What is the UV index in Gold Coast today?

It changes through the day and with the weather, so there is no single fixed value. Check the live, location-accurate reading in the Suntic app. In general, Gold Coast's UV peaks around midday and is strongest across November to March.

Is the sun strong in Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast pairs a famous beach culture with some of the highest UV anywhere: a serious combination. Always match your protection to the current UV index rather than the temperature.

UV Index in Gold Coast Today: Live UV & Sun Safety

Sun and UV in Gold Coast

On Queensland's subtropical coast, the Gold Coast gets abundant sunshine and very high to extreme midday UV across a long warm season. Strong UV isn't limited to peak summer; it stays elevated from spring into autumn. Hours spent surfing and on the sand mean a lot of reflected UV on top of the direct sun.

When is UV highest in Gold Coast?

Because Gold Coast is in the Southern Hemisphere, its strongest UV falls over the southern summer: broadly November to March. As everywhere, UV peaks around solar noon, roughly 10am to 4pm. For more on this, see when is the sun strongest.

The UV index scale

UV index WHO / EPA scale

0-2Low

3-5Moderate

6-7High

8-10Very high

11+Extreme

UV index	Risk level	What to do
0-2	Low	Minimal risk. Safe to be outside; sunglasses on bright days.
3-5	Moderate	Take care at midday. Use SPF 30+, a hat and shade around noon.
6-7	High	Protection needed. SPF 30+, cover up, seek shade 10am-4pm.
8-10	Very high	Extra protection. Avoid the sun at midday; SPF, clothing and shade are essential.
11+	Extreme	Take all precautions. Unprotected skin can burn quickly; stay inside or fully covered at peak hours.

UV index categories follow the World Health Organization / US EPA scale.

Staying sun-safe in Gold Coast

Long beach and surf sessions stack reflected UV on top of an already high index.
As a Southern-Hemisphere city, its peak UV runs from late spring through to autumn.
Reapply sunscreen after every surf or swim: water washes it off.

Wherever you are, the basics hold: use broad-spectrum SPF 30+, seek shade around midday, cover up, and never let your skin burn. See our sunburn prevention tips.

UV in other cities

See Gold Coast's live UV index

Suntic turns the live UV index into personal safe-sun times, sunscreen reminders and vitamin D tracking on your iPhone.