Budget vs Money: Things to do on The Gold Coast

Happy New Year everyone! It’s officially January 2025 and my first blog post of the year! Welcome back. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season, wherever you were in the world and whatever you chose to get up to! 

Last year was the first year of consistent writing for my blog, after releasing my first post back in April, 2023. At first, I was hesitant with how much I wanted to post as I spent a lot of that year overthinking my writing- and myself. Setting a goal in the new year of 2024, did me a world of good. I aimed to create one post per month to encourage myself with my writing… and towards the end of last year, I was able to smash out two posts per month. I had so much fun as the planning, writing and editing became a habit I really looked forward to, since I could once again, delve back into my travels, bringing all of my experiences and thoughts together and to life. I hope to continue this journey on, sharing my stories and guides in hope to inspire others with their own travels. 

Starting off 2025 strong, I’ve been eager to start writing about some of my adventures around Australia since returning home in July last year. Currently settled on the Gold Coast (for now) I’ve had the time of my life being back in hot weather, lounging in the sun and being back on the beach, all of which have always been a source of happiness and solace for me. It’s been a blast exploring the Gold Coast and everything this magnificent place has to offer. As you may know already, I’ve always travelled on a budget and I often find free or low budget ‘things to do’ wherever I go, even though it’s so much fun to spend money on activities when travelling… balance is key! I could write pages about how many things there are to do on the Gold Coast, but I thought I’d start with some of my personal favourites. So here is a mixture of ten things that you can do on the Gold Coast… 

Five low budget activities: 

Currumbin Rock Pools

Alongside Currumbin Creek Road, is a wild swimming gem. Currumbin Rock Pools is a truly spectacular swimming hole to cool down and relax in. It’s a beautiful spot to visit by yourself or with family and friends. There are grassy banks around the pools with picnic tables and barbecues for the public to use at any time of day. 

Cougal Cascades

Nestled at the very end of Currumbin Creek Road in Springbrook National Park is a 1.6 kilometre return walking track around Cougal Cascades, you can venture up towards the historic sawmill and enjoy a swim in several beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. Surrounded by rainforest and a great amount of wildlife, it’s a perfect slice of paradise. 

Burleigh Heads National Park

Situated on Tallebudgera Creek, spanning over to Burleigh is the stunning Burleigh Heads National Park. The ultimate spot for walking, running, finding swimming spots and soaking up some of the most glorious views of the Gold Coast. The oceanview walk leads around the headland at sea level whilst the rainforest circuit scales to the summit 88m above sea level at my favourite lookout, Tumgun Lookout. Expect to spot a lot of wildlife around the National Park, and most especially spotting humpback whales up at Tumgun in the winter and spring times. 

Gold Coast Oceanway

A 36 kilometre shared path for the public that runs across the Gold Coast coastline. The Jubilee Walkway is one of my favourite ocean side walks starting at Currumbin Beach, you can walk, run or cycle all the way up to Tugun, Kirra and into Coolangatta. There are plenty of cafes to stop at on the way, water fountains to take a drink from and iconic locations such as Currumbin Rock, Elephant Rock as well as, of course, the incredible coastal views. 

Tallebudgera Creek

Framed by Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach, lies the gorgeous Tallebudgera Creek. It's a fantastic place to swim, snorkel, fish and try out different water sports. There are plenty of amenities around to keep everyone entertained, including a kids playground, cafes, toilets, drinking fountains and showers, picnic shelters, tables and even barbecues. You can explore other beach entrances around Talle Creek from Burleigh Heads National Park and Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park. You can also visit Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the local Indigenous history and culture of the Gold Coast. 

Five money activities: 

The Ground, Eco Village, Currumbin 

A dreamy and relaxing experience I’d recommend is visiting The Ground Bathhouse at The Eco Village in Currumbin Valley. Soak for one hour and unwind within the gorgeous scenery in a series of pools, which include spas, cold plunges and saunas. You can also unwind with different spa treatments, massages and sessions such as the bathe and bliss and stretch and soak. There’s also a cafe and grocery at the eco village and a serene grassy area where you’ll find kangaroos lounging around in the sun year round. 

Canvas, Nineteenth Avenue, Palm Beach

My number one cafe on the Gold Coast. Canvas on Nineteenth Avenue has the best coffee, sticky prana chai, breakfasts and sweet treats. The staff there are so lovely and welcoming. There’s a comforting and homely vibe, perfect to visit solo or with friends and family and just across the road from Palm Beach. 

Grab an Acai Bowl

The Gold Coast is one of the best places to enjoy the iconic Açai bowl. There are so many cafes that make the original açai and different delicious versions of an açai bowl. My two favourite cafes are Down 2 Earth and Niche & Co. 

Palm Beach Farmers Market

Every Saturday from 6:30-11:30am are the Palm Beach Farmers Markets at Palm Beach Currumbin High School. An awesome community atmosphere with a huge variety of food, drink, fruit and veg stalls to check out as well as live music. It’s a great market to visit to support local businesses- and an excellent way to start your weekend. 

Treetop Adventure, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can spend your day in a thrilling and adrenaline pumping adventure. The Treetop Challenge has seven courses high in the treetop canopy from beginner to extreme and over one hundred challenges, including fourteen awesome zip lines. It’s a fun way to get out of your comfort zone and have a laugh with friends and family! 

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. If you have read and enjoyed this one or any of my other posts, I’d appreciate it if you left a comment below! I’d love to make this a blog a place for like minded people to be able to relate and share travel stories, thoughts and experiences with each other. If you have any other questions, feel free to check out my instagram, the_runawayredhead and send me a DM! 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead