Car Rental in Gold Coast

Why rent a car in Gold Coast?

According to many travelers, the Gold Coast is the most fun area in all of Australia. Located in southeast Queensland and a short drive from the state capital, Brisbane, the region offers world-class surfing, beautiful beaches, excellent diving, fantastic restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, and great bush walks. Many other natural attractions, like the Scenic Rim, Glass House Mountains, and Moreton Island are also within reach if you have a rental car.

Top ways to enter Gold Coast

• Gold Coast Airport: The sixth-busiest airport in Australia, it handled nearly 6.5 million travelers in 2018. In addition to serving domestic routes, the Gold Coast Airport also has international flights to and from New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. Located 27 km (17 miles) south of the city center, the Gold Coast Airport can be reached in about 30 minutes.
• Brisbane Airport: Serving the Queensland state capital and the third-largest city in Australia, Brisbane Airport handled more than 22 million travelers in 2018. Made up of two terminals, the airport hosts flights by more than 20 different airlines, with the largest number of flights provided by Qantas and Virgin Australia. Brisbane Airport is 87 km (54 miles) north of the Gold Coast and can be reached in about one hour.
• Sunshine Coast Airport: Also known as Maroochydore Airport and Marcoola Airport, it provides flights to and from a number of Australian destinations as well as Auckland in New Zealand. Located 190 km (122 miles) north of the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast Airport can be reached in about two hours with a large portion of the road taking you right along the ocean.

City facts

• The Gold Coast has a hot and humid subtropical climate with relatively little temperature changes between seasons. The average high temperature is 29°C  (84°F) in January and February, the warmest months, and 21°C  (70°F) in July, the coldest. Precipitation is quite high throughout the year with a large increase every February.
• Due to its picturesque location on the Pacific coast, many world-famous films have been shot on the Gold Coast (some of which are not even set in Australia). These include The Chronicles of Narnia in 2010, Pirates of the Caribbean in 2015, and Thor: Ragnarok in 2016.
• Inhabited for centuries by the indigenous Yugambeh people, the Gold Coast was settled by British arrivals in the 1870s. For decades, the city was actually known as the South Coast, noting its location in reference to Brisbane. It was renamed the Gold Coast in 1958 and received city rights the following year. Nowadays, the Gold Coast is the largest city in Australia that is not a state capital.

Top sights and activities

• Surfers Paradise. The most famous area of the region, Surfers Paradise is, to many travelers, synonymous with the Gold Coast itself. Although the area has been heavily developed over the last decade - backpacker hostels and surfing schools now exist side by side with multi-story office buildings, nightclubs, and boutique shops - it still retains something of its original spirit and no visit to the Gold Coast is complete without spending some time here. This area is great for people-watching!
• Broadbeach. Also known as Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach is just south of the city center. More tranquil and easygoing than its posh neighbor, it nonetheless features many of the same attractions, including restaurants, surf shops, and, of course, beautiful beaches.
• Currumbin Beach. A bit farther south - 26 km (16 miles) from the Gold Coast and can be reached in 40 minutes - Currumbin is, according to many, the most enjoyable beach of the Gold Coast. Lacking the crowds of tourists and much more popular with locals, it has surfing opportunities for beginners and experts alike and offers a great view of the Gold Coast skyline in the distance. Currumbin is also home to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a beautiful and traveler-friendly nature preserve.
• Tamborine Mountain. Located only about a 40-minute drive inland from Gold Coast’s centre, Tamborine is one of the area’s most famous attractions for locals and tourists alike. A wide plateau that offers impressive views, the area is also home to the national park of the same name, the Witches Falls, and the scenic Tamborine Mountain Road.
• Home of the Arts. Historically also known as the Keith Hunt Entertainment and Arts Center, as well as the Arts Center Gold Coast, HOTA is one of the prime cultural venues of Queensland. Located in the Surfers Paradise, it is known for its purpose-built, colorful new gallery that was opened in 2021, one of the most instantly recognizable landmarks in the city.
• Warner Bros. Movie World. Opened in 1991, this is one of the most popular theme parks in all of Australia, welcoming close to one-and-a-half million people every year. Located in the northern suburb of Oxenford and sometimes called the Hollywood of the Gold Coast, it operates roller coasters, water rides, and other thrilling and movie-related attractions.

Traffic and parking

• One of the largest road hazards in Australia is the wildlife, such as kangaroos. Take extra caution when driving in bad weather, at dawn and dusk, and after dark, as this is when most of the collisions with wildlife take place.
• Mobile coverage is very rarely available outside of major highways and population centers, so take extra caution when traveling in rural areas.
• Another great risk when traveling off of the main highways is the heat. Temperatures can reach extremes very easily, especially during the summer months and in inland areas. Always stay properly hydrated and plan your route in advance to be able to supplement your water supplies.
• Laws concerning driving under the influence differ from territory to territory in Australia. In Queensland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers and drivers with provisional licenses. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a driver’s license ban.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The nationwide emergency number in Australia is 000.

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in Australia, mainly in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. 

Most toll roads in Australia use an open toll system with mainline barrier toll points. All toll roads in Australia use a cashless payment system. You can purchase a prepaid pass for most toll roads. Some rental cars in Australia are equipped with electronic transponders, the price of which may or may not be included in the rental price. Ask your car rental provider about it in advance. 

Different toll roads are operated by different companies, so there is no nation-wide system in place. 

For more information about the toll roads in the state of Queensland, visit the state’s official toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

• Scenic Rim. Made up of mountain ranges, nature reserves, and countless hiking paths, the Scenic Rim is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places in Australia. The area is easily accessible by car from the Gold Coast and there are many amazing road trips that you can take - learn more about them on the official Scenic Rim tourism website.
• Lamington National Park. Part of the Scenic Rim but deserving special mention, Lamington National Park is home to cloud forests, high cliffs, impressive waterfalls, and the extinct Tweed Volcano. There are many hikes and treks you can take to explore the area as well as accommodation in guest houses and campsites. Lamington is home to many unique flora species, as well as wildlife like the Lamington crayfish, Coxen’s fig parrot, red-necked pademelon, and platypus. Located just 67 km (41 miles) southwest of the Gold Coast, the national park can be reached in 90 minutes.
• Brisbane. The state capital and the third-largest city in Australia, Brisbane is a truly modern metropolis. From the Queensland Maritime Museum to Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, many botanic gardens, and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, there are plenty of attractions After dark, a great place to visit is the Mount Coot-Tha lookout where you can enjoy stunning views of the city below. Located 79 km (49 miles) north of the Gold Coast, Brisbane can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• North Stradbroke Island. A large island just off the coast of the mainland, North Stradbroke is best known for Point Lookout, a small settlement that is a great place for watching marine fauna like whales and dolphins. Equally interesting is Naree Budjong National Park which includes the famous Blue Lake, as well as opportunities for scuba diving with manta rays, bull rays, and leopard sharks. The trip from the Gold Coast takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and there are many accommodations available on the island. The island can only be accessed by ferry; some ferries permit taking a vehicle, while others don’t — so look this up in advance. Also, ask your rental car provider if they permit taking the rental on a ferry.
• Nightcap National Park. Another scenic protected area, Nightcap National Park is home to critically endangered bird species such as red goshawks and black-breasted button quails. Other wildlife inhabiting this protected rainforest include the tiger quoll (a cat-like marsupial), giant barred frog, and Parma wallaby. The drive from Gold Coast takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Byron Bay. About one hour south of the Gold Coast (92 km or 57 mi) lies the idyllic surf town of Byron Bay. There, you will find stunning beaches, opportunities for kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling amongst incredible marine life, a lovely lighthouse walk, and a variety of fabulous bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in the Gold Coast is the Nissan Micra, although many travelers also go for the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent. The most popular rental car types are compact, economy, and full size.

Further destinations

• Moreton Island. A large island just off Brisbane, Moreton is made up of impressive long beaches, freshwater lakes, cozy villages, water sports centers, and the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Plenty of unique animals and plants can be found on the island, and you can also go on a boat tour to watch humpback whales and other sea creatures from the island. There are a number of ferries going from the Port of Brisbane and Pinkenba in Brisbane and while you cannot bring a rental car, you can park at the port and pick it up again after coming up.
• Sunshine Coast. Currumbin Beach near the Gold Coast might feel like a relaxed beach spot, but to enjoy real tranquility drive north past Brisbane until you reach the Sunshine Coast. Stretching for more than 60 km (37 miles), it has plenty of hauntingly beautiful beaches that you’ll often have to share with just a few other people. Located 190 km (118 miles) north of the Gold Coast, the city can be reached in about two hours.
• The rest of Queensland. Most of the inhabitants of Queensland live in its southeastern corner where the big cities, including the Gold Coast and Brisbane, are located, but it takes up only a small portion of the state geographically. From the amazing Great Barrier Reef - that you can access from many towns in the northern and central portions of the state - to tropical rainforests in the north and the Queensland outback away from the coast, there’s plenty more to Queensland. Visiting most of these destinations requires a lot of preparation and often the hiring of a tour guide, but getting to know the sparsely populated and wild part of Queensland can be truly rewarding.
• Sydney. It is a mighty nine-hour drive from Gold Coast to Sydney, but if the destination is arguably one of the most interesting cities in the world, then the long trip might be worth the effort. Better yet, most of the route takes you right along the coast, and there are plenty of interesting stops on the way, not least the Northern Rivers region on the border between Queensland and New South Wales.

Car rental prices in Gold Coast

• Small cars - from $35 per day
• Large cars - from $32 per day
• SUVs - from $30 per day
• Medium cars - from $35 per day
• Vans - from $67 per day
• Premium cars - from $120 per day
• Station wagons - from $135 per day
• Convertibles - from $175 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Below, you'll find reviews about traveling to the Gold Coast from customers who booked their rental car through us. Here's a summary of some of the most frequent tips they mentioned:

1. Explore Local Attractions

   • "Whale watching, Sea World."

   • "Surfing, and chilling out in the nature."

2. Enjoy the Entertainment Options

   • "Gold Coast has plenty of entertainment options."

3. Make the Most of Good Weather

   • "Great place to visit. Super weather."

4. Plan for Travel Distances

   • "Stayed in Coolangatta. Visited Curtis Falls and Springbrook National Park. Quite a drive but worth it."

Follow these simple tips to get a great rental car in Queensland:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting the Gold Coast is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 43% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 60% cheaper than renting a car in November.