When we moved to Australia, Caleb and I had just been married for a little over a year and we had never been to a beach together (we honeymooned in the Smokey Mountains)!
One of the first free weekends we had after moving, the beach was calling our name. Off to Gold Coast we went in search of our first beautiful beach.
1. Nobby Beach, Gold Coast
Nobby Beach and Mermaid Beach should definitely be on your bucket list for the Gold Coast, especially if you plan to go during the weekdays. The beach was nearly empty as others were at work or school, providing us privacy in one of the most popular places on the coast.
Wanting a bit of peace and quiet, we packed our own lunch and had a beach pic-nic which was the best for our first beach experience together.
Getting There
Getting to Nobby Beach from Brisbane is super easy. By car, just take the M1 about an hour south, down the coast.
We didn’t have a car, so we actually took public transit! It was pretty efficient, very cheap, and only took about 1 hour 15 minutes total. This option is perfect if you don’t have a vehicle or just want to escape the traffic for a while.
2. Coolangatta
The next beach on my bucket list of Gold Coast beaches is Coolangatta. This sunny suburb is the southernmost Gold Coast town and sits right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.
Getting There
From Brisbane, driving to Coolangatta will take nearly an hour and a half. This is still very doable for a day trip if you’re wanting a quick getaway from the big city. It’s worth starting your day early to get there and have plenty of time in the sun before returning to Brisbane.
3. Surfer’s Paradise
Rounding out my bucket list of Gold Coast Beaches is world renown Surfer’s Paradise. We actually stayed in this town for our anniversary and didn’t go to the beach (I know, right?) but we did stay at a nice hotel and shopped around to see the nightlife in the evening.
The Vibe hotel was perfectly placed in the center of all the bustle, walking distance from tons of shopping, restaurants, and the boardwalk.
Of course, when we found another Max Brenner Cholocate Bar we absolutely had to stop in for a choccy milkshake.
There you have it! Whether you’re staying for a day or planning a longer trip, these Gold Coast beaches definitely need to be on your bucket list. A couple quick tips before I wrap up:
Quick Tips
- If you’re driving to Gold Coast from Brisbane, build in an extra half hour for traffic each way (for stops and potential traffic backups).
- Take something fun to do at the beach. Laying out at the beach is nice but having a book to read can help you relax or learn something new! You can also bring a frisbee or football to toss in the waves or the sand; I could do this for hours!
- Wear sunscreen!!! Please do not skip this step, it’s so important! There are so many great, safe sunscreens for your family, like this one. Follow the directions for use and your skin will thank you 🙂
