The Gold Coast’s natural beauty is one of its defining features, with nearly 50% of its land area covered by forests. These include ancient rainforests, mangrove-covered islands, eucalyptus woodlands, and coastal heathlands, providing a home to diverse flora and fauna. While the region was once almost entirely forested, European settlement and extensive land clearing in the 19th century significantly altered the landscape. However, pockets of near-pristine rainforest and remnants of the plantation pine forests from the 1950s and 1960s still exist today.

Geographically, the Gold Coast lies in southeast Queensland, positioned just south of Brisbane. It is separated from Logan City by the Albert River and extends from Southern Moreton Bay and the Logan River in the north to the New South Wales (NSW) border in the south—approximately 56 kilometers (35 miles) away. The city stretches westward from the coastline to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, home to the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, renowned for its ancient rainforests, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife.

Despite its rapid urbanization, the Gold Coast remains deeply connected to its natural environment, offering a unique blend of modern city life, protected landscapes, and breathtaking coastal and hinterland scenery.