UV index in Gold Coast today
Fifty-seven kilometres of surf beaches make the Gold Coast Australia's beach capital, and one of its highest UV-exposure zones. Sand and water reflect UV upward, so you cop it twice at Surfers or Burleigh.
Today’s peak: 5.6 (moderate) around 12 pm
Temperature: 15°C. Remember, UV and heat are unrelated
Protection: No protection needed for most people, unless outside for extended periods or near reflective surfaces like snow and water.
What does UV 2 mean for your skin?
Check my tan timeReading updates roughly every 30 minutes · data by Open-Meteo · reference monitoring by ARPANSA
When Gold Coast needs sun protection
Sun protection is needed year-round on the Gold Coast; even mid-winter days regularly reach moderate to high UV.
The threshold, per SunSmart and ARPANSA: whenever UV reaches 3 or above, Slip on covering clothing, Slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade and Slide on sunglasses. Read the full sun safety guide.
Where the UV adds up in Gold Coast
Long, happy hours outdoors are where exposure quietly accumulates. Local favourites where the five S’s earn their keep:
- Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach
- Burleigh Heads National Park walk
- Currumbin and Tallebudgera creeks
- The Spit and South Stradbroke
The UV scale at a glance
- 0–2Low
- 3–5Moderate
- 6–7High
- 8–10Very high
- 11+Extreme
Local support in Queensland
Cancer Council Queensland: Prevention and support in the state with Australia's highest skin-cancer rates.