You might not know it, but theme parks aren’t the only thing to do on the Goldy! Whether you’re a local or just visiting on holiday, there are endless free things to do on the Gold Coast year-round. So if you don’t want to have to take out a holiday loan or you just want some tips and ideas on non-touristy things to do, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you how to explore on a budget.
Overview:
- Go beach hopping
- Visit botanical gardens
- Local art galleries and cultural centres
- Visit national parks
- Stroll through some markets
- Movies Under the Stars
- Watch a beach competition
- Participate in a free workshop or event
- Plan out a beachside walk
- Whale spotting
- Do a heritage walk
- Explore rock pools and waterfalls
- Imagine your future at a prize home
- Look out for lookouts
- Enjoy a free festival
- Camping
- Picnic
- Sculpture walk
Fun things to do on the Gold Coast for free
1. Go beach hopping
There are so many unique little beach spots to check out, beyond the usual Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, or Main Beach. It makes it really easy to find free things to do on the Gold Coast for a day. Here are a few picturesque beaches you can explore:
- South Burleigh Headland, Burleigh Heads
- Froggy Beach, Coolangatta
- Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta
- The Spit Dog Beach
- Echo Beach, Burleigh Heads
- Connor Hurley Beach
Enjoy a scenic drive between beaches and don’t forget to pick up some freshly caught fish and chips for lunch. Take the road trip even further down to Brunswick Heads, one of our favourite cheap couples holiday destinations for quiet yet stunning beaches.
2. Visit botanical gardens
A day amongst the flowers and native plants is always a good idea for a free romantic thing to do on the Gold Coast. Bring your camera along and get some artsy snaps to share online. Some gorgeous gardens include the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens.
3. Check out local art galleries and cultural centres
HOTA is not the only art gallery you can see for free on the Gold Coast. There are a lot of little galleries open to the public and cultural centres you can explore on a budget day out.
- Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Royal Queensland Art Society Gold Coast
- 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace
- Post Office Gallery
- ArtVo – free for children under 4
If you’re an art lover, take the short, one hour long road trip to Brisbane. The Cultural Centre, consisting of the Museum of Queensland, GoMA, the State Library and more, is among the many free things to do in Brisbane.
4. Visit national parks — fun free things to do on the Gold Coast
There is an abundance of natural beauty surrounding the Gold Coast that you can bask in. Hit the road and check out these stunning national parks for some nature walks, swimming, lookouts, and wildlife:
- Burleigh Head National Park – 20 minute drive
- Springbrook National Park – 50 minute drive
- Tamborine National Park – 50 minute drive
- Lamington National Park – 60 minute drive
5. Stroll through some markets
Farmers markets, arts and crafts markets, local makers markets… Whatever it is, the Gold Coast has it. Some occur weekly and others are a special event at different times of the year.
Here are just a few you can check out:
- Helensvale Farmers Market: 6am to 11am every Saturday
- Marina Mirage Farmers Market: 6:30am to 12pm every Saturday
- Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: 4pm to 9pm every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
- Carrara Markets: 8am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday
6. Movies Under the Stars
Looking for free things to do on the Gold Coast for families.? Movies Under the Stars often runs on a Friday in different locations. Just check what’s on with the Gold Coast community calendar. Bring a picnic blanket and some snacks to enjoy the free outdoor movie session. Whether you’re looking for some way to entertain the kids for a few hours, this is a perfect school holiday idea.
7. Watch a beach competition
From surf lifesaving to triathlons to volleyball, there are plenty of free and paid sports competitions occurring year-round on the Goldy.
8. Participate in a free workshop or event
Need something free to do with the kids on the Gold Coast this weekend? NaturallyGC is a great program by the City of Gold Coast that offers a range of recurring and one-off events. Some of the fantastic sessions on offer include things like:
- Native plant propagation workshops
- Bushtucker cooking workshops
- Ocean exploration with VR headsets
- Tree planting events
- Wildlife shows
9. Plan out a beachside walk
Pack some snacks, sunscreen, and plenty of water and ditch the car for a day. You can stroll along the glorious beaches, paddling in the water as you go. Some beaches have rock pools you can explore. Otherwise, you can keep dry and walk up along the abundant paths and boardwalks that line the beachfront. Beaches are really the best free thing to do on the Gold Coast.
10. Whale spotting
May to November is the best time to visit for some free whale-watching adventures. Approximately 40,000 humpback whales will be migrating up the East coast of Australia during this time, so you have a great chance of seeing something amazing!
11. Do a heritage walk
There are a bunch of self-guided heritage walks you can do for a low-cost day out. Check out:
- Jubilee Walkway
- Botanic Gardens Kaialgumm Games Trail
- Coolangatta Heritage Walk
- Gold Coast Commonwealth Walkway
- Memorial Walk Broadbeach
12. Explore rock pools and waterfalls
Leave all your worries behind as you bask in the glory of nature. Bring some togs and check out some swimming spots away from the beach, within the gorgeous hinterlands.Here are a few spots to add to the bucket list:
- Currumbin Rock Pools
- Cedar Creek Falls, Mt Tamborine
- Curtis Falls, Mt Tamborine
- Burleigh Heads Rock Pools
- Natural Bridge, Numinbah Valley
If you are visiting in the cooler months, a lot of these spots have walking trails that are the perfect free thing to do on the Gold Coast in winter.
13. Imagine your future at a prize home
Live life like a local and check out some of the amazing prize homes on offer along the southeast coast of Queensland. You don’t need to book ahead or buy a ticket to wander around the fancy homes and let your imagination run wild.
14. Look out for lookouts
With the beach stretching on into eternity, there is no shortage of lookouts along the coast. A few spectacular views to add to your list include:
- North Burleigh Lookout, Miami
- Kirra Hill Lookout, Coolangatta
- Tumgun Lookout, Burleigh Heads
- Elephant Rock, Currumbin
- Best of All Lookout, Springbrook National Park
- The Sand Bypass System jetty, Main Beach
- Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta
These spots are the best at sunset. Bring some chairs, a few drinks, and someone special to bask in the beauty of nature with.
15. Enjoy a free festival
There’s always a festival happening somewhere on the Gold Coast and the surrounding area. Some of the big players to check out throughout the year are:
- Kalbar Sunflower Festival: enjoy sunflowers and local goods on the Scenic Rim during April
- Blues on Broadbeach: wander Broadbeach and enjoy some blues music in May
- Big City Lights Festival: explore art installations and light displays in Southport during June-July
- Cooly Rocks On Festival: motors, music, and good times at Coolangatta in June
16. Camping
If you were worried free camping spots were a distant thing of the past, fear not! You can still find free camping spots around the coast to enjoy a budget weekend. They’re great for a cheap girls’ getaway weekend or a boys’ weekend.
17. Picnic
Picnics are a timeless way to spend a day without spending a heap of cash. Pack some lunch, a blanket, and a deck of cards or board games and spend the day relaxing on one of the vast beaches or stunning parklands. Plenty of beaches have playgrounds nearby for the kids to enjoy after eating.
18. Sculpture walk
Take an outdoor stroll along the sculpture walk at HOTA year-round or journey down during the Swell Sculpture Festival in September for some fun outdoor art.
Need some extra cash for a holiday on the Gold Coast?
There are plenty of things to do for free on the Gold Coast. But if you’re also looking at some of the more pricey activities, check out our fast holiday loans to get some quick money. Apply now!
