The Gold Coast, an hour or so from Brisbane at the very southern edge of Queensland’s coast, is a holidaymaker’s mecca—an absolute playground of entertainment, sun, and sand. People flock there to visit the theme parks, surf, sunbathe, swim, and enjoy the restaurants, shopping, and buzzing nightlife. With high-rise buildings behind the beach and the beautiful sub-tropical rainforests of the hinterlands beyond that, it’s an enticing mix of natural and manmade delights.

With so many visitors flocking there, it’s no surprise that there are options upon options for places to stay in the city centre. From luxury hotels to camping sites, any type of traveller will find accommodation on the Gold Coast to suit their plans. Having the right place to rest your head at night is key to a memorable holiday, so we’ve put together a guide to different accommodation types throughout the various neighbourhoods of the “GC”.

Read on to find out which kind of Gold Coast accommodation might suit your holiday style. And if you’re getting a car hire to help you enjoy this action-packed region, Airport Rentals can help.

Campsites on the Gold Coast

Although most consider the Gold Coast to be a hotel and resort type of destination, there are opportunities a-plenty for low-cost accommodation. Camping enthusiasts, whether they be using tents or campervans, need not leave this area off their itineraries—and there’s more on offer here than just high-rise buildings and manmade attractions.

A popular option for convenient camping on the Gold Coast is holiday parks and other similar private campgrounds. These often come as fully equipped holiday resorts, with tent sites, vehicle sites, cabins, playgrounds, pools, and shared facilities. The Big4 Holiday Park chain has a location right in the heart of the Gold Coast, just off the Pacific Motorway and a hop, skip, and jump from several theme parks. There’s even a water park on site. Families will love this one as a cheaper alternative to one of the many Gold Coast hotels! There are also a string of tourist parks closer to the beach, these offering varying degrees of facilities.

For those who prefer a simpler style of camping, why not book a site in nearby Springbrook National Park? It’s an hour’s drive from the coast, it’s a world apart but close enough that you can enjoy it all in the same day. Wake up amidst stunning waterfalls and lush rainforest, then make the trip in to enjoy a rollercoaster or two and some people-watching on the beach. The perfect juxtaposition!

Hostels on the Gold Coast

Another affordable Gold Coast accommodation option is hostels. This style of accommodation is better suited to the young and fairly fancy-free rather than families, although some hostels do offer private rooms with ensuites. The majority of hostel or backpacker facilities are bunk-style accommodations in shared rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens. You can often book a bed in one of these for anywhere from AUD$20-AUD$40 per night.

There is a multitude of hostel options in the various Gold Coast neighbourhoods, making it possible for budget-minded travellers to enjoy the area just as much as big spenders. Top-rated places include:

• Surf Inn, a clean and modern adults-only property offering both female-only and mixed dorms not far from the Surfers Paradise Beach.

• Backpackers in Paradise, also in Surfers Paradise Gold Coast and boasting some great added extras from hammocks by the pool to free pick ups.

• Coolangatta YHA, located just a short walk from the airport and offering all the usual benefits to YHA members.

• BUNK Surfers Paradise, a funky boutique hostel very close to the beach.

With sun, surf, and a vibrant nightlife scene, the Gold Coast is great for young adults—and hostel accommodation makes it accessible to a variety of budgets.

Apartments and Airbnbs on the Gold Coast

If you’re looking for something self-contained with more options than a hotel room, check out the wide range of apartments and Airbnb properties on offer.

Most apartment options are managed by larger companies or chains like Quest and the Peninsula at Hope Island Gold Coast, offering a variety of long and short-term stays, serviced or unserviced. This is a flexible option and can present to families all the convenience of a hotel plus the self-contained aspect that makes life much easier when travelling with kids. The cost will vary widely depending on the level of service, the size of the place, and the quality of the facilities.

Airbnbs are apartments or private houses, and vary even more widely in what’s available. If you have specific needs or lots of people, an Airbnb is a great option. From luxury villas to affordable private rooms in homes, there’s an Airbnb to suit any group or solo visitor. Take a look on the website and use the filters to find a residence that fits your needs.

Hotels on the Gold Coast

Hotels are a very popular pick for accommodation on the Gold Coast. They’re a dime a dozen, a significant chunk of the high rises that stretch along the beaches being either hotels or serviced apartments. Use a booking engine (like Webjet’s hotel finder) to compare the possibilities that are available during your dates.

If you’re in the market for a full-on luxury holiday on the Gold Coast, there are some really spectacular places on offer—just be prepared to pay upwards (sometimes well upwards) of AUD$500 a night. The JW Marriot Gold Coast Resort and Spa is a particularly swanky (and pricey) option, as is the waterfront Palazzo Versace.

If you want the ease of a hotel but would prefer to avoid the big price tag that comes with 5-star luxury, there are plenty of more affordable hotel options on the Gold Coast. You can find an array of possibilities for less than AUD$200 per night. The Wallaby Hotel, for example, is a classic Aussie pub with accommodation above presenting a unique option in Mudgereeba, while Palm Beach hotel enjoys a great location just 5 minutes from the beach and offers very budget-friendly shared facility rooms. If you don't want to be late for a business meeting at the Gold Coast Convention Centre the next day, you may want to have a good night's rest at the closeby Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast. If you're worried about missing your flight, you could also stay at a nearby Rydges Gold Coast Airport.

Motels on the Gold Coast

Perfect for those who are renting a vehicle to get around, motels offer fairly self-contained accommodation that’s affordable and often flexible for different-sized groups. They may be located slightly further from the main attractions, making them well suited to groups with their own wheels—and there’s always plenty of car parking available!

Motels are dotted around the various Gold Coast neighbourhoods. If you want to be near both the beach and the airport, the funky La Costa Beachside Motel is a great option. The Coomera Motor Inn is located near the theme parks, while the Tropicana Motel is central to many different areas and attractions and boasts a resort-style pool to cool down in.

BONUS: Gold Coast Accommodation FAQs

Still got questions? These are some of the most common questions travellers find themselves pondering when searching for the perfect accommodation option on the Gold Coast.

Making the Gold Coast your starting point for a road trip? There are plenty of directions you could take. Head north towards Brisbane and the rest of the Queensland Coast, inland to the beautiful hinterlands and the Outback beyond, or south through a string of laid-back beach towns towards Newcastle and Sydney. Happy travels!