Gold Coast, Australia is located just south of Brisbane along Queensland’s eastern coastline. It’s a popular tourist destination, with fantastic surf beaches, a dramatic skyline, and a focus on nightlife and entertainment. Just inland, this area borders a “hinterland” of volcanoes, rainforest, and National Parkland. There are fantastic options for running in Gold Coast, ranging from extensive beaches, coastal trails and promenades, inland ‘bush’ trails, and some swanky streets around Gold Coast’s residential areas. Our guide covers the area from Coombabah south to Coffs Harbor.
The go-to run in Gold Coast is The Gold Coast Oceanway, a network of paths along the waterfront from The Spit to Point Danger. We’ve also pointed to good oceanfront running options near Broadwater, Kingscliff, and along the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk near Coffs Harbor. Trail runners can map unique routes in Coombabah Lakelands, Nerang State Forest, or on the Border Trail, while city-slickers may prefer the residential streets of Main Beach and Surfers Paradise.
Gold Coast has a pretty extensive public transportation system, including the G:Link Tram, busses around the suburbs, and a train for travel to other cities. If you’re traveling to off-the-beaten-track routes like Nerang or Solitary Islands, renting a car is probably the way to go.