How much does it cost to travel to Surfers Paradise?
You should plan to spend around $104 (AU$160) per day on your vacation in Surfers Paradise. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $26 (AU$40) on meals
- $11 (AU$17) on local transportation
- $132 (AU$204) on hotels
A one week trip to Surfers Paradise for two people costs, on average, $1,450 (AU$2,235). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Surfers Paradise has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Surfers Paradise expensive to visit?
Prices in Surfers Paradise are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, Surfers Paradise is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in the Pacific for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Lake Tekapo, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Sydney.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Surfers Paradise?
The average Surfers Paradise trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Surfers Paradise travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
AU$204
($132)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
AU$17
($11)
|
|
Food 2
|
AU$40
($26)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
AU$36
($23)
|
Notice: Undefined offset: 13 in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/budgetreportadv.php on line 2642
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/budgetreportadv.php on line 2642
|
Alcohol 2
|
AU$9 -
26
($6 - 17)
|
Accommodation Budget in Surfers Paradise
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Surfers Paradise is $66 (AU$102). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Surfers Paradise is $132 (AU$204). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Surfers Paradise
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Surfers Paradise is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $11 (AU$17) per person, per day, on local transportation in Surfers Paradise.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$11
AU$17
How much does it cost to go to Surfers Paradise? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Surfers Paradise will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Surfers Paradise
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Surfers Paradise can vary, the average cost of food in Surfers Paradise is $26 (AU$40) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Surfers Paradise should cost around $10 (AU$16) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Surfers Paradise is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$26
AU$40
Entertainment Budget in Surfers Paradise
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Surfers Paradise typically cost an average of $23 (AU$36) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$23
AU$36
Typical prices for Entertainment in Surfers Paradise are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Surfers Paradise, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Alcohol Budget in Surfers Paradise
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $11 (AU$17) on alcoholic beverages in Surfers Paradise per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$11
AU$17
Surfers Paradise On a Budget
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland (Tourism Australia)
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
If you're going to Surfers Paradise to swim or sit in the sun then the best time to visit is sometime between October or March, when the weather is at its warmest. Even if you don't mind the crowds, it's still best to avoid the time between mid November and early December, known as "Schoolies", when thousands of teenagers flock to the area to celebrate the end of high school.
Sights
Surfers Paradise has many amusement parks, wildlife parks, and other destinations in the nearby vicinity.
Adrenaline Park is a small park that has rides and a mini-golf course. Centro Surfers Paradise Shopping Centre is located on Cavill Avenue. It's a high-end retail area with many popular shops.
If you're hoping to stay in town, then you can visit the tallest building in Australia. Q1 is located right on the waterfront and climbs 323 meters high. It's also the highest residential tower in the world.
Neighborhoods
Surfers Paradise Foreshore is a revitalized public space that is along Surfers Paradise Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The area has contemporary coastal streetscaping and natural vegetation. This is where many of the city's public events are hosted.
The Gold Coast Nightlife Precinct has the most night time activities. This area is considered Australia's nightlife capital and there are almost 20,000 visitors daily. This area is also at the heart of the city's Schoolies week.
Hotels and hostels are lined all along the coast. There are many apartments and high rise hotels that can be pricey, but there are also plenty of backpacker hostels. It's best to make reservations in advance if you plan to visit during a busy time.
Activities
Sticking with the theme of crazy tourism, Surfers Paradise has no shortage of theme parks, water parks, and wildlife parks. There are countless places willing to help you part with your money for some extreme thrills. You can, of course, try your hand at surfing, diving, snorkeling, or windsurfing, among other things. The city also hosts a variety of free events throughout the year. Surfers Paradise Festival is one of the more popular events. It takes place in March or April and offers local music, food, fashion, film, and art. It's a fun time to visit the city.
If you're traveling as a family, check out this great
guide to the Gold Coast for families.
Food and Dining
There are plenty of places around Surfers Paradise that offer cheap eats. These options are usually low on quality but quite affordable. Most budget restaurants specifically target the budget backpacker.
For high end dining options your best bet may be in a hotel. Many of the hotels have all you can eat seafood buffets which are good and filling. Lunch specials or early bird deals are also available.
If you're looking for a nightclub, of course there are plenty, but you'll find the highest concentration along Orchid Avenue just off the main strip of Cavil Avenue.
Transportation
Surfers Paradise is a compact area and it's possible to walk to most destinations including hotels, hostels, Cavill Mall, and the beaches. Parking can be difficult to find close to the center of town so walking is generally recommended if possible. There are bus lines that provide public bus service throughout the Gold Coast area. There are several bus routes in town that connect the suburbs with the city center. There is also the GoldLinQ light rail system which has five stations around town. Taxis are also an option but the prices can be very high.
Related:
Looking for a party? Find a
hostel in Sydney,
Melbourne,
Cairns, or along the
Gold Coast.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.