One of the days on our Gold Coast trip was kept fairly simple.
We started from the JW Marriott and headed towards Q1, the unmistakable tower that dominates the Surfers Paradise skyline. The plan was to go up to SkyPoint, walk around Surfers Paradise and then spend some time exploring the streets and the beachfront.
Q1 itself is worth knowing about before you go up
Before getting to the views, it’s worth knowing what you’re actually standing inside.
Q1 was completed in November 2005 and stands 322.5 metres tall across 78 floors, plus two basement levels. When it opened, it became the tallest all-residential building in the world, a title it held until 2011, when The Marina Torch in Dubai overtook it. It remains the tallest building in Australia to this day.
The name Q1 is short for “Queensland Number One,” and it was chosen in honour of Australia’s Olympic sculling team from the 1920s, which is why the building’s silhouette is meant to echo the shape of an oar.
None of this changes what you see once you’re up there, but it did make the ride up feel a little more interesting, knowing we were standing in a building that once held a world record.
Q1 and SkyPoint
SkyPoint is on Level 77 of Q1, and the views are the real attraction. A dedicated high-speed elevator gets you there in under 40 seconds, which is quick enough that you barely have time to get nervous about the height before the doors open again.
You get a 360-degree view of the Gold Coast, with the ocean on one side, the high-rises of Surfers Paradise below you, and the canals and hinterland stretching out in the other direction.
This is one place where I would recommend checking the weather before buying the ticket.
The current Observation Deck tickets start at AUD $33 for a fixed-date ticket. Flexi Access starts at $51, while Priority Access starts at $71. The prices can vary, so it is worth checking the official site before you go.
SkyPoint currently opens from 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM on most days, with last entry at 8:30 PM, although timings can change for events.
Tickets can be bought online through the official SkyPoint website, and some tickets are also available at the SkyPoint lobby.
One useful tip: Q1 guests get special offers at SkyPoint, so if you are staying at Q1 itself, check those before buying your ticket.
We had actually planned to do the SkyPoint Climb, the experience where you go outside the building onto an external platform near the very top. But with the storm rolling in, the climb was cancelled for safety reasons, which made complete sense given how exposed that platform is. SkyPoint refunded us for it without any hassle.
It was a bit disappointing in the moment, since the day-climb tickets start at AUD $89 and include Observation Deck entry, and there’s also a night climb option on clear evenings. But standing at Level 77 and watching that storm build in the distance was its own kind of memorable, and definitely not a day to be standing outside the building.
If you’re booking the Climb, I would build in some flexibility around the weather, since it’s the one part of the SkyPoint experience that depends entirely on conditions being calm.
Then came the tram
The G:link tram is one of the easiest ways to move around Surfers Paradise.
The trams are clean, modern and frequent, and they run right through the main tourist areas. The Surfers Paradise station is right in the middle of the action, and SkyPoint itself has a G:link station directly in front of the lobby.
The network currently runs about 20 km end to end, from Helensvale in the north down to Broadbeach South, with 19 stops along the way through Southport, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. It’s been running since 2014, and an extension further south towards Burleigh Heads is planned as well.
The best part for us was how easy the payment was.
We didn’t have to figure out a local transport card. We simply tapped our credit card when getting on and tapped it again when getting off.
Translink now accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard cards, including cards in Apple Pay, Google Wallet and Samsung Pay. Just remember to use the same card or device for both taps.
And don’t make the mistake of looking for an Opal card here. Opal is Sydney’s system. South East Queensland uses Translink’s go card. For tourists there is also a go explore card, which provides unlimited Gold Coast bus and tram travel for $1.50 per day.
We didn’t bother getting one because we weren’t using public transport enough to make it worthwhile. We had a car and, for our itinerary, having the car was much more useful.
That’s something I would definitely keep in mind when planning a Gold Coast trip. The tram is fantastic for getting around Surfers Paradise and along the main coastal corridor, but if you’re planning to explore beyond that, a car gives you much more flexibility.
Walking around Surfers Paradise
After Q1, we just walked.
And this was actually one of my favourite parts of the day.
Surfers Paradise is one of those places where you don’t necessarily need a list of attractions. Walk towards the beach, wander through the streets, look at the hotels and apartments, stop for something to eat, and keep going.
The combination of the enormous beach, the high-rise skyline and the G:link running through the middle of it makes the place feel quite different from the other parts of the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast’s beaches run for roughly 57 km of coastline, and Surfers Paradise Beach is patrolled by lifeguards, with the usual red and yellow flags marking the safe swimming zone. Worth sticking between those flags, since the surf here can pick up quickly even on a calm-looking day.
We also spent some time simply looking at the coastline from above. From Q1, you really appreciate just how long the Gold Coast beach stretches.
And then the weather changed
There was one thing we were watching throughout the day.
A strong storm was approaching, and the weather kept reminding us that the Gold Coast can change very quickly. This is fairly typical of the region, especially during the warmer months, when humidity builds through the day and afternoon storms can arrive with very little warning. It was strong enough that SkyPoint called off the Climb altogether that afternoon.
The sky became increasingly dramatic as the afternoon progressed. We decided not to push our luck and headed back towards the hotel.
That turned out to be the right decision.
As soon as we got back to the hotel in the late afternoon, it started pouring. Not a little rain. Proper Gold Coast rain.
Looking back, the timing worked out perfectly.
We had managed to get Q1, the views, the tram ride and a good walk around Surfers Paradise done before the weather finally arrived.
A few practical tips
- SkyPoint: Observation Deck tickets currently start from AUD $33 for a fixed date.
- Opening hours: generally 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM, but check the official website for the day you are visiting.
- Tickets: buy through the official SkyPoint website, and check for offers if you’re staying at Q1.
- SkyPoint Climb: this is weather-dependent and can be cancelled at short notice for safety, as ours was. SkyPoint refunds promptly if that happens, but it’s worth keeping your schedule flexible if the Climb is a priority for you.
- Tram: use the G:link. You can simply tap on and tap off with a contactless Visa or Mastercard.
- Transport card: Queensland uses go card, not Opal. Tourists can also use the go explore card, currently $1.50 for unlimited daily Gold Coast bus and tram travel.
- Car: if you’re planning to explore beyond the main Surfers Paradise corridor, I would still keep a car. We found it much more convenient for our trip.
- Weather: definitely check the forecast before planning SkyPoint, and keep an eye on the sky through the afternoon if you’re visiting in the warmer months. The views are the whole point, and changing weather can make a big difference.
- Swimming: if you’re heading into the water at Surfers Paradise Beach, stay between the patrolled flags.
For us, it turned out to be a very good half-day/one-day Gold Coast experience: one big viewpoint in a building that once held a world record, a cancelled climb and a smooth refund, a bit of public transport, lots of walking, the beach and the Surfers Paradise streets, and just enough drama from the weather to finish the day.
