The Gold Coast is an amazing place to visit whilst in Australia.  It’s a very popular destination with Australian’s and for good reason, there’s some great waves and almost perfect weather year round. There are plenty of activities and sights on the Gold Coast and your credit card won’t take a battering because we have 10 of the best free things to do for free:

#1 Hit the Beaches – Swim or surf at one of many Gold Coast Beaches, all free to the public. Many swimming beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and are protected from sharks but be sure you only swim between the flags.

#2 Bushwalk in the Gold Coast hinterland – All gold Coast National Parks have free entry and the views and fauna are breath-taking. You can run through an ancient rainforest, walk under a waterfall, and swim in a mountain stream without paying a cent

#3 Gold Coast Botanical Gardens – The 31 spectacular hectares of Gold Coast City’s Regional Botanic Gardens offer residents and visitors a green haven in the middle of a bustling metropolis. There’s something for everyone – horticultural display gardens, a world class sensory garden, mangroves to mountains transect displaying local species in garden settings, a native butterfly garden, rose gardens, an extensive boardwalk system around the central lake, picnic areas, children’s playground, and even an off-leash dog exercise area.

#4 Pacific Fair – Be a mall rat for a few hours and walk around the massive mall. There are 7 major stores including Myer Department Store as well as About 300 specialty retailers and a vast array of bars, restaurants, cinemas, cafes and the Food Court.

#5 Cascade Gardens & Library – Cascade Gardens is a sensational waterfront park located on the Gold Coast highway on the border of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Facilities include a library, gazebo, glass house and man made waterfall and walking tracks.

#6 Springbrook National Park and Numinbah Forest Reserve – http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=31 Springbrook National Park | Distance: 700 metres | Duration: 15-30 minutesThe name says it all. Come to Springbrook National Park to see for yourself highest lookout on Springbrook Plateau passes through some ancient Antarctic Beech forest. The lookout lives up to its name by providing a panoramic view across Mount Warning to Byron Bay and Coolangatta, though the view can also quickly disappear in the fog and mist that can suddenly roll in from the coast.

#7 Go Bush – All gold Coast National Parks have free entry and the views and fauna are breath-taking. You can run through an ancient rainforest, walk under a waterfall, and swim in a mountain stream without paying a cent.

#8 Marina Mirage - A great place for a stroll would be at the Gold Coast Spit has a great boardwalk around the marina. Enjoy the views of the sun glistening on the water housing million dollar boats. If your in the mood you can even window shop such designer boutiques as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Calvin Klein and Carla Zampatti just to name a few. Marina Mirage even has a large walk through bird avery with no admission fee.

#9 Skateparks – The Gold Coast strip has a number of free skateparks ideal for skaters, in-line skaters and bmx’ers looking for a smooth surface with bowls, ramps, roll-ins. Check out the skatepark at the end of the runway of Gold Coast Airport but phone 5581 6782 for one near you.

#10 BMX Track – There’s a BMX track on the Currumburra Road which is floodlit for nighttime riding and offers a challenging circuit. Bring some food and make a day of it using the free electric bbq’s and water fountains.

#1 Free tram trip around Melbourne: Any trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without a ride on a Melbourne icon, the tram. And the best way to get around the city is on the free City Circle Tram. The circuit takes about 30 minutes but you can get on and off as many times as you want. City Circle Trams are burgundy and gold in colour and the stops are specially marked.

2# Wander the Narrow Streets and Lanes – Take some time to wander through the quaint, very European narrow lanes of Melbourne’s CBD (Central Business District), especially around Flinders Lane. Mind you, you’ll be tempted to sit and sip lattes because these lanes are lined with delicious cafes and restaurants.

3# Window shopping – Peruse what you cannot purchase. Recommended: Brunswick St, Smith St, Chapel St, Bridge Rd, Acland Rd. Best done with a friend AND the shameless will to enjoy dressing up in things you have no intention of buying.

4# NGV International: Australia’s oldest public art museum and home to one of the country’s most important art collections with everything from Egyptian and Roman antiquities and Asian art, through to Renaissance, Baroque and everything up to and including contemporary art. 180 St Kilda Road. Open daily except Tuesdays, 10am-5pm. www.ngv.vic.gov.au

5# The Ian Potter Centre NGV Australia: Discover more than 20 galleries presenting the history of Australian art from the Colonial period through to contemporary art, plus galleries dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Federation Square. Open daily, 10am-5pm.

6# Australian Centre for the Moving Image: The first centre of its kind in the world, dedicated to the moving image in all its forms from early cinema to the latest digital media. Two multi-format cinemas, the world’s largest dedicated screen gallery with changing exhibitions and movie/art installations, and hands-on public activity, education and production zones. Federation Square. Open daily, 10am-5pm (until 6pm on weekends).

7# George Adams & State Theatre Foyer Galleries – Free art at the Arts Centre. Get a taste for some ‘high’ culture. Shows and exhibits are always changing so take a look and see what’s inside.

8# The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art: Enjoy photography, video, electronic imaging, painting and sculpture as well as new developments in sound, movement and popular culture at 111 Sturt Street, Southbank. Open Tues-Sun, 11am-6pm.

9# On your bike: Melbourne is a great city for cycling. The Bay Trail starts at St Kilda Pier and heads past historic Luna Park before dropping in at a bustling Acland Street café for cakes and coffee, past the colourful St Kilda Marina, parks, restaurants and sports grounds to finish in Brighton, 6km or 40 minutes later. If you want to walk it will take around two hours.

10# Queen Victoria Market: On the corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Streets, there’s around 1000 traders selling everything from fruit and vegetables, fresh produce and delicatessen goods to clothing, plants and pets sold at this market. Market Days: Tue and Thur 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-6pm, Sat 6am-3pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Closed: Mondays, Wednesdays, and public holidays.

11# Royal Botanic Gardens: 35 hectares of extensively landscaped gardens near the centre of the city on the South Bank of the Yarra. They are widely regarded as the finest botanical gardens in Australia, and among the best in the world. Free guided walks or self-guided audio walks are available. Open daily from 7.30am-6pm April to October and until 7.30pm November to March.

12# SLV – Take a free one-hour tour of the domed La Trobe Reading Room, the elegant Cowen Gallery and the new Dome Gallery at the State Library of Victoria. 328 Swanston St. Open daily, 10am-6pm, and until 9pm Monday to Thursday. www.slv.vic.gov.au

13# Yarra River Art – The Yarra River winds through the heart of the city, providing the backdrop for a vibrant outdoor contemporary art gallery. Wander past sculpture, paintings, architecture and a ‘soundscape’.

14# Federation Square – Its a real bustling busy spot and you’ll probably end up there more than once. Oftentimes, there are free activities happening in Fed. Square.

15# Playground Fun – Take your kids to Birrarung Marr, the best playground in the city. Its just behind Federation Square where you can have fun and enjoy the view of the city from the park.

16# St Andrew’s Market - Saturday morning, St Andrews. Can’t miss it, opposite the pub. No expenditure necessary. Lots to look at, a nice grassy knoll to sit on from which to watch the world go by. http://www.standrewsmarket.com.au/

17# Fitzroy Gardens – Step into another world. Explore footpaths & barely-made trails, discover flowers, fairies, dragons & miniature villages. Everything is free except for Cook’s Cottage. The gardens are best place to bring friends & a picnic blanket in the summer.

18# Southgate – If you are in Melbourne in the summer, the heat can be stifling. So stay cool by running through the dancing water fountains outside Crown Casino on the South side of the Yarra!

There are so many great activities and sights available for free around Australia, it means you can make your budget stretch even further and spend the money on things you really want to do.

Stay tuned to our Australia Guide for more budget busting tips for other destinations in Australia.

Photo by Peripitus – Botanic Gardens

Following on from our article on 21 Free Things To Do In Sydney, we decided to see what great free sights and activities there are to do in Adelaide.

Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia and is notable for it’s Georgian and Victorian buildings, churches and is green park lands. The Adelaide Fringe Festival sees the city come to life with various entertaining artists and acts and is well worth a visit. Here are our top 7 free activities and sights to do in Adelaide.

#1 Adelaide Central Markets – Adelaide’s Central Market has been in operation for over 130 years. It features around 120 shops and stalls bursting with people and fresh food. The markets are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

#2 Art Gallery of South Australia – Plenty of European and Aboriginal art on display.

#3 Adelaide Cricket Ground Parkland & Bradman Statue – Cricket fans must visit the famous ACG which is so closely linked to the life and career of Sir Donald Bradman.

#4 Botanic Gardens on North Terrace – Adelaide’s beautiful botanic gardens date back to the mid 1800′s. You’ll find a varied mix of mature gardens for strolling through.

#5 Adelaide City free bikes – The Adelaide City Council allows anyone to travel anywhere within the city limits. Hire a bike for free and use it to see about the city!

#6 Walking path along the length of the metropolitan beaches – Stroll along the Adelaide beaches on the paths which span the precincts of Southern Sands and run all the way north to Largs Bay in the Northern Maritime Precinct.

#7 Free Tour of Haigh’s Chocolates – Take a free 20 minute tour of this world class chocolate factory only 5 minutes drive from Adelaide’s city centre. Find out more about the history of Haigh’s, get a sneak peek at what goes on inside a chocolate factory, and even enjoy some complimentary goodies.

Australia isn’t the cheapest destinition in the world, but you needn’t spend a fortune seeing the sights and having a fantastic time. Stay tuned to our Australia Guide for more budget busting tips for other destinations in Australia.

Next Australia Guide article coming soon: Free Things To Do In Melbourne.

Do you have any favourite free activities and sights in Adelaide?

Let us know by commenting below.

Sydney is likely to be on most travelers itinerary when visiting Australia. It’s an amazing city which has some equally amazing sights and surprisingly you won’t have to reach for your credit card in order to afford them. There are a whole host of great sights and activities that won’t cost you a penny, here are our top 20.

#1. Bondi Beach – You can’t miss Australia’s most famous and busiest beach. The beach is approximately 1 kilometre long and in summer, tens of thousands of Sydney-siders flock here. Watch out for the waves and losing your stuff to petty thieves.

#2. Sydney Coastal Walk – Take the walk from Bondi to Coogee Walk and enjoy the beautiful coastline, beaches and cafe strips. Finish up with a swim at Coogee Beach.

#3. Manly Beach – Much longer than Bondi Beach, Manly is one of the best beaches on the North Shore of Sydney. It does cost to park here, but access to the beach is free. You can also rent lockers to keep your possessions secure while your swim or surf.

#4. Opera House and the Domain – Get the perfect “I’m in Sydney” tourist photo right at the Opera House. You can walk up the steps and around the buildings, inside and out. A guided tour is much more insightful, but it costs money. After that, stroll around Farm Cove to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for some great harbour views. Appreciate Sydney from the green space of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain.

#5. Darling Harbour – Walk around Sydney’s Darling Harbour, the “all-seasons playground”, that features free entertainment from buskers to the odd outdoor show.

#6. Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge – No need to whip out your credit card here, this isn’t the walk where you walk up to the top of the Bridge. There is a public walkway which will allow you to walk across each way.

#7. Government House – Located within the Royal Botanic Gardens the Government House has a free weekend tour when the late 19th century style staterooms can be viewed. The gardens are open daily.

#8. Parliament House – Visit the Parliament House buildings on Macquarie Street which dates back to Sydney’s early days in 1810.

#9. The Writers Walk – Walk the old cobblestone streets of The Rocks, an area which dates back to the early days of Sydney in the 1800′s. As you make your way along the promenade of Circular Quay you’ll spot 50 metal plaques, each has a selection of thoughts from renowned Australian writers and literary contributors.

#10. The Rocks – Free admission to the The Rocks Discovery Museum takes you on a journey from pre-European days to the present using interactive displays and artifacts.

#11. The Art Gallery of New South Wales – The Art Gallery of New South Wales has an outstanding collection of works, including the largest permanent collection of Aboriginal art in the world. Admission is mostly free (fees apply for special events and exhibitions), as are the guided tours, and there are often free Aboriginal performances in Yiribana Gallery.

#12. Sydney Observatory – Breathtaking Sydney Harbour views, Australia’s oldest observatory lets you explore the heavens, use a telescope or see a star explode. Free during the day (fees apply for the 3D space theatre and telescope).

#13. Australian National Maritime Museum – Its free to explore the museum’s galleries and special exhibitions, the Maritime Heritage Centre, Wharf 7, the North Wharf, the marina and Cape Bowling Green lighthouse.

#14. Museum of Contemporary Art – Enjoy free admission to the exhibitions, based on contemporary Ausralian issues in the visual arts, design, architecture and film.

#15. Royal Botanic Gardens – Thirty hectares of gardens in the heart of Sydney, next to Circular Quay, are real harbour side oasis. Established back in 1816, the Royal Botanic Gardens have an outstanding collection of native and foreign horticulture.

#16. Sydney Olympic Park – The 40 hectare park lands are great place to walk or take your bicycle ride along the tracks or enjoy a picnic.

#17. Nielsen Park – Enjoy the scenic beach, picnic areas and walking trails of this Eastern suburb foreshore.

#18. Pelican Feeding – If you’re on your way north on the highway, stop in at the Central Coast town of ‘The Entrance’. Each and every afternoon at 3pm a local bird conservation group lead a talk on Pelicans and feed the hordes of Pelicans who congregate at the promenade waiting to be feed fish! Drop in, watch the pelicans, enjoy a snack then keep going north.

#19. Centennial Park – Enjoy the verdant landscape of ponds, grass hills and woodlands of Centennial Park which was dedicated by Sir Henry Parkes back in 1888. The park has a lot of history attached to it, it was the venue for the inauguration of the Federation in 1901. It’s an ideal space for a picnic, cycling, rollerblading or just lazing about in the sun.

#20. Kirribilli Market – On the corner of Alfred and Burton Streets, over on the north side of the Sydney Harbour is Milsons Point where you’ll find Bradfield Park. Here, on every four Saturday each month between January and November and third Saturdays in December there’s over 300 stalls of new and vintage fashion, accessories, arts, craft, collectibles, antiques, plants, fresh flowers, gift ware and gourmet food on display.

#21. Home & Away – Palm Beach – A must for any Australian soap fan, a visit to the set of “Home & Away” on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Australia isn’t the cheapest destinition in the world, but you needn’t spend a fortune seeing the sights and having a fantastic time. Stay tuned to our Australia Guide for more budget busting tips for other destinations in Australia.

Do you have any favourite free activities and sights in Sydney?

Let us know by commenting below.