5 things you didn't know about the Gold Coast and why you should go

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are the most extensive area of subtropical rainforests in the world. Just an hour's drive from the golden beaches of Gold Coast is Lamington National Park, which is part of this ecosystem of ancient trees, gorgeous walking trails, and stunning waterfalls.

DO An easy way for first-timers to experience the national park is with O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Serious bushwalkers are within striking distance of 320 km of hiking trails. Otherwise, you can experience the national park from high up at O'Reilly's famous Treetop Walk or get taken on a four-wheel drive to visit picturesque lookout points and mesmerising waterfalls like the Moran Falls. They also run sunset experiences at the gorgeous Moonlight Point – complete with cheeseboard and bubbly. Want some adrenaline? Sign up for a unique zipline experience that'll bring you skimming across the tops of trees.  

Hinterlands, beaches, and waterways – Gold Coast does seem to have it all. Besides frolicking on its famous golden sands, you can also take part in thrilling water sports on the city's 260km of navigable waterways. For something more sedate, tour the Gold Coast via the HOPO water taxi, which takes you to attractions like Sea World Theme Park and the Home of the Arts cluster of galleries and markets. 

DO Book a thrilling jetboat experience with Paradise Jet Boating. The premium ride takes you speeding across Gold Coast Broadwater at approximately 35 kilometres per hour. The wonderful guides provide interesting nuggets about landmarks and houses you pass along the way – if you can focus in between the thrilling 360-degree turns, that is. In short, come dressed to get drenched. 

Melbourne is well-known as the coffee mecca of Australia, but Gold Coast has something to be proud of in this domain too. Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation is the reigning champion of the Golden Bean Award for Australian-grown coffee, which they won in 2019 before the pandemic put a halt to the awards. At its micro-lot plantation on Mount Tamborine, you can try its award-winning brew at the restaurant, alongside mains and cocktails, or learn all about what it takes to take their coffee from crop to cup via regular plantation tours.

DO Visit Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation for an intimate tour of its grounds. Running at noon on Thursdays and Saturdays, these tours will give you an insider look at the coffee production process. Learn how the folks at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation grow, roast, blend and brew their own coffee – plus a chance to try a fresh cup of its premium brew. 

Grandad Jack's Craft Distillery is located on an unassuming stretch just a two-minute walk from North Burleigh beach. Visit on any given evening and you'll find it packed with locals sipping on its craft gin, vodka, whiskey, and coffee liqueur to the crooning of a live musician. The spirits at Grandad Jack's are all made from age-old family recipes inspired by the life of – who else – Grandad Jack, and have won over 60 international and national awards, including the title of 'Best Coffee Liqueur in the World' at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards.

DO Sign yourself up for the Distillery Tour & Tasting. This will take you on an intimate tour of the Gold Coast distillery, complete with well-worn and beloved stories of Grandad Jack and the family's efforts to keep his love for whiskey alive. Then see what all the hype's about at a complimentary tasting – the gin and tonic pairings are particularly divine. 

Talk to the locals and they'll proudly share that Gold Coast's food and beverage scene is on the up and up. World-class restaurants have sprung up alongside trendy bars, and the city now has 24 Hatted restaurants to its name. That's according to the Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Award 2023, the country's answer to the coveted Michelin Guide.

DO Make an advance booking at Rick Shores. The single-hatted restaurant may not be rated the highest on the list, but wins out thanks to a fantastic location on Burleigh beach. If you're lucky, you'll score a spot right on the edge of the pavilion – giving you front-row seats to blue, rolling waves along the coast. That's not to mention the fantastic Pan-Asian fare bursting with the freshness of locally-sourced produce. For a special night out, try the double-hatted Kiyomi in The Star Gold Coast for sophisticated Japanese fare.