Best Areas to Stay in Gold Coast, Australia

Surfers’ Paradise is on the east bank of the Gold Coast, just minutes from the downtown area.

Surfers’ Paradise stands out as the shopping and entertainment district on the Gold Coast, and one of the most exclusive areas to stay in the city.

Cavill Avenue concentrates all the commercial activity of Surfers Paradise, thanks to its stores and the illustrious Cavill shopping centre.

As its name suggests, this is the district that houses the best beaches for surfing. It is also suitable for a dynamic nightlife or to attend the most famous music festivals of the continent such as the Surfer Paradise Festival and Schoolies week.

Surfers’ Paradise preserves the best attractions of the city and is only 8 minutes drive from the central area.

The Surfside Bus Lines bus service connects Surfer Paradise with the western part of the city, the G-LINK light rail also has 5 stations in the district.

Surfers’ Paradise is the best area to stay in the Gold Coast, thanks to its attractions and transport connections, as well as its luxury-type hotels.

Broadbeach is located south of Surfers’ Paradise, next to Mermaid Beach.

Also called the “wide beach”, it is a pretty attractive coastal area, with some important buildings of the Gold Coast.

Broadbeach is the best area to stay for business travellers, thanks to the big Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Center.

Other recommended attractions are the Star Gold Coast, the Oasis Shopping Centre (with more than a hundred shops and boutiques), as well as the Pacific Fair and its music festivals.

The main bus station, called Broadbeach South, is located south of the district, and it connects with the Paradise Surfers’ centre and Southport. The area also benefits from having two light rail stations.

Broadbeach is known for its resort-type hotels and luxury accommodation, it is one of the best areas to stay in Gold Coast.

Mermaid Beach is part of the famous Gold Coast beach chain, it is located south of Broadbeach.

Unlike other districts, Mermaid is a very quiet area, ideal for relaxation and family entertainment.

Mermaid Beach offers a great gastronomic scene, represented in its restaurants of Australian food, Asian food, and bars for all tastes.

Visiting the golf courses, taking tours on the Fun Run trails and Waterways Cove are some of the favourite activities of tourists who stay at Mermaid Beach.

This area is well-supported by bus stops that connect to the rest of the Gold Coast.

In Mermaid Beach, you’ll find one of the most exclusive and luxurious streets in the city, called the row of millionaires, with many apartments near the beach that are a great accommodation option.

Burleigh Heads is one of the smallest and farthest districts of the Gold Coast’s central area.

Each area of Burleigh Heads offers a particular atmosphere. Shopping centres are found in the west, the artificial lake can be seen in Burleigh Waters, while cafes, restaurants and good nightclubs are located on James Street.

It is by excellence a ecological district and the best area to stay in Gold Coast near green areas, theme parks and recreation centres such as Justin Park, Ed Harry Park, John Laws Park and Burleigh Head National Park.

The rail system does not operate in this part of the city, however, Burleigh Heads is well-supported by the bus system with stops in every corner of the district.

The hotels with sea views in this area are the favourite for tourists and visitors interested in spending a relaxing holiday.

Hope Island is located towards the northern end of the Gold Coast, half an hour’s drive from Surfers Paradise.

The famous Gold Coast Hope Island (which is not really an island) has attractions like the marina, shops, restaurants, theme parks and three golf courses.

One of its most dynamic points is Hope Island Marina Shopping Village, which offers restaurants and outdoor shops in tropical-style, facing the sea.

Tourists tour the area in the popular golf carts and buggy. To leave Hope Island, you can choose to take a bus on the marine avenue quays blvd.

Hope Island is one of the best coastal areas where to stay in the Gold Coast since it is near the beach and offers entertainment.

Coolangatta is a district located at the southern end of the Gold Coast, famous for preserving the city’s airport.

The airport was formerly called the Coolangatta Airport, but it is now called the Gold Coast International Airport.

It serves about 5 million passengers a year from Asian, European and other destinations.

Coolangatta is the best area to stay in the Gold Coast for weekend trips or for those who make a stopover in the city.

Most bus stops in the Coolangatta district are located on Griffith St, while the tram system plans to build direct connections between the airport and the rest of the Gold Coast and Queensland.

It is an area of the city full of apartments, cheap hotels and even hostels, which is why it is a district of high tourist demand, particularly for those travelling on a smaller budget.

Sanctuary Cove is one of the oldest areas of the Gold Coast, located north of the city.

In Sanctuary Cove, you can enjoy a residential environment and family entertainment since it houses spaces formed by a sports complex, golf courses and an attractive port of yachts, boats and all kinds of boats.

Although it is located far from the central area, it is possible to arrive at the downtown in just minutes, thanks to the bus connections available on the district.

Sanctuary Cove is among the best areas to stay in Gold Coast since it lives up to its name, becoming a real sanctuary of tranquility for visitors, as it is a district away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and paradise surfers.

In addition, it also has hotels and hostels with affordable costs to all budgets.