Australia
Gold Coast in December
☀️ SummerWarm, a little humid and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why December scores 8.8What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.2
- ✓Warm (30.3°C highs / 21.2°C lows)
- !Humid (dew point 18.1°C)
- !Wet: ~117 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.7
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~7 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Tropical cyclone: Edge of the Australian/South Pacific cyclone season
- Safety baseline8.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8 Excellent | 9.8 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 30° / 21° | 26° / 15° |
| Rain | 117 mm | 31 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 18° | dew pt 11° |
| PM2.5 | 7 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Gold CoastEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA city on Queensland's coast known for long surf beaches, high-rise Surfers Paradise, theme parks and rainforest hinterland national parks.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Humpback whale migrationDate variesUsually June to November
Humpback whales migrate along the coast, heading north to breed and returning south with calves.
Why go: Boat tours run from the Broadwater; Point Danger and Burleigh Heads are good for spotting from land.
Where: Offshore, with sightings from headlands
Gold Coast MarathonDate variesUsually early July
A major road running event with full and half marathons and shorter races.
Why go: Some coastal roads close on race weekend.
Where: Southport to Burleigh Heads course
Schoolies WeekDate variesUsually mid to late November
Large numbers of school leavers celebrate the end of exams.
Why go: Surfers Paradise is very crowded and noisy; families may prefer other areas that week.
Where: Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise Beach
The city's best-known beach, backed by high-rise towers.
💡 Always swim between the red and yellow flags patrolled by lifeguards.
Burleigh Heads National Park
A small headland park with a coastal walk and views back to Surfers Paradise.
Theme parks
Several major parks, including Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
A long-established sanctuary with koalas, kangaroos and a wildlife hospital.
Springbrook National Park
Rainforest hinterland with waterfalls and the Natural Bridge, where glow-worms can be seen after dark.
Lamington National Park
World Heritage rainforest with walking trails and treetop walks.
Moreton Bay bugs
A local type of slipper lobster, served grilled or in sandwiches.
Fresh prawns
Queensland prawns, often eaten cold with seafood sauce.
Fish and chips
A beachside classic, eaten by the sand.
💡 Beachfront takeaways
Macadamia nuts
A nut native to south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Macadamia products
Roasted macadamias, oils and spreads from local growers.
Surfwear
Boardshorts, wetsuits and clothing from Australian surf brands.
💡 Surf shops in Coolangatta and Burleigh Heads
Aboriginal art
Paintings and crafts by Aboriginal artists.
💡 Galleries that buy directly from artists or community art centres