If you have had enough of the beach and theme parks are not your cup of tea, you can consider taking a day trip from Gold Coast to get closer to nature. These are just some of the day trips (and super easy hikes) that we took during our recent trip in May. There are many more hidden gems within the Gold Coast hinterland so go on, take the road less traveled and explore to your heart’s content!

Tamborine Mountain is home to several waterfalls and rockpools. To get there, head north from Gold Coast. Tamborine Mountain is 36km from Southpart via the Pacific Highway and Oxenford-Tamborine Road or 28km from Nerang via Nerang-Beaudesert Road.

Cedar Creek Falls is very accessible and only a short 30-minute hike from the carpark. The path is well paved with wooden steps and is an easy route for non-hikers too.

You can even take a dip or swim here if you like but do watch out for danger signs as parts of the falls are not meant for swimming.

 On the way to Cedar Creek Falls, you can also stop by Mt Tamorine Village for a quick bite at one of the cafes within these quaint and pretty houses.

Byron Bay needs
little to no introduction. A popular spot among locals and tourists
alike, I’ve heard so much about its beauty long before I visited its
iconic lighthouse.

 

It takes just slightly over an hour’s drive from Gold Coast via the Pacific Motorway and is very accessible by car. There is a little ice-cream parlour near the lighthouse, so you can just sit back and relax with dessert (who says no to ice-cream??) as you take in the beautiful panoramic views atop Byron Bay.

Pictures do not do Natural Bridge justice, and you really have to be there physically to witness the beauty bestowed upon us by Mother Nature in its full glory.

Located at Springbrook National Park, the easy hike which only spans about 30 minutes to and fro is an absolutely rewarding one especially when you approach Natural Bridge, a natural phenomenon formed by the force of the waterfall over an erosive basalt cave.

To get to Springbrook National Park from Gold Coast, use the Pacific Motorway, exit at Mudgeeraba and follow the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road.

If you love scenic drives, you have to drive up to Springbrook National Park. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the drive as the breathtaking scenery along the way reminded us of New Zealand and Southern France.

 Planning a trip to Gold Coast? I hope you found this post useful.

Here are my previous posts on Gold Coast too for your reference:

Have fun!

I have a soft spot for corn fritters and chai latte. If I see them on the menu, I’ll definitely place an order for these two items. And that was exactly what I did at Commune Cafe. What I like about the food here is that everything is made from natural, organic ingredients, so you can be sure that you are feeding your body with nothing but the best.

The corn fritters here come with generous servings of avocado, rocket salad and a tangy thai chilli sauce dip, which goes surprisingly well with the star of the show. I loved it. 

What did JW have? Well, he is just as predictable as I am when it comes to breakfast. Eggs Benedict is his Archilles’ heel and he orders this all the time whenever we go to a cafe for breakfast or brunch.

 Outdoor seats
here are aplenty and this is one cafe where you can sit all day long, bask in the sun and soak up the good vibes with a cup of coffee and some delicious yet healthy organic food in
tow. It is a beautiful spot to relax and chill with fellow friendly
cafe-goers who never fail to wear a warm smile on their faces.

Commune Cafe

Address:

1844 Gold Coast Highway

Burleigh Heads

QLD 4220

Opening Hours:

6.30am – 3.00 pm

Other than theme parks, Gold Coast is known for their beautiful beaches that stretch on forever. Sunny yet cool, the beautiful weather all year round, even in winter, makes Gold Coast the perfect beach destination in Australia.

I could just laze my day away at the beach all day with a book, feeling the powdery soft sand between my toes and listening to the roar of the crashing waves. When I get bored of sitting down, up I go to take a walk along the beach, where the finely milled sand makes you feel like you’re walking on silk.

How divine.

Some of you may know that I typically avoid the sun like the plague, and the only time I am willing to get out in the sun is when I am at the beach, not without slathering on sunblock of course. I love beaches and during my recent trip to Gold Coast, I visited several of them.Here are some of the beaches that left a deep impression on me:

Surfers Paradise is the most popular beach in Gold Coast, which also makes it the most touristy. It stretches over 3 kilometres and depending on your preference, you could either join in the crowd and people watch or find a quiet spot to indulge in a little me-time, all against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers.

Just so you know, none of these photos in this post required any editing on my part. Yes, the gorgeous deep blue gradients, dramatic cloud formations and beautiful beaches are all real.

Pretty amazing isn’t it?

If you stay till the evenings on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, you can also visit the beachfront
markets and check out the fresh bakes (I loveee fudge!), produce, art
and craft and souvenirs. While you are at Surfers Paradise, I would also highly recommend that you visit SkyPoint Observation Deck for a bird’s eye view of Gold Coast. Aside from its glowing beaches, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of Gold Coast’s waterways. Fun fact of the day: Did you know that Gold Coast has more waterways and canals than Venice?  

 

 

 

 

General admission tickets are priced at A$22 for adults and A$13 for children. There’s also a family pass for 2 Adults + 2 Children priced at A$57.

If you are up for some adrenalin-pumping action, try the SkyPoint Climb. The climb is conducted outdoors and takes you right to the top of the building. We were all ready to book a slot but eventually decided against it because we found out that no cameras are allowed, which we thought was quite a waste.

If you are interested, tickets are priced at A$69 for adults (Day Climb) and A$49 for children (Day Climb), and A$80 for adults (Twilight Climb) and A$69 for children (Twilight Climb).

*****

SkyPoint Observatory Deck

Address:


Level 77 of Q1 Resort
9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Queensland, 4217 Australia

Website:

http://www.skypoint.com.au

 Tel:

+61 7 5582 2700

*****

3) Coolangatta Beach

Coolangatta beach is the nearest beach to the airport and is located close to several cafes and shops.

We were in Coolangatta for breakfast at The Black Sheep, which serves up delicious meals and good coffee. After the hearty meal, we really needed to walk it off and it didn’t take long before we found ourselves on Coolangatta beach. We hadn’t planned on visiting the beach that day, hence my rather inappropriate attire drew curious stares from the beach-goers lining the shore.

This beach seemed very popular among families and the locals so if you want to feel like a local, this is the beach to go. We also chanced upon an interesting cluster of rocks which provided a great backdrop for my OOTD pictures.

4) Broad Beach

The waves are generally too
strong for swimming in Gold Coast, but you have to visit the beaches here if surfing is your cup of tea. No idea how to surf? Surf schools are aplenty so if you’re feeling adventurous, you can always take up surfing lessons and ride the waves. Even if you don’t wish to enter the sea, take a walk
towards the waves, twiddle your toes and enjoy the moment as the waves crash onto shore and
break into delightful white foam at your feet. Trust me, it’s worth it.

I was under the impression that cafes in Gold Coast pale in comparison to those in Sydney and Melbourne, but my recent trip to this sunny city proved me wrong.In fact, JW and I came across quite a number of good cafes thanks to recommendations from Urbanspoon, now known as Zomato (the Australian equivalent of Hungrygowhere) and Elk Espresso at Broadbeach was one of our favourite spots. If you ever visit Gold Coast, you have to come here for breakfast or brunch.

Why Elk Espresso? In a nutshell, the casual, laid-back Australian vibe and friendly service at Elk Espresso go hand-in-hand with its unpretentious yet absolutely delicious food to give you an experience that you’ll never forget. No wonder it is so popular with the locals!One of the most popular items on its breakfast/brunch menu is the very photogenic French Toast which comes with a medley of poached pears, salted caramel and dehydrated berries with vanilla bean mascarpone (A$17.50). Its prepossessing appearance is bound to brighten up any instagram feed.

The salted caramel sauce adds just a hint of sweetness to the french toast while allowing the natural flavours of the fruits and berries to shine through. I loved the refreshing touch of vanilla bean mascarpone which further enhances the party of flavours in your mouth, giving a new dimension to the overall taste.

The portions are very generous and despite the temptation, we were way too full by the end of the meal to add anything else to our order.

Well, except that a cafe experience is never complete without a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and he had to have his coffee and me, my hot chocolate.

The cafe latte (A$3.60) is good by Australian standards (usually much higher than Singapore’s) but in comparison to the hot chocolate that I tried at Lindt Cafe in Sydney, I felt that the Lindt Hot Chocolate (A$5.50) here could be richer. Don’t get me wrong though, it was gratifying nonetheless.