Spoil your special someone with these 30 Gold Coast date ideas

1. Pack a picnic blanket and gourmet hamper and head for one of the Gold Coast's best vantage points. Rotary Park on Tamborine Mountain is the place to relax, while equally iconic Burleigh Hill is where locals gather to watch the surf and sunset. You could also stroll a little further afield for the solitude of the headland in Burleigh Heads National Park. 

2. Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Miami Marketta near Broadbeach comes alive with street food from all around the world. Grab a bite to eat, sit back and enjoy the live entertainment.

3. Enjoy an indulgent dinner at one of the Gold Coast's best restaurants. Buzzy Miss Moneypenny's is a great spot to linger over share plates and cocktails, while Rick Shores is not only home to the best beachfront views but is just as famous for its Moreton Bay Bug Rolls.

4. Hop your way around the growing collection of local breweries. Burleigh Brewing Co and Balter are two of the district’s best, and accompany their local brews with regular visits from food trucks and local musicians.

5. Stroll hand-in-hand through The Village Markets. Taking place on the first and third Sunday every month at Burleigh Heads State School, the community event is a haven for produce, international fare, live music and local creatives.

6. First date? Toast to your budding romance with a visit to a local watering hole. The Gold Coast’s population of bars is booming (rooftop haunts included), with stand-outs including Hyde Paradiso and Burleigh Pavilion.

Adventurous date ideas on the Gold Coast

7. Meeting before dawn might not seem like a typical date, and this won't be: take in the quiet beauty of the Gold Coast Hinterland from hot air balloon, before landing at a local winery for a champagne breakfast among the vineyards.

8. Get out of your comfort zone together with Gold Coast Watersports: an afternoon parasailing adventure will get you into the water and up in the air, and it'll make your hearts race.

9. Catch up and catch a wave. The Gold Coast is home to some of Queensland's best surf breaks, and if you need a lesson - we've got you covered. Why not learn together? 

10. Take to the high seas at speed. Put pedal to the metal on a jet ski safari or strap into your seat with Paradise Jet Boating, where you and your date will be whisked off on a 55-minute journey through Moreton Bay Marine Park, with 360 degree spins, high-speed drifting, power slides and beach buzzing promised.

11. Adrenalin-junkies in love need look no further for a date idea then Gold Coast Skydive - you'll get sky high before a headrushing freefall, then float gently towards Kirra Beach.

12. Get some of the best Gold Coast views from the best vantage point: 270 metres above sea level. SkyPoint Climb will get your knees shaking, so you can forget about the tummy butterflies until you grab a drink from the skybar afterwards.

13. Enjoy the best view of the Gold Coast that money can buy with a trip in a propeller-driven Warbird aircraft. Gold Coast Adventure Flights offers an aerobatic or adventure option for in their Russian YAK 52, both paths coast over Surfers Paradise and the Hinterland.

Gold Coast date ideas for the young-at-heart

14. Navigate your way through the light maze of Infinity. The multi-sensory experience will see you and your crush plunged into darkness, spending the next few hours winding your way through 20 changing, interactive spaces.

15. Test your golfing skills with a game at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach. Sitting conveniently central, the Gold Coast date haven offers guests three themed 18 hole courses, as well as an arcade to choose from.

16. Take advantage of the Gold Coast’s theme parks with your crush in tow. The likes of Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, and Wet’n’Wild are just a hop, skip and a jump from Broadbeach.

17. Spend date night at the movies courtesy of Yatala Drive-In. The historic establishment on the cusp of the Gold Coast screens new blockbusters alongside classics, and has a 1950s-style diner to match.

Gold Coast date ideas for nature lovers

18. Explore the Natural Bridge which sits in Springbrook National Park. Situated in the midst of a luscious haven of natural flora and fauna, the rock formation was carved across millions of years by water falling through the roof of a basalt cave. There's plenty more walking tracks and waterfalls to discover afterwards. 

19. Spend the morning gazing at visiting humpback whales as they migrate along the east coast of Australia. Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching is a family-run enterprise that specialises in daily tours introducing you to the giants of the deep.

20. Impress your date with a hike through O’Reilly’s Treetop Walkway. Traipse along the nine suspension bridges elevated 15 metres above the rainforest canopy, and gander at the views out onto the surrounding valley.

21. Paddle out with Australian Kayaking Adventures to discover the 'other Straddie'. You'll swim at secluded beaches and snorkel among thriving marine life. 

22. Animal lovers will find a day spent with native fauna hard to beat. Not-for-profit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places on the Gold Coast to get up close and personal with locals like lorikeets and kangaroos.

23. Meander your way through Tamborine Mountain, nestled in the third oldest national park in the world. There are 12 different walking tracks to choose from here, as well as postcard-perfect spots like Cedar Creek and Witches Falls.

Luxury date ideas on the Gold Coast

25. Pamper your sweetheart with a day spent at the spa. There’s a bounty of beauty and relaxation specialists that call the Gold Coast home - Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite. 

25. Indulge your creative side at Home of the Arts: check out the latest exhibitions, stroll by the lake, then head to the rooftop bar for great views across the city and beachside. 

26. Soak up sunshine for a whole day with Sailing In Paradise. Available for private charter, hop between uninhabited islands, splash around on uninhabited beaches and dine on deck - just the two of you. 

27. Go glamping beside Lamington National Park at Nightfall Camp, in the heart of the idyllic Scenic Rim. You’ll spend the night in a permanent safari tent perched on the edge of Christmas Creek, indulging in decadent fire-cooked fare, and enjoying the tranquility of the surrounding forest - private bathtubs, fireplace and all. 

28. Indulge in a night away at one of the Gold Coast’s luxury accommodations. Choose from fancy digs like quirky design haven QT Gold Coast, waterfront Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise, and the heavily Italian-inspired opulent Palazzo Versace at Marina Mirage.

29. Whisk your date on a mini getaway with a day trip to Lady Elliot Island. The coral cay on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef is regarded as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations in the country - and you can even visit for a day trip with return flights to and from the Gold Coast.

30. Check in for a staycation at The Star Gold Coast. Choose from luxury hotel rooms at The Star Grand or opulent suites at The Darling, then spend your day exploring the sprawling pool and day club, 24-hour casino, rooftop bar with infinity pool and some of the area's best dining right here - from exquisite Japanese at Kiyomi to caviar at Nineteen at The Star.

Searching for a romantic spot to book dinner? Here are the Gold Coast restaurants you can't miss.