Finding a Cheap Car Hire at the Gold Coast Is Now Easy

VroomVroomVroom can help you find a car rental that will suit your budget and needs. We compare deals from Australia's major brands including Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Enterprise, Europcar and Hertz. So if you want to know what the best car hire deals at Gold Coast Airport are when you arrive, we will show you. It's that simple. Enjoy great rates!

Gold Coast is known for its sunny weather, surfing beaches, lush rainforest hinterland and exciting theme parks. It is the second biggest region in Queensland, located just south of Brisbane. Visitors have access to public transportation on the Gold Coast, but renting a car through us allows you to explore some of the beautiful surrounding areas.

Location Overview

The Gold Coast is known as an iconic beachside city on the south-east coast of Queensland. Ideal for beachgoers and those searching for a quintessential Aussie experience, this place really has it all. Filled with a range of natural sights, spanning from the coast to the mountains, there is something for everyone, right here on the Gold Coast. Amazing day trips include Mount Tamborine, Byron Bay, Nimbin and Brisbane.

In and around the Gold Coast, some of our favourite things to do year-round are:

Summer (December, January, February): If you’ve come to Australia in Summer, chances are you’re searching for some spectacular beaches. Burleigh Heads, Nobby Beach, Rainbow Bay and Budds Beach are a go-to for locals and out-of-towners alike. These beaches are just a short drive from the CBD. The great thing about the Gold Coast is the juxtaposition between the cityscape and pristine coastlines.

Autumn (March, April, May): Did you know that Springbrook is a national park situated on an ancient volcano? Filled with magical rainforests, rare animals, waterfalls and views, it’s hard to believe this location is under an hour away from the beach. Following the Springbrook Circuit is a great way to see the best of the best locations in Springbrook National Park such as Purling Brook Falls and Twin Falls.

Winter (June, July, August): Mount Tamborine is about a 50-minute drive from the Gold Coast. Hikes and scenery are endless at Mount Tamborine. From Tamborine Mountain itself to the popular Skywalk, Witches Falls, Cameron Falls, Tamborine National Park, Curtis Falls and the amazing glow worm caves; you won’t run out of places to explore in your rental car. The winter months are a peak time for those travelling from the southern states to escape the cold.

Spring (September, October, November): Byron Bay is another world-famous beachside town which can be found an hour south of the Gold Coast. Perfect for whale watching and scuba diving, this place is the perfect day trip destination. Cape Byron Light House, Tallow Beach, Wategos Beach, The Farm and the city centre are gorgeous locations to explore.

Year-Round: Taking just over an hour on the M1, a day trip to Brisbane is the perfect way to explore Queensland’s biggest city. First time visitor? South Bank, Mount Coot-Tha, The Story Bridge, Queen Street Mall, City Hall, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the Queensland Art Gallery are must-see locations.

Where to Find Rental Cars in the Gold Coast?

There are many rental car depot locations in both the Gold Coast CBD and surrounding suburbs to hire a car from in addition to the rental counters at Gold Coast Airport.

Major car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty all have multiple depot locations in and around the city centre including:

Avis Surfers Paradise Mark Centre: 3-15 Orchid Avenue (Open Monday - Friday 7:30am-5:00pm and Saturday - Sunday 8:00am-2:00pm)

Budget Gold Coast Airport Coolangatta: Terminal Building, Tom Norris Drive (Open Monday - Sunday 6:00am-10:30pm)

East Coast Car Rentals Gold Coast Airport Coolangatta (Off-Airport depot): 15 Maud St, Tugun (Open Monday - Sunday 7:00am-10:00pm)

Enterprise Surfers Paradise: 32 Trickett Street (Open Monday - Friday 7:30am-5:30pm and Saturday - Sunday 7:30am-12:30pm)

Europcar Gold Coast Airport Coolangatta: Terminal Building, Gold Coast Airport (Open Monday - Sunday 6:30am-10:30pm)

Hertz Surfers Paradise: 22 View Street (Open Monday - Sunday 6:30am-10:30pm)

Thrifty Surfers Paradise: Corner of Enderley Avenue & Surfers Paradise Boulevard (Open Monday - Friday 7:30am-5:00pm and Saturday - Sunday 8:00am-4:00pm)

In most cases, airport locations will have long open hours. If you are looking for practicality, you can rent a car from an on-airport supplier. Alternatively, if you are wanting to save some money, you can go with a supplier like East Coast Car Rentals which provides off-airport options. Keep in mind that airport depots usually come with a premium location surcharge.

Customer Reviews and Feedback for Renting in the Gold Coast

The best way to learn about car rental is to hear from previous customer experiences. Our team have reached out to some of our customers who recently rented from Gold Coast and their experiences are shared below.

Arandel (July 2019): Arandel booked a rental car with Budget for their trip to the Gold Coast. They received the car rental they booked and rated the condition of the car a 10/10. They recommend booking through top tier providers.

More verified customer reviews

Why Rent a Car at the Gold Coast With VroomVroomVroom?

Convenience - If following bus timetables and searching for connecting trains does not sound convenient, consider a rental car for the freedom to travel where and when you want. There is ample parking available on the Gold Coast.
Comfort - A car rental provides complete comfort for your holiday so you don't have to share buses with other holidaymakers.
Great rates - If you are planning to explore the region, it is often cheaper to hire a car than spend money on public transportation. We have negotiated with our car rental partners so we can provide the best price. Read our Price Promise for more details.
Wide selection of vehicles - Aside from the numerous car rental options, we also compare campervan hire deals on the Gold Coast .
Trusted since 2001 - We have been helping people book the perfect rental car for more than a decade so let us help you as well. Contact us by phone, email, live-chat, or through any of our social media channels.

Best Time to Visit the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a summer favourite among Australians and international travellers. December, January and February are the warmest months, and the coast is sure to be busy during this time. When visiting the area during winter temperatures may be slightly cooler if you travel into the hinterland region.

The Gold Coast plays host to many international events. In April next year athletes from around the world will arrive for the Commonwealth Games. Motor enthusiasts visit the coast in October for the Gold Coast 600, a famous race through the streets of Surfers Paradise. The area is also busy during late November for the annual Schoolies Week, with students from around the country arriving to celebrate their graduation. There is never a dull moment on the Gold Coast!

Driving Tips on the Gold Coast

If you are driving around the wider region there are frequent towns with services available, however, it is still recommended that you take water with you. Mobile phone service may not be available in some areas, especially at Mount Tamborine and the mountains on the New South Wales border. Stay alert on back roads, even if there are not many other vehicles. For more useful driving tips in Gold Coast, click here.

Flying From the Gold Coast Airport?

For a great place to park your car, take a look at the range of parking options available at Gold Coast Airport. You can book a secure and safe place to leave your car while you are away, right here at Gold Coast Airport.

FAQs About Hiring a Car in the Gold Coast

Is it difficult to drive in the Gold Coast’s city centre?

In peak times such as weekends and holidays, the city centre gets pretty busy. Most days, peak hour starts at 3 pm and ends around 6 pm. Like any city centre, car parks and navigating can be a little harder compared to off-peak times.

What is the speed limit in the Gold Coast?

The speed limit for school zones are 40km/h, residential and commercial areas are 50km/h, rural areas are 100km/h and highways are 100km/h unless otherwise signed.

How do I find a carpark in and around the Gold Coast?

Your first option is street parking. This is more common in the city centre. There are also parking lots in a few locations such as the Chevron Renaissance Car Park, Paradise Centre Car Park and Hilton Surfers Paradise Car Park. You can click here to see a map of city parking locations.

How do I find my nearest petrol station in and around the Gold Coast?

You can download Vroom Fuel Price Compare to find the nearest petrol stations nearby. As well as locations, you can see where the cheapest fuel is in the area. You can get directions right to the location for a quick and easy experience. Click here for more information.

Do I have to pay tolls when driving in the Gold Coast?

There are no tolls on the Gold Coast. However, if you travel to Brisbane there are a few to be aware of. These include the AirportlinkM7, CLEM7, Gateway Motorway, Go Between Bridge, Legacy Way and Logan Motorway. Click here for more info about toll roads.

Enjoy the Fun Activities in the Gold Coast

Gold Coast has a reputation of a major tourist destination because of its sunny subtropical climate, surfing beaches, canal and waterway systems, its high-rise dominated skyline, nightlife and, last but not the least, its rainforest hinterland. Make sure to get your Gold Coast holiday off to a wonderful start by renting a reliable car hire in advance. To help you achieve the ultimate Gold Coast adventure, we at VroomVroomVroom have come up with a list of things that you can do and places where you can stay.

Attractions | Accommodation | Other Activities

Attractions

Surf World

Address: 35 Tomewin St, Currumbin, QLD 4223

Surf World Museum Gold Coast

There's more to the Gold Coast than just riding the waves, you can also learn more about surfing by visiting Surf World. This is the only surfing heritage and beach culture museum in Queensland. Get a glimpse of how surfboards evolved through the years by checking out its exhibitions, which consist of more than 150 surfboards, iconic surf images, rare memorabilia and iPad interviews with surfing legends. You can also catch exclusive interviews with legendary surfers such as Peter Drouyn and Patron Peter Harris, and watch some documentaries.

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Address: Soul Shopping Centre, Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise, QLD

Get ready to be amazed! Ripley's Surfers Paradise, which features 15 themed galleries that showcase all kinds of oddities, illusions, mysteries, and amazing stories. You will find things that can't be seen anywhere else, such as real shrunken heads and rare dinosaur eggs. After an unforgettable trip to the Odditorium, why not try the Laser Race Challenge? Let's see if you can navigate through a web of lasers just like what Tom Cruise did in “Mission Impossible”.

King Tutt's Putt Putt

Address: Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

Looking for the ultimate mini-golf challenge in the heart of Surfers Paradise? Make sure to check out King Tutt's Putt Putt, which can now also be found in the Carrara Markets. The putt putt course in the Surfers Paradise features glow-in-the-dark caves and Ancient Egypt setting as well as King Kong and ferocious dinosaurs replicas. The Carrara Markets location, on the other hand, will take you on an incredible journey through time at Pirate Cove, Dinosaurs, and Medieval Times and gives you a glimpse of the Asian Ruins of Cambodia.

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

Address: 333 Geissmann Dr, Mt Tamborine, QLD 4272

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

Experience a magical setting when you stroll along the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, which is surrounded by lush trees, breathtaking fauna, tumbling creek, and impressive rockpools. The new eco-adventure attraction allows visitors to explore the Tamborine Mountain in a different way. The Skywalk is the longest canopy walk in South East Queensland with a measurement of 300 meters. Nature lovers will surely enjoy the 50-minute walk to paradise. Head to the Centre where you can find a gallery, cafe and souvenir shop.

Thunderbird Park

Address: Tamborine Mountain Rd, QLD 4272

Nature meets adventure at Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain. Come for the day or stay and play. Adventures include fossicking for treasure-filled thundereggs, laser skirmish in a jungle village and the Tree Top Challenge high ropes course. Try the new SkyFall and drop 11 metres to the ground. Ride a FreeGo electric bike through the rainforest or take in the scenery on horseback. Activities are suitable for most age groups and fun for all the family.

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Accommodation

Cedar Creek Lodges

Address: Tamborine Mountain Rd, QLD 4272

Thunderbird Park shares a 112-hectare rainforest property with Cedar Creek Lodges. It's perfect for a romantic break or a family holiday. Choose a shaded campsite, a contemporary room or a two-bedroom private lodge. Most holiday packages include a big barbecue breakfast with the birds. Rooms and lodges have self-catering facilities. Light meals, snacks and drinks are available on Thunderbird Terrace and the licensed onsite Rainforest Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner daily.

Mercure Gold Coast Resort

Address: 64 Palm Meadows Drive, Carrara, QLD 4211

If you're looking for a place to unwind and relax, then the best place to stay is at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort. This beautiful resort is just a few minutes away from the pristine beaches, fun theme parks, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and numerous shopping destinations. Mercure Gold Coast features 280 rooms with its own balcony, courtyard or patio. There are also interconnecting rooms for those staying in large groups. All rooms are equipped with modern amenities to make your stay more comfortable.

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Other Activities

Theme Parks

With 4 major theme parks in the city, you will be sure to find one that suits you and your family. There's not just awesome rides and fun-filled activities to enjoy, you can also participate in educational shows and see wildlife upfront and personal. Choose from Wet'n'Wild, Dreamworld, Movieworld and Seaworld. With plenty of parking, you are sure to find good parking for the day.

Beaches

You can't go to the Gold Coast without spending a day at the beach. No matter what month you are there, the weather should still permit you to have a great day at the beach. The best part about a day at the beach is that it's free. Once again, there is a heap of street parking along the coastline so don't stress about where to park your rental car.

Shop until you absolutely drop

Being a very popular tourist destination means Bargains! Bargains! Bargains! With so many shopping malls sprawled throughout the metropolitan area, you will definitely find one that you will LOVE. If you are a bit of a shopaholic be sure to book a rental car with plenty of trunk space.

Gold Coast Hinterland

Even though the coastline is so inviting and the white sandy beaches are hard to pass up, most days of the year, take your rental car and drive inland to see lush green pastures and tree-lined roads. It is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the tourist strip without having to drive too far. You can even enjoy pristine waterfalls where locals like to swim.

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Book At	Miles/km
Surfers Paradise	2/3
Ashmore	2/4
Southport	3/5
Nerang	4/7
Bilinga	12/20
Coolangatta	12/20
Gold Coast Airport	12/20
Slacks Creek	31/50
Springwood	31/50
*Distance is calculated aerial. Actual will be different.