These are the best places to travel this summer

Must-see attractions in Gold Coast

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    Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

    Gold Coast

    This nicely restrained, old-style operation includes Australia’s biggest rainforest aviary, where you can hand-feed a technicolour blur of rainbow…

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    Point Danger Light on border.

    Captain Cook Memorial

    Gold Coast

    The headland of Point Danger marks the border between Queensland and New South Wales. There are amazing views from here both ways along the coast, and you…

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    Purling Brook Falls

    Purling Brook Falls

    Gold Coast

    Just off Springbrook Rd, the feathery Purling Brook Falls drops a rather astonishing 106m into the rainforest: worth braving the vertigo-inducing lookout.

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    Tamborine National Park

    Gold Coast

    Queensland’s oldest national park comprises 13 sections stretching across an 8km plateau. Pick up a map at the information centre in North Tamborine for…

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    Burleigh Head National Park

    Gold Coast

    Burleigh Head is known to the local Kombumerri clan of the Yugambeh people as Jellurgal, who trace its formation to a creation spirit called Jabreen. As…

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    Dreamworld

    Gold Coast

    Australia's biggest theme park has stomach-churning thrill rides (with names like The Giant Drop and The Claw), whiz-bang multi-sensory rides (such as the…

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    Broadwater Parklands

    Gold Coast

    Hugging the water's edge on the Southport side of the Broadwater estuary, this large park features free barbecues, beach volleyball, a swimming pontoon,…

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    Jellurgal

    Gold Coast

    This Aboriginal cultural centre at the base of Burleigh Head (Jellurgal) showcases a collection of artefacts and artwork, and offers a variety of cultural…

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    Springbrook National Park

    Gold Coast

    A 27-sq-km national park, Springbrook is an ancient volcanic landscape with a 900m-high plateau cut through with gorges and a few even loftier outcrops…

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    David Fleay Wildlife Park

    Gold Coast

    Opened by the naturalist who first succeeded in breeding platypuses and wedge-tailed eagles, this wildlife park has enclosures housing koalas, cassowaries…

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    Lamington National Park

    Gold Coast

    The 200-sq-km Lamington National Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site with more than 160km of walking trails. This is a wonderful place for bushwalking,…

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    Miami Marketta

    Gold Coast

    A hawker-style street market in a previously abandoned warehouse strewn with fairy lights, this lively space has food, fashion, art and live music. Work…

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    Best of All Lookout

    Gold Coast

    True to its name, the Best of All Lookout offers phenomenal views from the southern edge of the Springbrook Plateau to the lowlands below. The 300m trail…

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    Surf World

    Gold Coast

    This is the place to head if you're interested in Australia's surfing culture. Check out the evolution of surfboards from 1915 to present day, with over…

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    Goomoolahra Falls

    Gold Coast

    At the end of Springbrook Rd, there’s a superb lookout beside the 60m Goomoolahra Falls, giving views across the plateau and all the way back to the coast…

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    Natural Bridge

    Gold Coast

    The scenic Natural Bridge, off the Nerang–Murwillumbah road, has a 1km paved walking circuit leading to a huge rock arch spanning a water-formed cave –…

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    Paradise Country

    Gold Coast

    Younger kids love this 'Aussie Farm Experience', which features native animals (koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes) alongside farm…

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    Canyon Lookout

    Gold Coast

    Canyon Lookout affords jagged views through the valley all the way to Surfers Paradise.

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    Warner Bros Movie World

    Gold Coast

    Movie-themed shows, rides and attractions, including the DC Rivals Hypercoaster, Batwing Spaceshot, Justice League 3D Ride and Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster…

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    Main Beach Pavilion

    Gold Coast

    The lovely but somewhat shabby Spanish Mission–style Pavilion (1934) is a remnant from pre-boom days. Inside there's a cafe, toilets and changing rooms,…

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    WhiteWater World

    Gold Coast

    This water park, next door to Dreamworld, features the Cave of Waves, Pipeline Plunge and numerous other water activities and slides. Bring coins for the…

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    Wet'n'Wild

    Gold Coast

    The ultimate water slide here is the Kamikaze, where you plunge down an 11m drop in a two-person tube at 50km/h. This vast water park also has pitch-black…

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    19 Karen

    Gold Coast

    A contemporary art space in a small back-street converted warehouse, 19 Karen has group shows and exhibits emerging local talent and international artists…

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    Village Markets

    Gold Coast

    This long-running market highlights local designers, makers and collectors, with fashion and lifestyle stalls, lots of live music and a strong local…