An Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to the Gold Coast

If relaxing on a beach with a cocktail in one hand and the latest thriller in the other is the very opposite of your idea of a perfect holiday, you’ll be happy to know that there’s thrills galore waiting for adrenaline junkies on the Gold Coast. Those endless stretches of golden beaches are not just a fantastic place to soak up the sun or build sandcastles, but they’re also the perfect location to soak up some excitement by the bucketload – from hanging by a parachute over the sparkling ocean to speeding over the waves on a jet ski.

Whether your idea of a perfect holiday is spending time in the air, water, or on land, you’ll find some great suggestions here to get your heart racing, blood pumping, and give you an adrenaline rush you’ll never forget.

Skydiving

Imagine it now: the thrill of jumping out of an airplane before plummeting at over 150 kph towards the stunning coastline spread out beneath you. If this kind of adrenaline rush appeals to you, you’ll love the many skydiving packages available on the Gold Coast. These packages include instruction, equipment hire, and tandem skydives, plus you can even buy a DVD to capture the moment for posterity. One of the most popular skydiving areas is over the scenic Byron Bay with its lush rainforests, mountains, and characteristic golden beach.

Parasailing

If you’d rather be attached to the end of a rope, you may prefer parasailing. You’ll get the thrill of flying at a height of 100 metres over the water as you take in the coast below, with no sound but the wind rushing past your ears. You can experience your flight alone or fly in tandem if you’d prefer to share the experience.

Helitours and Tiger Moth rides

For those of you who’d like to see the Gold Coast from the air but with someone else firmly in control of the ride, then you might like to take a tour in a helicopter or in a vintage Tiger Moth.

Jet Pack experience

For something completely different, you may want to try a jet pack experience. A high powered water jet pack allows you to soar up to 14 metres in the air and hover above the water. Naturally, all training is provided and it’s something you can experience solo or with a friend. Several experiences are available from jetpacks and flyboards to ‘jetovators’, a type of bike. It’s a great way to discover the Gold Coast waterways in a completely novel way.

SkyPoint climb

Perhaps one experience that shouldn’t be missed in the Gold Coast is the SkyPoint Climb, a 90 minute adventure activity where you climb to the top of Queensland’s most prominent – not to mention, tallest – the iconic Q1 Tower. From the top of this 270 metre tall building you’ll be treated to unparalleled views of the Gold Coast, and whether you choose a daytime or twilight climb, you’ll be overawed by the stunning scenery.

Head up into the trees

If you love the feeling of exposure from being up high, why not try the Treetop Challenge on the Gold Coast’s Mount Tamborine? Set amongst 10 acres of bushland, you’ll experience an exhilarating rainforest adventure as you negotiate over 85 individual challenges, including the high ropes, flying fox, and more.

Jet skiing and extreme jet skiing

Jet skiing is one of the most popular activities on the Gold Coast. It gives you the opportunity to see the sights, but with some thrills thrown in for good measure. Take a leisurely amble along the coast and its waterways, or ramp up the volume and see how fast you can go before attempting some of the more daring moves like spins and jumps. Jet ski safaris are also available for those who’d prefer a guided tour.

Jet boats

If you love the thought of zooming around the water but you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, you may want to try Jet X at Surfers Paradise, the ultimate Gold Coast jet boat adventure ride for a thoroughly invigorating action packed day out. You’ll get an adrenaline rush like no other as you’re thrown about at high speed in a turbo charged jet boat powered by twin 600hp engines. Imagine how elated you’ll feel as you experience the sheer power of the skilful drivers putting the boats through their paces into 360 degree spins and power slides.

Surfing

A trip to the Gold Coast wouldn’t be complete without hitting the surf. Not surprisingly, these incredible beaches are home to a large surfing population, so why not join in the fun? Lessons are available if you’re a total newbie to surfing.

Stunt driving

If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a racing driver, the Gold Coast offers you a chance to live out your dream. Queensland is home to some of the world’s premier V8 venues where you’re able to experience the thrills of driving a V8 car at very high speeds around a real racetrack.

Hit up a theme park

There are several theme parks on the Gold Coast, including the popular Adrenaline Park, with rides such as the SlingShot and Vomatron, and more traditional Aussie past times such as bungee jumping. A day out at Dreamworld gives you the chance to sample some pretty unique rides that are definitely not for the faint hearted, while if you prefer water based activities, Wet ‘n’ Wild and WhiteWater World will definitely satisfy a need for water-based thrills.