Free Things to Do on the Gold Coast
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 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 and get the local scoop on what’s on.
Overview:
- Go beach hopping
- Visit botanical gardens
- Check out local art galleries and cultural centres
- Take a scenic drive
- Visit national parks
- Check out 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
- Enjoy a beach sunset
- Sculpture walk
- Visit the spit
Top 21 things to do for free on the Gold Coast
1. Go beach hopping
There are so many unique little beach spots to check out. Beyond the usual Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, or Main Beach. Here are a few picturesque beaches you can explore for a budget beach day:
- South Burleigh Headland, Burleigh Heads
- Froggy Beach, Coolangatta
- Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta
- The Spit Dog Beach
- Echo Beach, Burleigh Heads
- Connor Hurley Beach
2. Visit botanical gardens
A day amongst the flowers and native plants is always a good idea for a free day out. 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 check out 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
4. Take a scenic drive
Get the tunes pumping and cruise along the coastline for a budget adventure on the road. Stop in at some beaches along the way and don’t forget to pick up some freshly caught fish and chips for lunch.
5. Visit national parks
There is an abundance of natural beauty surrounding the Gold Coast that you can bask in for free. Hit the road and check out these stunning national parks for some nature walks, swimming, lookouts, and wildlife:
- Burleigh Head National Park – about 20 minutes drive from the Gold Coast
- Springbrook National Park – about 50 minutes drive from the Gold Coast
- Tamborine National Park – about 50 minutes drive from the Gold Coast
- Lamington National Park – about 60 minutes drive from the Gold Coast
6. Check out some markets
Farmers markets, arts and crafts markets, local makers markets, no matter what, 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 market
- Marina Mirage market
- Surfers Paradise market
- Twilight markets – CBD Sundown
7. Movies Under the Stars
Looking for some ideas for free family fun on the Gold Coast? Movies Under the Stars often runs on a Friday and is located at the Broadwater Parklands in Southport. Just bring a picnic blanket and some snacks to enjoy the free outdoor movie session. Whether you’re looking for something free to do as a couple or some way to entertain the kids for a few hours, this is a perfect way to spend an evening.
8. 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.
9. Participate in a free workshop or event
Need something free to do with the kids this weekend? Or maybe you just want to pick up some skills yourself. Why not take advantage of one of the free workshops on offer? NaturallyGC is a great program by the City of Cold Coast that offers a range of recurring and one-off events. Some of the fantastic free sessions on offer include things like:
- Native plant propagation workshops
- Bushtucker cooking workshops
- Ocean exploration with VR headsets
- Tree planting events
- Wildlife shows
10. 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. Or keep dry and walk up along the abundant paths and boardwalks that line the beachfront.
11. Whale spotting
May to November is the best time to come 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!
12. Do a heritage walk
There are a bunch of self-guided heritage walks you can do for a low-cost day out. Check out the City of Gold Coast page for all the free walks you can do.
13. Explore rock pools and waterfalls
Leave all your worries behind as you bask in the free glory of nature. Bring some swimming togs along and check out some swimming spots while you’re at it. 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
14. 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 boujee homes and let your imagination run wild.
15. 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
16. Enjoy a free festival
There’s always a festival happening somewhere on the Gold Coast and the surrounds. 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
- Springtime – free music festival at Broadbeach in September
17. 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. Great for a cheap girls’ getaway weekend or a boys’ weekend.
18. 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.
19. Enjoy a beach sunset
There’s nothing quite like experiencing the sun setting over the sea. Bring some chairs, a few drinks, and someone special to bask in the beauty of nature with.
20. 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.
21. Visit the spit
The Spit, located in Southport, has a lot to offer when you’re looking for free things to do on the Gold Coast. From exciting views along the rock wall to great fishing spots to romantic sunset picnics along the river. There is something for everyone!
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 cash loans for the Gold Coast to get some quick money for your holiday!
