Gold Coast in January
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January is the height of our Australian Summer holidays, and the Gold Coast is extremely popular at this time of the year. Find out everything you need to know about visiting the Gold Coast at this time of the year.
If you are ready to start planning your holiday to the Gold Coast Click Here to find out about my planning cheat sheets, tips & tools to step you through!
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Australian Gold Coast in January
January is our peak Summer holiday time and finding places to cool down, especially in water is a must!
Australia is on holidays and the Gold Coast is one of the main Australian summer holiday destinations for families.
It is a HOT and humid summer month. Being by the beach or near water are a must at this time of the year. The temperature and humidity are high and it's nice to be able to cool off in the surf or a pool. When the beach gets too much - there are always the theme parks!
Wet n Wild and WhiteWater World are two great theme parks for this time of the year. Sea World has access to the water park in Sea World Resort and you can pay an entry fee from Sea World to gain access to the water park for the day. Or you can get wet in Castaway Bay!
The water park at Sea World plus the great pools and water play areas are a great excuse to stay at Sea World Resort.
At Sea World you can book a swim with the sharks or a dolphin experience, along with other behind the scenes tours. No experience necessary, just bring your togs and towel, but you will need to book ahead.
Family holidays aren't the only reason visitors flock to the Gold Coast in January.
Check out Magic Millions Horse Racing Carnival. All the glamour of a premier Australian horse racing event - with lots of off racecourse activities around the coast.
Or visit later in January and celebrate Australia Day (26 January) in true Aussie style!
January is one of our busiest months on the Gold Coast, theme parks and attractions are busy and the best accommodation is often booked out a long way in advance. Read on for more information about visiting Gold Coast during January.
All the information below is updated each year to keep it current. I recommend, if you haven't already, that you get a copy of my planning cheat sheets. Use the information on this page to fill them in, to help plan your holiday.
Weather in Gold Coast in January
In the table below are averages for various weather indicators for Gold Coast in January. Click here for current weather information in Gold Coast.
January Q & A
There's lots of information on this webpage about visiting the Gold Coast at this time of the year. However, sometimes there are questions that you are just itching to ask...
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About Holidays In January
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Sea World Dolphin Experience
Weather in Gold Coast in January
In the table below are averages for various weather indicators for Gold Coast in January. Click here for current weather information in Gold Coast.
| Season | Summer |
|---|---|
| Average Temperatures | 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 83°F) |
| Possible Extreme Temperatures | 12°C to 41°C (53°F to 106°F) |
| Average Sea Temperature | 25°C (77°F) |
| Average Humidity | 71% |
| Daylight Hours Beginning of Month to End of Month Approx.Times |
Daylight Trend: Days shortening - later sunrises earlier sunsets Sunrise 4:50am - 5:20am Sunset 6:45pm - 6:40pm |
| Daylight Saving & Time Zone Information |
Qld is GMT +10 hours (Australian Eastern Standard Time AEST) Queensland DOES NOT observe daylight saving. Please Note: NSW is on Australian Daylight Saving Time (ADST) at this time of the year and will be one hour ahead of Queensland. This means that you need to factor this in when visiting attractions and towns in Northern NSW such as Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah etc. ADST starts 1st Sunday in October and runs to 1st Sunday in April each year. |
| Typical Weather | Hot, humid, rainy season, possible tropical storms in late afternoon early evening. Average 13 rainy days per month and with 12% of annual rainfall during this month. Rain generally falls during the summer storms which include thunder, lightning and form during the late afternoon. Bring an umbrella or rain jacket, but you won't be cold! |
Public and School Holidays in January
| School
Holidays These dates are a rough guide to holidays in both NSW and Qld which have most influence on holidaying in the Gold Coast. |
School Summer Break until late January 2019 - 14 December 2019 to 27 January 2020 2020 - 12 December 2020 to 26 January 2021 |
|---|---|
| Public Holidays |
2019 - New Year's Day Holiday - Tuesday 2 January 2019
2020 - New Year's Day -
Wednesday 1 January 2020 |
# Substitued public holiday - Australia Day is Saturday 26 January 2019 & Sunday 26 January 2020
What's On In The Gold Coast In January?
- Early to mid January – Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Horse Racing Carnival
- Australia Day Celebrations – on Australia Day 26 January. Public holiday may not be on the same day if it falls on a weekend.
More events and dates for January events on Gold Coast.
Tips for Travelers to Gold Coast in January
For Australian Visitors
Peak summer vacation season, especially for families with children.
To get the accommodation and hire car you you want you will need to book early. If you plan a spur of the moment trip, you may not get your first or even second choice. This month it definitely pays to plan ahead.
Air-conditioned accommodation is highly recommended.
For Visitors from Overseas
This is not my top pick of months to visit for overseas visitors, unless you want to see the Magic Millions or cannot travel at any other time. Why? Mostly because it is very busy and very hot! There are better times to see the Gold Coast if you have the luxury of that choice!
I cannot stress enough that an absolute must is good quality, air-conditioned accommodation in a good location. You will need to book early, as it is peak season. You will need to make sure you book your hire car early too, as they can become scarce at this time of the year and you might not get what you want.
Some top picks for accommodation would be a good hotel, top quality villa or well-positioned apartment.
Things to do in Gold Coast in January
- Magic Millions Racing Carnival Events
- Cooling off at Wet n Wild or WhiteWater World
- Try fresh lychees at Tropical Fruit World - drive yourself or there are transfer options too!
- Surf with the pros at Nobby's Head or take a surfing lesson at beaches in the Gold Coast.
- Safe family beach fun and swimming between the flags
- Book an animal adventure at Sea World – don't forget your swimming togs
- We don't have daylight savings in the Gold Coast so you have to get up VERY early to watch the sun rise over the Ocean
- Quiet walks along beach early in the morning
- Wiggly World Fun for the young kids at Dreamworld
- Catch a wildlife show at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Take in an evening show with dinner at Australian Outback Spectacular
Dinner & Show Options For Gold Coast
Australian Outback Spectacular and Dinner & Show Options. - Day cruise to Tangalooma
- Catch the latest at Jupiters Casino (now known as The Star Gold Coast) -
- Check out all the attractions of Gold Coast for more ideas....
Your Questions About Gold Coast in January?
Do You Have A Question About January In The Gold Coast.?
Ask a specific question about January in the Gold Coast, Queensland or Australia is and I will try my best to point you in the right direction.
What Other Visitors Have Asked
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Is January The Best Month To Visit Gold Coast ? Not rated yet
Is January the best month to visit Gold Coast ?
Very simply, if you are from overseas and don't HAVE to visit the Gold Coast in January , personally …
Jelly Fish on Gold Coast in January Not rated yet
Are there jelly fish on Gold Coast in January?
We are coming back to lovely Surfers Paradise in January and I know it's high season at that time. We …
Scuba Diving In January in Gold Coast Australia Not rated yet
Can you go Scuba Diving in January in Gold Coast Australia?
Most definitely you can scuba dive in January on the Gold Coast and in fact just about …
Visiting Theme parks in January Not rated yet
Hi,
We are considering taking our 4year old and our 10 year old to 3 of either Dreamworld, Seaworld, Movie World and Wet n Wild, near the end of January …
Latest Deals
Here's a selection of the hot deals at the moment. For a full selection including accommodation, activities, transport, tours, packages and more check out my main selection of deals or specific theme park deals check out Theme Park Passes ...
3 days of Entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint Observation Deck within 7 consecutive days.
Plenty of time to visit these theme parks & Surfers Paradise attraction SkyPoint Observation Deck for up to 3 full days at your leisure over the 7 days.
Use within 12 months of purchase date.
Entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint over 3 days within 7 consecutive days from first gate entry.
Check for special bonuses.
Visit Sea World, Movie World and Wet n Wild once each over 5 consecutive days.
Big savings over single entry tickets and online prices are cheaper than at the gate.
Cheapest option for Village Theme Park Passes.
Pass valid for single entry to each of the theme parks Sea World, Movie World & Wet n Wild over 5 consecutive days.
Cheapest way for entry to 2 or more theme parks.
Pass is valid for first use within 12 months from purchase.
Spend a few hours or a whole day at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Watch the shows. Hand feed the kangaroos. Get your photo taken with a koala. There's so much to see and do. Check out all the information about Currumbin and other activities.
TOP PICK for visitors who want to see, touch and get photos with some iconic Aussie animals.
Single Day Entry Ticket To Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Includes shows, excludes food for animals, photos with animals and other extra activities.
Follow links for all pricing including special limited time deals and family options.
Great evening of entertainment. Enjoy a story of Australian outback life showcasing horsemanship & Aussie mateship.
Watch the show whilst enjoying your 3 course dinner. Fun night with lots of great memories and a souvenir bushman's hat.
Book now for all shows.
Child, Vegetarian & Halal meal options available.
MUST SEE Dinner & Show.
You'll find lots of photographs, descriptions and information to help you dream up your perfect Gold Coast Holiday.
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