The 13 Best Day Trips from Gold Coast
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 13 good day trips from Gold Coast, Australia, led by Brisbane, Logan City, Caloundra. The closest is Upper Coomera, about 30 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 13 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Gold Coast
- 1
Brisbane, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car71 km north-west of Gold CoastKnown for The Wheel of Brisbane.
- 2
Logan City, Australia
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car51 km north-west of Gold Coast - 3
Caloundra, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car137 km north of Gold Coast - 4
Caboolture, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-west of Gold Coast - 5
Upper Coomera, Australia
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car20 km north-west of Gold Coast - 6
North Lakes, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km north-west of Gold Coast - 7
Morayfield, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car110 km north-west of Gold Coast - 8
Narangba, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north-west of Gold Coast - 9
Kallangur, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car94 km north-west of Gold Coast - 10
Deception Bay, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-west of Gold Coast - 11
Capalaba, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car56 km north-west of Gold Coast - 12
Sunnybank Hills, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car57 km north-west of Gold Coast - 13
Calamvale, Australia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car56 km north-west of Gold Coast
A sample day: Gold Coast to Brisbane
- 08:30Leave Gold Coast
- 09:50Arrive in Brisbane (1 hr 20 min drive)
- 10:05The Wheel of Brisbane
- 12:05Lunch
- 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Brisbane
- 15:50Head back to Gold Coast
- 17:10Home in Gold Coast
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Gold Coast?
- The best day trips from Gold Coast are Brisbane, Logan City, Caloundra, Caboolture, Upper Coomera. The closest is Upper Coomera, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Gold Coast?
- Upper Coomera is the closest, 20 km north-west of Gold Coast, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Gold Coast?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Gold Coast: Upper Coomera (30 min), Logan City (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Gold Coast for a day out?
- Brisbane is the largest city in day-trip range, 71 km north-west of Gold Coast and about 1 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Gold Coast?
- For a weekend away from Gold Coast, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Caloundra (137 km, 2 hr 10 min), Caboolture (112 km, 1 hr 45 min), Morayfield (110 km, 1 hr 45 min), Narangba (100 km, 1 hr 35 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Gold Coast?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Caloundra at 137 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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