Welcome to a brave new era for legalised sex work in the Gold Coast!
With Queensland’s 2024 decriminalisation now in full swing, the city’s sex industry has stepped out of the shadows and into the sunshine… well, as much as you can in a town that still likes to keep some of its friskier business behind closed doors. The old days of rigid licensing and hush-hush “massage” joints are giving way to a freer, safer and far more visible market for punters, tourists and professionals alike.
Whether you’re here for a quick tryst between beach swims, a champagne-soaked night in a luxury parlour den, or just curious about what’s on offer, the Gold Coast now has a buffet of legal adult options ready to sample. So let’s dive in…
Sex In Gold Coast
Sex and Prostitution In Gold Coast
Gold Coast’s sex industry now operates freely under Queensland’s recently reformed sex work laws.
In mid-2024, Queensland decriminalised sex work, removing the old licensing system and treating sex services like any other business. That means prostitution is fully legal in GC: sex workers can operate, either independently, or as part of agencies.
Even street work is no longer outright banned, although it is subject to local council regulations. And is, generally, massively frowned upon!
If we look back to life before the reforms, there were only 20 licensed brothels in the entire state. And most of them were based in Brisbane.
Under the old regime, SWs could only work solo or inside one of those scarce licensed brothels. Working in pairs was illegal. Escort agencies were illegal. Street-based work was illegal. Even advertising was riddled with tripwires. The Queensland Law Reform Commission spent years saying the model was broken, and the government finally agreed (whoop whoop).
What does that mean on the Coast? Well, the industry can finally breathe.
You’ll see more open, above-board services and clearer pricing, rather than the old wink-and-nod routine.
In the bigger picture, Queensland is now broadly in line with NSW and Victoria and the ACT/NT on treating adult sex work as work. NSW decriminalised years ago. Victoria finished its two-stage decrim in December 2023. The NT moved in 2019.
Queensland might be late to the party, but you can bet your bottom dollar the Gold Coast will be catching up soon.
Escort Industry
The escort scene in Gold Coast is open, busy, and sloooowly getting bolder after decrim. Bookings happen the same way any service does now. Workers can advertise plainly. Workers can team up. It’s all fun and games post-decrim!
You will see two clear streams of activity:
- Independents who run their own books, advertise on national directories or classifieds, and tour in and out of the Coast.
- Small agencies based on the Coast that handle screening and dispatch like any other bookings desk. Expect to see some new ones popping up given the recent law changes.
Hotels and short-stays are less twitchy since sex work became “just work.”
The touring scene is also pretty steady in GC. Brisbane and interstate talent regularly dip into Surfers, Broadbeach and Southport. You can use sources like Scarlet Blue to see who is visiting (and when).
Gold Coast has a mix of local agencies and national directories:
- Luxe Escorts – Local agency servicing Gold Coast and Brissie. There are high-end VIP companions.
- Le Penthouse Suite (Outcalls) – This brothel, straddling the border, also provides an outcall service.
- Escorts and Babes – A much larger Oz-wide directory with over 150 courtesans within 20km of GC.
And if all else fails, there’s always Locanto Gold Coast – currently home to 370+ escort ads in the GC region alone.
Gold Coast Brothels
Brothels are now fully legal on the Coast under Queensland’s decriminalised model. And they operate just like any other business… albeit with a lot more dirty sheets. The scene clusters around Bundall and Molendinar, with one northern option near Yatala, plus a couple of convenient cross-border choices in Tweed Heads for anyone staying down south.
Believe it or not, there were only four ‘legal’ brothels in Gold Coast under the previous licensing system.
The true number of ‘unofficial’ establishments was much higher… as many as 31, according to some reports.
We’d expect to see many of those underground bordellos peeking out from the shadows in a post-decrim world.
But for now, the best-known brothels in GC have remained largely the same for several years:
Pentagon Grand – 30 Jade Drive, Molendinar. The Coast’s self-proclaimed “ultimate” 5-star brothel, a luxury parlour with themed suites and a roster of attractive ladies. Open 24/7.
Desire Gold Coast – 2/37 Upton Street Bundall, 4217. Another flashy licensed brothel, this venue was long known as Utopia in Paradise and rebranded to Desire a few years back.
Le Penthouse Suite – Level 1, 15 Wharf Street, Coolangatta/North Tweed. It sits just across the QLD/NSW border, but it attracts a decent share of GC punters – probably not as many as back in the day when it benefited from NSW’s liberal sex work laws!
LuvAsian – 1/29 Expansion St, Molendinar. A popular sex den for guys looking to bed Asian beauties – Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean. Not ‘5 star’; more industrial love shack. It has some interestingly themed rooms though:
Jasmine 236 (2/36 Enterprise Ave, Tweed Heads South) is another popular option if you’re looking specifically for Asian girls.
Red Light Districts
Despite its flashy reputation, Gold Coast does not have an official red light district.
There is no equivalent of Sydney’s Kings Cross or Melbourne’s former St Kilda stroll here. Under Queensland’s previous laws, street prostitution was illegal and virtually zero on the Coast… since any attempt at street-based work was quickly policed or pushed underground.
Even now, after decriminalisation, the city hasn’t developed a visible street scene. A good thing, we say.
If we had to stick a pin in the map, the closest thing to a “red-light zone” is… unsurprisingly… Surfers Paradise – especially the few blocks around Orchid Avenue and Cavill Avenue.
This is the heart of the nightlife precinct and it’s where the action kicks off afterdark; home to major strip clubs like Hollywood Showgirls and Players.
Busy?
Yes.
Hedonistic?
Very.
A true red light district?
Not really.
The Price of Sex in Gold Coast
How much will getting laid set you back in Goldie?
Prices in Gold Coast’s adult scene are generally in line with Australia’s averages, a touch lower than Sydney and Melbourne.
Brothel Prices: The going rate for a standard FS is about $130-$160 for 30 minutes or $220-$260 for 60 minutes. We don’t see as many venues offering quickies (15/20 min sessions) as we do in NSW or Victoria.
Escort Prices: Escorts set their own prices, and these vary widely. On the GC, you’ll find budget escorts from about $200/hr, but more realistically most independent escorts charge $300-$500 per hour. Around $400-$500/hr is common for well-reviewed locals or interstate models. The market here is a bit smaller than bigger cities, so prices have remained fairly stable. The VIP-end of the market is comparable to Sydney and Melbourne, with the most exclusive courtesans capable of charging over $800 per hour, or $4000+ for an overnight stay. Get the wallet ready, boys.
Street Sex: Given the lack of street solicitation, there isn’t really a going “street rate.” Normally we’re able to glean at least a rough ballpark figure from Johns bragging over at Punter Planet. In this case, there’s precious little intel available.
Erotic Massage: If you’re content with a happy ending at one of the city’s AMPs, the going rate is much cheaper. Around $70-$100 for 30 minutes or $120-$150 for an hour. Obviously that includes a massage, too, although the results there are a lot less predictable than the manual finish. 😂
You might expect that such a tourist-friendly location would lead to a huge mark-up in sexual services, but… that’s not really the case. GC prices hover lower than Melbourne or Sydney.
After all, it’s the monied executive-types that drive up prices, not the casual backpacker crowd.
Erotic Massage Shops
Erotic massage is the cheaper, budget cousin to brothels. You get a legit rub, a slow tease, and usually a manual finish. Full service may be offered case by case, but don’t assume. Since decrim, some shops are open about extras, while others… will give you short shrift.
Much of the GC massage action clusters around Southport and Scarborough Street. It’s the Coast’s massage mile. The trusty Gold Coast highway is littered with massage joints (we profiled a few of them, including FantAsia, Rainbow & Spa, and Love 77).
You’ve also got good options in Surfers Paradise, near Orchid Ave and the Esplanade. Lots of Thai and Chinese storefronts. The ones that plaster ads across Locanto are generally the ones you wanna hit up if you’re looking for a rub and tug.
A typical 30 minutes sits around $70-$100. An hour lands near $120-$150. Classifieds sometimes name drop “happy face” specials at about $100, which tells you the ballpark for a basic finish. If you’re quoted extra for topless, body slides or oral, that’s normal. Confirm all prices before you relax!
For a premium experience, most of the GC brothels also have erotic massage packages as an option.
Sex Clubs In Gold Coast
Well, it’s not exactly party central.
The Coast has one proper swingers club, a couple of cruise-style options, and a rotating cast of private parties. That’s it. If you’re hunting for a full bathhouse maze or a public BDSM dungeon, you’ll likely be underwhelmed.
The main event is Chateau Vino (22 Kamholtz Court).
This is Gold Coast’s long-running swingers clubhouse. Open Friday and Saturday nights. BYO drinks with staffed bar service for your mixers. It’s got a big dance floor, multiple playrooms, and a firm consent culture. Singles policy is controlled. Friday allows vetted single gents. Saturdays are couples and single ladies unless the “Voracious Vixens” nights are on.
Entry pricing was updated on 1 July 2025 (couples $100, single guys $140) and membership is optional but offers discounted rates. Check the rules before you roll in!
Beyond the famous Chateau, gay and bi men might be interested in The Den Adult Concepts (4/2557 Gold Coast Hwy). Not exactly a ‘club’, this is an adult store that is said to have a small cruise area in the rear that includes booths and a sling room. Pretty low-key.
Gold Coast has pop-up lifestyle events and invite-only parties that come and go. Start with Chateau Vino’s party calendar and newsletter. If you really want to delve deeper into the Lifestyle here, it’s worth joining one of the major swinging networks.
Red Hot Pie, Adult Matchmaker and SDC are all known for regular swinging events, with a large number of members throughout QLD.
Gold Coast Strip Clubs
Surfers Paradise has a tight little triangle of clubs where the lights are bright, the heels are high, and your wallet gets a cardio workout. House rules are the usual: no photos, be polite, ask before buying a dance, and expect a cover charge late at night.
Prices for private dances and VIP time change with the night and the club, so check at the door.
The main clubs you need to know about:
Hollywood Showgirls – 19 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise. The big, glitzy crowd-pleaser with a busy stage and VIP lounges. Right in the thick of Orchid Ave, a stumble from Cavill. This is one of the most famous adult entertainment venues in all of Australia.
Players Showgirls – 18 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Next door to Hollywood and usually a little more laid back. It’s been in business for over 25 years and remains popular with both locals and the constant influx of Goldie tourists.
ToyBox – 3094 Surfers Paradise Blvd. Smaller boutique room with VIP focus and courtesy pickup offers on their site. Two floor venue with old-school strip-house vibes. Open Thursday to Sat.
Local Sex Shops and Adult Stores
Want to get your adult shopping fix?
The Coast is well stocked. Tourist-friendly novelty stores sit in Surfers, while the bigger toy barns live in Mermaid and Burleigh.
Some popular haunts include:
Condom Kingdom – 3222 Surfers Paradise Blvd. With the neon rainbow signage on the strip, it’s practically a tourist attraction. Big on gags, costumes and quick-grab essentials. You cannot miss the ‘Dom Kingdom.
The Den Adult Concepts – 4/2557 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach. As mentioned above, popular with the gay and bi male crowd.
Playhouse Adult Superstore – 339 Burleigh Connection Rd, Burleigh Waters. Further down south but worth the trip. It’s been around a while and is known for a huuuuge selection. This is where you go if you want options, LOTS of options: an entire wall of dildos in all sizes, an aisle of vibrators from basic bullets to rabbit vibes to $300 wand massagers, a section for fetish gear, a section for herbal supplements (the “stay hard” pills and such), and so on.
Obviously, if you need if standard items like condoms or lube, you don’t have to trek to an adult shop… every grocery store and pharmacy in GC sells those.
Our Posts Covering The GC Sex Scene
W4M Casual Encounters in Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise
Swinging in Gold Coast: The Best Orgies and Sex Parties
What are your thoughts on the Gold Coast sex scene today?
Drop us a comment or a private email if we’ve missed anything important!