How much does landscaping cost in Gold Coast?
A Gold Coast landscaper charges $54–$110 an hour, though most larger jobs are priced as a whole. Turf, beds and some simple hard surfaces in a basic backyard makeover cost $4,900–$14,700, and a full landscape for a new home runs $14,700–$58,800. Per square metre, laid turf costs $15–$39 and paving $59–$155. The coast has a large share of compact homes: flats are 21.1% of dwellings and semi-detached homes another 21.1%, both well above the national figures (ABS 2021 Census). For a courtyard or small yard, the hourly rate and the per-metre prices tell you more than the package bands.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Landscaping cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Landscaping Cost in Gold Coast 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaper (hourly rate) | $54/hr | $78 | $110 |
| Garden design / plan | $785per plan | $1,950 | $4,900 |
| Natural turf — supply & lay | $15/sqm | $27 | $39 |
| Synthetic turf — supply & install | $49/sqm | $74 | $120 |
| Retaining wall (timber sleeper) | $145/sqm | $295 | $490 |
| Retaining wall (concrete sleeper) | $245/sqm | $440 | $685 |
| Garden bed, new (soil prep, edging, plants + mulch) | $49/sqm | $98 | $175 |
| Irrigation system (automatic, multi-zone, front & back) | $2,450total | $3,925 | $5,900 |
| Paving / pavers | $59/sqm | $98 | $155 |
| Decking (hardwood) | $295/sqm | $490 | $590 |
| Basic backyard makeover | $4,900total | $9,800 | $14,700 |
| Full landscape (new home) | $14,700total | $39,200 | $58,800 |
| Irrigation — drip system, single zone for garden beds (incl. tap timer) | $785total | $1,375 | $2,150 |
| Bobcat or mini excavator with operator (per hour) | $88/hr | $110 | $155 |
| Green waste removal (one trailer or ute load) | $120total | $185 | $315 |
| Mulch, supplied and spread (per sqm, about 75 mm) | $8/sqm | $14 | $24 |
| Garden soil / topsoil, supplied and delivered (per cubic metre) | $69per cubic metre | $98 | $145 |
You're in.
A local installer will be in touch about your job. No spam, no middleman.
Getting quotes for landscaping work in Gold Coast? Get a quote from a verified local tradie — free, no obligation.
Get Gold Coast quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Gold Coast metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
How Landscaping Costs Vary Across Gold Coast
Gold Coast landscaping is priced city-wide in our table. Retaining walls are $145–$490 per sqm in timber sleepers and $245–$685 in concrete sleepers; an irrigation system is $2,450–$5,900. Gold Coast Seaway averages 1,302.2 mm of rain a year on Bureau of Meteorology records.
Gold Coast landscaping: turf compared, hard surfaces by the square metre and irrigation
Natural or synthetic turf on the Gold Coast, worked out
Natural turf, supplied and laid, is $15–$39 a square metre in our Gold Coast table, and synthetic turf, supplied and installed, $49–$120. For a 50 square metre lawn at the typical prices that is $1,350 in natural turf or $3,700 in synthetic.
Pavers, hardwood decking and garden beds on the Gold Coast
Per square metre, our Gold Coast table has pavers at $59–$155, hardwood decking at $295–$590 and a planted, mulched garden bed at $49–$175. At the typical figures, a square metre of hardwood deck costs about $392 more than a square metre of pavers.
Irrigation and whole-yard jobs on the Gold Coast
An irrigation system is $2,450–$5,900 in our Gold Coast table. Whole-yard work is priced as a basic backyard makeover at $4,900–$14,700, or a full landscape for a new home at $14,700–$58,800.
Gold Coast rainfall through the year
The Gold Coast averages 1,302.2 mm of rain a year on Bureau of Meteorology records, most of it in February (183.8 mm on average) and least in September (42.8 mm).
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
Local figures: Bureau of Meteorology climate statistics, GOLD COAST SEAWAY, 1994–2026.
What Affects Landscaping Costs in Gold Coast
Courtyards and tight access
Just over half of local dwellings, 56.8%, are separate houses, compared with 72.3% across Australia (ABS 2021 Census). In a townhouse courtyard, soil, mulch and pavers may travel by barrow along a side passage or through the house, adding labour. Building a new bed, plants and edging included, runs $49–$175 for each square metre, while a 75 mm layer of mulch costs $8–$24.
Retaining walls on a slope
Timber sleeper walls cost $145–$490 and concrete sleeper walls more, at $245–$685, but concrete will not rot. Queensland exempts a wall from approval only when it and the soil it holds total 1 m or less, no building or driveway loads the ground behind, and it stands 1.5 m or more from a building or another wall. Cut and fill can call for a bobcat, at $88–$155.
Trees under the City Plan
Before a tree comes out, check its size. On the Gold Coast a tree more than 4 metres tall, or with a trunk more than 40 centimetres around at 1.3 metres above the ground, is assessable vegetation and may need City approval to remove or prune. Exemptions include trees close to an approved house, shed or garage. Green waste goes for $120–$315 a trailer or ute load.
Landscaping around a pool
Ordinary fences up to 2 m need no building approval on the Gold Coast, but a new pool fence of any height does. Every regulated pool in Queensland sits on the QBCC pool safety register, and selling or leasing a home with a pool needs a pool safety certificate from a licensed inspector. Keep garden beds, edging and furniture clear of the barrier so nothing becomes a foothold; synthetic turf beside the water runs $49–$120.
Watering through a wet summer
The Seaway's wettest month is February at 183.8 mm and its driest is September at 42.8 mm (BOM averages), so gardens swing from soaked to dry. A multi-zone automatic irrigation system costs $2,450–$5,900, while drip lines on one zone for the beds cost less, at $785–$2,150. Seqwater's advice is to water early, before 8am, or after 4pm.
Design, soil and staging
Paying for a design, at $785–$4,900, earns its fee on hillside and hinterland blocks, where levels and drainage need settling before anything is planted. Topsoil comes in at $69–$145 per cubic metre delivered. On a tight budget, build walls, paths and drainage first and add turf and planting as a second stage.
How to Save Money on Landscaping Cost in Gold Coast
Gold Coast Landscaping Costs by Area
Beachside (Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh) — $5,000–$25,000. Compact lots with a focus on low-maintenance tropical planting. Salt-tolerant species are essential. Pool landscaping and privacy screening are the most common requests. Limited space means creative vertical gardens and planter box solutions.
Hinterland (Tamborine Mountain, Mudgeeraba, Nerang) — $8,000–$40,000. Larger blocks with slopes requiring retaining walls. Native and subtropical rainforest plantings suit the cooler microclimate. Erosion control and drainage are key considerations on sloped blocks.
Northern Gold Coast (Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau) — $5,000–$20,000. New estates needing complete landscaping from scratch. Flat blocks keep costs down. Builders typically leave only basic turf — most homeowners invest in proper landscaping within the first year.
Canal estates (Broadbeach Waters, Mermaid Waters) — $8,000–$30,000. Waterfront properties need marine-grade materials for retaining walls and edging. Council setback requirements from waterways affect layout. Pool surrounds and outdoor entertaining areas are the priority.
Frequently Asked Questions — Landscaping Cost in Gold Coast
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →