How big is the Gold Coast?

The sunny wonderland of the Gold Coast is bursting with sea, skyscrapers, and summer fun- renowned for its long stretch of golden sand.

Interested in a tropical paradise for your next trip? The iconic Gold Coast of sun, sand, and sea is at the top of most traveller’s bucket list. Home to captivating sites and activities for the whole family. But how big is this region? And what is within?

The Size

• The Length

  The entire region of Gold coast is made up of about 5,000 square kilometres. With the area made of up 270 kilometres of waterways, and 100,000 world-heritage listed rainforests. With the stretch of coastline equalling to around 70 kilometres. It is Australia’s sixth largest city, with more natural wonders making up the area than housing and city sites.

• The Population

  In 2018, the region of the Gold Coast was made up of 580,730 citizens, with a growth rate of 1.58%. The area is always ever changing, expanding with new infrastructure able to fit more and more citizens each year. As well as the locals, the number of inhabitants is significantly bumped up with the number of tourists that visit the Gold Coast. On average is are around 13 million visitors every year visiting this stretch of coast, making it one of the most visited sites in Australia.

The Climate

The Gold Coast is known for its brilliant sub-tropical climate. With plenty of sunny days and hot days averaging from 19 to 29 degrees Celsius. Winter months don’t differ too much, with the temperatures dropping 9 to 21 degrees Celsius. There is very little rain throughout the year, promising epic tourist days no matter what time you visit.
The Must-See Sites

The Attractions Within

• Theme parks

  Thrill-seekers flock to the gold coast for the chance to ride the scariest rides in the country. With a bucket-load to choose from, visit the Sea World or Warner Brothers Movie World. Scream your lungs out as you speed along these exhilarating rollercoasters that will appeal to the whole family.

• Beach

  Located only seconds away from most city hotels, the beach stretches out for miles. Spend the day within the sea and sad, surfing the waves, sun baking in the sun, or building a sand castle with the kids. For a truly breathtaking view, visit the beach at sunrise or sunset and see the colours bounce off both the sea and the skyscrapers nearby.

• Glow Worm Evening Tour

  Inside the Springbrook national park is the Gold Coast’s glow worms. Amidst the majestic mountains covered by a lush rainforest are a series of caves nestled within, home to one of the largest concentrations of Australian glow worms. These glow worms are in fact, not worms at all, but a type of fly larvae. Their natural light comes from a chemical reaction within their body and is used to captivate and trap insects to consume. See this natural phenomenon up close and personal when you step inside the darkness. Seeing the worms scattered against the cave’s walls and ceiling, creating what looks like stars against the black.

• Rainforest Walks

  Immerse yourself in the epic landscape of the world-heritage listed rainforests boarding the Gold Coast. Trek up the mountains to marvel at the lookouts promised at the top, or venture into the mysterious caves and pristine waterfalls nestled deep within the greenery.

Related article: Where are the best views on the Gold Coast?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.