7.4mi) northeast of Brisbane CBD, and around 87km (54mi) north of Surfers Paradise. A regular bus service takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, and less by car.
Brisbane Airtrain provides a rail service from the airport to Brisbane city centre, taking 17 minutes, every 30 minutes.
Taxis and hire cars are also available from both the Brisbane Airport international and domestic terminals.
Both airport terminals are conveniently linked to Brisbane by train, with suburban trains offering a regular service to the Gold Coast suburbs of Nerang and Helensvale, with local shuttle buses and the new G:link light rail connecting to Surfers Paradise.
A passport valid for at least six months beyond intended period of stay as well as a ticket for return or onward travel and sufficient funds. A visa is required, except for those with Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) valid for 90 days. ETAs are obtainable online at: www.eta.immi.gov.au.
On foot and by bus; Surfside Buslines offer a 3- and 10-day Freedom Pass, which allows unlimited door-to-door transfers to all the theme parks as well as the option to hop on and off anytime you like.
The Gold Coast's light rail service, known locally as G:link, offers a 20km (12mi) line between Helensvale and Broadbeach that connects the key centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise.
Taxis and hire cars are also available.
Latest update: How to get to the Gold Coast: 10 September, 2022
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