This article has been provided by YHA Australia, Australia’s largest budget accommodation network. Check out their website for bookings and accommodation reviews.
There’s so much more to the GC than skyscrapers and theme parks, as these five budget-friendly experiences reveal
You can’t start a story about the Gold Coast without mentioning beaches – and there are 21 of them stretched along the coast you can talk about. The Goldie is particularly famous for surfing – Burleigh Heads offers some of the most consistent waves in Australia while Snapper Rocks hosts the annual Quiksilver Pro World Surf League event. Plus, most of the Gold Coast’s beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers so they’re very safe.
See some Aussie wildlife
Get up close and personal with cute and cuddly Australian animals at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingos, rainbow lorikeets, crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas . . . the whole gang!
Explore the hinterland
Head inland to discover the Gold Coast Hinterland, a collection of picturesque national parks that will provide Instagram material for weeks. Check out the incredible Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National Park (pictured) and the panoramic views from Tamborine Mountain, as well as the waterfalls of the Numinbah Valley and the secret swimming hole at the idyllic Currumbin Rock Pools. The best part? All these hinterland national parks are free!
Nab a bargain at the markets
Lap up the atmosphere and sniff out a bargain at one of the Goldie’s many great markets. Every Friday and Saturday night you can pick up a souvenir at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets every Friday and Saturday night or grab some tasty street food at NightQuarter, and if you’re after fresh produce try the Burleigh Farmers Markets (Saturday mornings) and Gold Coast Organic Farmers Market (Sunday mornings).
Get active
Take in the scenery as you cruise along the Gold Coast’s sparkling waterways on a stand-up paddleboard – great for your fitness and not too hard on your hip pocket (the going rate is $20 for 1.5 hours). The Goldie also boasts 36km of coastal pathways to cycle, as well as world-class mountain bike courses for the more adventurous.
YHA Australia is part of the world’s largest backpacker accommodation network, Hostelling International (HI), providing more than 4,000 YHA hostels in 90 countries around the world. Book your backpackers hostel with YHA here.
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