The Backpackers Guide to the Gold Coast
With the golden sandy beaches, active nightlife and abundance of attractions on offer it is little wonder that every year over ten million tourists visit Queensland’s Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is also a highly sought after travel destination for backpackers on working holidays in Australia with thousands of backpackers employed within the tourism industry and enjoying all that the Gold Coast has to offer.
The biggest decision facing backpackers on working holidays on the Gold Coast is what they should do when they arrive. The Backpackers Guide to Queensland’s Gold Coast is designed to assist backpackers with this very decision. While this is only a basic guide it has the information needed to help backpackers on working holidays get started.

Accommodation

As a world famous holiday destination, the Gold Coast has accommodation options to satisfy every budget, from multi-millionaires to backpackers. For backpackers on working holidays on the Gold Coast, they often want to find the best accommodation at a budget price.
Backpacker hostels obviously provide backpackers with people on working holidays on thee Gold Coast with everything they are looking for. When choosing a backpacker hostel,

backpackers should consider these important factors:

• Location – Backpackers on working holidays need to find a backpacker hostel that is in a good location for their needs. Backpackers are best off choosing a backpacker hostel that is close to the beach and public transport.
• Optional Extras – Backpackers on working holidays should also find out what extras the backpacker hostel offers. Does the hostel offer breakfast or entertainment? Some backpacker hostels also offer a free courtesy bus which is a great help for backpackers to get around.
• Reputation – Backpackers on working holidays should check out reviews about hostels on backpacker websites and forums. When choosing a hostel from the internet, the hostels webpage may make the hostel look like the greatest option, but what do people who have stayed there actually say about the hostel.

From our research, we have found some of the best hostels for backpackers on the Gold Coast.

Aquarius Backpackers

Located in central Southport, the Aquarius Backpackers hostel provides backpackers on working holidays on the Gold Coast with a good choice of accommodation as well as a licensed bar and pool. As this hostel is situated in central Southport it is also close to public transport to help backpackers explore the Gold Coast. There is also a fully self contained kitchen so that backpackers can cook for themselves and not have to eat out all the time. Lonely Planet has recommended Aquarius Backpackers hostel for its cleanliness and also party atmosphere.
Gold Coast Backpackers Hostel
Gold Coast Backpackers hostel is conveniently located close to the world famous beaches of Surfers Paradise. The hostel also offers backpackers a licensed bar and also BBQ cooking facilities. The hostel being located in Surfers Paradise is also close to public transport to help backpackers travel around the Gold Coast.

The Islander Backpackers Resort

The Islander Backpackers Resort is the largest backpackers’ hostel situated on the Gold Coast. The biggest benefit for backpackers is that the hostel is attached to a 3 star Hotel and backpackers have free access to the hotels facilities. Being in Surfers Paradise once again backpackers have the convenience of close by public transport to travel around.

Budget Eating

The Gold Coast is renowned for its international cuisine and foods to satisfy every palate. From 5 Star Restaurants to local Fish and Chip shops backpackers can be assured of finding food that will meet all of their needs.
To help backpackers who are new arrivals to the Gold Coast on their working holiday, we have listed some favourite eateries for backpackers on the Gold Coast.

Mama Roma

Located at Broadbeach has become a favourite restaurant for backpackers on the Gold Coast. This Italian restaurant has a large selection of meals with all main meals being priced under $20.00 making this a cheap night out for backpackers on a budget.
Plantation House Café
Situated at the world famous Burleigh Heads, the Plantation House Café is known as one of the Gold Coast’s best organic eateries. While the Plantation House Café is a little more expensive than others on the Gold Coast it provides backpackers with a little culinary treat.

Southport Surf Lifesaving Club

Surf Clubs are found in every beach suburb along the Gold Coasts coastal strip. The Southport Surf Lifesaving Club provides backpackers with a cheap dining experience and best of all it is located right on the beach just north of Surfers Paradise

Waxy’s Irish Pub

Located in the Heart of Surfers Paradise, Waxy’s Irish Pub provides backpackers with a large range of Irish meals all priced under ten dollars. The best thing for backpackers is that with every meal they purchase they receive a free beer to wash the meal down. Sunday is a favoured day for backpackers to have a meal at Waxy’s Irish Pub as they serve their famous steak lunch for only two dollars.

Things for Backpackers to do on the Gold Coast

As an international tourist destination, backpackers can be assured that there will be something to do that will cater to the desires of any backpacker on a working holiday on the Gold Coast. Whether backpackers want to spend the day swimming and laying in the sun on the Gold Coast’s world famous beaches or wanting more adventure and excitement there is guaranteed to be something on offer.
Here is just a sampling of what backpackers on a working holiday on the Gold Coast can get up to:

World Famous Beaches

With over 70 kilometres of golden sandy beaches it is little wonder that the Gold Coast has been aptly named as it is. Many people visit the Gold Coast just to experience the beaches but with so many to choose from backpackers sometimes have a hard time choosing the best beach for their desires.
The most famous surfing beach on the Gold Coast is Kirra Beach. Situated at the southern end of the Gold Coast Kirra is a surfer’s haven. For backpackers who are either experienced surfers or are wanting to watch some of the world famous surfers who surf Kirra daily this beach is well worth the visit.
Burleigh Heads provides backpackers not only with a prime swimming spot but also one of the best BBQ and picnic locations on the Gold Coast. Burleigh Heads offers a stunning view of Surfers Paradise for backpackers who want to laze around the beach all day.
Tallebudgera Creek is considered a hidden gem of the Gold Coast. Tucked away the headland of Burleigh Heads National Park, Tallebudgera Creek offers backpackers with an idyllic beachside environment without to many tourists to crowd their experience. A word of warning Tallebudgera Creek looks like an extremely safe place to swim but is subject to strong currents, so backpackers are advised to swim between the flags at all times.

Rainforest Adventures

Not only is the Gold Coast home to world famous beaches but beyond the beaches the Gold Coast is also home to some world renowned subtropical rainforests that have an abundance of Australian native wildlife and flora. For backpackers on a working holiday on the Gold Coast they are well advised to spend a day hiking through these magnificent rainforest and experiencing the Gold Coasts most naturally beautiful environment.
Many backpackers on working holidays on the Gold Coast love to explore O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat which allows backpackers to walk across 9 suspension bridges that are situated in the tree line of the lamington National Park. Lamington National Park is a World Heritage listed sub tropical rainforest and with the suspension bridge walks, backpackers can experience the rainforest from 15 metres above the ground.
Internationally Renowned Theme Parks
Backpackers who are on working holidays on the Gold Coast have a world of adventure to experience with the Gold Coasts internationally renowned theme parks. With White Water World, Dream World, Sea World, and Wet ‘n’ Wild there is a theme park to cater to every backpacker. Each of the theme parks on the Gold Coast offer backpackers not only exhilarating rides, but loads of entertainment.

Shopping

Just like Miami Beach on the USA’s Gold Coast, Queensland’s Gold Coast offers backpackers with an ultimate shopping opportunity. The major shopping centres of Pacific Fair and the Robina Town Centre offer world class shopping experiences for every backpacker who visits.
For backpackers who like to visit local markets, there are markets help every weekend along the Gold Coast beaches between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta. Backpackers are sure to find a bargain and something special to send to loves ones back at home.

Gold Coast Nightlife

The Gold Coast is well renowned for its vibrant nightlife and there is something on offer for all backpackers on a working holiday on the Gold Coast. While Surfers Paradise is known as the Gold Coasts glitter strip there are pubs and nightclubs situated all along the Gold Coast.
On Wednesday and Saturday nights backpackers from all over the Gold Coast also have the opportunity to get together with each other and party the night away through the Backpacker’s Big Night Out. This is an event that takes backpackers to all the major nightclubs in Surfers Paradise. While the night out does come at a fee it includes free entry to all of the nightclubs and pizza during the night.

Conclusion

There really is so much on offer for backpackers on working holidays on the Gold Coast and this guide only provides a glimpse.

The Gold Coast provides an environment for backpackers to experience things from sun up right back through to sun up again. While many of the attractions on offer on the Gold Coast come at a fee there are equally as many attractions that backpackers can experience free of charge.
The Gold Coast also provides ample opportunity for backpackers on a working holiday to find employment. Most employment that backpackers will find is in the retail and hospitality industries which also give backpackers the opportunity to not only earn money but meet new people every day. By working in these industries backpackers can be assured of still having enough down time to enjoy the attractions and entertainment found throughout the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast is a world renowned tourist destination and backpackers who decide to embark on a working holiday on the Gold Coast will be given the opportunity to experience things that many throughout the world can only dream of. While this guide is only a basic guide it provides backpackers on a working holiday on the Gold Coast with the opportunity to have an insight into what they are going to experience. The gold Coast is truly a destination that any backpacker on a working holiday in Australia needs to experience.