4 great reasons to visit the Gold Coast in winter

With the cooler weather delivering clear blue skies, plenty of sunshine and fewer crowds, visiting the Gold Coast in winter delivers a very different experience to summer - from less queuing for attractions to more affordable accommodation.

While you might spend less time in the water (but don’t skip the beautiful beaches) you won’t be bored for a second on the Gold Coast over the colder months, whether you’re holidaying by yourself, as a family, couple or group of friends.

Here are our top four reasons to experience winter on the Gold Coast.

1. It’s whale watching season 

The humpback whale migration from Antarctica along the Queensland coastline has long been a key reason to visit Queensland in the winter months. Hervey Bay, with its calm waters, is renowned as the top destination to head to for this phenomenal experience, but you’ll find there are many opportunities for whale watching on the Gold Coast with tours at Main Beach and Surfers Paradise, including Sea World Cruises and Whales in Paradise.

Sea World Cruises boasts Australia’s most advanced whale watching vessel, the Spirit of Migaloo II, with tours departing up to six times a day through June to early November from the Sea World Cruises Main Beach Terminal.  The vessel has six external viewing platforms with tiered stadium seating from sea level to sundeck - providing excellent views of the Gold Coast and, of course, whales! As Sea World offers a 100% Whale Sighting Guarantee, if you don’t see a whale on your whale watching tour, you’ll get a free return cruise.   

With its 100% Daily Sightings Record, Whales in Paradise also offers guaranteed whale watching on the Gold Coast, with tours departing up to five times daily from Surfers Paradise. The purpose-built vessels with dolphin and whale-friendly design features are large, spacious and provide excellent whale watching experiences, especially from the water-level viewing deck that enables you to get right up close and personal with these amazing creatures. Another bonus to their tours is the scenic Gold Coast Waterways tour that takes guests through some of the most well-heeled Gold Coast canals.

As whale watching season on the Gold Coast starts earlier and ends later than other Queensland locations, it’s widely seen as the best place to watch them as they set out on their migration north and then again as they make their way back to Antarctica. If you miss out on seeing whales on the Gold Coast at the start of their migration, their next stops are Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. But don’t forget, you can always catch them at the Gold Coast on their way back home! 

2. Surf’s up 

The Gold Coast doesn’t disappoint when it comes to world-class surf breaks all year round, with the best surfing on the coast found over the autumn and winter months. While there are great surf breaks to be found right along the Gold Coast, you'll find the best from Burleigh Heads down to Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta.  

‘The Point’ at the south of Burleigh Heads is a sand bottom right-hand point break that works best off-shore during the winter due to its exposed location. You’ll find top breaks here right across autumn and winter, though the best surfing is usually found in June when there’s a high concentration of clean, rideable waves. If The Point gets crowded — as the best breaks usually do — there are more surfing sections just past the flagged area heading towards Miami north of Burleigh Heads.

With its exposed point break delivering consistently good surf, it’s easy to see why Snapper Rocks is such a hotspot for locals and travellers heading to the Gold Coast to surf. With the southeast swells strongest from April to September, hitting the surf over autumn and winter is an experience not to be missed. Snapper Rocks is, however, a top spot all year round.

Kirra has been described as the world’s best right-hand sand point break and when the wind is coming in from the southeast and it’s producing long, super-rideable barrels, that may very well be the case! The surf is consistently good all year round in Kirra — even during cyclone season with N-NE swells — but it’s winter when the E-SE swells hit and the big barrels break. If you’re not out there carving barrels and fancy watching some impressive winter surfing, the iconic Kirra Shelter Shed is a great out-of-the-sun spot to take in the action. Kirra is also home to several surfing competitions, like the The Kirra Longboard Classic which brings together amateur surfers from across the country. It’s held annually in June.

Not keen on hitting the Gold Coast surf in winter? There’s always ice skating — check out Planet Chill Ice Skating Rink in Surfers Paradise, where it’s cool and comfortable all-year round. A great day out for families with kids aged three and over. If you fancy watching the kids without getting footloose and fancy free on the ice, you’ll be pleased to know that spectators are free. 

3. Gold Coast Hinterland escapes are magical

The mercury can drop big time on the Gold Coast hinterland in winter, with some of the Sunshine State’s chilliest spots found out the back of the beaches of the Gold Coast from Tamborine Mountain to Canungra, Springbrook and Lamington National Park. Fortunately, the pristine hinterland doesn’t disappoint when it comes to luxury Gold Coast accommodation in winter — it’s a haven for forest and fireplace luxury escapes.

Nestled among Lamington National Park’s ancient rainforests, nightfall provides luxury glamping experiences in architecturally-designed safari tents complete with fireplaces for those chilly Queensland winter nights. Redefine any preconceived notions of luxury as you immerse yourself in the pristine natural surroundings of Gondwana Rainforests and enjoy sumptuous fire-cooked cuisine with millions of stars overhead. To ensure an unparalleled private and intimate stay in the rainforest, nightfall is limited to just eight travellers at any one time.

Tucked away along rainforest pathways opposite Witches Falls National Park on Tamborine Mountain, Witches Falls Cottages offers private, self-contained cottages a short stroll from wineries and the picturesque local village, with their amazing fresh breakfast hampers a speciality that you won’t find anywhere else. Three couples’ accommodation options are available — the Private Cottage, Rainforest Suite and Premium Cottage. 

Multi award-winning O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is nestled in the Gold Coast Hinterland in Canungra, set beside the beauty of World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. A range of accommodation options to suit all travellers is available, including the cosy Bedroom Canopy Suites, which in addition to large balconies with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, feature a fireplace beside the king-size four-poster bed.

For unique chalet accommodation nestled in World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park, Mouses House Rainforest Retreat delivers. With fourteen self-catering Rainforest Chalets available, and with each of them featuring a fully equipped kitchen and wood fireplace, there’s no need to step out into the cool and crisp morning air until you’re warm enough. One of the big draws to these cosy chalets is the private in-chalet two-person triangle spa baths with rainforest views. Need even more luxury from your Gold Coast hinterland accommodation? Their Luxury Stream Chalets also offer an extra private outside hot tub.

During the day, enjoy cool and comfortable hiking weather — the best hiking on the Gold Coast is found across the hinterland — as you explore the Gold Coast’s plethora of national parks and take in the myriad magical experiences the area offers, like an above-the-treetop stroll at Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk or the Purling Brook Falls Circuit, a 4km walk that takes you to the  bottom of the dramatic 100-metre horsetail waterfall. At night, relax under the stars of the Milky Way or by the fire at your lodgings, or get out and see something truly magical, like the glow worms at Natural Bridge — an experience that draws travellers from all over the world.  

4. Theme parks for the whole family

Holidaying at the Gold Coast over winter with the kids? If they haven’t already brought the topic to your attention, don’t miss out on the theme parks at the Gold Coast, Australia’s theme park capital. While some may find the water theme parks a little too chilly (even despite the heated waterslides), the colder months are perfect for exciting theme park outings.

The winter weather is cooler and more comfortable with an average temperature of 21.5°C, plus there’s also fewer visitors — queues are almost non-existent in June and July, so there’s less waiting in line and more adrenaline-fuelled, nail-biting fun.

Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are home to some of the world’s tallest and fastest rides and slides, and cater for kids of all ages, from little ones to teenagers, plus Aussie wildlife and DreamWorks Heroes experiences also await visitors so there’s always plenty to see and do on a Dreamworld day out. Clear blue skies make visiting Warner Bros. Movie World with the kids even more of a treat. You’ll not only get to meet your favourite movie characters and superheroes and enjoy shorter queues at rides and attractions, but you’ll also stay comfy all day long. Be sure to pack a jacket just in case it gets a little cool. 

Sea World is an absolute must-visit when visiting the Gold Coast in winter (or any time of the year for that matter). If the water's a little too chilly to swim with dolphins, the polar bear exhibit, Polar Bear Shores, replicates an Arctic summer and provides an environment for the world's largest land carnivore to play and relax under those sunny Gold Coast skies. The penguin exhibit, Penguin Encounter, is another must-visit exhibit at Sea World. This icy wonderland is perfect for winter visits and is home to the super-lively Gentoo penguins and the world’s second-largest penguin species, King penguins. For convenient Gold Coast accommodation right on Main Beach that places you in the centre of the action, Sea World Resort is a top choice. 

Australian Outback Spectacular is an Aussie outback theme park where visitors can embark on a journey to the heartland of Australia. The much-loved ‘Heartland’ with its transformative arena, immersive technology and mesmerising animals delivers a visually stunning experience that recreates the vibrant and ever-changing Outback landscape. Conveniently located at Oxenford between Movie World and Wet'n'Wild, consider finishing an exciting day out at the Gold Coast’s top theme parks with an Australian Outback Spectacular dinner and show experience.

Planning a holiday on the Gold Coast this winter? Start with our guide to Gold Coast accommodation.