Gold Coast Day Tour From Brisbane
Description
Experience the ultimate Gold Coast adventure in one unforgettable day. Begin with a morning of wildlife spotting at Coombabah Lakeland Conservation Park, where kangaroos and koalas roam freely, followed by the opportunity to spot dolphins and seasonal whales at The Spit. Learn about the rich culture of the local Yugambeh people along the way. Savor a delicious lunch with breathtaking 360° views at the SkyPoint Observation Deck atop Australia’s tallest building. Enjoy free time in Surfers Paradise to explore your way—race across the water on a thrilling Paradise Jet Boat ride, hop aboard the iconic Aquaduck, shop along Cavill Mall, or simply unwind on the golden beach. End the day with a scenic drive through the stunning Numinbah Valley to Springbrook National Park. Immerse yourself in the World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest, where cascading waterfalls and ancient landscapes await. It’s a day packed with nature, culture, and adventure!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your adventure with a serene walk-through Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park where kangaroos and koalas are common sights.
Grab a light refreshment and enjoy a leisurely stroll along The Spit seawall with spectacular views of the coastline whilst spotting whales (seasonal), dolphins and other sea life. (refreshment at own cost) Learn the history, culture and customs of the local Yugambeh aboriginal First Nations people from expert guides, officially endorsed by the Yugambeh Museum.
Spend time on the beach soaking up the sun or go for a swim to cool down. This time also includes your visit Skypoint and lunch (admission and lunch included)
Included lunch with 360° views at Skypoint Observation Deck at Queensland’s tallest building, Q1. You must arrive at Skypoint no later than 1:30 pm for lunch.
Experience the spectacular beauty of UNESCO World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park with a fully guided rainforest walk to Natural Bridge Waterfall
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Contact us after booking if you require an infant seat. Infant ticket does not include any food or beverage.
- Please note there is no storage in the bus or tour office for prams or large bags. Kindly leave them in your hotel room.
Reviews(17)
Our guide was wonderful and very informative! Only reason tour not a 5 is due to uncooperative weather a ND lack of koalas.
Hi Bonnie, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your day and that your guide made the experience both enjoyable and informative. It sounds like Mother Nature wasn't quite on our side during your visit, while we'd love to guarantee sunshine and koala sightings, our local wildlife are just that wild,so they don't always choose to make an appearance. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future. Kind regards, The Southern Cross Tours Team
Loved this tour. We had a really nice hike through the rain forest, saw a waterfall, went to surfers paradise, had a nice lunch there, then went to see Koalas and Kangaroos! Jamie was an awesome tour guide!
Thank you for this wonderful review! Jamie will be so touched to hear your kind words and know he was able to create such a magical experience :)
It was a great day. Our guide Ryan did a fabulous job all day keeping us on schedule to get to all of the activities included in the package.
Thank you for the wonderful review! Orion will be touched by your kind words :)
What an incredible day! We started with a stop at Natural Bridge. We took a short, shaded walk down to a river which had a waterfall that flows into a cave underneath a natural stone bridge. Then we were off to Surfers Paradise. We had free time to do whatever we wanted or there were several other tours which could be taken (Jet Boat or AquaDuck Tour). After wandering around Surfers Paradise we were treated to lunch at Q1 which is a restaurant 77 floors above the city/beach. The food was good and the views phenomenal. Next we were off to The Spit. We walked all the way to the end of the Spit and took in the views of surfers, dogs on the beach, sailboats and even a sea turtle. The last stop of the day was Coombabah Preserve. This was the highlight of the trip. We saw hundreds of kangaroos, 3 koalas and a wallaby. I should mention that this tour included a lot of walking (15,000+ steps) and could be difficult for some. But it was so enjoyable and worth all the walking. Our guides Amber and Jamie were great and so knowledgeable. 10/10 Recommend
Thank you for this wonderful review! It's a jam-packed day but we try to show you the very best the Gold Coast has to offer! From the city to the sea, and out into the mountain, there is truely so much to experience. We're all so glad to hear it was a great day for you all! :)
Full day trip. You will be walking in rainforest, grass, and sand. You might want to have hard trainers plus flip flops (thongs). It will probably rain and have ferocious sun. All part of the experience! Amber was our guide and she really made the trip special. She is passionate about nature and we learned so much from her about Trapdoor spiders, paddy melon wallabies, Gimpy Gimpy, to name but a few. The stop at the Spit - wow! The waves were wild. So good. Sky Point for a good value lunch (which included a choice of food and drinks) - fab views. We were lucky to get the view in the sun. Weather wasn't kind so my plan of sunning myself on Surfers Paradise beach were quickly abandoned in the gale force wind and rain 😂. We managed to see 2 koalas in the trees, a kookaburra, and a huge mob of kangaroos, as well as many other birds. Honestly a brilliant trip. Great communication from the company. I highly recommend this to you.
This is a really good tour. Amber is such a great tour guide! She went above and beyond in making sure that we saw the best of Gold Coast! The lunch included was great as well. This is one of the best tours I've ever booked . Good job!
Thank you for this wonderful review! Amber will be touched to hear your kind words and know she was able to make such an impact! The Gold Coast has so many hidden gems, if you only know where to look :)
Great trip, long day but Mark or tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable telling us lots of stories about the culture and history as we went. Skypoint was a great addition, fabulous views with great food, they were very large portions but lovely. Ended with the rainforest and waterfall so which was beautiful. A long day with Brisbane traffic but was worth it.
Thank you so much for this glowing review! Mark will be so touched to hear he was able to create a worthwhile experience for you all. It can be a long day, but it really is the mark of a good guide that they can keep you interested the whole time. The Gold Coast has so many amazing sights to see if you have someone who knows there way around! :)
The tour driver was knowledgeable and balanced the narrative with time for quiet. He was great. We enjoyed the day very much.
Thank you so much! Our tour guides work hard to find that balance and we're glad to hear we were able to achieve it on that day! :)
Very good tour. Our tour guide, Mark, was very knowledgeable about the history of the Gold Coast and had valuable information on the animals we were seeing as well as Springbrook overall. The tour company, Southern Cross Tours, provided excellent customer service, and great communication communications. I recommend.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! 🌟 We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Mark’s knowledge of the Gold Coast, Springbrook, and the local wildlife made the experience even more special. He’ll be delighted to know his passion and insights made an impact. We also really appreciate your kind words about our customer service and communication—those details matter a lot to us. Thanks again for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on another Southern Cross Tours adventure soon!
Brilliant day out from Brisbane covering a lot of ground it would be difficult to do on your own or impossible on public transport. Early morning pick up was from three central Brisbane locations. The driver/guide, Amber was prompt and great fun - and the minibus is modern and comfortable - providing a cool environment in the hot climate. The day started with a scenic drive through the stunning Numinbah Valley to Springbrook National Park, where we walked (gentle, easy footpath) to the Natural Bridge Falls. Then onwards to Surfer's Paradise for two hours. I'd highly recommend the AquaDuck tour which can be booked at a discount from the operator ahead of time as it provides a fun experience for both adults and kids. The included lunch at the Skypoint Observation Deck underlined the advantage of an inclusive tour - reserved table and food & drink ordered and delivered, no queuing or hunting for a table. Finally the Spit and Coombabah Lakeland Conservation Park, for Kangaroo (many) and Koala (one!) spotting rounded out a very enjoyable day, with return drop off in Brisbane.
Thank you for such a detailed and fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the full day experience and found it such a convenient and enjoyable way to explore the Gold Coast highlights from Brisbane. Amber will be thrilled to know her guiding, punctuality, and fun approach made the day even more memorable. From the scenic Numinbah Valley and Natural Bridge to Surfers Paradise, Skypoint, and wildlife spotting at Coombabah, it’s wonderful to hear each part of the itinerary stood out. We really appreciate the recommendation — especially the AquaDuck tip — and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
